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.

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Heart, Blood & Circulation
/ Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group

Should I get an abation?

biya
biya
Hi Everyone,

I am new to this site tonight. You all seem very friendly and offer good advice and support. I am looking forward to advice on the following.

I am a woman, 68 yr young. I had a quad bypass in 2008. My first cardio conversion was in 8/2011. I have also had 4 more within the last 6 months. The last one was last week and again I am in afib. I am limited to the meds I can take to slow down my afib and I believe my next step is getting an ablation.

Issue---In 20 days I have to fly to Las Vegas for my son's wedding. I don't know if I should get the ablation ASAP or get it afterwards? My energy is very low currently. I am grateful that I don't have any pain.I just always feel tired and need to rest often. I may have to get a wheel chair to keep up with the crowd in LV if I don't get the ablation. But, I am concerned with the recovery period.

Thank you for reading this and for your thoughts.
Biya
CLane
CLane
Hello Biya and welcome: I was faced with the same decision last year when I had my second ablation. One week after my second ablation, my son was graduating from Basic Training in the Army. I did end up flying out to Missouri to attend the graduation but I was very tired and it was hard for me. My energy level was low for several weeks after ablation. I believe it would be my suggestion, to wait until you return from Vegas to consider having an ablation but you know yourself better than anyone :) Good luck with your decision and congratulations to your son and his upcoming wedding!
pacyetep
pacyetep
biya:
Welcome. I don't think you can get an ablation that fast anyway. Waiting sounds like the right thing. What does your EP say?
petey
RN52
RN52
Welcome! The consensus is to wait. I don't think thatt you'd be able to get an ablation that soon either.Take your time and get all of the information that you can regarding ablation. Make sure that you don't rush into anything without truely making an informed decision. Good luck!
biya
biya
Thank you all so much for a quick response. My EP has been out of town on vacation. I just left a VM for him with the same question and I am waiting for his response.

It seems to be a concensus here that I should wait. I think in my "heart" I knew that to be true. I know the devil I am dealing with!. I don't know how I will be afterwards.

I will keep you up to date.
Thanks, again
Biya
pacyetep
pacyetep
... and make sure you go to a top center/doctor for your type of afib. petey
biya
biya
The EP called back and you all were correct. He can't do an ablation until Nov 1. Long time to feel nasty. I also have to go back to Amiodarone. They started me with 800 mg a day and I couldn't do it. So now I am on 400 mg a day. I have only taken one so far today and I feel very drugged. Do you get a tolerance for this stuff? I understand I have to be on this before the ablation and 3 months after. This stuff "ain't" for sissys! When it was prescribed he told me it was like chemo but for the heart.

Has anyone on this site kicked the afib for any period of time through meds or ablation?

Thanks,
Barbara
Steve9
Steve9
your Question:
Has anyone on this site kicked the afib for any period of time through meds or ablation?

I can say "Yes, for 4.5 years and counting." The drug is Flecainide/Metoprolol. The only side effect is reduced but manageable libido ( subject of a different posting here). My exercise tolerance is decent, but I wont be running an 5Ks in the near future. I hope this helps. I have not had an Ablation.
heart2222
heart2222
biya,
I'm late to join in this discussion, but I would agree with the advice given you. It's amazing how long they make you wait to get the ablation. Waiting is really hard. Even if you could get in pronto, I think you would feel wiped out for your son's wedding. I had an ablation done in March and it took quite a while before I felt semi back to normal. I was on ami also and it really made me nauseated. I couldn't tolerate the loading dose either and had to decrease the dose. IT's a very tough drug and interacts with a lot, but it does work very well for a lot of people . Once you get your dose under control, i hope it works for you enough so you can enjoy your son's wedding.

Good luck!!
biya
biya
How wonderful it has been this week to find such a great support group. I don't have any friends familiar with afib and hearing all your stories certainly makes me hopeful and more aware to how each case is so different.

I am pleased to say that just in two days my pluse has decreased with the ami and I feel better. Maybe I won't need that ablation.

Once, again, thank you to all of you and your input.

I have to laugh each time I enter a comment with the little advice below "In adding this Advice, I biya, do promise to be nice"......and I do!!!! :)