Thanks, Researcher, and Shannon, for following up on the latest studies, and being willing to share your expertise with all of us. Doreenby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
This summary was on Medpage Today. The link is below and I've also copied the text. I haven't had a chance to research in depth, but it did sound positive for cryoablation. Afib Ablation: Fewer Returns After 'Ice' Than 'Fire' Secondary FIRE AND ICE analysis favors cryoablation for readmissions by Nicole Lou Reporter, MedPage Today/CRTonline.org Patby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Best wishes to you, Smackman, and I will say a prayer for you. Hopefully, this will be the end of afib/flutter for you and you can put this behind you. Doreenby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Denver and Gill, Thanks for giving inspiration to those of us with recent ablations. Glad you are both so active and doing so well. I love seeing your updates. Doreenby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Rylar, Sorry to hear you're having so much afib after an ablation. I was on propafenone for over 6 years prior to my ablation. I started on the 225 mg dose twice a day and was bumped up fairly quickly (within 3 weeks) to 325 twice a day. I tinkered with my dosages occasionally on my own to try to reduce it to 225 mg twice a day, but i would always eventually go back into afib and goby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was on propafenone for six years before my breakthroughs became more and more frequent. First year I had zero breakthroughs with no noticeable side effects. The longer I was on it, I began to notice a bit less energy, and a dry mouth. Once the breakthroughs started happening more frequently, the doctor increased my dosage, but then my heart rate would sometimes drop below 40 at night and I feby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Shannon, in addition to being a forum moderator, you are a friend to many of us - taking the time to reassure us with personal phone calls and now, observing and posting on ablations in real time, and providing in-person support. Thank you. I am always taken aback when I hear about the need for second ablations (particularly with Dr. Natale), even though I know this is such a tricky disease.by Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Wow Murray - Seven hours! Glad you're feeling better every day and of course, as you said, there is the best part of all - NSR. You're on the mend. Doreenby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Kappa, I'm fairly new to the ablation process, but there are many of us who were just like you and tried every possible thing to prevent afib from coming, convinced that the solution was around the next corner if we could only find it. This includes medication as a last resort before ablation (in my case, propafenone worked for almost 6 years, before I started having more and more breby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Rylar, There are some long-term success stories with ablations on this forum, and those with more experience can fill you in. I'm echoing Jackie's recommendation about Dr. Schweikert. I traveled from Pittsburgh to see him and he performed an ablation on me in September after my long-term use of propafenone (over 6 years) failed. So far, so good and I have a blessed normal heartby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Congratulations, Murray. Glad you are on the road to recovery and the long-awaited ablation is over. So glad to hear there are no PVCs, PACs and no afib. Doreenby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Colin, I was 100% convinced refined sugar or carbs or salt were the culprit for me (particularly when my afib events would be more frequent around Christmas time when my eating habits would tend to more sweets, cookies, etc). I was 100% wrong. I gave up all refined sugars and cut back the carbs (I did lose 15 pounds that wasn't really necessary to lose), always avoided the salt, andby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gill, So glad your ablation continues to keep you in NSR. You give hope for the long-term for all of us who have undergone ablation. Doreenby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Excellent news, Jackie! Here's hoping the next TEE will be the last one you ever need, with the result that the precautionary use of blood thinners will no longer be needed.by Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
It's been nine weeks since my ablation with Dr. Schweikert, and all is well. I'm been off the rythmol for over a month - my weekly EKG transmissions have been normal (albeit with a higher heart rate in the upper 80s), and I go off the lopressor in a month. Other than occasional PACs, it's been bliss so far after 7 years of not knowing when afib would appear. I am truly thankfby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Congratulations, Shannon. I hope the afib complications have ended for you. Reading your history, you've experienced just about everything afib can throw at you. Time for some relaxation. Doreenby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had my pulmonary vein isolation ablation two days ago at Akron General by Dr. Schweikert. He used cryoablation and I am doing very well. I was in the ablation lab for over four hours and did go into afib during the procedure, but was in normal rhythm when I came out. He looked for additional problem spots but didn't find any, which I guess is a good thing. Akron General's procedby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Shannon, Thanks for your tireless efforts to help us navigate the twists and turns that this malady brings. Your dedication is appreciated. Congratulations! The Journal of Atrial Fibrillation is a tremendous free resource. This issue contains articles on the long term results of ablation, and a review of cryoballoon ablation - both timely for me since my ablation is scheduled later thisby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thank you all for the positive support. I will probably check in a couple days before the ablation (which is scheduled for 20 days from now, but who's counting) for last minute questions or just a pep talk. I have to go off the Rythmol for three days before the procedure, so I'm keeping fingers crossed that the afib won't come back with a roar right before the ablation. I amby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
After almost 7 years of fighting afib with medication, supplements, and dietary changes, I am moving on to ablation. The ablation is scheduled with Dr. Schweikert in Akron in mid-September. Rythmol worked well for me for almost 6 years, but breakthroughs were happening with more frequency. I made a last attempt to control it with medication by switching to flecainide, which was a disaster. Whiby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ok, so obviously I was on vacation in July during the time this thread originally came up (under another name) and I just read Shannon's passionate argument against pre-ablation MRIs. I still feel they may be valuable for decision-making for those fortunate people who have had relatively good control with medicines and are on the fence about moving onto the next med or doing the ablatiby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
It looks like Cleveland Clinic has cardiac MRIs. I'll be bringing the study with me to my appointment in Akron.by Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, researcher, and thanks, Moerk. I watched the Dr. Jais video on my lunch break. I need an electrical engineer to translate much of it I guess my next questions are these: 1) Will insurance cover the mapping/MRI before ablation? 2) Does anyone know if there are any centers that are actively testing this technology? 3) Does Dr. Natale's practice use mapping/MRI before ablatiby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
I searched the archives and maybe I missed it, but I just read an article about the DECAAF Study using MRIs to measure the extent of atrial fibrosis before an ablation, and the potential use of a cardiac MRI as a predictor of ablation success or afib recurrence. The article was published early this year. It was a small study across 15 centers worldwide, and a total of 272 patients underwent cby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi John, Good to hear the ablation is holding steady and you're satisfied with Dr. Schweikert's work. I'm on my last stand - switched this week from propafenone to flecainide - after 6 years the propafenone lost effectiveness, and Dr. Schweikert thought it was a good idea to try the flec because the propafenone worked so long. If the flec doesn't work, I'm schedulingby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Most of us probably know about this, but this is an interesting summary of the oral anti-coagulant "industry" and safety profiles. Slippery Slope: Does Convenience Trump Safety With NOACs? for the full story: Sign up at for your FREE, once-daily, Medical News Daily Headlinesby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
I see Dr. Robert Schweikert in Akron, Ohio (Akron General Cardiology), and couldn't be happier with him. He spent some time with Dr. Natale when Natale was at Cleveland Clinic. I heard about him on this list from others giving him glowing recommendations. I drive 2.5 hours to see him. I have not had an ablation, but I would use him to do the procedure if that day comes. He spends a lot oby Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks, all for your feedback. Not exactly resounding success stories. So I suppose the next logical question for those who moved on to ablation, or for those who are still on meds with good control, or for those who are amazingly off the meds, is this. How many meds did you try in the process?by Doreen - AFIBBERS FORUM