Hi there I have tried the medication route and the consultant seems to be looking at an ablation. Should I have an ablation or try more alternative medication. Reluctant to try new medication as had a bad reaction to beta blockers. Just looking for a bit of advice really.
Thank You
I tried various beta blockers, calcium channel blockers rate and rhythm control medication and mixes and none of them agreed with me - all made me feel worse than the AF. I then had a cardioversion which was successful and kept me in Normal Sinus Rhythm (NSR) for 13 months. If a cardioversion is successful in attaining and sustaining NSR even for a short while it signposts the way to an ablation being successful too. Are you seeing a cardiologist or Electrophysiologist (EP)? They would not be referring you for other treatment if they did not think it would work for you. Remember that all treatment for AF is for Quality of Life (QOL)
Hear hear QOL becomes SO important & it’s a long, lonely path to try & get it back. Thank goodness for this site, ☺️
Thank you. Really appreciate the reply.
Thank You
Good advice about CV - if you are in AF - but if episodes are rare you are not going to get a CV.
Yes that's it. Hard to catch.
I've had three ablations, last one was in 2016 so quite a while ago. I'm now in constant AF but at a lower level 60-90bpm.
What I bitterly regret now is not trying an artificial-additive-free diet, before having any of them. Artificial sweeteners were a sure trigger for my PAF. I stick to a good diet now and think it's why my heart behaves better, but it has been scarred three times and I was told I wouldn't be offered any more ablations. You have the chance of still trying that good diet to see if it helps.
Just my opinion.
Jean
Thanks Jean
Jean jeannie I would be really interested to hear more of your dietary suggestions, I'm at the beginning of the AF journey with short Paroxysmal episodes about once a month that I can use PIP Flecainide for, but touch wood most often I can see them off with deep yogic breathing, cold water etc.
I try to eat organic, additive free etc. Take Magnesium Taurate, Milled flax, drink coconut water, meditate etc.
Anything else I should know? I'd be very grateful.
So many brave people on this forum dealing with so much and sharing their experience so generously.
I sometimes think that we can become so absorbed concentrating on what we're doing on the internet or when watching tv that we forget to breathe enough. Then our hearts protest. Try not to slouch if you can as your stomach may press on the heart. I never wear anything tight around my waist and mostly wear longish dresses. Sorry don't know if I'm talking to a male or female.
Tips:
Breakfast:
My Home Made Muesli Recipe
1-2 (Start with 1) heaped dessert spoons of Buckwheat flakes. Its not wheat, despite the name but a seed that's been rolled and looks a lot like porridge oats.
Half a teaspoon of ground flaxseed
Half a teaspoon of chia bia (ground chia seeds)
A good pinch of ginger powder or cinnamon ( I alternate each day)
2 Dates chopped
1 dessert spoon of sultanas
1 dessert spoon of sunflower seeds
1 dessert spoon of pumpkin seeds
This is a recipe I made up myself and all the ingredients I use are organic, milk is lactose free semi skimmed, but any can be used.
Put all the ingredients in a breakfast bowl and mix, add milk - quite a lot – it will look like too much. Microwave for 2 mins, take out and stir and add more milk if needed. Pop back in the microwave for another 2 minutes and again add more milk if needed. Mix and its ready to eat, should look a bit like an uncooked cake mix.
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I was going to write out a Salmon and sweet potato recipe, but will shorten it:
Slice a sweet potato into chips, place on a baking tray with a little oil. Pop into a moderate oven 220C/190C fan. Don't forget to turn the chips over at times. Cook for 30minutes'ish. For the salmon, if being posh place it in a dish on a bed of leaks (onions will do) with some oil (a little white wine is optional. I never use it.). Sprinkle the salmon with sesame seeds. Pop into oven, then 10 mins before serving add a small sprig of tomatoes on the vine to the salmon (any small tomato will do) and pop back into the oven.
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White fish bake is nice, just pop a chunk of white fish (I use cod) sprinkled with dill and any veggies onto a baking tray with a little oil and cook for about 20 mins. Vegetables perhaps thinnish slices of potato, mushrooms, red pepper, onion, sometimes I add strips of carrots, any veg you have or fancy really.
Jean
Your breakfast sounds really good.. I'm veggie but your diet sounds great and i can adapt your recipes. Remembering to breathe, remembering posture, and to wear loose clothes (I'm female) all very relevant .. particularly since I have hiatus hernia which my cardio thinks is triggering AF but I find if I eat very small meals there's less heartburn, and less AF .... but more hunger!
Thanks so much for this.
The veggie bake recipe was given to me by a vegan friend and I added the fish. At the time I didn't think it sounded very appetising but have now changed my mind. I don't think oats liked me but rolled buckwheat flakes do. I think it's generally part of an Ukrainians breakfast.
If you ever get heartburn, at the first symptom try chewing some almonds thoroughly, before swallowing. It works for me.
Take care.
Jean
thanks for the almond heartburn tip I'll definitely try that, I can't stand Gaviscon and take small doses of cocodamol to cover the pain.
Have you tried soaking almonds in water overnight that makes them tender ...
I'll look out for buckwheat flakes.
Someone has suggested I get the IQoro gadget for hiatus hernia, have you heard of it? I plan to ask the gastroenterologist about it next week. They do quite a hard sell online but apparently it's accepted by NICE.. I'm pretty sure the hiatus hernia operation would finish me off, I'd prefer non invasive remedies and hope to reduce omeprazole ...
Thank you again ...
