The Europe AF 2013 Scientific Programme and Patients Programme at Park Plaza London yesterday was fab.

[meadfoot]

My husband and I attended the above programmes yesterday. Thoroughly enjoyed it all especially the patients sessions in the afternoon. Really good and well thought out subject matter with high profile medical specialists who have the knack of putting everyone at ease while delivering clever and informative presentations.

Their patience in explaining their answers to questions in a straightforward and sometimes humoress way was excellent. All their time was given free I think. Where else would you be in the company of and have access to speak with top specialists and so many of them in one day!

One of the morning sessions entitled "The oesophagus, stomach and heart. What is the relationship?" spoke to me totally. I have been bleating on to medics for years about this being an undoubted AF connection and trigger for me and have received strange looks, or worse still been largely dismissed on the subject by many of them.

I was overawed that at last there was a GI specialist over here from the USA for the conference speaking and demonstrating with helpful slides where the AF trigger connection could be made.

As I have such dreadfully symptomatic AFib, Flutter and SVT I am like a coiled spring most of the time especially when away from my own city dreading an episode and going down like a stone being scooped up in such pain and transported to the nearest A&E. I was quite emotional through his presentation as it appeared I was exonerated, someone was believing me!

I felt drawn to thank him in the break speaking with him and a very good EP he was chatting too and to my great embarrassment I broke down and cried, yes cried, mid conversation! I am not known to be quick to tears so I was mortified. My lovely supportive husband looked at me aghast as he knows what a 'keep it together', private person I am normally. Both doctors were so kind and comforted me before they gave me their thoughts on what I might want to consider to improve my AF and how to manage my GI associated issues.

So my thanks go the them, other also amazing speakers at the Patients afternoon and the AFA for arranging such a wonderful event. Thanks all. I feel all the better for it today.

Kind regards

Dee.

[feejbee]

You are so right, an amazing day.I went with my husband and we both found it so helpful and informative.Never before has the condition been so well explained to us and by so many eminent EP's. I am very grateful to the A.F.A for organising and inviting patients to this eventit was also very nice to meet a few of you there and put names to faces.

Fi

[BobD Volunteer]

HI Dee, so glad you found comfort and only sorry that I couldn't make it this year. We all know that there is a connection and I'm sorry that I missed the talk and hope there will be a transcript eventually.

Bob

[meadfoot in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob, I did find comfort and had a good laugh at Prof S. comment to Beancounter too!

[Fussyface in reply to BobD]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and diagnosed with AF in May this year, which has taken me some getting used too, as I'm sure it does with most people. I've very quickly discovered I don't get on with the drugs, and think I've been on most of them in such a short time as well as 3 hospital visit's an emergency cardio version and an ablation planned for 12.12.13. I've been off work for the most of the time I've been diagnosed and think my boss thinks I'm swinging the lead, if only she could feel what it's like to feel how this condition (that many people regard as a minor problem) is soooo life changing.

Sorry for the rant, I really wanted to know about the connection between gastro conditions and AF, as I had major problems 2 years ago. I actually thought I was having a heart attack at the time, but was left with a feeling of a lump in my throat and prescribed various gastro medications for 10 months before being sent for a gastroscope. This revealed a small hiatus hernia and a stomach infection, which when treated felt much better, although I continued to take Lanzoprasol and still do due to the cardiac meds. I have always suspected a connection between these two conditions, as I'm sure the AF did n't just materialize in May .

[Hidden in reply to Fussyface]

Hi Fussyface

My arrhythmia is definitely connected. I has a stomach bug recently with worse than usual arrhythmia and the stomach bug went one morning and the arrhythmia went back to normal, still there though.

Mine is also triggered by alcohol, caffeine and possibly too many sweet things like chocolate, although I'm in denial about that at the moment so still eating chocolate with only slight effect, honest .

Other triggers for me is going to bed and simply eating a meal whatever it is. So I never eat late and I try and graze all day instead of having full sized meals.

I'm not sure that the food connection is a cause, just a trigger, that's how I read it anyhow.

Welcome to the forum, I'm new as well and found it incredibly helpful, in fact to be honest it's been life-changing (for the good).

[Dodie117]

I too attended the patients section and found it very informative. It was great to listen to experts in AF from around the world and even to hear the slightly different opinions expressed by the various doctors.

