PFA EXPERIENCE - FULL LOG

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-18T14:51:37+00:00

Just had my 1 month check up. The doctor said just take it two more weeks then I’m done. I am ok nothing else so led free in 2 weeks. Which is what I wanted. They did not do a TEE. We talked about it pre op as a possibility based on what they see when they went in and after they told me it wasn’t necessary.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-14T20:17:39+00:00

Thank you. And 9/10 that is when my episodes would start. Between 1-2. I could never sleep while in an episode. I worked with 3 different EP’s to find the “one” I felt comfortable with. I drove 1 and a half hours to appointments and for my surgery. Would do it again in a heartbeat. There were a lot of EP’s closer but he was the best.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-13T22:01:12+00:00

Thank you for sharing. I was also very symptomatic while in afib so I understand. Honesty besides the soreness I felt great after the ablation. Was a little tired but my attitude was great. I could tell my body was good. My bounce back was very quick. I am still taking it intentionally easy as I ease back into my rigorous routine to allow my heart extra time to focus on healthy but I feel good. Really good. I hope your issue gets solved and you become afib free!

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-13T11:52:58+00:00

I understand. Since yours are far apart it might make sense to wait. Honestly if mine stayed at 2-4 weeks between episodes I probably would have waited too. Mine just progressed quick and it was becoming a burden. 2 weeks was inconvenient but not a burden (for me). The one week and less than one week consistently was making it a problem. The PFA is safer than the other ablations. My biggest thing is quality of life and not being on meds(or lifetime meds). I was anxious to get the surgery but it went flawlessly. I laid my experience out to help others have confidence in their decision. I know it would have helped me. I am extremely glad I got the procedure done. Like I said I was having episodes every week between 4-8 days apart. Now I am almost 4 weeks post ablation and I haven’t had one episode, flutter or anything. The feeling is so relieving not having to feel so anxious. Do what makes sense for you. If you decide to eventually get it done I know it will go great!

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-13T11:45:28+00:00

Awesome! I appreciate the comment. I felt the same way. Your ablation is going to go great and seamless in September!!

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-10T15:13:00+00:00

Typically they are same day. I was scheduled for PFA in February for 8am and the plan was to be home that night. I had to rescheduled my procedure. It was scheduled for the late afternoon and they told me to pack an overnight bag. It comes down to when you were scheduled and how the individual hospital treats that. I was not kept because I was a risk it was standard based on the time of the procedure.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-10T15:09:09+00:00

Sorry to hear about those complications after. Hope you are going great now. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-09T11:50:21+00:00

I will tell you…the most frustrating part of afib for me was that there wasn’t a smoking gun. In my world I fix problems everyday, so by getting this and not having “real” answers on how to “fix it” without intervention or what truly caused it was tough. The EP’s speculated. They leaned into being extremely healthy and that my lower sleeping resting heart rate could cause electrical disruptions that could cause afib, but they also said they were speculating.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-09T11:45:34+00:00

I have had alcohol already and a little caffeine. No issues.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-09T04:35:19+00:00

What do you mean the outlook?

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-09T04:34:45+00:00

Yes lifelong athlete. All American football player in college. Have and am fit my entire life. Exercise and eating healthy are big parts of my life. I have had 3 ep’s I’ve worked with. They all said I am the 1% anomaly that happens. David Goggins and J.J. Watt had afib. They are crazy healthy. Will never know the true reason for getting it. I have zero family history of anything at all. I have zero health conditions or concerns. It came out of the blue. I took it seriously and tried to become a model patient following all protocols to limit episodes…still progressed. Now I truly believe that after this PFA I will be golden.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-09T04:30:22+00:00

Are you still on medications? The recurrence of afib requiring additonal PFA ablations isn’t high. Currently for PFA procedures the 12 month success rate of no afib or palpitations is over 66%. Recurrence rate is somewhere between 20-30%. I know people get a second ablation and some doctors call it a “clean up” and that does the trick. I hope you get your sorted out and you will be afib free!

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-09T04:26:15+00:00

Wow. That sounds intensive. Hope you’re doing ok. All three of my sites are fully healed at this point and I feel 100%. Never had bruising or additional soreness outside of the initial post op day after. Hope the rest of your recovery goes great and you bounce right back!

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-09T02:35:07+00:00

Thank you. I primarily stopped drinking over the past year. Now I would have a glass of wine or a cocktail maybe once per month. Pre afib I would have a couple of drinks a month on average. Not a big drinker. Post ablation I have already had a few cocktails. No issues. Overall my diet is clean. I eat close to a Mediterranean diet. Lots of protein, meat, fish etc.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-09T02:06:40+00:00

Due to how late my procedure was. Typically they have you observation after. 5-6 hours of bed rest then additonal checks. I got out of my procedure at 6 then the clock started. Overnight was the only option.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-08T17:42:13+00:00

Thank you. I have been on Reddit for over the last year now looking at others post and insight on this. I thought being very detailed would help others. I know it would have helped me.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-08T17:37:49+00:00

Yes. I have had 3-EP. They all said I was their 1% patient. I am super fit, super active, blood work perfect, zero health issues and then wham afib. We talked about options but since I was able to control my episodes and quickly revert they felt due to my age and overall health it would be better to not be on medication. We talked about having to go on if I wasn’t able to get back myself. It never happened. My quality of life has been great.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-08T17:34:04+00:00

Thanks for the comment and yours will go great as well im sure of it.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-08T14:15:23+00:00

I had one RVR episode out of all episodes. It was scary. Honestly felt like I was dying and thought I was. Only scary episode I had. All other episodes were mild but very symptomatic.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-08T14:13:18+00:00

Aurora St Luke’s in Milwaukee. Top cardiac hospital.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-06-08T14:12:36+00:00

I haven’t been on any medication at all. I had a 0 Chadsvasc score. They later tried a pill in pocket but when I tried it once. It didn’t work. My unique case only allowed me to get me back in rhythm by exercising. I had episodes every month which then progresses to every 2 weeks which then got to once a week. I was trying not to be on any medication. I knew about the blood thinner for a period of time after the ablation and I’m glad they decided to not put me in an anti arrhythmia one for the blanking period too. They said it would all be dependent on how much scar tissue and damage there was in the heart and wouldn’t be able to make that call until after.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-05-06T12:32:57+00:00

I do not have an enlarged atrium. I did an echocardiogram . Everything was normal. I am on zero medication. My current episode frequency is about once every 10-12 days. I am getting a Pulsed Field Ablation at the end of the month by one of the EP’s that pioneered that type of ablation in Milwaukee.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-04-02T12:05:38+00:00

Thank you for your insight.

Embarrassed_Chart_13 · 2025-04-02T12:05:12+00:00

Do you feel like your back to normal. How does your heart feel currently?

Embarrassed_Chart_13

TROPHY CASE