My heart took off racing earlier in the week and my GP called an ambulance and I was admitted to the cardiology ward of my local hospital. While in A&E I was given magnesium by drip and it didn't agree with me at all. I felt like a hot rushing through my veins and then started to very slowly pass out, fortunately the doctor speaking to me at the time realised what was happening and turned it off. Blood test results, received later, showed that I wasn't lacking in it anyway thank goodness.
In the ward the cardiologist dealing with me said that the beat my heart was doing was most unusual and that it was probably as a result of the extensive scarring in my heart, from my ablations, which had caused my heart to become 'stiff'. That's something I've never heard of before! I will now have to rely on Metoprolol as a pill in the pocket to calm my heart if I get another session like this one as there is not a lot else they can do procedure wise because of the scarring.
A few hours before leaving hospital I had a final ECG and the woman doing it said the machine output showed that my heart was in first degree heart block, but that she didn't agree with that. I know first degree is not the worst to have, but I didn't like hearing those words.
I came home yesterday tea time and am feeling really tired today.
Jean
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jeanjeannie50
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So sorry to hear all of this. How unsettling. I do hope that the tiredness will soon lift now you are back home again.
I thing ECG machines can make strange diagnoses when presented with something that's not straightforward, so i would not worry at all about what it said. It could be miles wide of the mark.
Thank you for your response. Yes, I think you're right about the ECG machines and their results. I'm feeling so much better today, so will go out and see just what I can do.
Oh dear Jean -- poor you. I understand the magnesium bit,. When i was given it years ago it was like acid being poured into my veins & they had to stop it. No one seemed to be aware of this happening before. more recently when I was in AE with heart failure ( 2008 ) , the doc there saw what a state I was in & restarted it with a shot of aneasthetic first . It did the trick. Worth knowing . I was told if I needed it again to mention this.
Have you had Metoprolol before? ( Don't think I have & I thought I'd had everything! )
Anyway, do take it easy & try not to worry too much, difficult though that is .
Hi Sandra - Yes, I've had Metoprolol in the past. They once overdosed me with it in hospital and I collapsed (gave me two tablets), so they decided I should never take it again. I guess they must have changed their minds. It's the one drug that is almost guaranteed to bring my pulse down. I have to use it sparingly and take just half a tablet. To be honest I'm glad it's been prescribed again.
The doctor with me when the magnesium affected me thought my reaction to it unusual, but another doctor knew that it could have that effect on some people.
I too have had most drugs for PAF, but oddly enough Bisoprolol (which appears to be the one most often used) has never been suggested.
Hi Jean -- that's interesting, shall have to bear that one in mind because you think your AF is vagal in origin don't you. Hope you are feeling somewhat better now.
The cardiologist I saw understood the vagal connection. She said the vagal nerve had to support several places in the body and sometimes found it difficult if it had to support the heart and digestion at the same time. Guess our vagal nerves just can't cope with us eating and walking - bit of a weakness there!
Hi Shirley - Fortunately, I'm feeling so much better this morning, thank you, so I'll get out today and test my capabilities. It's annoying knowing that my heart is not beating as it should, but who knows - It may have turned me into superwoman!!
Oh Jean so sorry to hear that news. Sounds like you went through the mill. Always take a time to recover after that sort of experience so be kind to yourself and rest up for a few days.
Sorry to rear of your continued problems Jean. I was always told never to accept machine diagnosis so try not to worry about what it said Trust the operator not the machine.
Hi Bob - That sounds a good idea not to accept machine diagnosis. I will go with that! I'm going out to test my capabilities today, but have a feeling that I will be fine and hopefully will be able to resume all my activities.
It was so lovely to get home, there's nothing like it is there! Well, I rested yesterday, couldn't do much else with the way I was feeling. However today I feel "look out world because here I come".
