Any ounger folks had ablation or thinking about it? Please help!

[jmatt73]

Hi I am 34 and am considering at the very least a cardioversion but maybe a catheter ablation or even surgical ablation (minimally invasive), to cure my afib.

I am for the most part, asymptomatic (only palpitations occasionally) but I do not want to be on Digoxin and Coumadin my whole life.

Any one in here close to my age that has had any of these procedures? I am very nervous and would love some advice.

Thanks.

[newfish]

i'm 46, had first cardioversion about your age, they are not a big deal, i've been cardioverted 7 to 9 times over the years, lost track of how many, in the hosp the give you a drug that makes you forget the procedure. awsome drug....so you wake up with no knowledge that they did anything..... I do have an ICD which cardioverted me while fishing 2 years ago...without the drugs it feels like a kick in the chest, more than a bit startling, but my son and I did stay in the boat and fish for another 3 hours.

As for radio wave ablations, I've had 2, an overnight stay a bit more involved, hurts like hell when they take the sheaths out of you legs.first time didn't use drugs for sheath removal second time did the drugs.

[RoseBam]

I'm 19, and last year had two ablations to try and fix some weird electrodes which were causing cardiac arrests, the recovery period for the first one was very short, i was back at work within a week, the  second however was a bit more painfull, they used a special mapping system and it really was painfull. neither of the operations had any effect on me, positivley, but i have met several people who have gone though ablation totally safely and effectivley. of course it depends on the sevarety of your disease or defects. i say go for it, if you havent already, it is always worth a try, and evey time it is done, (hopefully only once) they learn a bit more about your heart. good luck. xx

[heartofgld]

I had a cardioversion for rapid afib last Sept. it wasn't that bad...I was put out in the ER and awoke in NSR. I have since had 3 ablations, none that have kept me from slipping back into afib. I have other rhythm issues which make treating me a little more complicated. My EP thinks that i may be to the point where a pacemaker is a decent option. I am currently on a short course of amioderone to simmer things down.

Is there a reason that you are taking coumadin instead of a full aspirin?