Ablation question

[Sue143]

Hello again. I'm 38, good health. I've had palps. for almost 7 yrs. In July I had a-fib for the first time. It was stopped by a Cardizem drip and I haven't had a-fib since. I had another echo, blood work and Holter monitor. Blood work and echo normal. The Holter shows PAC's and atrial tach. My Dr. thinks the atrial tach. is what triggered the a-fib. I had been taking beta-blockers but they increased my palps and caused my BP to drop too low. so they stopped them.
He sent me to an EP dr. and he said I would be a good candidate for an ablation. He said I could take anti-arrhythmia meds but he didn't recommend them because they may not work and they have a lot of side effects. He said if the PAC's were coming from the same  arrhythmia then they would be gone too if I got the ablation. But he said if my heart was quiet the day of the ablation, then they wouldn't be able to find anything.
He said this won't kill me and I can live with it, but he worries that over time everything will get worse and they'll have a hard time keeping me out of a-fib.
I feel like I have no other options but an ablation. He told me all the risks and I have 2 small children so I don't want to take any risks I don't need to. Are there any other options for me? Is it really possible to get rid of the PAC's? I've read how everyone else still has palps after an ablation.
He told me not rush and think about it and call him if I want to schedule. Is there anything else left for me?

Thanks, Sue

[Elrod]

I've got a question for the board. Can a person with chronic A-Fib have success with an ablation. I live near Cleveland and have heard so many good things on this BB about CCF, that I'm ready to talk to my Cardiologist about the ablation. There just seems to be so few that have chronic a-fib. Right now I'm on 180mg of Betapace 2X per day, and Warafin, this is keeping my HR in the 78-98 range. Thank you.

[bubby1]

I am considering ablation at the pittsburgh med center. I am told that I do not need to be in Afib to fine the source any longer. Is this true? I take Amiodorine and coumadin and would like to get off these drugs. My Afib is chronic and I get cardioverted about 2 times a year. Any info would be appreciated

[Sue143]

I forgot to add that the atrail tach episodes only occur from once a week to once a month, and last anywhere from 10 sec. to 10 mins.

[Cleveland Clinic]

Sue,

I remember your history. Your options are pretty well spelled out for you.

Your options are really meds, no meds or an attampt at an ablation. Each carries risks and benefits. I think the main issue needs to be how well you can live with your symptoms as you are now. An ablation may help with both the SVT and PACs.  
Thus it could impact your palpitations.

It is very difficult to balance the risks and benefits of any procedure, especially when you take into account your family. You should focus on how well you can deal with doing nothing and how that will impact your overall sanity and well being.  If you are miserable all the time from worry about the SVT and palpitations, it might make it easier to reason through to undergo an ablation.

You might talk to others on this forum who have undergone an ablation to get some more insight from those that have gone through it.

good luck