For Bordeaux the person to contact if you are in UK is now secretary Nathalie Fortin. Her email is: sec.patient.etranger@chu-bordeaux.fr For Professor Ernst in London you need to contact her secretary at: carby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Before my successful ablation in Bordeaux I couldn’t exercise and was so miserable that I gained a lot of weight. Prof. Haïssaguerre said that it would help if I could lose 10 kilos so he obviously thought it made a difference. I actually lost more than that, and after the ablation I continued to lose so am no longer overweight. Being free of AF meant I had my life back, could exercise againby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi BettyLou After many years of highly symptomatic paroxysmal AF and 18 months of persistent AF, I had ablation in Bordeaux almost 19 years ago when the procedure was still in its early days. AF recurred after 3 days so they did an immediate touch up. The EP was Professor Haïssaguerre, the European equivalent of Dr Natale - I paid extra to have him do it himself, and it was well worth it.by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
David L 3½ each per week? It takes a lot more than that to become skilled at this procedure, which is one of the most difficult that EPS have to do. To get the best results you need someone who has done thousands. Gill (female, pronounced Jill, ablation in Bordeaux for long term persistent AF in 2003, nsr since then)by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
I tried Accupuncture in Australia many years ago while my AF was still paroxysmal. I saw a top accupuncturist (he treated the Aussie Prime Minister). He wasn’t hopeful because, he said, I'd had AF for so many years. He was right, it didn’t help at all with the AF but I did feel good after each treatment. Gill (female, pronounced "Jill", nsr since ablations in Bordeaux 200by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Prior to my ablation in Bordeaux almost 19 years ago I was not anxious at all, just desperate to get rid of my AF. At that time very few centres would even attempt.ablation for long term persistent AF. It recurred 3 days later so they did an immediate touch up. I am still in nsr. Best thing I ever did. Hope this gives you some encouragement. Gill (pronounced Jill, female, in London UK)by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have been in nsr since ablation in Bordeaux in 2003 for persistent AF, but I get many ectopic beats, almost 8000 on a 24 hour ecg. I take magnesium, potassium d-ribose and taurine every day which dampens them down so I hardly notice them. If they ever become really uncomfortable I take 1.25mg (occasionally 2.5mg) bisoprolol and that always calms everything down with no noticeable side effecby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ken When my AF was paroxysmal I sat out many dives until it stopped, but once it became persistent I couldn’t dive for a couple of years. Four months after my Bordeaux ablation I was on a liveaboard in the Maldives! I miss it a lot but don’t fancy Sandals or any all-inclusive type operations. My favourite places to dive are a long way from UK, mostly in the South Pacific - Papua New Guineaby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ralph When I had my RF ablation in Bordeaux in January 2003 I asked about the longterm results. The professor answered "You ARE the longterm!" Gill (still in sinus rhythm 17 years later)by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Chiming in here TarHart! Many years of highly symptomatic paroxysmal AF, episodes becoming more frequent and lasting longer as time went on, then 18 months of 24/7 AF, felt as though my life was over. Ablation in Bordeaux January 2003, another 3 days later because AF recurred. Since then normal rhythm though I do get a lot of ectopics. That is over 18 years (and counting) of having my lifby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Aldona, good to hear from you again. I’m so pleased that this 3rd ablation has worked well, sending good wishes and hopes for continued success. My Bordeaux ablations done in January 2003 are still keeping me in nsr, can’t believe my luck! Don’t know of many that have lasted so long. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mine was done in 2003 by Prof. Haïssaguerre in Bordeaux and is still working after 18 years. The most important thing is to go to a real expert. There are many EPs doing ablations who don’t have the experience and skill to be successful - it's a very difficult procedure to do well. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
I would be very interested to read the article if anyone can find a link. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
