From what you say you may have a high probability of an ablation being effective. In my case I also have an enlarged left atrium, over 5 cm diameter and that lowers the probability of a success for me. As said, minor symptoms, and it sounds like that's what you have, do not seem to justify the risk.
I would be inclined to keep an "eye" on the AFib episodes and if they start to increase think about going for an ablation then. I turn 70 next Saturday, and understand that I am not too old for the procedure. Another factor to consider it what comes out of Washington on a governmental health insurance program. If one comes out, it could change the whole landscape of getting care, and it could, I believe, make it harder to get "optional" medical procedures, especially if you end up on a governmental program, including Medicare. I have retirement paid health insurance, but when I turned 65 my employer/sponsor required me to take full Medicare (Including Part B) as my primary coverage. So, I am subject to government oversight on my health care already, regardless of what is next.
Thanks a lot for your comments. That's what I feel at this moment. The struggle I had was, I had a total of 70 hours of AFib each year for the pass 2-3 years. I am 60 years old. If I can get this out of the way, it would be nice. But I worried about the risk of complications. The CAP is invasive and irreversible. I'm not sure it takes care of the root cause. Also each episode I had never exceeded 10 hours. It normally recovered in the morning.
Any way, thanks again for your advice. I'll take it seriously. I may choose to put off the CAP.
BR
Bill
The advice to me from my cardiologist and my consulting electrophysiologist (EP) is my symptoms are not severe enough to take the risk of a left atrium (AFib) ablation. I have chronic or constant AFib, but the symptoms are mild. It does cut down on my ability to carry out heavy physical activity, I've given running/jogging.
Rythmol, Propafenone and Toprol have all been used, I continue only with the Metoprolol to control my HR, keep it from being too high from the AFib "leak through" to the ventricle.