Steve I had my second one in Bordeaux 3 days after the first, and have had almost 10 years of continuous nsr since then. I wish the same for you. Gill (currently scuba diving in the Maldives)by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Elizabeth I might be wrong, but from what I have read I thought it was just the doctors treating sprains in ski resorts that are going on strike. They get paid more for treating broken bones but argue that sprains are the same amount of work so should be paid the same. If this is correct i don't think it will affect heart surgery in Bordeaux. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Nancy I rarely take any prescribed medication but 18 months ago, after a total knee replacement, I was given a general anaesthetic, a cocktail of different painkillers, and Pradaxa. I had been in sinus rhythm for over 8 years after ablation in Bordeaux. Two days after the surgery my heart rhythm felt very strange, not like AF pre-ablation, but definitely not right.. After investigationsby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Montos I have been in nsr for almost 10 years since my ablation in Bordeaux. The first year after the ablation I had a few ectopics but the number has increased almost every year since then. I sometimes get over 9,000 on a 24 hour Holter. The docs say they are a nuisance but not harmful. They used to be very uncomfortable, like being kicked in the chest every few seconds and I was consiby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Curt Search the board for posts by BarryG. He had his first ablation in India and said good things about the doctors there. It wasn't successful but his was an extremely difficult case, he subsequently had 4 ablations in Bordeaux and is now in nsr. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Shannon Thnk you for that splendid post. At my last annual checkup I asked my EP here in London about FIRM and he said 'There have been many false dawns, we have to wait and see'. Gill (successful ablation for long term persistent AF in Bordeaux January 2003)by Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
McHale Years of paroxysmal AF, 18 months of long term persistent AF, couldn't walk upstairs without gasping for breath, couldn't exercise so gained a lot of weight..... Life was unbearable. January 2003, ablation in Bordeaux, almost 10 years of nsr, now I work out 3 times a week, have lost 84lbs, take no prescribed meds. Life is wonderful. No brainer for me. Even if AF starteby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
I second what McHale said, thank you Hans. Last year at my annual checkup I saw an EP, not my usual one, who said that my Chads2Vasc score was 2 - one for being female and one for being over age 65, so I should be on Warfarin, even though I have been in sinus rhythm for almost 10 years since ablation in Bordeaux. I declined. My GP says that since I don't have Afib the Chads2Vasc doesnby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Samh When an ablation is successful, with no complications, it gives you your life back. Next January it will be 10 years of nsr for me since my ablation by Professor Haissaguerre in Bordeaux, after years of paroxysmal AF and 18 months of persistent AF. At 75 years of age I take no prescribed medications and do 3 scuba diving trips a year to remote places. I exercise 3 times a week and watby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Alexandra I always listen to the doctors, do the research, and then make my own decisions. In your place I would do what TomC suggests, ie say you are going to take it regularly, go through the 2 hours in A&E, then take it as PIP. Just out of interest, before my Bordeaux ablation Prof. Haissaguerre gave me a prescription for Flecainide and told me to start taking it immediately, no tesby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Siri 11 years ago when I first went to my excellent GP because my AF was happening more often and lasting longer, she told me that the standard treatment was warfarin and digoxyn, (which was not correct) but rather than prescribe it she referred me to a cardiologist. He wanted to give me medication but I had read about a new procedure called radiofrequency ablation and said I was interestedby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Tom When I had my ablation in Bordeaux in 2003 Professor Haissaaguerre inserted the catheters himself, and then did the whole ablation. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Angela I don't know of any EPs in Leeds but I would urge you to read as much as possible on this board before you have your ablation. The most important factor in a successful procedure is the skill and experience of the person whose hands are on the catheter. It is a very difficult procedure to learn, and I would guess that there are a lot of EPs in England who are still novices butby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Alexandra I am in the UK too. I went to Bordeaux in September 2002 for a consultation with Professor Haissaguerre and he started me on Flecanaide without any hospitalisation. It didn't help, but I had been in continuous AF for over a year. I had an ablation and touch-up there 4 months later and have been in nsr ever since. I think Hans's idea about taking it in the ER is a goodby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Denver Good to hear that you are doing so well. Life can indeed be good in your 70s. I had my ablation in Bordeaux over 9 years ago after 18 months of continuous Afib. At 74, I and my 71 year old husband work out 3 times a week, he in the gym, me in the pool, and we do 3 scuba diving trips a year to far flung places. I think it's a great idea to report success now and then to offerby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
