I doubt the number would be anywhere near that high. Some folks (even ones who are members of this group) have had successful ablations.

7,
Is this guy you spoke with a GP? I think you will need to speak with an EP..those are the guys with the answers about ablations. 39 and afib? WAY TOO YOUNG! Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. We are seeing younger and younger folks on this site. This leads me to believe it is the crappy processed foods that we all eat.

Bill

i figured that with all the research i have done i didnt believe that at all something didnt sound right he told me to just live with it or wait till i have more episodes down the line when it gets worse it will be proven that im a canadate for abilation mind you this is my primary doc talking i was like why the hell would i Waite till it gets worse im not a advicate for meds

Hey 7: Bill is right, you are a little young for AFIB, but then again I started in my mid 20's, now I'm 65 and still kicking. I had an ablation six months ago, and now I'm much better (but not perfect). I think the best course of action for you right now is to follow the discussions here. You will learn a lot. A pacemaker is often the treatment of last resort for AFIB, drugs and ablation come first. Hang out with us for a while and ask questions as they occur to you. There's a lot of knowledge here. After you hang here for a while and get more information, you will probably want to go see a cardiologist or and EP. Keep in mind, it seems that the EP's are more prone to ablations. You may want to try drugs first. From what you described, I wouldn't engage in that discussion with the GP you mentioned.

You may want to read this:
http://www.amazon.com/Beat-Your-A-Fib-Essential-Fibrillation/dp/0984951407/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1412960222&sr=8-1&keywords=afib

It is amazing the difference of opinion on how to manage/treat afib!

I know of very few people who have had pace makers put in after their ablations.

Many of us have Paroxysmal afib and most of us started out that way. I do not think pacemakers do anything to help afib, you can still have afib when you have one. I would find an experienced EP and discuss your options,what works for one may not work for another. My Cardio was the one that suggested an ablation because in his opinion the earlier you treat it the better off you will be. Please make sure you are on an coagulant our stoke risk is tremendous. That should be your first priority. Take care and keep us posted!

That should be anitcoagulant

I would definitely talk to a cardiologist or EP (electrophysiologist). You're doing your own research - that's good. Knowledge is power.

Like you, I'm one of the younger ones here (38) - my arrhythmia problems started in my mid-20s.

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I agree with what everyone is saying here except Daisy. With all due respect, the blanket warning that if you have afib, blood thinners (i.e. anticoagulants) is your first priority isn't the best advice - especially someone your age with paroxysmal afib! I've had the same type of afib since 2006 and blood thinners have never ever been a recommendation. Granted, I only have an episode about once a month and I'm only in afib for about 2-3 hours. It just drives me crazy when people say you MUST be on blood thinners asap if you have any kind of afib. It's so much more complicating then that. Talk to an EP and let him/her tell you what you should do. When you say it "comes and goes" that leaves a lot of room for interpretation. If that means you have a short episode once a month, then I'd be surprised if you were put on a blood thinner. If you're in and out of afib daily, that might be a different story. However, my father has been in persistent afib for 10 years now and he's never been on a blood thinner. I'm not saying that's smart either but the point is, the idea that every type of afib MUST be treated with blood thinners is hogwash.

Travis

thank you all for the info im currently on 81mg baby asprin he said thats all i need for the moment he also the doc stressed that its not bad enough to put me on heart medication because my heart hasnt raced in 2 months its been in natural sinus rhythm with no meds since i had the big episode had ekg 3d echo no signs of heart disease thank god he thinks this was caused by either too much caffeene or i might of had too much booze that through me in afib im trying to cope with this its still fresh but im noticing its making my anxiety go through the roof i hope depression is not seting in all i keep thinking about is is it going to get worse with this afib i want to try to stop it while its early thanks for listeniing people

Hi seven. Well many good coments here today.....glad you are here..great site good People......I got diagnosed with afib. 3 weeks ago. But I have no pain. At all. Quit cigs. And on cumidin and calcium blocker. 1st couple weeks. Insomnia and anxiety was. Horrible but wife and I did alot of walking and now its getting much better. I think between nic withdrawl and afib. It helped to walk. Anyway I know you can find good info and friends here like paul said. Hang in there my friend

I got diagnosed August 2013 and had my ablation December 2013. I wasnt wasting my time on drugs. Im 50 now

Good for you axiom