A Fib quality of life

[afibh8t]

I don't know what others experience but during an A Fib event, my quality of life deteriorates completely.  I did read that large doses of Vitamin D can cause arrhythmia so I stopped taking Vitamin D and the events have decreased dramatically in frequency from about 2/week to 1/month and intensity and duration.  
I was diagnosed with A Fib about 1 year ago but have been having what I thought was tachycardia for years but maybe only 2 times/year.
I am considering catheter ablation but am terrified.  Does anyone know where I can find out what facility does the most catheter ablations and their success rates?

[JoKelly]

Second ablation was six weeks ago now.  I had an AFib episode lasting about an hour last week, so felt disappointed.  However, the cardiologist says that the first three months following an ablation cannot point one way or another.  He also said, if it does fail, there could be yet another ablation, drugs they haven't tried and bottom line, a dual chamber pacemaker.  So I cheered up and despite quite an emergency with low blood pressure following the ablation, I would try again if this one also has failed.  They don't usually offer another until about a year has passed.   Meanwhile I am on tenterhooks and trying not to be over-monitoring every sensation!

[DeltaDawn23]

So glad your ablation seems to have done the trick.  Great News!

[JoKelly]

It is only by trial and error you find out what can activate a bout of AFib.  I can walk (not too briskly) drink coffee and have a couple of glasses of wine without problems, but anything with antihistamine in it, produces an attack within minutes.  Sleeping on my right side is not a good idea for me and certainly any emotion which produces adrenalin, is also a dead ringer for an episode.  It is a bit like a minefield, but one you can learn a pathway through most of the time.  Just had a second ablation three weeks ago and so far, so good.  It was a 3.5 hrs catheter ablation under general anaesthetic, so a lot of work done - maybe this time lucky.....

[afibh8t]

I really appreciate your insight and help.  This is a real stinking issue and am trying to find my way around it.  
I am 64, walk a brisk pace 45min 2X a day but think I am only playing into stronger more intense Afibs by strengthening my heart.  I have cut out all stimulants and increased my activity.  There's got to be a better way out of this mess.
Thanks again

[afibh8t]

Thank you for your insights and experience.  It is refreshing to hear from someone that hasn't been discouraged by one failed ablation.  I am not too sure what my next move will be but resent the herd mentality of my cardiologist.  
I have to research and figure out what is next.
Thanks again for your support

[JoKelly]

I have paroxysmal AFib and my husband is in permanent AFib.  I feel dreadful during an episode, really ill, but my husband feels normal all the time.  I have had one failed ablation, my husband is due his first soon.  Meanwhile I am kept stable by anti-arrhythmic drugs.

So everyone is different, including symptoms, success rates and reactions to various treatments.  These days all the cardiologists who do ablations are well qualified and accredited with many successes, although I believe you can just get in touch with the hospital and ask about this.  

Although my first ablation has failed, I have optimism about the next one, as each try narrows the field where the trouble is located.  Don't feel scared of an ablation.  They are very common and even if not successful the first time, they don't harm you in any way except for some tiredness afterwards and maybe some AFib as the heart settles.

[DeltaDawn23]

I almost forgot -- moderate exercise is helping me and I just read on that Cleveland Clinic chat transcript -- "Valium improves heart rate variability and reduces sympathetic nerve activity.  It may help."  I am going to ask about that.  I now take Xanax when my heart goes fast and the doc says it cuts the adrenaline -- our worst enemy -- and thus helps slow the heart.  Take care.

[DeltaDawn23]

I don't know where you are located, but in the Midwest, the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland is one of the best places for heart issues.  You can go to stopafib.org and see a transcript from a online chat on May 31st that may answer many of your questions and also provides statistics.  I have had afib for about 10 years.  After my first episode (which happened during a time of extreme stress) for which I was kept overnight at the hospital and converted chemically, my afib was pretty much controlled by beta blockers for 7 years.  Looking back, tho, I was having what I later learned were symptoms of brief episodes of afib -- also tachycardia, pac's, pvcs.  Then I had a couple of episodes that converted on their own.  Then 2 years ago I had an episode for which I had to be electro converted -- shocked -- and another one 4 months later.  I asked to go on an anti-arrythmic and my doctor put me on Norpace CR 200 mg. per day.  That worked for 2 years, then last December I had 2 episodes 2-1/2 weeks apart and they increased my dose to 300 mg. per day.  I have a lot of gastric issues with this med and went on Rhythmol, which I could not tolerate.  So I went just on Atenolol for 3 weeks and again went into afib.  I am now back on the Norpace, am tolerating it better with reduction of Atenolol.  I am being evaluated for a FIRM ablation this month at Ohio State Univ. Med Center in Columbus Ohio.  If you google this term, also CONFIRM and PRECISE trials you will see some very interesting statistics.  This kind of ablation was developed by Dr. Narayan in San Diego.  It is now being used at 11 other centers around the country, Columbus and Indianapolis being the ones closest to me.  The FIRM procedure is getting better results in finding the trouble spots that cause afib and need to be ablated.  He is citing 80+% success rates even in cases of persistent afib.  You may want to look into it.   There are other procedures such as a mini-maze that are getting better than 90% success rate.  Ohio State does a 5 box mini maze and  you can get info on this if you google the term on this message board or on the internet.  Quality of life does suffer and as one ages, afib tends to get worse. The vitamin D question is interesting.  I have actually increased my Vitamin D to 1000 mg. per day, increased my potassium, decreased my Atenolol and I am feeling much better with fewer irregular beats.  My advice is to get all the info you can.  Email Dr. Narayan and find out where the closest center that performs FIRM is near you.  Study the statistics.  Mayo Clinic is another place that comes to mind.  Paroxamal afib usually turns into persistent afib and then permanent afib.  If you don't have a electropysiologist -- a cardiologist specializing in heart rhythms, you need to see one and be evaluated.  Not sure of your age.  The anti-arrythmic meds have side effects which can also affect quality of life.  I wish you luck with this.  It can be managed.  I say if you go the ablation route, find the best place you can to perform it -- some place that does hundreds per year and place yourself in their hands.  Afib seems to be poorly understood and in my opinion not taken seriously enough by the doctors.  Quality of life is not on their radar and just minimizing episodes pretty much covers what I'm been offered.  It won't kill us, that's what they tell me.  Keep us posted on how you're doing.  You are not alone.