Oh, goodness! I'm so sorry to hear that you have not been well, Jean! I have had episodes of both AF and SVT, and for me the sensation is very different. When I am in AF my rhythm and rate is all over the place. When I am in SVT the rhythm feels regular, but extremely fast. I have been on Metoprolol, but it did not really give me a good enough benefit as compared to the side effects. I have found that an anti-arrhythmic has been much more helpful in my case. I sure hope you get feeling better soon! - KeL
Hi Kel - The cardiologist at hospital said I had both AF and SVT together and that my ECG was most unusual. Isn't it strange how you never to think to ask lots of questions when you are told these things and yet those questions enter your head once there's no one around to answer them!
I was also told that my thyroid levels were bordering on being over active, which is odd as for many years I've been borderline under active. I've been told to have another test for this in a few weeks. Time will tell I guess.
I'm so sorry for the slow reply, Jean! I somehow missed the notification on your comment.
Oh, goodness! It is certainly a tangled mess when you have both AF and SVT. Some days I just wonder where to start with it all, lol! Two trips the the emergency room in a month is two trips too many for me. Hahaha! I'm not big on rushing in for every little pain, but I felt legitimately worried that something very wrong was happening.
Doing much better now! A bit tired, but I have been able to keep up with my daily routine with work and family. - KeL
You were one of the first people to welcome me here when I arrived thinking I was going to die and you talked me down and made me feel calm. Thank you for that I haven't forgotten, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Yes, when these PAF attacks strike you have no idea when they are going to end and it's impossible not to be a little worried. I think I've got a little blasé about it all now. I'm sure they look at me when I go to hospital and think there doesn't look much wrong with her - until they check what's happening with my heart. For some reason I'm always told how healthy I look and I refuse to be a sorry for self and unsmiling person when around others.
I've just walked down into town, felt a little light headed and tired but I'm glad I did it. Caught the bus back and am now relaxing, but also looking at the front and back lawn and wondering whether to cut the smaller one.
Hi Terry - Sorry I'm confusing you with Timmo who has had an ablation. Hope you are well anyway. I'm always on the go, but just had to stop and rest as heart feels sore. Guess I've done enough for one day.
Oh Jean, what a rotten day. I am so sorry. I so hope being back home has brought you more calm. As I've often said to clients, hospitals are horrible places to be ill! All true about ECGs, the machines have glitches, those reading have glitches, we have occassional glitches that don't always come back. Take good care dear and keep us posted.
Hi Iris - Yes, you are certainly right about the glitches. I'm determined to be well and live life to the full and am meant to be doing a 10 mile coastal walk on the 13th of this month. It is particularly beautiful and an area I haven't walked for years, so I will be disappointed if I haven't picked up by then. Hopefully, I will do my usual 5 mile walk with fellow ramblers next Monday. I guess time will tell whether I can or can't go.
Remember me - used to be Wardways from Paignton. We met for coffee. I'm really sorry to read your blog and find you're still not sorted. Neither am I even with a pacemaker. This AF is a real bind and EVERYONE seems to have different symptoms. I gave up blogging for a while but rejoined just recently. We do all seem to help each other.
I seem to be in permanent AF but the rate is never over100 so I've decided I can live with that and just avoid hills and hard work. I was told that the ablate part of the pace and ablate procedure didn't work !! My only options were another cardio version making it 14 or a return to powerful drugs.
Hi Dot - Yes, of course I remember you well. What a shame that you are still having problems. When we met you were quite well and I think you said you were enjoying playing golf. I too have had quite a few cardioversions, though not as many as you. It's strange to say but I love to have them and wake up cured, even if they don't last more than a few months. It's just wonderful to feel so much better.
I don't know what the outcome of my last PAF attack will be, just waiting to see how I get on. My heart isn't racing now, but not beating correctly. I just live in hope that I may have turned into wonder woman and feel really well! I have had two periods in the last year when my heart raced constantly for almost 6 weeks, it made me quite disabled. The sessions were only halted by cardioversions. Since March and my last one I have felt amazingly well and been out walking with a rambling group. I also volunteer, as a room guide at the local National Trust property Coleton Fishacre and have joined a choir. I really love my life apart from this heart nonsense!
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- KeL 
Finally out of hospital
Back in hospital again 
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Day 46 in hospital and finally discharged
Is there a case for more specialism in Hospitals?
