Afib ablation: What's it like?

Posted by longboard @longboard, Sep 7, 2016

I have had Afib for about 20 years usually an episode once a year . I have had 3 in the last 8 months . My doctor recommended abrasion and I have it scheduled but am apprehensive and wonder is it a good option.

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That's ablation not abrasion

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I have Afib which was finally diagnosed at Mayo after my cardiologist had told me for years that it was my imagination. Unfortunately I was past the ablation stage but I would have tried it if that had not been the case. A friend had to have the second procedure but it worked for him and he's happy.

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@tntredhead

I have Afib which was finally diagnosed at Mayo after my cardiologist had told me for years that it was my imagination. Unfortunately I was past the ablation stage but I would have tried it if that had not been the case. A friend had to have the second procedure but it worked for him and he's happy.

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Did your friend go into Afib every few months or had it chronically?

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@tntredhead

I have Afib which was finally diagnosed at Mayo after my cardiologist had told me for years that it was my imagination. Unfortunately I was past the ablation stage but I would have tried it if that had not been the case. A friend had to have the second procedure but it worked for him and he's happy.

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It seemed to start sudden and was them chronic

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Hey longboard, I dealt with a-fib for about ten years before it became a<br>problem and I was put on medication, which worked for about a year, then<br>started to fail. I had the ablation procedure done this past January and so<br>far so good. I'm off all medications right now and feel pretty good. I do<br>feel some skipped beats, especially right after I lay down at night, but<br>otherwise I feel fine and can exercise regularly. I was told that it's<br>important to find an electrophysiologist that does the procedure on a<br>regular basis, or a University teaching hospital. I had some anxiety before<br>the procedure also but things turned out well. Good luck.<br>

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Hey @longboard, if you have questions or want more information before making a decision, consider getting a second opinion. That's always a smart option to making an informed decision before getting any sort of procedure, especially something as serious as an ablation.

Passing along some info from the American Heart Association that has info about ablations, including some questions to ask, in the event that it's helpful for talking with your doctor: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Arrhythmia/PreventionTreatmentofArrhythmia/Ablation-for-Arrhythmias_UCM_301991_Article.jsp#.V9a0NLWhJXA

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