Ablation or not Advice appreciated for this newbie. I had my first episode 7 years ago, then 4 years nothing and bang the second one. Two and a half years later the third one. My cardiologist says : here is your pill in the pocket, live with it. My EP says: do ablation you are ideal for ablation. I preferred the pill but 8 months later came the fourth episode. I noticed the time between episodes was getting shorter so my thinking is that ablation may be the way to go. The episodes are violent causing a trip to ER every time. https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183613#msg-183613 Wed, 26 Aug 2026 11:58:38 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183675#msg-183675 Re: Ablation or not https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183675#msg-183675
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jrmnr
Ken, congratulations on your successful ablation. How long ago?
I completely identify with the fear of travel and the progression of afib.

I have had two ablations, the first lasting 13 years and the second lasting 1.5 years and counting. My decision for an ablation the first time was because of wanting to hike in the Alps. I had done it before and wanted to go back, but I didn't want to have afib show up on the trail while with a group of hikers. Hiking from hut to hut or town to town, just wouldn't work while in afib.

My afib was only an issue when I was or wanted to do something physical (running, hiking, skiing, windsurfing, weights).]]> Ken AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 22 Dec 2021 14:21:53 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183668#msg-183668 Re: Ablation or not https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183668#msg-183668
Choosing the Right Doctor: 10 Questions You’ve Got to Ask (And What the Answers Mean)

https://a-fib.com/questions-for-doctors-and-what-the-answers-mean/]]> JakeL AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 21 Dec 2021 18:59:16 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183660#msg-183660 Re: Ablation or not https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183660#msg-183660
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bettylou4488
In a nutshell imho, It is good to get multiple opinions from the people that do it. I wonder also- is there a post on here of "all the questions you should ask an EP?" I am sure there is.

Not that I know of, and if there is it's probably out of date by now, so there's going to be a new one. It will be a group effort. Stand by.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 21 Dec 2021 05:48:43 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183659#msg-183659 Re: Ablation or not https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183659#msg-183659
In a nutshell imho, It is good to get multiple opinions from the people that do it. I wonder also- is there a post on here of "all the questions you should ask an EP?" I am sure there is.]]> bettylou4488 AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 21 Dec 2021 02:43:05 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183652#msg-183652 Re: Ablation or not https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183652#msg-183652 I completely identify with the fear of travel and the progression of afib.]]> jrmnr AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 20 Dec 2021 18:45:56 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183629#msg-183629 Re: Ablation or not https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183629#msg-183629 Ken AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 19 Dec 2021 15:36:05 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183627#msg-183627 Re: Ablation or not https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183627#msg-183627
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Pompon

My EP says: do ablation you are ideal for ablation.

You might be "ideal for ablation", but remember: there's NO easy case. Sometimes, the EP may think so, but it's only when you've been ablated and afib free for a couple years that one may say it was easy.
Many people here would tell you to choose a highly experienced EP. If you go for an ablation, don't trust the guy next door, unless he's this kind of experienced EP.

I echo what Pompom says. Around 2010 or 11, there was a fellow here who'd had a 2 month or so episode early in his afib "career." Then he had relatively infrequent & short episodes for quite a few years. Lastly, his afib started progressing. He was from Boston and talked to several EP's there. They all told him his was a "simple" case. He contacted the team in Bordeaux, Fr and they said he'd be a complex case. He went to Bordeaux (an international center of afib ablation excellence) and was successfully ablated. His case was complex.

When speaking of simple or complex, in a simple case, a PVAI (Pulmonary vein isolation ablation) will solve the problem. The issue is that this is all many EP's have been trained to do and they don't have the training to address more complex cases. One should always assume they have a complex case and go to a high volume center with an EP who has the training to address a complex case, if necessary. I was chatting with Shannon yesterday about the case of a woman who has been messaging with me privately for a number of years. She was ablated recently in Australia with one of their top EP's. The ablation did not solve her afib as only a PVAI was performed. To solve her issue she needs to go to an EP with the skills to address a complex case.]]> GeorgeN AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 19 Dec 2021 13:17:36 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183624#msg-183624 Re: Ablation or not https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183624#msg-183624
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jrmnr
My EP says: do ablation you are ideal for ablation.

You might be "ideal for ablation", but remember: there's NO easy case. Sometimes, the EP may think so, but it's only when you've been ablated and afib free for a couple years that one may say it was easy.
Many people here would tell you to choose a highly experienced EP. If you go for an ablation, don't trust the guy next door, unless he's this kind of experienced EP.]]> Pompon AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 19 Dec 2021 08:30:34 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183618#msg-183618 Re: Ablation or not https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183618#msg-183618 jrmnr AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 19 Dec 2021 01:49:49 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183617#msg-183617 Re: Ablation or not https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183617#msg-183617
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jrmnr
Flecainide. It makes the episode a little milder, instead of 180 bpm it is 140,
Peace of mind is part of the equation, I always think is there an ER close by where I am going?

Its good that it makes it milder but it should stop it in its tracks in no more then 3 hours max. otherwise a PIP is not doing its job...you need a higher dose of Flec. or maybe try chewing the dose your currently taking like i did Propafenone as you get the kick up front in the 1st hour or 2 before waning but that's when you want this gone right the earlier the better or try Propafenone 150mg chewed as soon as your episode starts...it was my best friend for about 8 months before my ablation.....out of about 80 times yes 80 times i used it.....it went 80 for 80 when chewed at an ave. of a 1 hour conversion time after the swallow.....an absol. miracle maker for me esp. mentally knowing i have this powerful solution to a horrible malady that never fails.
It is like a freight train once it gets going its really hard to stop so your best chance is very early before it gets its momentum going in cruise control.
George a poster here has chewed Flec. in the past + i worked for him as i recall so chewing a low dose amount of PIP is both safe and Very effective in my exper. anyway....GL.]]> vanlith AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 19 Dec 2021 01:18:05 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183616#msg-183616 Re: Ablation or not https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183616#msg-183616 Peace of mind is part of the equation, I always think is there an ER close by where I am going?]]> jrmnr AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:44:02 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183615#msg-183615 Re: Ablation or not https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183615#msg-183615
I used a PIP (propafenone) chewed in the 1st 5 min. of the start of a episode to ko my ARR. in an hour or so + i am reading that you are taking a PIP but everytime you get an episode you end up in the ER so what kind of PIP are you taking because it obviously is not doing the job?]]> vanlith AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 19 Dec 2021 00:19:25 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183613#msg-183613 Ablation or not https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,183613,183613#msg-183613 I had my first episode 7 years ago, then 4 years nothing and bang the second one. Two and a half years later the third one. My cardiologist says : here is your pill in the pocket, live with it. My EP says: do ablation you are ideal for ablation. I preferred the pill but 8 months later came the fourth episode. I noticed the time between episodes was getting shorter so my thinking is that ablation may be the way to go.
The episodes are violent causing a trip to ER every time.]]> jrmnr AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 18 Dec 2021 23:24:00 +0000