Atrial Fibrillation Forum - AFIBBERS FORUM A forum for sharing experiences regarding atrial fibrillation and other atrial tachy-arrhythmias. https://www.afibbers.org/forum/list.php?9 Fri, 12 Jun 2026 01:38:31 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201537#msg-201537 Re: 2 yrs post ablation and now PVCs and thumps https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201537#msg-201537 So, it seems that about 50% are going to make it out to the five-year mark, give-or-take.


Let's just make it simple and stick to the five-year mark, which you initially brought up.

Again, According to Winkle et al. 2023 "Very Long-Term...." nearly 68% of PAF patients remained AF free, five years after a single ablation. And the stats are even better in younger patients with fewer comobidities.

So that's quite different from the impression one gets from anecdotals on the various heatlh forums.

Also, keep in mind, AF ablation studies use an extremely high bar for success, per your first link. In many trials a single episode lasting 30 seconds counts as a recurrence. Ok for research maybe, but in the real world, most of us would consider years of normal rhythm, with only a brief or even a not so brief occasional episode a successful outcome.

For example, I had a 3-hour AF episode, six months after my ablation, but AF free for the last 2 1/2 years. So if I were in one of those studies,
I would not have made it to the "five-year mark" but is that even relevant? Both myself and my EP consider my ablation a big success.

So if you add my experience and many others like me, the stats start becoming even more favorable for ablation.


Jim]]> mjamesone AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 11 Jun 2026 21:31:11 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201536,201536#msg-201536 Ablation scheduled https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201536,201536#msg-201536
Because I was having severe muscle cramps and spasms on 40 mg. atorvastatin he prescribed Crestor 5 mg. There doesn’t seem to be any follow up on my coronary artery disease. I told him I stopped aspirin after about seven weeks due to spitting blood. His notes say bleeding gums. We can’t actually know that. He also apologized for my portal messages being ignored. I mentioned I sent two KardiaMobile strips the nurse requested but nobody acknowledged them. He seemed surprised and said from now on message him not the NP. My NP was working at the hospital that week and never got my messages. He looked at them today and said flutter.

I had thyroid labs yesterday in preparation for my appointment next week with my endocrinologist. Normal. They have been normal for about seven months now. TSH went down a lot compared to last labs in March but was still normal. Of course my doctor made a note on the results that we will discuss at my appointment. Usually he puts “good values.” When I researched what the drop might mean it said it’s possible I’m going hyperthyroid and may need to increase methimazole. I’m still taking 5 mg. daily and have been for about a year.

Pam]]> PamelaJean AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 11 Jun 2026 20:53:18 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201535#msg-201535 Re: 2 yrs post ablation and now PVCs and thumps https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201535#msg-201535
[scienceinsights.org]

[www.jacc.org]


So, it seems that about 50% are going to make it out to the five-year mark, give-or-take.

This is a very interesting article including data on AI-assisted CA:

[globalrph.com]]]> gloaming AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:48:09 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201534#msg-201534 Re: 2 yrs post ablation and now PVCs and thumps https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201534#msg-201534
Quote
mjamesone
That's because health forums are subject to selection bias. People with unsuccessful ablations are more likely to post.

I've been making that point for years. People who get successful ablations just go on with their lives. They don't post to afib forums. Sure, there are people like me and others here who've had successful ablations and remain active, but I can't recall anyone here who had a successful index ablation and is still active here. Same with other afib forums I've participated in.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 11 Jun 2026 03:08:31 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201533#msg-201533 Re: 2 yrs post ablation and now PVCs and thumps https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201533#msg-201533 But, regrettably, all the hundreds of posts by different patients on several fora dealing with AF suggest that you're doing well if you get to five years without a recurrence.

That's because health forums are subject to selection bias. People with unsuccessful ablations are more likely to post. Conversely, those with successful ablations tend to move on with their lives. According to Winkle et al. 2023 "Very Long-Term...." nearly 68% of PAF patients remained AF free, five years after a single ablation. And the stats are even better in younger patients with fewer comobidities.