My contact details for Bordeaux are out of date. Please can someone give me the name, email address and phone number of Prof. Jaïs's secretary? Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Many of you here will know my story - long term persistent AF, ablation in Bordeaux in January 2003, sinus rhythm since then. A year ago my husband age 79 was diagnosed with persistent AF - asymptomatic so we don’t know how long he has had it. He is on rate control medication and Apixaban anticoagulant and he feels fine. After several tests he had a phone consultation today with a consultantby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jonathon Thank you for that information. My journey has been long!! It started many years ago, paroxysmal AF undiagnosed for many years, then finally diagnosed by chance in 1994. I tried various medications which all made me feel worse so during an episode I just used to rest and wait for it to stop. Over several years the episodes happened more often and lasted longer, until eventuby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Mike and Sam Please keep posting here about your plans. My husband might be heading for Bordeaux in the near future so it would be really useful for us to know the details. Much will have changed since my ablation there in 2003. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sorry to hear this, Mike, hope you’ll be able to get to Bordeaux soon. I might well be headed there once travel is possible because husband has long term persistent AF, so I will be relying on you for up to date information! Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Aldona, so good to hear from you again after all this time - I well remember our chats when you were going to Bordeaux. The EP has suggested a cardioversion but with amiodorone, and husband isn’t happy to take that drug. As well, my own experience with three cardioversions (2 external and 1 internal) was that they lasted only a few days before AF returned. We don’t know yet what damage haby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey - he has decided to do exactly what you suggested, will stick with rate control until travel is allowed, then we will head for Bordeaux. George - yes, it’s because of the heart failure. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
My husband, age 79, was diagnosed with persistent AF in February, during treatment for something minor, not heart related. He was asymptomatic so we have no idea how long he had been in AF. Until that time he had been in good health, going to the gym three times a week. He was put on Apixaban (Eliquis) very quickly but then his EP appointments were all cancelled because of Covid. By Augustby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
A very long time ago, January 2003, in Bordeaux, I had an ablation and touch up under sedation rather than anaesthetic. It was very comfortable, no problems, and I quite enjoyed sleepily watching the flickering wires on the monitor above my head. Don’t know what the current practice is in Bordeaux. Still in nsr after almost 18 years. Most EPs in those days wouldn’t even try to ablate longby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
82 - F - 2 -17-and-counting. (Prof.. Haïssaguerre in Bordeaux January 2003) Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ablation January 2003 in Bordeaux after 18 months of long term persistent AF. Second ablation three days later because AF recurred. Since then nsr. That's over 17 years. Lots of ectopics but supplements damp them down so I hardly notice them. Regrets? Can't believe my luck in having it last so long. Gill (pronounced 'Jill' and female)by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Sam It was a very long time ago, but when I went to Bordeaux they did the TEE in the morning before doing the ablation later in the day. That was much easier (and cheaper) than having it done the week before in London. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Allofus After many ynears of paroxysmal AF and 18 months of persistent AF I had ablation in Bordeaux in January 2003, followed three days later by a second because of recurrence. In those far off days very few EPs would even attempt ablation for persistent AF. Since then I have been in nsr - 17 years and counting. I get a lot of ectopics but supplements dampen them down so I hardly noticeby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Before my first attempt at ablation in 2002 in Bordeaux I had a TEE/TOE. I had been on Warfarin for 18 months and been meticulous about keeping my INR in the required range. They still found a clot behind the heart so the ablation had to be postponed. Might be different with the newer OACs. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
January 2003, ablation in Bordeaux after many years of paroxysmal AF and 18 months of long term persistent AF. A second ablation three days later because AF recurred. Since then, normal rhythm, 17 years and counting. I get many ectopics but tame them with magnesium, potassium, taurine and d-ribose. Most important thing is to choose a top grade EP - mine was done by Prof. Haïssaguere himseby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Barry Good to hear from you, very pleased that the cardioversion is still holding, long may it last! On January 8th I celebrated 17 years since my 'cringe' ablations in Bordeaux in 2003. (Long term readers will understand the 'cringe' bit!) Can't believe I have been so lucky, especially since it was for long term persistent AF, at a time when few EPs were evenby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM