10 years after my Bordeaux ablation

Hi all,
Today marks 10 years after my Bordeaux ablation. I’ve had a few bouts with PACs here and there and a weird round of PVCs last fall but no afib that I know of. All my thanks to Dr. Hocini. I owe her so much for this gift she gave me.

Briefly, my story was I had my first episode in 2009 at age 38. Two episodes in the next year and this kept increasing in frequency. Started pill in pocket, but once I was using it weekly they had me go on Propafenone daily. After about 6 months I was getting breakthrough episodes again. Plus the propafenone was causing some unpleasant side effects. I didn’t have a lot of confidence in my local EP so I booked in Bordeaux. Best money I ever spent. By the time I went for the ablation I was having episodes almost every day. I had the ablation and never had afib again. Not even in the first few weeks.

Everyone has to make their own decision about ablation, but my advice is that if you do choose to do it, make sure you find the best EP you can.

All the best,

Monty

Quote
montos
Everyone has to make their own decision about ablation, but my advice is that if you do choose to do it, make sure you find the best EP you can.

That's the best advice you'll find anywhere.

Glad to hear you're doing so well 10 years later, Monty!

Thanks for sharing this positive news!
It's just tricky knowing who the best is in your country.
Ablation was the right choice for me, although its still early days.

Thanks, Glen. I looked at your previous post and saw that you’re having some issues with PACs right now. I went through a period about eight months after my ablation where I started getting really bad PACs. I made appointments with another electrophysiologist and was fairly convinced I was going to need a touchup. After looking after myself (healthy, eating and reducing stress levels) they eventually went away. If you are less than a year out, it is still early days. I would say look after yourself and don’t sweat it too much until you need to. I get it because, for me, PACs always led to Afib. Dr. Hocini told me not to worry about it because I was getting the PACs but they weren’t turning into a fib. She said that was a good sign and it meant the ablation was doing what it was supposed to.

Monty



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/10/2025 06:44AM by montos.

Monty, wonderful report! I still recall when you got your ablation.

George

Great report! Congratulations for getting your life back free of afib!

Quote
montos
Thanks, Glen. I looked at your previous post and saw that you’re having some issues with PACs right now. I went through a period about eight months after my ablation where I started getting really bad PACs. I made appointments with another electrophysiologist and was fairly convinced I was going to need a touchup. After looking after myself (healthy, eating and reducing stress levels) they eventually went away. If you are less than a year out, it is still early days. I would say look after yourself and don’t sweat it too much until you need to. I get it because, for me, PACs always led to Afib. Dr. Hocini told me not to worry about it because I was getting the PACs but they weren’t turning into a fib. She said that was a good sign and it meant the ablation was doing what it was supposed to.

Monty

Thanks Monty! thats great to hear, they have actually settled down now. Also congratulations on the ten years!

Happy to report I'm 10 years as well after my ablation with Dr. Natale, and thank you to Shannon and everyone for putting me on the right path. My current cardio is amazed that I've been 10 years in sinus. Very rare in his world.

Congratulations Monty! I had my first ablation in 2003 in Bordeaux. At that time very few people would attempt it for long term persistent AF but Professor Haïssaguerre was top in the field. AF recurred after 3 days and he thought that there was a gap in one of the lines, but this was not the case. He found a very toxic focus in the coronary sinus which he said was extremely difficult to find and ablate. I was in sinus rhythm for 18 years.

2020 AF returned. Travel to Bordeaux was difficult because of Covid so I tried two ablations with the top EP in London, neither of which was successful. So in 2023, aged 85, I returned to Bordeaux where Dr Hocini did her magic, including alcoholisation of the Vein of Marshall, which I had never heard of. Just before she began the procedure I asked her “Do you think this is going to work?” She replied “if I didn’t think so you wouldn’t be here”.

I have been in sinus rhythm since then. Nothing feels as good!

Gill (female, pronounced Jill, in London UK)

Gill,

I remember you well from the “old days” on this board. Your story was one of the reasons why I booked my ablation in Bordeaux.

Glad to hear that everything is well with you and that Dr. Hocini was able to get you back into sinus rhythm. I can only hope that my story goes as well as yours.

Monty