New "kid"

Hi everyone - I'm very interested in this forum but am also very ignorant, being a 75 yr old Grandma. I've had a huge amount of experience with AF - 13 cardioversions, 2 ablations and the latest a "pace and ablate" last September. I'm not completely cured but am much better now.

Love to hear from anybody.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Wardways

Welcome to the forum, although I suspect with such a varied AF history you are anything but ignorant on the subject of A Fib (or anything else for that matter)

Great to have you join us and put those experiences to use helping out some of us who are much more newly diagnosed.

Very pleased that hear that the latest pace and ablate is working well.

Ian

[Hidden in reply to Beancounter]

Hello Ian

Thanks for the warm welcome. You're right, I have learned a great deal about AF over 12 or more years but what I find, having read many of the blogs, is that it seems to be different for everyone. Fortunately I am well retired and don't have to worry about a job. I did have to give up golf but have taken to bowls and love it.

Will write more soon

Best wishes

Dot

[meadfoot]

Hi Wardways.

A very big welcome to the forum. Your story and experience will be highly valued. It's great to have you join us.

Kind regards

Dee.

[Hidden in reply to meadfoot]

Hi Dee,

It's great to have a reply and I will work on my story and experience. However it's a long story as you can imagine spanning about 12 years or more.

Thanks for your welcome.

Dot.

[TheStand]

Hi Dot, And as said... Welcome to the forum.

I also have had AF for a long time, 13 years+ for me. We're glad to have you here.

We deal quite a bit with the newly diagnosed AF patient who after being seen and told they have AF are just sent out with no understanding at all of what is wrong. Most are just given a script for meds and told to take them without even a basic understanding of why and what they do.

After 12 years of this I'm sure you have seen your share of both, Lack of information and also Misinformation that comes with an AF diagnosis. We here try to get the correct info that is needed to both educate and overcome the fears that happen with this condition. And also provide caring support for those just needing to talk to someone about AF.

I'm sure that your input will be a great help in this.

So again welcome and jump in whenever your ready.

Tim

[Hidden in reply to TheStand]

Thanks Tim - you've made me feel I may be useful to someone else. The first real bout of AF experience caused my heart to jump so violently that others could see it through my clothes! I was really scared and as you say, no one at the hospital explained anything or even gave me any medication.

Much has happened since then, including a move to Devon, where I have received much more advice and assistance. I've read all I can about the condition and asked many questions of the experts, i.e arrhythmia nurses, consultants etc. I'll follow the blogs and willingly reply if I feel I can be of any assistance.

All the best

Dot

[mumknowsbest Volunteer]

Hi

welcome its great to have somone else who has had a pace and ablate. How long ago did you have yours. Mine was 4 years ago. Do you still get symptoms and are you still on meds?

Regards

Eileen

[Hidden in reply to mumknowsbest]

Hi Eileen

It's so good to hear of others with similar problems. I had my pacemaker fitted 8 months ago and now only take Warfarin and blood pressure pills. My heart is now in permanent AF but the pacemaker keeps the rate down to 85 - 95. I've been advised to have yet another cardioversion and take Amiodarone again (I've had it before for short times only) but really don't want to - the symptoms are far less stressful than they were and I feel I can cope. I just hope I'm not being stupid.

Best regards

Dot

[BobD Volunteer]

Hi Dot, I'm in Devon too. Lovely place. Welcome to our club and like others I'm sure that you will be able to help others with all your experience. That is what it is all about really. I was diagnosed in 2004 after many years of being told there was nothing wrong, only because my new GP in Barnstaple had a mother with AF. I was so scared and felt so alone I resolved that I would do anything I could to help others and so started my AF journey. Three ablations three cardoversions later I am AF free but still have other arrhythmias. By the way, we west country people have a social lunch a couple of times a year, and I'm planning the next for sometime in JUly so watch this space.

BobD

[mumknowsbest Volunteer]

Hi Dot

Interesting that you have been offered another cardioversion. I presume you are in permament AF. Mine is paroxysmal but is getting more frequent. I am on blood pressure pills and warfarin of course and am still on meds as initially I was still very aware of every time I went into AF . Now of course the pills interreact and if I alter either one it affects the good old BP. Am off to see the EP in just over a week cos something is mis behaving and am not sure what. Needless to say once I got the appt everything started settling down.

My pacemaker at the moment is 75 to 85 I think but it does go above that at times. It has been reset many times to try and find a rate that suits me and so far this is the best. They would prefer it to be a bit faster but because I was on betablockers for 20 odd years I got used to a slow heart rate and don't like it going fast at all.

hope all goes well

Regards

Eileen