Self help on attack

[ellyhay]

Could anyone advise me please when u have a AF attack how do u cope ? I was told to call 999 ?

[Rellim296]

Hi there, ellyhay. Perhaps you should ask your doctor to give you clear guidelines for your personal circumstances as you mentioned you have a ventricular complication. If you've been told to dial 999, then do so.

Most of us have a good understanding of our condition and lots of experience and we know if the AF we are experiencing needs attention.

[wendicarro]

Hi, Rellims right ,

Get clear advice from your Gp and eventually you will know when you need to get assistance as if it has gone on for a while you will most likely get chest pain, breathlessness etc and know you are not right, The medical profession all treat us differently so when in doubt just get help, its a really scary experience until you get used to it,

Good luck

Wendi

[BobD Volunteer]

Rellim hit the nail on the head when she mentioned ventricular complications. WE really don't know what is wrong with your heart as you haven't yet had a proper diagnosis and investigation. Many people with AF do nothing as they know that is will pass and usually a waste of time going to A and E as all they do is wait till you go back to NSR and send you home. There is also a lot of anecdotal evidence of A and E doctors being less that sympathetic (understandable in some cases but a better attitude would be nice.) I would urge you to get a letter from your doctor giving clear guidance so that you can stuff it up the nose of any A and E doctor who gets stroppy.

Bob

[Rellim296 in reply to BobD]

Yes, Bob makes a good point. Get a letter that tells you what you should be doing. The reception you get at A&E varies. Always have handy a little collection of things you might need at A&E - something to read, toothbrush & paste, some cash, a key to your front door, clothes you can travel home in. Include slippers and outdoor shoes. You do want to be able to escape from A&E when they let you go without making a spectacle of yourself.

Also, do ask for a copy of any ECG that you have. Get a photocopy, keep the original and have a copy available for any doctor to see or keep.

[CDreamer in reply to Rellim296]

Rellim, good advice however, I tried asking for the ECG trace and received very varied responses, only one A&E gave me a copy, never the original, saying that it is part of the hospital record. Technically they are correct, ownership of records is often a very litigious affair.

They do have to write to your GP with a report on their findings and you definitely can ensure you get a copy of that by asking both your GP and the hospital for copies of all correspondence which you are entitled to,

[Rellim296 in reply to CDreamer]

That's interesting, CDreamer. I have not kept the hospital's original - I have either had a second one done or they have printed it twice. At my first cardiology appointment (where I happened by good fortune to see a locum who was actually an EP) there was no ECG for him to look at in my notes, so I had to go home and fish out my copy. Luckily the appointment was at my local hospital (Kendal) and only a 7 mile round trip. The ECG had been done in Lancaster, our nearest A&E, which is about 23 miles from home. Kendal just has a primary care facility. This was five years ago and things may be a bit more digitally accessible now.

[Buffafly in reply to Rellim296]

According to the letter sent to my GP from the cardiologist last year my original ECG was lost! Maybe they were not very careful as they were clearly going down the 'panicky old lady needs reassurance' route until the results of my blood test came back but I thought that was very bad.

[Rellim296 in reply to Buffafly]

Absolutely, especially if it accidentally 'drifted' into the bin...

I rest my case!

[CDreamer in reply to Buffafly]

Lost ECGs, letters, results have been an ongoing saga so I know keep copies of anything and everything I can get my hands on. Agree! It is very bad practice and whilst you excuse the odd mistake, it happens too many times!

[ILowe in reply to CDreamer]

Not perfect. But you could try taking some photos with a smartphone. I use that when copying letters I need to email in a hurry.

[mumknowsbest Volunteer]

I was told originally after 2hours. Went into A/E last week and they couldn't have been nicer and really sympathetic, and they were really busy.

[CTG99]

Everything above makes sense. One thing to add - I was talking to a paramedic a few weeks ago and he told me never to feel bad about calling an ambulance if I felt I needed to - AF is a genuine medical condition and compared to many of the calls they get (drunkenness etc.) none of them would think we were wasting their time.

Caroline

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to CTG99]

That's good to hear Caroline.

[Deeferdi]

The A&E docs told me to go to A&E every time it happens, but I've only ever been once and that was when I was diagnosed with AFib after passing out. I tend to just sit it out as like Bob says they just wait for you to revert to NSR (after a good dose of Flecanide in my case) and discharge you but as posts above say if you have other problems as well as AFib I'd go to hospital.

[PeterWh in reply to Deeferdi]

I am in persistent AF so slightly different situation.

