Ablation help please

I have just been informed re ablation for my a-fib from the Pacemaker tester and I am sure it has been discussed many times over here, but I do not know where to read any informationn. Would anyone please direct this (gets lost in a paper bag) woman where I can read up please? as I have been told I could get off Solatol but did not ask but could I from Pradaxa blood thinner.
Thanks so much.
Phyl.

7 Comments

A-Fib

by gleesue - 2012-10-29 03:10:50

I've had 4 ablations. My first was in 1992 when it was early on as being an accepted practice. I even had one that took 9 ½ hours. They have kept me off all medication and a pacemaker, though I just got my pacemaker this year. I also had a problem anyway because the anti-arrhythmia medications didn’t work on me.

They are no big deal and you can resume normal activities in a couple of days. You are awake, which is kind of fun because you get to see and hear what’s going on. Though in the 9 ½ hour job I did fall asleep a few times. If you can fix the A-fib you won’t need a blood thinner. I still go into an arrhythmia once or twice a year but I just go into the hospital and get cardioverted.

Good luck,

Jerry

A-fib

by tnicholspa - 2012-10-29 04:10:47

I had my second ablation 4 weeks today(10/29) and so far no Afib. I have never felt better and I have returned to work for he first time in almost five months.

I return to the doctor on 11/9 and at that time a hope to start getting off the Solatol and Coumadin. I did have a PM but in the over the summer and it seemsto be doing the job with no side affects.

I really trust by doctor I am 65 he is in his later 30's and is up on all the new treatments.

Good luck.... keep me posted..plus this site is great

Tom

Wondeful replys re ablation

by Phyl. - 2012-10-29 05:10:12

I am SO grateful thank you all as it means a lot to have something to read from people who know what it is all about. It is a bit scaryand daunting and maybe I still could not get off the Solatol and Pradaxa and still have a-fib episodes but on the other hand I could be off those meds. and that would be good. I will read all and weigh it up before I talk to my heart bloke :)
Thanks again Don and Janetinak and Roys and IanM.C.
and Gleesne/Jerry.
Have a special Tuesday folks.
Phyl.

Thank you

by Phyl. - 2012-10-29 05:10:23

Very helpful tnicholspa/Tom. I feel so much better after reading your replys about having an ablation as seems like it may make quality of life for the years I have left :) a bit easier.
All the best
Phyl.

Phyl

by IAN MC - 2012-10-29 06:10:13

If you Google Cardiac ablation or Catheter ablation you will find so much to read that you will wish you hadn't asked !

I had one almost 18 months ago and came off blood thinners and all other drugs and have remained drug-free ever since. In fact my wish to come off blood thinners was my main motivation in having an ablation.

But , and it is a big "but" the main factors which determine the success of an ablation are :-

i) The nature of the heart rhythm disturbance which you have and

ii) The skill of the Dr doing the ablation. Before deciding on the Dr ask loads of questions ..how many ablations has he done / success rates / complications he has encountered etc.Ask every Dr you meet the question "If you had to have an ablation yourself who would you choose to do it ?

Some people need more than one ablation , some people have to remain on drugs. It really does depend on your own situation.

I hope that yours is as successful as mine was;
but I did loads of research before choosing the Dr carrying out the procedure.

Best of luck

Ian

A friend had Afib & under went an

by janetinak - 2012-10-29 12:10:26

ablation a few months ago & it fixed it & he was able to get off Coumadin (blood thinner). He is still OK. There is a web site called stop afib. com that may be of interest.

Hope that helps. I am sure you will get help here & get more answers with the "search' button on the top right of this screen.

Janet

A-Fib help

by Roys - 2012-10-29 12:10:33

Try A-fib.com by Steve Ryan, it is the best web site for help with AF. I am free from AF after 8 years with help from that site. Cheers Roy

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