Two years

[kakapo]

understandably many people who post here are having a very rough time but for many there is a brighter future. Two years ago I was doing voluntary conservation work on offshore island which involved pretty vigourous climbing when I had my first attack of af . I didn't know what it was time and in retrospect I probably shouldn't have kept climbing . It took months to get a proper diagnosis, no one's fault really as I only had an attack for a few hours every two weeks or so. I suspect my doctor thought I was a hypochondriac but when I actually showed up during an attack things moved on rapidly. Unfortunately or perhaps fortunately all the drugs they tried on me either failed or made the a f considerably worse leading to a last-ditch effort with amiodarone which put me into anaphylactic shock.. I was placed on rate control after that and while it wasn't perfect it did allow life to continue until I had an ablation last May.. I was due to come off all medication three months later when unfortunately I had a small heart attack. Last week I was back on the same island doing the same job with a spring in my step , a song on my lips and a letter from my cardiologist saying I was fit to do such things.

I am still on some medication and will be on some for the rest of my life but I am completely symptom-free and able to do the things I love.. The last two years have been difficult at times and positively scary at others and I know that my AF may return in the future but with the knowledge I have gained (largely from this site) I face the future with confidence and I am already planning for next year's trip.

A big thank you to everyone on the site and also to the medical community without whose wonderful help I would not be here today. And for those of you just starting this journey I just wanted to give you a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel, mine is shining so brightly, you should be able to see it..

[BobD Volunteer]

That is so good to read kakapo. I think it has been mentioned before that we often only see the bad side of things here since most of the lucky? ones who get improved QOL from treatment tend to drift away as they no longer need the support. Thank you for coming back and telling us your story which I hope will encourage others.

Bob

[jennydog]

As Bob has written your post is a joy to read. Thank you so much for taking the time to send it.

Very best wishes for an AF-free future.

[Hidden]

So good to hear that you are well and back to doing everything you enjoy. Very encouraging for us that are still on that journey to get there.

[rosyG]

well done- very good news!!

[fallingtopieces]

Great to hear you're doing so well and living life to the full.

(I'm wondering what offshore island you're on now!)

Pat

[Viv2015]

So glad to hear your encouraging news,good luck for the future

Viv