diagnosed w afib in february. 4 severe episodes. others in and out.

Hi. Is your consultant recommending ablation? I have been ablated due to meds not particularly agreeing with me, but also due to how rotten episodes were making me feel and a concern of potential longer term damage from having long lasting episodes. Each case is very individual and whether to go ahead should be discussed thoroughly with all risks considered to your case. Good luck

What meds are you on and how long do you episodes last my systems were similar to yours short episodes of an hour I take Bisoprolol 2.5mg and rivaraxaban 20mg and haven't had an episode fo about 6 weeks

You don't say which meds your on but I hope you're on an anti-coagulant as this will reduce risk of stroke. I've posted before that my paf is a side-effect of my bp meds (was Ramipril then Candesartan with one episode a week). I'm now on Bisoprolol with fewer episodes (about one a month lasting for 30-36 hours). If your on meds consider getting them changed.

Looking at, and addressing any AFib risk factors that you may have, may be the way to go?

You may even find that once all your risk factors have been addressed, you may not need an ablation.

I'm 6 weeks Post ablation. My risk factors were smoking, excess alcohol, severe sleep apnoea, 15 kg overweight and had a family history of cardiac issues.  

Was told that if I addressed all my risk factors, there was a 85% chance of still being in rhythm at the 5 year mark. Was also told that if I didn't address my risk factors, there was only a 15% chance of being in rhythm at the 5 year mark.(so have addressed them all - a no brainer really)!

Based on that information, I believe that rushing off to have an ablation without addressing your risk factors, would not be worth the risk/effort.

I was diagnosed last October and had my surgery in March. It took that long because I had to find the right doctor (I fired my first EP) and hospital and then the operation had to be scheduled.   Bottom line, it will be your doc who will decide when it's good for u, but I know a contributing factor for me was the negative side affects I was getting from the rhthym drug; metallic taste, lightheadness, fatigue, heartburn, indigestion.  

Your you are cardio will refer u to an EP (electrophysiologist) sometimes referred to as an 'electrician' as they are the specialists for ablation. 

As I've mentioned in previous posts,must is very important to find an EP that does a WHOLE LOT of these operations. 

Good luck. 

 

I was diagnosed with PAF in June 2012 and it took me another 19 months to get recommended for ablation, which I needed because AF stopped me getting a medical for my particular type of work. I had my ablation in August 2014, am now 34 months post ablation, but still cannot proceed with medical for work, as I've had several bubble studies to see if the septum puncture has healed. I had my last bubble stuy in Augst 2015 and I'm now waiting for an appointment that will hopefully confirm complete closure of the hole in the septum, so I can get a medical to try to return to work. So all told it has been nearly 4 years since diagnosis. Four years of not working in my particular industry. To say I'm fed up with all time waiting is an understatement. If I'd had private medical insurance from  day one, I reckon I could of been sorted in about 3 to 12 months all told. But on the NHS you have to get inline behind the self inflicted bad life style patients, unfortunately.