Ablation or Tikosyn?

[zueman]

I'm 50, and have had atrial fib for 9 years.  I've tried several meds, but to be honest all of them left me feeling fatigued.  Heart rate was also very low when on meds, about 42 - 48 bpm resting and down to 28 - 30 at low point during sleep.  Anyway, I went to my Cardiologist who said I was a good candidate for ablation.  After meeting with another doc, and asking some very good questions, I thought, I decided to go in the hospital for three days and get on Tikosyn, and put off ablation until a later date.  The thing is, after reading all the info related to Tikosyn, ablation sounds like a pretty good alternative.  While my episodes are annoying, they do not significantly interfere with my daily life, but if I am to have the ablation procedure, I don't want to wait too long until the success rate is lower because of a more advanced state of AF.  I guess I'm looking for any advice I can get either way.  My wife, understandably, is every bit as worried about the procedure as I am.  I'm currently scheduled for the Tikosyn procedure on November 22 and whichever procedure I decide to have, I'll be having it at Baptist Heart in Little Rock, AR.  Thanks in advance for all the comments and advice.

[Elinka]

What is Tikoysn?  thanks!

[zueman]

From what the Dr tells me it's an anti-arrhythmic med.

[whatayear]

anti-arrhythmic drugs are BADDDDD! I just read an artice that they cause irreversable damge and are toxic and should be avoided at all cost!!!! ablation is the way to go if thats what its come to!

[angelnote]

I have VTach and have been on Amiodarone twice now since April 07.  This anti-arrhythmic drug is very very good at treating what I have, but long term there are many problems.  I just had a ablation on Monday so I can go off of the drug.  My cardiologist says I am too young (I'm 51) to be on the meds long-term and I agree.  She found three areas that she ablated, but we will have to wait until the Amio is out my system to see if there are any more.

The most important thing is to trust your cardiologist.  And I understand that Atrial ablations are pretty successful - more than for VT's.

I'm also wondering about your heartrate - that seems awfully low.  I have an ICD and am paced at 80.

Hope this helps.

Angel

[dquenzer]

I had afib for 6 years.  Failed three meds because they didn't keep me in rythmn.  Tikosyn didn't work.  Had an ablation 4 years ago.  It worked.  Procedure is very low risk done under good hands.  Go to a very good center.  As to whether an ablation will work depends upon the source of the AFIB.  But I wish I would have demanded it right of way.  I wasted a great deal of time, money, and frustration on meds.

Check with your insurance.  My ablation cost 55,000.  I had it at Mayo.  Very thorough, but very spendy.  Thankfully I only had to pay 3500!

Brother recently had ablation for flutter.  Took three tries, but it worked.

[PeterKCC]

how did the Ticosyn work out?

[csr2009a]

I just had my ablation for a-fib on Monday 8-17-2009, and after the ablation the doctor put me on Tykosin. I was in a-fib a day after the procedure, and had one more instance of a-fib after I got home, haven't had any more a-fib since. He told me that he was putting me on the Tykosin to keep my heart in rhythm while my heart healed. Don't know how long I will be on Tykosin but pretty sure it's not a permanent thing. If you have any questions about my ablation experience please feel free to ask, I will answer the best that I can.

[jordan524]

My father had ablation first, but  aryth. againso now is in hospital to get onto Tykosyn.  The ablation did not work very well for him the first time, but I don't understand why they can't just keep doing ablations.  What does your doctor say about Tykosynvs. ablation?
Thanks.
J

[jordan524]

one more question---what is so bad about aryth. drugs?