Thanks to afa for organising this and for the nice lunch!!

Thanks to Ian for sitting around in his pink carnation so we could find him.

Nice to put some faces to forum names. Marie

[Terjo]

So wish I could have been there it sounds as though it was a great meeting. Where in London is it held? Is It in the same place each year?

I feel like you do Dee and try to keep things under control but sometimes when given sympathy and understanding it all comes out. It's probably a good thing and let's the steam out a bit!

At the moment my AF seems to be having a little holiday but I'm battling with high blood pressure. Had to come off Clopidogrel today as had flu symptoms for a week and only found out that the clopidogrel was causing it by googling 'flu symptoms and clopidogrel ' then loads of sites came up. It's not mentioned on the leaflet.

I don't seem to be able to take things for hypertension without really horrendous side effects,my gp says he doesn't want to poison his patients.! Teresa

[meadfoot]

Hi Teresa,

This year and last year it was held at Park Plaza Hotel in central London, very close to Houses of Parliament and St Thomas hospital on the south side of the river Thames. It is a beautiful location with views straight across the river. We managed to park for free on a side road close by which is almost unheard of in central London. We always drive in as my husband is a frequent visitor to London for his job and knows his way around. I usually go along too and we make a weekend of it.

On the blood pressure front, I too have trouble managing mine. While in hospital very recently for 16 days my BP was taken 3 times a day and ranged madly from 165 down to 88 and anywhere in between. I just take beta blocker now as other meds either make BP plummet, make me ill, or have no effect.

Good luck and keep positive. Thanks for understanding re my meltdown, still feel embarrassed by it but guess this rogue condition gets to us all at some time or other.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to meadfoot]

Dee - Bless you. I can understand totally why you broke down in tears after all you've been through lately. That coiled spring of tension you cranked up, to suppress your fears and emotions, finally gave way. Embarrassing though it was to give way to tears I bet it has done you good to let your emotions flow out. Hope you stay well and I'm glad you gained so much from attending the event in London.

Jean

[meadfoot in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean for your kind comments and understanding, I do feel a bit calmer for the experience. I hope you are well and on a good health track. Take care. Dee.x

[dedeottie]

Sometimes when I am finally driven to tears it puts me back in rhythm! Hey ho every cloud and all that. X

[Hidden in reply to dedeottie]

Me too, weird isn't it?

[meadfoot in reply to dedeottie]

I agree there's always a silver lining. It shows how much our emotions are involved in our AF issues.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Dee

It was a good day wasn't it, and as you say where else can you meet and chat to the top EPs from the UK and Europe.

And why shouldn't you cry? after months of trying to find out what was wrong, and then getting confirmation of your research, it's enough to make Superman cry.

The Prof made my day by calling me a lucky bugger, I floated back home if I am honest.

Great to meet so many people from the board, and hope to see you all again soon. I feel a Nosh and Natter coming on

Regards

Ian

[meadfoot in reply to Beancounter]

I laughed so much when he said that. What a great answer which carried so much clout. His words were worth their weight in gold you lucky b....r!

[Beancounter Volunteer]

And I forgot to mention

The Lunch was fabulous.

Thanks AFA for all your hard work in organising, we really do appreciate it, we all owe you a lot.

Ian

[rosyG]

It was lovely to meet everyone on Ian's table and to hear all the different talks yesterday. It was interesting to hear the clinicians in the morning and the ablation specialist was very balanced in his views. I still find it difficult to work out the details re risk and outcomes but the differing views expressed were very helpful. I think it helps us all to know what questions to ask when we have appointments.I would also like to thank the association and think it is great for patients to be able to attend these events.A really helpful day and great to meet you all!

[Mamamarilyn]

Wow! Sorry I missed it but glad that AF members attending found it so helpful. Does anyone know whether a transcript of the talks will be available on this site, or indeed elsewhere? I have also had my suspicions about the link between the

Oesophagus, stomach and AF and would love to find out more. I am at present modifying my diet out of necessity as I seem to have become hyper-sensitive to caffeine and chocolate (baaaad news!) and am feeling considerably better for it. Of course it maybe connected to the Propafenone which I started 10 days ago. It seems to suit me well and I am MUCH less tired.

[Hidden]

Ditto here, would love to have attended but just couldn't. Would it be possible for someone to post a summary of the main things you learned, like we did for the Birmingham Patients Day?