Any Ablation Success Stories?

I’m 77 years old with a-fib, was taking metoprolol & Eliquis, have mild cerebral palsy so am a fall risk. My cardiologist suggested an ablation & then a Watchman. I had the ablation 7/2024 & the Watchman 8/2024. Both were outpatient for me & I haven’t had a-fib since! I’m still on metoprolol, but off blood thinner.

I had a Pulsed Field Ablasion at Mayos two weeks ago. I have to say I have more energy and in general feel better than before surgery. I am on Amiodarone until three months post op. But, so far so good.

I have been AFIB free since my ablation at Mayo/Jax now over two years ago. I am still on Xarelto as advised by my electro cardiologist without any major symptoms other than persistent fatique which I attributes to my Parkinsons disease. I am able to work out daily, including a 3 mile walk except on days I play golf (2Xweek). I do ride in a cart for golf, and I no longer play tennis, although I think I could still play doubles at least.

I realize that the blood thinners are problematic for some patients, but for me, whose AFIB symptoms were hard to even notice, the risk of stroke is a much more serious concern. I expect to be on the once daily Xarelto for life now. TA

That is great. I hope I am that lucky. Continued good luck and health to you

That is so great to hear. Words of encouragement are always a plus. Thankyou for the reply. I hope I am as lucky

Please ask your electrophysiologist or cardiologist if you should taper off amiodarone well before your Holter monitor assessment near the 12 week mark. I'm not an expert in this, but I do know that amiodarone has a long residual effect for several weeks after one stops taking it, and my expectation is that it might confound the record of the Holter monitor (saying you are free from AF when you are not, but the residual amiodarone is helping to keep it at bay...if you follow me). I could be dead wrong about this, in which case I'd love to hear back from you to correct my impression, but it's worth an ask.

I had ablation almost three years ago. So far so good! Easy procedure. I still have PACs they couldn’t address but no afib! Also, off of blood thinner after 3 months . My doc recommended right away after afib discovered. Am 68. Always a chance may need to be repeated. This is very common but fingers crossed! Good luck!

Good for you!

Were you on an antiarrhythmic drug immediately after your procedure? Which one? For how long?

Can you perform robust exercise like running or tennis?

Best of luck!

I was first diagnosed with AFib at 59. I didn’t know what it was at the time—went to the ER with shortness of breath and extreme fatigue. That day I learned I had AFib, a left bundle branch block, and an ejection fraction of only 25%. I spent five days in the hospital getting started on Tikosyn, plus Metoprolol, Atorvastatin, Xarelto, Spironolactone, and Diovan. Up until then I had been on no medications at all.
For about three years I did fine and honestly didn’t change my habits much. Toward the end of 2023, though, I started having episodes again with heart rates spiking into the 180s. Then in June 2023, after catching COVID for the first time, everything went off the rails—I ended up in the ER three times in three weeks. On the first visit I met an electrophysiologist who told me it was time for an ablation. I had the radiofrequency catheter ablation shortly after my third ER trip.
That was 25 months ago, and I’ve been AFib-free ever since. Six months post-ablation, my ejection fraction had improved to 60%. I was able to stop Tikosyn after 90 days, though I still take my other meds. At the same time, I got my sleep apnea treated, cut alcohol down to usually no more than one drink a week, lost weight, and got my blood pressure into the 110/70 range most days.
Looking back, I sometimes wish I’d done the ablation sooner—but I also know the technology and techniques have improved since my first diagnosis in 2017. I hope they’ll be even better when and if I ever need another.
So yes—it is possible to come out of ablation not just free from AFib, but with your heart function restored and your ability to exercise and live normally back. Everyone’s story is different, but for me it was absolutely worth it.

I was diagnosed with Afib 3 years ago. I had a pulsed field ablation on February 3, 2025. 2 hours after surgery, I had a moderate pericardial effusion resulting in icu stay which is rare so don’t let that stop you. I am still on same medication, generic Pradaxa and 75 mg flecainide. Surgery was considered a success per EP. A total of 46 PFA lesions were delivered. My doctor is well respected in Tampa Bay Area but extremely busy and my appoints keep getting rescheduled. Talked to my cardiologist about decreasing/discontinuing medications. So now scheduled for a loop recorder placement for monitoring (on 10/27/25). Finally scheduled to see EP on 10/13. Needless to say, I am frustrated with all this waiting. I am walking 45 minutes 3-4 times a week along with yoga. Feeling great with ( maybe 4) occasional 30 sec episodes of high heart rate but no afib per Apple Watch or Kardia mobile. These episodes seem to come out of nowhere and happen without triggers.