Some good news

[joebob]

I thought I would share a positive story with you all.

I finally went to see my new Cardiologist, at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester, on Wednesday. I was very unhappy with the way I was treated during an, unsuccesful, electro cardioversion I received from Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry and asked to be transfered. That was in October last year - it's taken this long!

Anyway, they put me on amiodarone after my failed cardioverion. Plus, after being diagnosed, I decided to lose weight (I've lost 2 stone in six months. I still have another stone to go but I'm determined), I cut down on the alcohol and changed my diet to something more heart healthy, with plenty of salad, fruit, veg, seeds, nuts and whole grains etc. plus I take magnesium, zinc and omega 3, 6 & 9.

Well I had a bit of a shock on Wednesday (not the electro cardioversion kind, I'm happy to say) as I'm now back in normal synus rhythm.

The Dr. said it was most likely a combination of the meds plus my weight loss and change in diet which have helped my heart to get back to normal. They now plan to slowly take me off the beta-blockers, then the warfarin and amiodarone and then they will put me back on beta-blockers as a precaution. Plus I will have to wear a heart monitor for two weeks.

I was really not looking forward to having another electro-cardioversion under a GA I can tell you.

[rosyG]

That's great news- I think it fits in with the studies Dr Bogle told our group about last week- radical weight loss had a very good effect on AF- duration, frequency and severity,

Stay well!

[souljacs4]

Nice to hear good news well done on the weight loss two stone in six months wow I am trying to loss weight but finding it really hard.

[joebob in reply to souljacs4]

I'm actually finding it easy (I don't usually), as I'm following a really simple formulae.

Mon - Thu I have porridge (made with water and salt) for brekkie, then a big salad (with a sprinkle of nuts and seeds plus maybe chicken, hard boiled egg or cheese and beetroot) for lunch and then something simple like baked chicken or cod and some baked veg for dinner.

Then we weigh in on a Friday morning and if we have lost weight we have the weekend off (usually have a take away and a few drinks Friday and Saturday).

It really works. Maybe I should patent it and call it the yoyo diet or something

[souljacs4 in reply to joebob]

I know what you mean about yoyo diets been like it for years and understand how hard it can be. glad your doing so well and its helping with the AF

[AnticoagulateNow]

That all sounds good joebob but sorry you had a bad experience with cardio-version. I've only had one but, for me, it was a walk in the park. I'd sooner have that than a dental filling!

Entirely up to you of course, but I wouldn't rush to come off the anticoagulant.....

[MarkoVan]

That's fantastic news joebob, how fast was your heart beat when you had afib may I ask? (Minus the drugs).

[joebob in reply to MarkoVan]

I don't actually know! All I know is that I was in permanent Afibb. My pulse on weds though, was down to 44 which is why they wanted to bring me off the beta blockers first.

[CDreamer]

Well done, that's what I call taking control!

Long may your NSR continue and good luck with the weight loss.

Best wishes CD

[gerryatriq]

do you still take amiodarone?

[joebob in reply to gerryatriq]

Yes, I do for now. But the plan is to bring off it and see how I go.

I realise that Afibb is quite often a recurring condition, but I'm in NSR for now and I will take it

[iris1205]

FAbulous news... congratulations on your efforts.

ONe thing that might help, I am speaking non stop to my clients about it.... whenever possible get up out of your chair! Particularly after a meal, even a 15 minute walk will help burn the excess sugar rush... it goes to our muscles to be used and when we just sit the excess turns to fat. You have obviously found techniques that work so Bravo... this is just a thought!

[joebob in reply to iris1205]

Thanks. I fully intend to get back to jogging again soon. Going for a long one hour walk this morning too. But to be honest though I haven't done much exercise at all over the past year - hard to believe I completed a marathon 3 years ago (to say I ran it would be exaggerating the facts a bit!).

I have felt a lot better on the Amiodarone since about November though, so if my heart was back to NSR but the betablockers were making my pulse so low then it explains why I haven't felt inclined or had the energy to make the effort to exercise more - really unlike me.

[jondeanp]

I'd be interested what was particularly bad about your treatment at Wasgrave (UHCW). I was successfully cardioverted at Nuneaton after about 5 months of warfarin management.

I've been advised that if I go back into AF to go to UHCW within 24 hours where I could have a chemical cardioversion. This sounds like a better option if it was to be successful

I am hopeful however that I remain in rhythm, however stats suggest otherwise

[joebob in reply to jondeanp]

It's a loooong story. I'm not sure if you are able to search thorugh my previous posts on here, but I did tell the whole story back then - would be end of Oct beginning of Nov.

[jondeanp in reply to joebob]

Yes found it by clicking on your name

[Offcut]

Great news all round!

Is Doctor Ng still there?

He did my first 2 and my last was done by the man he trained who did it in my local hospital.

Be well

[joebob in reply to Offcut]

No idea. I saw Dr Woo (it was a lady and she didn't have a sonic screwdriver though, as far as I could see).

[Offcut in reply to joebob]

[Kimmieblue]

Well done, I would love to lose weight but it just won't shift, must try harder!!!!

Hope you keep well.

[Jenbo6]

Offcut. Yes, Prof Ng still at Glenfield. Absolutely brilliant guy - I feel very confident having his team look after me.

[joebob]

Really? I've never had that mentioned by my GP, either of the cardiologists I have seen or read about it anywhere on the internet!

[joebob in reply to joebob]

Actually I have just seen your profile says you have a history of alcohol abuse. When I say cut down, I mean I have gone from sharing a bottle of wine with my girlfriend maybe three to four nights a week to just two. I don't think that's so bad, is it?