Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
Greetings All,
Having a good day today, hope you are too!
Anyway, I wanted your input on doctors. Note: Both had my complete results (drugs, EKG, Holter, etc.)
EP #1 saw my Holter monitor results, and immediately wanted to schedule me for ablation in 3 weeks. He looked at the number of events (~700 in 48 hours) as too high, even though they were short (5 - 15 seconds). Interestingly, he indicated that as long as I'm in AFIB, it will not get better, and only get worse, and my events will last longer. The longer 'we wait, the lower probability of success.'
EP#2 looked at my Holter results and was a little more conservative. He believed that my AFIB may be 'light' (my words), and wanted to have another monitor recording. On the way out of the office, he indicated that if i didn't have at least 30 seconds continuous AFIB, then I'd not be an ablation candidate (even though i had ~700 5-15 second events in the first 48 Holter recording). He did say that, even though I may be having many 'shorts', my quality of life is still greatly affected. He also indicated the longer we wait, the less likelihood for success.
So:
1.) Did you get multiple opinions? I still may go for opinion #3.
2.) Did they agree?
3.) Did the EP mention any 'standard' criteria to determine ablation or not?
4.) Did you EP provide statistics, as how many they had done, what was the 'complication percentage,' how may patients had stroke, etc.
(Note: EP1 did not provide details; EP2 provided them off the top of his head."
THX,
Ribert (Robert the AFibert)
Having a good day today, hope you are too!
Anyway, I wanted your input on doctors. Note: Both had my complete results (drugs, EKG, Holter, etc.)
EP #1 saw my Holter monitor results, and immediately wanted to schedule me for ablation in 3 weeks. He looked at the number of events (~700 in 48 hours) as too high, even though they were short (5 - 15 seconds). Interestingly, he indicated that as long as I'm in AFIB, it will not get better, and only get worse, and my events will last longer. The longer 'we wait, the lower probability of success.'
EP#2 looked at my Holter results and was a little more conservative. He believed that my AFIB may be 'light' (my words), and wanted to have another monitor recording. On the way out of the office, he indicated that if i didn't have at least 30 seconds continuous AFIB, then I'd not be an ablation candidate (even though i had ~700 5-15 second events in the first 48 Holter recording). He did say that, even though I may be having many 'shorts', my quality of life is still greatly affected. He also indicated the longer we wait, the less likelihood for success.
So:
1.) Did you get multiple opinions? I still may go for opinion #3.
2.) Did they agree?
3.) Did the EP mention any 'standard' criteria to determine ablation or not?
4.) Did you EP provide statistics, as how many they had done, what was the 'complication percentage,' how may patients had stroke, etc.
(Note: EP1 did not provide details; EP2 provided them off the top of his head."
THX,
Ribert (Robert the AFibert)
Second, the ep was able to rapidly cite the number of procedures he'd performed, his success rate for my age group (young).
He did not mention any standard criteria on whether to ablate or not. I know studies are ongoing right now as to whether the long term benefit of ablation vs medication or doing nothing.
Personally, I picked ablation and am sooooooooo glad I did. I was so miserable beforehand. You just cannot rest properly if you are going into afib all the time. It's tiring, and interferes with your life and I think it was the cause of my anxiety, rather than the reverse.
Good luck with your decision. I am happy and have hope, and that's what ablation did for me. Of course, there are risks to the procedure, but I am relatively young and for me the side effects of drugs for 40 years did not seem risk free. Nor did I think I would dodge the bullet --having some sort of stroke event/passing out at the wrong place and time/etc over the next 40 years either.It seemed statistically slim.
Had an interesting last week...
A week ago last Sat, about 1:30 AM, i started fib'n. Felt pretty bad, took the Cardizem and got no relief.
Had been wearing a cardio pal device and thought I was going to wear out the 'symptom' button. My smart-phone-heart-monitor clocked my HR from ~ 140 - 160 (Yes, I know they are not -that- accurate, but within ~ 10%). Finally got a little relief about 3 PM. This episode lasted a _long_ time!
Well on TU called the DR and told them I had an event that lasted hours. First read by the non-EP indicated my HB was fine, and he saw no evidence of fib'n. Talk about floored, you could have pushed me over with a feather. Not to mention that I thought i was going crazy! Never-the-less, the doc said he'd pass my strips on to the EP.
Well a day later, and "after further review..." i got the call.. seems the EP saw the even though my HR was generally lower (80-100 BPM), I was definitely had a major fib event. Also, i could stop wearing the cardio-pal as they had enough 'proof'.
Next step: ablation 26 MAY. But as i've been reading, that's another journey.
Finally, that last episode of almost a week ago has started a trend. Counting that point, I've had 3 episodes that lasted from 12 - 24 hours. And the Cardizem which used to work in about a half hour, now takes 3 doses (6 hrs apart).
Oh My!
Ribert
PS: Yes, I agree my posts in this thread seems random (not to mention the subject line), but all I can now say is... OH MY!