I am an artist as you can see ....having daily attacks of fibulating flutters into 160 to 180 I live alone and am afraid. The slightest exertion seems to trigger it and I need to have my trinitrate spray and lay still till it passes...I was wondering if anybody could elaborate on my symptoms and what can I expect to be done by the hospital.
Thanks everyone this forum makes me feel im not so alone.
Savage.
I think you may mean a PVI, pulmonary vein ablation?
This has nothing to do with a valve though. Fibrillation is caused by rogue electrical pathways which gather around the pulmonary veins in the right atria for AFib and the left for AFlutter. By making small burns through a catheter ablation either via radio frequency or cryoablation the Procedure causes scarring which the electrical pulses cannot penetrate, hence no more AFib.
If you go onto the AFA site and follow the links you will find a lot of info as to what, how, when and where AFib is treated.
I have never heard of AF being treated with a trinitrate spray, do you also have another condition?
Awesome art!
Sorry you got that the wrong way round. A FIB IS LEFT ATRIA AND FLUTTER RIGHT. There are no pulmonary veins in the right atria.Other than that correct.
Bob
Hi. When my AF goes very fast 200 + I had pains just below the neck, and used a spray to relieve it.
My heart is "off beat" you know? arythmic as well also i suffered a minor heart attack years ago.
Whoops have I posted to the wrong thread!
To answer this one, your symptoms seems to be consistent with AFib and it could also be other things which the hospital will investigate and yes it is scary, but if AFib, not immediately life threatening. Hospital will take bloods, urine, BP and ECG and may ask you to wear a mobile ECG recorder to capture a tracing of what your heart is doing. They should also send you for an echocardiogram scan to get a more detailed picture of the structure of your heart. It is only when AF is caught on an ECG trace that a diagnosis will be confirmed and treatment therapies discussed.
If you have a confirmed diagnosis then anticoagulants are the first thing that is usually discussed and decided upon. You are at much higher risk of stroke when in AF and anticoagulants will give you a measure of protection from stroke. You will find loads of posts on here about those! Good to read up and be an informed patient, you get a very different response.
Anxiety increases the intensity and the longevity of episodes so although it is hard not worrying, it is helpful to find ways of not focussing on what your heart is doing, even when it is thumping away.
Welcome Frank to our exclusive and rather mad world of AF.
Again thanks dreamer!
Im on Warfrin and bisoperol fruesemide rampril. Ive had the portable echocardiogram for a weeki returned it about 6 weeks ago and am waiting to hear something. What might I hear next? I have no idea what to expect?
Great art work!
In my experience tests are seen as something that the patient doesn't need to be told about - results tend to be available instead for the cardiologist for diagnosis, and if you ask they say 'Oh, it was fine' which isn't fine because a) it's your heart and you want to know and b) if it was fine, it's not demonstrating the problem you have!
Following your tests, you should be getting an appointment with a cardiologist - and give your GP a prod if you hear nothing - who will probably refer you on to a specialist in heart rhythm problems - an electrophysiologist or EP. Mine gave me a list of treatments that might be appropriate, starting with medication (you are already on a beta blocker and an ace inhibitor if I'm remembering them correctly and the fruesemide I don't recognise) and then various physical interventions such as ablation which can work a treat. Lots can be done to alleviate AF.
It is scary whether on your own or not. It gets better as you get accustomed to the condition. Nice as it is to have someone to say that he thinks its a bit better when I ask how my pulse is, because my other half has his own health issues, I have been not mentioning my heart's peculiarities and have carried on as if I was fine, and find this quite a good way forward.
I feel the need to be organised when my other half is away. I always keep a suitcase packed in case I get swept off in an ambulance. This happened at the start of my AF career and I was ill prepared and got to hospital with a dodgy heartbeat that had resolved itself on the journey and no shoes, inappropriate clothes or at least not enough appropriate clothing, no money, no phone. It was not a happy day.
Thankjs for that great reply Rellim it does make me feel likem there is some hope in the end! I appreciate all your help here.
I agree with Rellim, and would add-
I noted that you are treated as an intelligent adult if you imply you have some knowledge and ask very specific questions ie "I assume you have studied my heart anatomy throughout he echocardiogram, please describe to me what you found". Ask for print out copies, you may have to pay for them or go through a tedious paperwork filling out process but it is incredibly helpful to be able to produce the results when the admin dept loses half your file. Ensure both hospital and the GP know you want copies of all correspondence between them which you are entitled to, you often find out stuff that way which you are not told. If you don't know what they mean you can look them up on google or ask here.
Knowledge really is power, many people are not told about ablatiions or novel drug treatments so it really pays to ask about them when you visit. Take a list of questions and make notes, I asked if I could tape a consult but they didn't like that seeing it as sinister when I just wanted an aide memoirs! Taking notes in front of them means that they pay more intention, oh and NEVER wear dull colours if you want to be noticed, I have a bright pink sweater I always wear, never fails.
All the best...
Spell checker gone again, should read attention, not intention
LOL Freduian slip maybe CDreamer, intention works just as well in that sentence, if maybe a little more cruelly to the medical profession 
Ian
Wow!
Thanks everyone for the reassurance and information. I shall add my experiences to the community when the next chapter occurs!
Cheers!
Love that Jim Hall & Attila Zoller video Frank. Brill guitar playing.
K
I see we share similar likes k.
Yeah, I play a bit if you can call it that
Me too Koll
They have just put it back till december now?
Did they give a reason?
What is Quality of Life?
A return of the dreaded mongrel .......... ????? Part 2
What is the success rate of an Ablation?
Is it the beta blockers that cut the risk of stroke? Or is it the Pradaxa? 
The diet that is working (for my husband that is!)