Jim]]> mjamesone AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:33:36 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201524,201532#msg-201532 Re: Iodine & AfIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201524,201532#msg-201532 I will take alook at all of it.
Thanks]]> TomR AFIBBERS FORUM Wed, 10 Jun 2026 18:31:25 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201531#msg-201531 Re: 2 yrs post ablation and now PVCs and thumps https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201531#msg-201531
But, regrettably, all the hundreds of posts by different patients on several fora dealing with AF suggest that you're doing well if you get to five years without a recurrence. And do keep yer fingers crossed. (:P)]]> gloaming AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:51:24 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201524,201530#msg-201530 Re: Iodine & AfIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201524,201530#msg-201530
There are notes I put together uploaded to this post from 2023: [www.afibbers.org] There is a broken link to Dr. Guy Abraham's papers. Here is one that works, through the Internet Archive: [web.archive.org]

When I consulted with a person that runs an iodine FB group (and is a retired nurse who had been doing an iodine protocol for 10 ish years), he told me a fair number of people who consulted with him had afib and it did help mitigate their episodes. I can't say it has made a difference one way or the other for my afib case. The most potent afib rhythm med is amiodarone, which has an organic (chemically organic in this case) iodine molecule as its basis. As most know, it also has potential side effects from long duration use. My logic was that Lugol's, which does not have those issues, might have the same benefit.

One thing is that iodine is a halide in the periodic chart. It will displace other halides. The big one is bromine/bromide, which is now ubiquitous in our environment. Getting it out of your system is good, but needs to be done slowly. There is a salt loading protocol, developed by a US military doc in WWI for dealing with bromine gas poisoning. It should be done for two weeks prior to consuming high iiodine doses. In my uploaded document, there is a list of suggested companion nutrients that sholud be taken with the iodine.]]> GeorgeN AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 09 Jun 2026 15:31:03 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201529#msg-201529 Re: 2 yrs post ablation and now PVCs and thumps https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201529#msg-201529
Quote
Ken
Two successful ablations, first good for 13 years, the second for 6 years, but unfortunately, there have been some breakthroughs. Afib will always come back.

13 years and 6 years sounds amazing, though still discouraging to hear "Afib will always come back".

Has anyone had just one ablation and remained AFIB free for decades?:)]]> Yuxi AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 09 Jun 2026 13:40:25 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201527#msg-201527 Re: 2 yrs post ablation and now PVCs and thumps https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201527#msg-201527 Ken AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 09 Jun 2026 12:38:04 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201494,201526#msg-201526 Re: AFib/HF/Apnea https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201494,201526#msg-201526
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gloaming
Simple PAP is my tern for, as an example, the RESMED AS11 'Elite' model that will afford the wearer some pressure relief in its settings, but it doesn't have the variable pressures that a Bi-PAP machine or an ASV has. Or the AS10 'Curve' models with the more fancy algorithm software loaded. Mine is just straight full-time pressure because my OSA responds best to that 'simple' delivery modulus.

Thanks! I will run that past my sleep doc.]]> bettylou4488 AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:36:17 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201525#msg-201525 Re: Av-node ablation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201525#msg-201525
Quote
susan.d
Have you had a recent cardiac MRI? It provides an accurate EF as long as you are in NSR.

My diagnosis is HFpEF.. so HF with preserved ejection fraction. (about 50% of HFis this type)]]> bettylou4488 AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:35:20 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201524,201524#msg-201524 Iodine & AfIB https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201524,201524#msg-201524

Cardiovascular System (from Recent Advances in Iodine Nutrition, Michael Donaldson, PhD, on ResearchGate.net)

Iodine is critical to the heart and arterial system. Iodine (as well as omega 3 fats) is
critical to the stabilization of the electrical pulses of the heart. Lack of iodine is related to
atrial fibrillation. An iodine-containing drug called amiodarone is used to prevent atrial
and ventrical fibrillation and releases about 9 mg of iodine per day. It is a complex,
toxic drug and is stored in the fatty tissues of the body, but part of its mechanism of
action appears to be the iodine that is being released slowly by the drug.

Bruce West is a chiropractic doctor who has found iodine to be very helpful in helping
patients with arrhythmia problems. He says, “The body needs adequate stores of iodine
for the heart to beat smoothly. After close to a year now of using Iodine Fulfillment
Therapy, I can attest to this fact. Most of the stubborn cases of cardiac arrhythmias and
atrial fibrillation that we were unable to completely correct with our cardiac protocols
have now been resolved with adequate supplies of iodine added to the protocol.”
(West B. Atrial fibrillation, arrhythmias and iodine. Health Alert. 2006;23(6).)