EB When I had my ablation in Bordeaux they routinely did a flutter ablation in the right atrium 'on the way out', so Tom might well be having left side work as well. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ronny After my ablation in Bordeaux in Jan 2003 Prof. Haissaguerre put me on bisoprolol 5mg for three months. Several months after I stopped taking it, when I contacted him because I was getting a lot of ectopics, he said I could take it again if I wished, and if it made me more comfortable. He said (exact words) "It is like a shield for the heart". I didn't in fact startby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Chuck When I had my ablation in Bordeaux in 2003 my EP in London did a proper referral at my request (though it was against his advice) and sent them copies of my medical records. After the ablation I returned to him and the department has continued my aftercare ever since. I had a checkup every three months, then every six months. I now see an EP once a year. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Paul My only information on ablations in UK is from postings on this board. When I first saw Prof. Haissaguerre in 2002 he told me that there were two EPs in UK who had started doing ablations but I preferred to go with the team who had invented the procedure and done thousands of them. I do not regret that decision. It cost me £8,000 but gave me my life back. Over the years I have seenby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
>>My doctor has advised me that once a patient is in permanent Afib, she is not a good candidate for ablation. True?<< Not true for the very best EPs but true for the rest. Hans's surveys will give you more information on success rates and who the best EPs are. I had persistent AF for 18 months but still had a successful ablation in Bordeaux in 2003. Three days after tby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lynda I had ablation, followed by touch-up three days later, in Bordeaux in Jaunuary 2003. Ten days later I had a 2-hour bout of AF which terminated by itself. Since then I have had over 9 years of normal sinus rhythm. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
McHale Barry G posted that Dr Hocini told him that she cringes when she thinks of what they were doing in Bordeaux 5 years ago. My ablation there was 9½ years ago so was definitely a cringe ablation! However, if I had waited and stayed in persistent AF I would have lost 9½ wonderful years of living life to the full, travelling the world and scuba diving. I am happy with the decision I maby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have been reading research papers on AF ablation for the last 10 years, and this is the first time I have come across the name of Dr Josephson. I thought Professor Haissaguerre in Bordeaux, whose landmark study in 1998 is quoted in many texts, was the 'father'! Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Monty When I went to Bordeaux for ablation in 2003 I had had paroxysmal AF for many years, and persistent AF for 18 months. At that time the EPs I saw in London said they wouldn't have it done because it was experimental and dangerous. I ignored their advice and went anyway and I have never for a moment regretted my decision. I have now been In nsr for over 9 years, can exercise, canby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
In Bordeaux they told me that everyone gets them, they are a nuisance but not a problem so just forget about them. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
It's also worth looking at the Bordeaux 5-step approach. I have been in nsr for over 9 years since ablation and touch up there, after 18 months of continuous AF. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Karen In 2002 I was due to have an ablation in Bordeaux, France, and had a trans-oesophageal echocardiogram (TOE in UK or TEE in the US) beforehand. They found a clot behind my heart so the ablation had to be postponed. I had been on warfarin until a few days before the ablation but there was still a clot. The treatment in Bordeaux was injections of a particular form of heparin twice dailby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Janet You have to go with the best that is available to you. Choices are limited by where you live and what you can afford. It isn't fair, but it is life. I was lucky in that living in England I could get to Bordeaux easily, and I had enough savings to pay for Prof. Haissaguerre himself to do the ablation. if I was in your situation I would go for the third ablation because living wby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
Brings back memories of January 7th 2003 when I was there. Now into my 10th year of nsr - you are in very good hands, Adrian. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM
When I had my ablation in Bordeaux in January 2003 AF recurred after two days and a second ablation was done immediately at no extra cost. Of course things may have changed since then, but it would be worth asking them. Gillby Gill - AFIBBERS FORUM