Tupelo

[Tupelo]

I am just on Warfarin at the mo. I have to go for a heart echo on the 28th July to see what is happening , I am scared stiff. If everything is o.k. I can have an Ablation. What if it's not o.k. What happens then?

[rosyG]

Tupelo

don't worry- can you say more about your condition at present and then some of the experienced volunteers- and others with your experience- can let you know likely options.

take care and don't get too stressed- it will be fine!!

[Tupelo in reply to rosyG]

Hi RosyG. Upton now I haven't any other problems. My B.P. Is 118 over 80. My cholestral is 4.5. They are just going to look for any other problems to see if I can have an ablation. If there are underlying problems I can't have an ablation so I was wondering what happens after,if there are problems.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Tupelo

Firstly scared stiff is completely usual, we have all been there, and all been through it, I remember shortly after I was diagnosed I cam home re-wrote my will, and even wrote letters to the kids telling them where everyhthing was so convinced I was that this was a fatal condition.

So let's start with the good news, it's not fatal, it probably won't even shorten your life, as a fairly famous doctor in the US says, "AF is seldom fatal, it just feels that way when you are having an episode" the big risk is stroke, and you are on warfarin so that risk is much reduced.

OK an echocardiogram is very sensible, it's just a scan of the heart much like if you were pregnant, but this time focussed on the heart and they will be able to tell if there are any other challenges or problems with the heart, doesn't hurt a bit, but the gel is a bit cold sometimes They may also do another sort where they inject die in you and you lie under a "star trek" type machine which takes pictures of the heart, again painless bit of pfaffing around but not too much.

After that you will probably have a discussion with your consultant on what the options are, and ablation may well be an option, I've not had one but plenty here have and they will tell you all about it.

The real thing to do now is read read read, knowledge is power, and the more you know about AF the happier you will be, start with the AFA website loads and loads of great information there, and then carry on reading. The more you know the less you will worry

Then come back and talk to us, we don't bite (much ) and will answer any questions you may have no matter what, there is no such thing as a stupid question on here.

Apart from that try and relax, it's hard we all know that, but you are among friends and fellow sufferers.

Be well

Ian

[Tupelo in reply to Beancounter]

Thanks beancounter, I am a natural worrier ,which sometimes brings on an episode . They only discovered A.F. Because I had a very severe chest infection, so I went to the doc's with a cough and came out with a.f a bit of a shock .

[Hidden in reply to Tupelo]

It is a huge shock finding out you've got AF, but the echo is a good thing because it's always best to know what's going on in the old ticker... It's good that you're being looked after. But Ian's right, that gel is super cold - brace yourself!

[Hidden in reply to Tupelo]

Beancounter gets my vote, I have found it a difficult 3 months researching and reading case histories but beginning now to get it in proportion and importantly feel in control when deciding my best option with the medics - remember you are part of the medic team!

[Rellim296]

If you see it as looking to see how well your heart is functioning rather than as looking for problems , you might feel better about it.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Rellim296]

Super attitude that. All these tests are quite normal and correct to ensure that you have no underling conditions. Chest infections are a known trigger for AF but you have probably had the pre-disposition sitting there waiting for an opportunity for some time. Three things to remember about AF. It won't kill you, it won't kill you and it won't kill you. There are much worse things to have as many of us have discovered over time but can be all consuming if you let it. Remember the mantra "AF may be in my life but it is not all of my life. "

Bob

[BobD Volunteer in reply to BobD]

That should be underlying. No blasted edit button anymore. Pah!