Another article is here: [drsircus.com]]]> TomR AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 09 Jun 2026 03:11:51 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201523#msg-201523 Re: 2 yrs post ablation and now PVCs and thumps https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201523#msg-201523 Shiny Sleeves AFIBBERS FORUM Tue, 09 Jun 2026 01:53:22 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201522#msg-201522 Re: 2 yrs post ablation and now PVCs and thumps https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201522#msg-201522 GeorgeN AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 08 Jun 2026 14:52:55 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201521#msg-201521 Re: Av-node ablation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201521#msg-201521 susan.d AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 08 Jun 2026 03:29:51 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201520#msg-201520 2 yrs post ablation and now PVCs and thumps https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201520,201520#msg-201520
I'm wondering what I can do about this and is this a prodromal sign of a returning afib? I'm thinking it's time for a Holter monitor to see what my burden is. It has a lot to do with my digestion and I think my heart rhythm is closely tied to my hiatal hernia too; famotidine seems to help on occasion. Also this seems to have something to do with my HR slowing down; when my resting HR was high after the ablation, I had a steady rhythm. Now that's back to my normal 60, I'm experiencing PVCs. My heart rhythm is best when I'm walking or working around the house actively and my HR is up.]]> Shiny Sleeves AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 08 Jun 2026 02:50:25 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201519#msg-201519 Re: Av-node ablation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201519#msg-201519
I am going to Cleveland for HFpEF (preserved ejection fraction) in August. I don't want to wait until then for an ablation if I can help it. And you can't get into an EP at Cleveland until another cardioglost recommends you. I may be able to have my functional cardioglost take a stab at that appointment.]]> bettylou4488 AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 08 Jun 2026 02:22:24 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201518#msg-201518 Re: Av-node ablation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201518#msg-201518
Quote
GeorgeN
susan.d had one. Here is a search on her posts on the topic [www.afibbers.org]

It’s saved my life. No more tachycardia flutters

It’s the last resort. Make sure you exhausted all other options. I wouldn’t worry about pacing induced cardiomyopathy. You can always get a third lead (2 V, 1 atrium) new pacemaker. I just keep an eye on my EF. I used to go to the ER 26 days of a month and hospitalized while they failed to convert me. Now I have a steady 70hr. My battery will last 5 more years.

Yes you will feel your afib but it’s now not as dangerous because your ventricles are controlled. In fact, you can get pacemaker boost therapy programmed and for me my PM converts 25-27% of my afib/VT/AT.

It’s a permanent nuke ablation. Make sure you ran out of options before having it done.]]> susan.d AFIBBERS FORUM Mon, 08 Jun 2026 01:05:56 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201517#msg-201517 Re: Av-node ablation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201517#msg-201517 GeorgeN AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 07 Jun 2026 23:34:12 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201516#msg-201516 Re: Av-node ablation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201516#msg-201516
Without knowing your EP, hard to comment, but I'm a big fan of second and perhaps even more opinions (I had five) especially in hard to treat cases, which your cardiologist's inferred. And ideally they should be at a top ten or top 15 cardiac hospital that does high-volume ablations. Those centers see more, know more, and have better results.

Jim]]> mjamesone AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 07 Jun 2026 21:57:48 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201502,201515#msg-201515 Re: Edema https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201502,201515#msg-201515 allofus AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 07 Jun 2026 12:14:23 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201494,201514#msg-201514 Re: AFib/HF/Apnea https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201494,201514#msg-201514 gloaming AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 06 Jun 2026 22:15:38 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201513#msg-201513 Re: Av-node ablation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201513#msg-201513
One buzzing fly in the ointment, though: an AV node nuke and ICD/pacemaker installation doesn't guarantee a correction to all AF cases. Sometimes it works, and you would be a fully grateful and relaxed wearer of a pacemaker. For others, the AF continues, but at least they don't also have RVR and so many symptoms.]]> gloaming AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 06 Jun 2026 22:11:43 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201512#msg-201512 Re: Av-node ablation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201512#msg-201512 www.afibbers.org]]]> GeorgeN AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 06 Jun 2026 13:55:37 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201511#msg-201511 Av-node ablation https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201511,201511#msg-201511 bettylou4488 AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 06 Jun 2026 03:22:35 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201502,201510#msg-201510 Re: Edema https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201502,201510#msg-201510 Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 06 Jun 2026 02:36:34 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201502,201509#msg-201509 Re: Edema https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201502,201509#msg-201509 Does vascular surgery stop this from happening in the future?]]> allofus AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 05 Jun 2026 23:51:07 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201502,201508#msg-201508 Re: Edema https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201502,201508#msg-201508
One way to tell if it's simple edema or if it's veinous insufficiency is whether the swelling extends to the tops of your feet (where your shoelaces are). If so, it's edema. If not, it may be peripheral vascular disease and you need to see a vascular surgeon.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 05 Jun 2026 23:15:44 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201502,201507#msg-201507 Re: Edema https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,201502,201507#msg-201507 allofus AFIBBERS FORUM Fri, 05 Jun 2026 22:01:52 +0000