Blacking out???

[sharonp79]

Hi All

I have at last seen a cardiologist! Now waiting for appointments for a 24 hour heart monitor, a heart scan and to see an EP (can't remember the full name but know I've seen it on here many times) for probable ablation. So all good!

Apart from everything I asked her if I could do (exercise, driving, going on holiday etc) all she would say was "So long as you don't black out".

Is it a common sympton of AF - can't recall anyone mentioning it on here.

Hope you are all well.

Sharon

[TheStand]

Sharon, Blacking out is a possibility. It's normally caused by low blood pressure that can happen during an attack. I have spoken to a few who have said that it "Rarely" has happened. Much more frequent is dizziness during the attack.

Hope the monitor catches something. I think I wore a 24 hour monitor 4 or 5 times and it never happened while I had it. Mine was finally caught using a 30 day monitor.

Tim

[BobD Volunteer]

Hi9 Sharon. One small point is that if you are in UK and have AF you should report this to DVLA if you intend to drive.. You can do this on line and complete the appropriate form. Provided that you are not incapacitated by your AF and do not have black outs then you may continue to drive. I worry that people are not generally told this as I feel sure that some bright insurance operative may decide to refuse cover in the event of an accident if you have not jumped through all the appropriate hoops.

Take exercise gently and listen to your body. Personally I never did advise DVLA since I was AF free before I found out that I should have done and went on many trips abroad whilst in AF including one eventful trip to Monza in Italy for a big race we did there.

Bob

[Beancounter Volunteer in reply to BobD]

Hi all

Bob I hesitate to correct you, but that's not the latest information from the DVLA, and I know that on their main page it says you must report.

But if you click on medical conditions and then arrhythmia it says

"Need not be notified unless there are distracting or disabling symptoms"

dft.gov.uk/dvla/medical/aag...

I have asked this before, but with two different versions on the same website, could the AFA please write to the DVLA and get a ruling and ask them to correct the misleading information.

Cheers

Ian

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes I know about this. It seems that the advice for punters is to report yet the advice to medical practitioners is that it does not need to be reported. This appears to mean that the doctor need not report but does not cancel the need for the patient to do so. I raised this a few years ago and nothing happened.

BobD

[ianparry]

Hi, I have 2 fainting episodes in the last 6 years, the last time was just after I had an angiogram last October. I was still hospital @ the time & was kept in overnight as a precaution. It was as I was being monitored that I was diagnosed as having PAF.

As posted previously the cause was most probably due to a low BP, however, the root cause could not be totally explained, it could also been a vasovagal attack which can have several triggers.

Hope this helps

Ian

[Offcut]

I have not fainted but do get dizzy if I over excert or get up to quick.

With regards Ianparry's comments my BP dropped to the bottom of my socks after an Angiogram but it was found I am allergic to Iodine/trace which does not help with the 2 ablations I have had to date and the third in the pipeline.