facing 3rd ablation

[afib3]

I had my second ablation for afib in early June which has not succeeded in reducing episodes of afib.  I have 12-24 hour episodes 1-2 times a week, and am still on multiple medications.  Has anyone had a 3 rd ablation on this forum, and was it successful?  I am dreading doing this again.  Thanks for your help.

[LindaTX]

I did have my first Radiofrequency Pulmonary Vein Isoblation by Dr Natale in Sept.  I say "first" because it looks like I may need a sec
ond.  I've gone through all the anti-arrhythmic drugs and settled on a high dose of flecainide that has kept me out of a-fib for 2 1/2 months.

I have experienced a little a-flutter episodes and some tachycardia of 120 bpm a few times. Now I am weaning myself down on the flecainide as per my Dr.'s instruction. I willcontinue of a small dose of flecainide for another when I hope to get completely off of it.  Only then will I truly
know if the ablation has had any merit.

Ary you sure you are giving yourself time for your heart to heal between the ablations? I wish you all the best.  I've been where you are with those dreadfully long episodes.

[twinbee]

When I was preparing for my ablation in 2008, I was told by almost every EP I consulted with that it can take up to 3 ablations to fix my a-fib/flutter. I do know of alot of people from different forums that have had to have 2 and 3 ablations to fix their a-fib. Also, some of these people are patients of Dr. Natale. Like someone said above "third time is a charm'. Good luck to you. Wishing you well, and wishing you enough...

[LindaTX]

Maybe you guys should contact my Dr, Andre Natale in Austin, Tx.  He pioneered the ablation procedure.  I'm only a week out from mine tomorrow but I think I'm coming out of it ok.  If you can, give him a shout.

[jondsam]

You know the old saying, "Third time is a charm"

[ksig]

Yes, one can have multiple ablations to be rid of AFib.  I have had 4 and I still had AFib from time to time.  I also had a pacer implanted so the last ablation was in Mar 09 to ablate the AV node.  That was quite successful.  I still have AFib but the events are not very aggressive nor do they last as long (Ahhh... there is peace in my world)  As grendslori stated, if you are not mis-firing on the day of the ablation, the doc can only guess where it is coming from.  Good luck on the 3rd ablation.  I feel each and every one of the ablations that I had was well worth it. I have my life back because I can ocean sail and travel extensively again.

ksig

[grendslori]

Yes, some patients have to have several ablations for it to work. If the electrical tract isn't active on the day of the ablation, the tract can't be mapped and then ablated. Sometimes it is only partially ablated and then returns in time. My daughter has had several ablations, including an open heart surgery to ablate WPW.

[Jerry_NJ]

I was still running/jogging until April of 2007 when I went into permanent AFib... then after heart surgery in which I had a mini-maze while a valve was being repaired I went through cardio rehabilitation.. and was in AFib the whole time (the maze didn't hold/work).  I could not run, or even jog, but then and now I am able to walk a mile or two on reasonably level ground without any problems at all (given the weather isn't hot an humid as it has been here in NJ for the last 8 weeks).  I can even hike in the hills, but may have to stop on upgrades to keep my heart rate below 140.  I really don't feel the AFib, but I do feel a greatly reduced cardiovascular capacity.. due to the inefficiencies caused by the non-functional atrial chambers.

I could stand to lose about 25 pounds, and it isn't lack of exercise, its a bad diet habit.  In my old age I've developed a real "sweet tooth" and typically take on 500+ calories in stuff I shouldn't be eating.  So I know what I have to do, but just don't seem to get around to it. I take medications lower the AFib driven HR, and the beta blockers and calcium channel blockers both cause some fatigue, or I'm just lazy.  Good thing I'm retired.

[afib3]

I have paroxysmal afib and was given a 60% chance of success on the first ablation, 90% on the second.  Glad you are not too symptomatic.  I have diabetes and obesity, and any attempt to exercise flips me into Afib.  Feel pretty sick when I have it, so I will probably have to go for #3.  Can you exercise at all?

[Jerry_NJ]

Gee, and I can't get my Cardiologist and/or EP to agree to try one ablation on me.  I have permanent AFib, but the symptoms are tolerable, in fact when not engaged in physical work I don't feel the AFib at all.  I also tolerate Coumadin/Warfarin well and have no trouble keeping my INR in the 2-3 range.  The other message they give me is getting me into NSR does not improve my life expectancy... that is the only reason to do it is to improve my quality of life, which isn't all that bad.  They give the probability of success in my case a low number...don't remember a number, something like not likely to work, less than 50%?  Sounds like your experience shows a probability result of success of less than 50%.  What does your doctor estimate the likelihood of a success on the 3rd try?

If your symptoms are a serious impact on your quality of life, what other choice do you have other than try again?