hello everyone,my husband was diagnosed with AF last year at 60.He has no symptoms and a bpm rarely over 70.version failed twice.what next x

[parkpractice]

his warfarin nurse is not unduly worried as his bpm is always under 100 and she mentioned that his 2nd cardioversion did work as his bpm is under 100! but his pulse is slightly irregular and not always easy to follow.ECG shows that he is in fibrillation so am having conflicting info....ant help out there as I am naturally worried and want to do my best for my husband....getting him to excersise or not? stop drinking alcohol or not? so much info xxx

[BobD Volunteer]

The good thing is he is on warfarin as you obviously know about stroke risk. The problem is that we all experience AF differently and whilst some people float along with little in the way of symptoms others are laid very low. Regarding exercise whatever he is comfortable with is fine but don't over do it. As far as food and alcohol is concerned my personal view is a little of what you fancy but obviously binge drinking has been known to bring on AF so in moderation.

Is he on any other drugs? Beta blockers can slow the heart but at 70bpm it is pretty normal even if irregular. I think it is wrong to say that his cardioversion worked if he is still in AF. just because the HR is lower. It may have put him back into NSR for a while but of the ecg shows af then it hasn't lasted.

Read all you can from the fact sheets on the main website and ask any specific questions and we will try to help.

FYI I was 59 when diagnose ten years ago but three ablations. three cardioversions and a few tons of drugs later I have been AF free for six years. AF is a long journey but there are a lot of us on the road together .

Bob

[parkpractice in reply to BobD]

thankyou Bob....it all helps ..

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Parkpractice

From what you say it would appear that your husband is in persistent (continuous) AF but you don't mention any symptoms, are there any?

For example I am in continuous AF but have virtually no symptoms at all, so for me do I want to risk further procedures against what do I gain?

But of course there are many who say it will only ever get worse, and that the longer you are in AF the harder it is to bring you out of it.

It's a tough call, and for me, in my situation, one that has not yet turned to further treatment, it may well do at some time in the future, I remain anti-coagulated, on a calcium channel blocker to reduce heart rate and leaving it there (for now)

I agree with Bob doesn't sound like a successful CV to me, although CVs hardly ever last long term, but they are a good indicator of you being able to get back into NSR I am told.

Be well

Ian

[parkpractice in reply to Beancounter]

thanks Ian ....he does sound similar to your situation and you are spot on ...with having so little symptoms the registrar doesn't really want to give him more serious treatment as he isn't sure it will make that much difference ...so its warfarin and he's trying beta blockers.Am just worried that long term will AF damage his heart more xxx

[Beancounter Volunteer in reply to parkpractice]

Hi Parkpractice

Well the medical advice is that persistent asymptomatic AF does not damage the heart, but there are plenty of contrary opinions I can tell you, and it's hard to get a straight answer to this one.

Ask your cardiologist outright, or better still come to the National conference and ask some of the luminaries there

Be well

Ian

[reedman]

Hi

Sounds like your husband and I are in much the same boat. Two failed cardioversions. repeated ECGs show me to be in persistent (permanent) AF (no P wave etc. Over 5 years now). However, nothing much by way of symptoms BPM around 70/80. I'm on Warfarin for stroke protection and Losarten for the ticker. Was on Bisoprolol for some time, now stopped. Anyway to get to the point, I probably drink too much (couple or three glasses of red most evenings, I ride my bike around eight miles or so three time in the week, I still run my business daily (I'm 72), I play regularly in a jazz band. A little exercise can't be a bad thing if he is up to it and doesn't overdo it, like me a little less of the red stuff would also be good but that won't necessarily improve the AF. I have pressed my GP for a referral to an EP (Electro Physiologist) just in case there is something to be done. But other than that I count myself one of the lucky ones (if getting AF is lucky) since I am symptom free really so I just get on with things and hope my condition doesn't deteriorate. Hope this is of help.

George

[fuzzflyer in reply to reedman]

we seem like medical twins..!

[parkpractice in reply to reedman]

thanks to all of you for the reassurance.Reedman my husband is also a lover of wine and likes a few beers with friends at the weekend..his job causes him much stress so I actually encourage a drink in the evening to help relax him ,that of course and listening to good jazz ! In fact we are listening to a few jazz sounds on vinyl right now Sonny Rollins,coltrane,Charlie Mingus all the greats.xxxx enjoy

[parkpractice in reply to reedman]

it is George..truly it all helps ...my hubby likes to have a drink as well specially at weekends when he goes to our local and probably has 4 or 5 pints... maybe something to do with his passion for jazz too ...they do seem to go together well !

[CDreamer]

Hi And welcome, I am now 63 and AF & AFl free after 2 PV ablation procedures BUT I was not in continuous AF, just had occasional and then more frequent episodes and my heart rate would go up to 180+, which is called fast AF.

Treatment plans vary from doctor to doctor but also from personal choice. There are anti-arrhythmic drugs which help some, but not all. Ablation work for many, but the success rate is lower if in continuous AF so treatments are also a personal choice,

Both Bob and Beancounter offer great insights and I hope these have helped ease your worries, AF is not like other heart disease, it is unpredictable and very variable and we all live with it, adapt our lifestyles and make our treatment choices so that we can be the best we can be for as long as possible, AND AF is very, very rarely fatal.

I only know of 1 person who died of AF and that was because he completely ignored their symptoms, refused medical advice and pushed themselves into heart failure through extreme over exercise, not talking about cycling, swimming, running or walking here! And he was a young man in his 20s and an ex-marine and just believed he was invincible, unfortunately he wasn't. I now know hundreds with AF who lead mostly healthy, happy lives

As the others have said everything in moderation and if it gives you pleasure it must be doing you good!