Four weeks ago my HB went up to over 120 and the BP dropped to 85/67 and 90/57 (five minutes apart). I drank loads of water and I went to bed for four or five hours and it reverted to normal. Five days later I went to GPs about another condition and took my HB and BP records for the review and told her about the incident. She politely told me off for not getting an ambulance to go to A&E because she said that although I had recovered OK that time it was equally possible I might not have done so then or do so in the future and that being in an ambulance or in A&E recovering / sleeping it off it would mean that there was help straight at hand if my condition deteriorated and that could make all the difference. A salutary note.

[nikonBlue]

hi all,

On Saturday afternoon whilst working front of house at my local theatre, there I was sitting watching the kids dance show when the 'flutterring' started and for no apparent reason. I was working a double show and had around 2 hours before the next one so headed home to have a rest and something to eat. I was very aware the irregular heartbeat was getting worse. Anyway, long story short is that this 'episode' lasted almost 5 hours which is a first for me, as usually i'm aware of it then it calms down pretty quickly. I was feeling horrible during this time and almost called nhs24 but knowing they'd send an ambulance and that ir probably meant the usual few days in hospital with them sticking needles in me....and I really don't do needles!!

I actually am seeing my gp this afternoon more by way of reassurance. My heart monitor readings during this episode where 101-82-117 Now, i'm not altogether versed on the numbers but it's the first time my pulse rate has been that high (normally around 76/79 at the highest) and to see it at 117 was a tad scary.

You guys who are so very knowledgable in these things, can you reassure me or do I/should I call an ambulance in future?

I live alone so it's sometimes extra scary

Thanks for reading my ramblings!

Blue x

[ellyhay in reply to nikonBlue]

I had a heartbeat of 215bpm and was told to call 999 if it happens again. I have always had flutters and palpitations for past 20 years but never AF until now. My advice would be to call 999 if it persists and u find it hard to breath. That's what the paramedics told me. Better to be safe than sorry. However if it only lasts a few minutes then I would see my GP. Hope that helps?

This site has helped me so much because I felt so alone.

[nikonBlue in reply to ellyhay]

Yes,

I've learned so much from the folks on here and now understand more about my PAF more than any doctor has told me.

It's sometime difficult to explain to people how it makes you feel after an AF episode. They just have no idea about it all. So glad this lot are here to answer questions and offer advice, even if it's just telling me to go see the doc! I will this afternoon. Thanku,

Blue

[Buffafly in reply to nikonBlue]

Last time I went to hospital with AF (instructed to by my GP) I had chest pain and a near blackout when I stood up but the A&E doc was cheerily telling me that people come in with much higher rates. He was less cheery when my blood results showed a possible heart attack. Also my angiogram showed a leaky valve. Everyone is different so really you need individual guidance based on your circumstances but the easiest rule I guess is to go if you feel ill!

[kateporter]

I would certainly not mind being called out to someone in fast AF, (I presume that is what you are referring to rather than just AF) and they would always go in providing they agreed to

117 as a top rate isn't hugely worrying but I would be guided by how the patient feels,looks and their personal circumstances i.e are they anxious, are they alone? A monitor can sometimes just pick up a very short burst of tachycardia, looking at a fairly long trace is a better idea.

Definitely try and keep a copy of your latest ECG, doesn't have to be an original and show it to the paramedics so they have a point of reference as to what is 'normal' for you.

It's really important to treat the patient not the machine

[nikonBlue in reply to kateporter]

hi,

the 117 was my pulse reading my bp was 179 but been to see doc this afternoon and she's said never to let it last so long agin and in the meantime i've to take an 'extra' flecainide if it occurs. I take this morning and night anyway. Being referred back to my cardiologist asap though as opposed to the 'routine' appointment i have for September!!

thanks everyone, stay well

Blue

[PeterWh]

I have always asked for a copy of my ECGs and always been given it. Sometimes it is a second print and sometimes they give me a photocopy (even though they have printed it off twice at the time!!). The latest one included all the doctor's / consultant's notes on it!!! I have had ECGs five different places.

When I had to be taken in by ambulance last Tuesday night the paramedic and both doctors and the consultant in A&E were so pleased that I had everything in a folder because they said it makes their life so much easier (and I suspect that they are also happier because info and results are written rather than the patient being told). Since I had only had an ECG at Barts two weeks ago they (in A&E) were able to see straight away the differences and that new ECG was throwing up an incomplete bundle branch block and also a T wave abnormality not there previously.