Yes I have tried soaking almonds over night. I'm sure there must be some benefit from doing that, almonds, cashews and brazil nuts are all part of my daily life. I used to have walnuts too but just lately they always taste a bit musty. I find they're always better straight from the shell. I think I have a hiatus hernia too., but so long as I don't do too much bending I'm generally ok. I never wear a bra when I'm indoors either.
Oh well back to gardening now, feel I'm a slave to my garden. so hot here today too.
I’ve had 2 ablations, second gave me 3 years AF free but AF often returns and it did with a vengeance. By then I couldn’t tolerate any meds used for rate or rhythm so I had to go down the Pace & Ablate route but RST Pacemaker did the job.
I think you need to make your own judgement call based on the following criteria:-
1. Age and fitness level. Over 50 and not fit I would consider whether the downside of ablation are really worth it as the chances of just one ablation working forever may be low.
2. How symptomatic are you and how does AF affect your life? Could you live well in AF?
3. What other co-morbidities?
4. How experienced is your doctor and how many ablations have they performed? Dig a bit deeper - it’s not unknown for doctors to recommend a procedure for their own purposes. Not saying this is the case - just ask questions.
5. Ask for an Estimate in your case of long lasting elimination of AF. Never can say for certainty but expert prognosis can be useful.
6. What do you think about medication? Even following ablation people need to continue to take meds to stay in NSR, no guarantees with ablation.
7. Be prepared for longer than you are usually given for recovery time. Most people are not as they were within weeks, some months and not unusual to improve for up to a year after the procedure - which brings us full circle to age and fitness.
Hope that helps.
That's great advice 👍
Self proclaimed succs story. Three ablations between 2004 and 8 and no AF since.
All heart meds, whether for rate or rythm control do seem to have quite a lot of side effects. For a lot of people they become better, as time progresses, but for others they never do. We are also all very different in how we cope with Afib.
Even though my episodes are very infrequent. I tip toe around Afib constantly, wondering if and when it will happen and for me, that impacts my life a lot and causes a lot of anxiety. For that reason alone, I’m soon to have an ablation in the hope I’m one of the lucky ones - even though I know it comes with risks.
It’s a very individual choice and only you know if you think it’s the best one for you, depending on how Afib affects you in your life.
I had an ablation, it didnt work so never again for me. I had a pacemaker fitted however still have to take heart meds so a no win situation really lol.
Hi sorry to hear it didn’t work which one did you have. I’m thinking about a pulsefield
I actually have no idea!
Try again, second ablation often do the trick
I remain pleased I had a cardiologist who put me on Flecainide (200mgs) 11 yrs ago and didn't give me the usual accompanying BB saying they would make me feel unwell. I was 60yo, with lowish HR & BP and had Lone PAF.
The drug stopped the AF and then I double down on improving all lifestyle choices. The combination gave me 11yrs of virtually AF free good QOL.
Now at 70yo some as yet undiagnosed possibly Flutter has started but on the positive side it is not as debilitating and so far this year has prevented very little problems.
Hi,
Just a brief answer….I was on medication for two years before an ablation. `````````````````Have the procedure was one of the best things I could have done. I wish I’d have taken the consultants advice and made the decision earlier.
Hi I’m thinking about a pulse field. Which one did you have done
Just have it done. Much better afterwards. Medication makes you feel worse. Have the problem dealt with asap and reduce the meds or get rid all together like I have.
I echo what CDreamer recommends. When you have that information it will become clearer for you I think.
I did not think I needed an ablation at the beginning, but once I understood more - including how the meds made me feel, I couldn’t wait for an ablation. Had cryoablation in November 2022 and feel great now - and so far, episode free.
Good luck,
Lyn
I have been told that i wont be given the ablation due to the oversize of my left atrium. I have been given a pacemaker and the AV node was to be ablated. It was t done and i now feel i have had 3 years of misery on various drugs.. my GP IS writing to the cardio team or i hope she is about opening that route again. Im in in af just about 100 %. Its no fun. Colin
Sorry to hear that, Colin. Do keep pushing to get a referral to an EP. What you're going through shows that the treatment you're receiving is just not good enough.
if you’re looking for advice, you got some of the best right here on this forum. I concur with everything said by Desanthony, jeanjeannie50, CDreamer, Cortis, Snoopy, and others.
To echo what the others have said, drugs make me feel WORSE than the afib. And they don’t “fix” anything, they don’t go to the source of the problem in the way that ablations can. And for me, the beta blocker and calcium channel blocker did nothing to change anything, even when given IV in the ER, except make me feel like a dizzy dishrag. Amiodarone did chemically cardiovert me once, but it is the worst drug I have ever taken. Worst. Never again.
Ablations don’t come with guarantees, but for me they are the most reasonable way forward. I had my first for afib, my second for aflutter and also got a Watchman implant at the same time. I needed a CV for mild atrial flutter after the second one—my heart was still finding its way—and now am in steady NSR, on Eliquis as the Watchman heals for six months, and soon will be off all drugs. Statistically my percentile chances of staying in NSR are good—but I’m not a statistic, just me, so I’ll have to wait and see. I’ll never regret my chosen course to get OFF DRUGS and give myself a chance to heal my heart at the substrate causes of its afib.
I had ablation in 2013 and stayed in NSR for 8/9 years so if heavy burden I would vote yes. Mine is back but episodes approx every 6 weeks that last 3 hrs ish. Not very fast so I have opted not to have a second at this point.
Your question has prompted such interesting and generous advice on ablation ... thank you
To ablate or not to ablate 
another ablation or av node ablation
Pacemaker when ablations fail
To ablate or not to ablate, that is the question?
To Ablate or Not to Ablate 
