finally done it

[magnus-barelegs]

Hi....I have been hiding behind the door for sometime just reading, I now have plucked up the courage to say hello.....So hello and here's a little about me. I was diagnosed with AF in 03/2008 and reviewed in07/2008 and was put on Warfarin Bisoprolol and Amlodipine. I feel good and I don't seem to have any problems at all so when I read about folk having episodes and such like I start to think what's it all about and then read about different types of AF. I have never been told what type of AF I have and I must admit in my ignorance I thought AF was AF and that's it. After my review in July 2008 I was told, any problems see you own doctor, I did think I was having for want of a better word tremors but this was put down to medication for diabetic neuropathy, but that's another story. But its great I have found this place I can now get to understand a little more.please do feel free to tell me what I should be doing about my care, should I be getting regular reviews etc.....

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Magnus

Welcome to the forum, and, as I think you've discovered we only bite on nights with a full moon

That's a long time you have been diagnosed, although really good that you are on Warfarin. And the Bisoprolol and Amlodipine are both rate control drugs, one a beta blocker and the other a calcium channel blocker. (but you probably know that)

It sounds like you have been almost symptom free, I am a little confused that your cardio discharged you to your doctor?. Is that correct, and what sort of A Fib did you get in the first place was it occasional attacks (paroxsymal) or continuous (permament)

If the former, and you have been A Fib free for 5 years then great and I am delighted for you, and why change what is working? Although it might be a review is overdue?.

If the latter then I am surprised you are not having at least 6 monthly ECGs to ensure that your condition is remaining stable.

Either way you are very welcome here, and ask away your questions I am sure you will find someone who has been there, done it, or at the very least will offer advice and a shoulder. We are all sufferers here

Best of luck

Ian

[magnus-barelegs in reply to Beancounter]

Thanks for the welcome, and yes I was discharged to my doctor but not knowing anything at all about AF I have never questioned anything at all, and never had any attacks..... I was at my doctors for my diabetic check up and as I mentioned before I have diabetic neuropathy and the nurse couldn't find my pulse in my feet so she had to find it electronically.... I thought it sounded wrong, she then fetched the doctor, and the rest is history, my only symptom was sweating a lot, and nothing else since.

[Beancounter Volunteer in reply to magnus-barelegs]

Hi Magnus

Have you had anyone check if you are currently still suffering from A Fib? any ECGs or anything since 2008? sounds like a long time to stay on the drugs and yet not be checked.

It does sound like you have had no attacks, which is great news, but you need to know if you are still in A Fib IMO

Good luck

Ian

[BobD Volunteer]

I would agree with that. Magnus. It sounds as if you may well have permanent AF and are asymptomatic in other words you are not aware of your condition. People with paroxysmal AF where is comes and goes really do notice the attacks but the body is very adaptive and when it is permanent often the mind doesn't notice it. I too think that patients should have regular monitoring of conditions so maybe your first step would be to talk to your GP and find out what types of AFG you have. If it is paroxysmal and you haven't had any attacks for ages then good on you but I still think you should have regular checks.if you are on long term medication

BobD

[BobD Volunteer]

Ignore the G in the third from last line.

[skary]

Welcome to the forum Magnus.... there are some really well informed people on here who will give you as much info as they can . they have helped me so much in a very short time ..... always write down your questions as it's so easy to miss a few out !

Great to hear you're feeling good too...but think it would be sensible to have regular checks if only to put your mind at ease.

Nikki

[Offcut]

I was diagnosed in 1992 and do not know I am in AF a lot of the time. I have not had regular ECG's at my doctors but do have to go every 6 months for a general check up and script renew. They do now check my pulse and heart as they can be doing different things. Pulse can be nearly "normal" but "Wobbling like a good un" at the heart. Which raises my doctors eyebrows. I am off to my third Ablation this week so fingers crossed.

Welcome to the gang

[giddytd1]

Hi Welcome to the forum. I too browsed the posts for a while before joining and I am glad I did. The support I have received has been invaluable and has not only put me at ease but given me the confidence to challenge my GP, Cardiologist etc so that I get the correct treatment. I was discharged from the cardiologist a couple of years ago and was referred back last September after an AF attack. I feel that GP's although full of good intentions are limited in what they can do and any long standing condition such as AF should be routinely monitored by a cardiologist. I feel that communication between both parties can be poor at times, hence several months down the line, a few AF attacks, my medication is just beginning to get sorted out.

Anyway the sun is shining so keep smiling

[magnus-barelegs]

Thanks for all your welcomes....I will have a chat to my GP to bring me up to date on my ignorance's on my condition, another thing I've not heard before is an Ablation which I have now googled to find out about, I have never been told about this procedure, but I was told about restarting my heart with a shock? but then told in my case it probably wouldn't work?

[Beancounter Volunteer in reply to magnus-barelegs]

Hi Magnus

Restarting your heart with a shock (and it sounds much worse than it is) is called a cardioversion, and it is true to say that cardioversions work best for those who have recently gone into A Fib, so if you have had it for years a CV might not work.

I have permament A Fib and had a CV in March but did not work on me.

There are stories of people recently diagnosed, one CV and then nothing ever again, but they are rare, most CVs seem to last between 3 months and 1 year and then either need to be repeated or other tretament is used.

There is a form of cardioversion, not seemingly used so much now which is called an internal cardioversion, which is where they dose you up with amiodarone (a very strong rythym control drug with potentially loads of side effects) and then do the cardioversion internally going in through the groin with a catheter. I think the reason it's not so popular is firstly it must be expensive, and secondly it's pretty similar to an ablation. But allegedly this is better for those of us with longer term A Fib.

It sounds like you are in a similar position to me, permament A Fib (get this confirmed) but no real other symptoms. I have been told no action for at least six months (other than rate control and warfarin), and I posted earlier this month a whole beginning of a debate on this.

Some say, get treated the earlier the better as A Fib is only ever progressive, and some say in effect that the treatment is potentially worse than leaving you alone,

To be honest I have no idea which one is accurate still, But I'm looking and will post anything I find here.

Good luck with your doctor, and let us know how it goes.

Ian

[Micky1965 in reply to Beancounter]

Hello all

I was told i had AF on december 19 th last year

Before that i had no symtoms and still do not feel any ? I was given a cardioversion 3 weeks ago and it never worked. I have a follow up in 6 weeks time we they are going to suggest i have an internal cardioversion. Has anybody had one ?

Michael