Emmerdale's Eric Pollard at Death's Door - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Emmerdale's Eric Pollard at Death's Door

AnticoagulateNow profile image

So, Eric Pollard has AF. But it's a different version to the one we all have. Apparently, he will be lucky to make it through the next few episodes of Emmerdale.

I wonder what clown the programme employs as its 'medical advisor'.

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AnticoagulateNow profile image
AnticoagulateNow
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38 Replies
howesgilly profile image
howesgilly

Didn't he have a heart attack first though?

AnticoagulateNow profile image
AnticoagulateNow in reply tohowesgilly

He had one a while ago but in this recent episode he was told it wasn't a heart attack - instead he had AF.

Before we all get carried away, I know this is just a soap but I had a call from a concerned relative tonight saying that they hadn't realised my condition was so serious. I hope I was able to reassure them......but if it's on Emmerdale then it must be right.....

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply toAnticoagulateNow

Milk it like crazy. lol It will be months before they find out you aren't about to drop off this earth. Amazing what TV can do which we have failed to for so long. They say that there is no such thing as bad publicity but I'm not so sure. I bet they put him on "blood thinners" as well. Lord help us!

Bob (who actually has never watched Emmerdale).

stix profile image
stix in reply toBobD

Got to ask your reference to blood thinners, is that sarcasm ?

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply tostix

Absolutely! You know how I hate that misnomer.

stix profile image
stix in reply toBobD

No not really, what do you mean

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply tostix

Anticoagulants do not THIN blood. They slow down the clotting process so that clots are less likely to form. Sadly this misnomer "blood thinners" has become widely used by the ignorant which doesn't help when trying to explain to people that anticoagulants are generally safe. It gives some people the idea that they might spontaneously start leaking from odd places or be more likely to bleed which is obviously quite wrong. OK if you cut yourself it may take longer to stop bleeding but in ten years plus on warfarin I have never had a problem and I work with sharp objects. lol

in reply toBobD

no need to be quite so blunt 'ignorant people' thats not nice. calm down

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply to

Present company excepted of course.

Dadog profile image
Dadog in reply to

I don't think Bob was insulting anyone. He was referring to practitioners who might be unaware or ignorant of the way Warfarin works. That's a lot different than generally calling someone ignorant.

stix profile image
stix in reply toBobD

So i am left confused, i can no longer have manipulation from physio in case they cause a bleed due to blood being to thin, and they can cause a muscle bleed

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply tostix

It has nothing to do with thin or thick or anything like that. If you rupture a capillary either by a bruise or by straining then you will bleed in the muscle until the thrombins clot. That is the discolouration of a bruise. If you have an INR of 2.5 this means that it takes two and a half times longer to clot so you may have a slightly larger bruise. My wife who is not on warfarin bruises much more easily than I do anyway so it depends on individuals. I have had loads of phsyo whilst on warfarin so don't quite understand your situation. I also have regular Bowen sessions which require some manipulation. You see what I mean about this "thinner" silliness. It just causes unnecessary worry and confusion.

dedeottie profile image
dedeottie in reply tostix

Hi. I am having quite intense physiotherapy with an old fashioned physiotherapist who does not spare the rod! I must admit I was initially worried that I might bruise a lot because of the warfarin but despite my I.N.R. being in the 3s at times, I have never had a bruise. I assume this is down the practitioners expertise. I think I would have continued despite an odd bruise as it is doing me so much good. Hope this helps. X

stix profile image
stix in reply todedeottie

Well i was having acupuncture as well as manipulation, but since being put on apixaban they refuse to give me both. and at last after a long fight i have managed to get my hydro back. but my life has been unbearable without any of it. I suffer with spondulitus and the nerve and neck pain is stopping me getting any sleep, and no sleep leads to AF , bit of a nightmare

dedeottie profile image
dedeottie in reply tostix

Oh that is unfortunate especially when you had obviously sorted out treatment that was helping. I do hope you can manage to get some of them reinstated. Good luck.x

PeterWh profile image
PeterWh in reply tostix

Go to a different Physio.

stix profile image
stix in reply toPeterWh

NHS only choice i have

in reply toBobD

Hello Bob although I look up to you when reading your answers to peoples queries as you have such a knowledge of AF I feel that I need to say this time you are wrong in some respects about blood thinners not being a problem. The newer blood thinners I agree do not pose the risk that Warfarin does. My husband has been on Warfarin for over 20 yrs for Ant Phospholipid syndrome (sticky blood ) and some years ago he sneezed violently and started to bleed from the nose which would not stop this resulted in a 10 day stay in St Thomas's hospital to try and stop the bleeding, for this he was given Vitamin K and cauterisation. In all he was told by his haematologist that he had lost three pints of blood. I have to admit his INR readings can be chaotic but are now more under control but Warfarin can be at times for some people hard to control, and I do believe that it thins the blood sometimes to the point it becomes the consistency of water. You may never have had a problem with Warfarin but for some this is not always so.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply to

As I keep saying warfarin does not THIN blood. The viscosity is always the same and it is the clotting process which is altered. Such bleeds as you describe are mercifully rare. I never use the term you did since it is so completely wrong.

Sorry.

Bob

in reply toBobD

Hello Bob, thank you for the reply your views are very much appreciated.

Barbara

AnneTS profile image
AnneTS in reply toBobD

The trouble is Bob "blood thinners" is such an easy phrase to say!! I know doctors who use it!! Can some bright spark come up with an equally easy phrase to say but which is accurate?!! That would be most helpful!! Annel

suzytoshoes profile image
suzytoshoes in reply tohowesgilly

No he did a long time ago, and thought he had had one this time but found out it was AF .

Suzy

meadfoot profile image
meadfoot

My thoughts entirely. Might not be so funny for anyone recently diagnosed who is scared ridged by it. Why oh why if they are going to do such storylines doht they get their facts right. What did the condultsnt say to poor old Eric - "you might not be so lucky next time "

Oh well gang have a good nights sleep and lets hope all we af victims wake up in the morning lol.

Night night.

Dee

ruskin10 profile image
ruskin10

Hello all

Whilst watching Emmerdale last night I was enduring a 3 day stint of AF. I had been hanging on going to A and E for heart to go back to normal rhythm, when we saw the "Eric Pollard bit" my husband looked at me and I looked at him. I reminded him that it was not correct, but hey ho this storlyine couldnt have come at a worse time..... Anyway I got through another difficult night just dosing when the "banging" spell of AF settles into a shall we say quieter spell, sure you all know what I mean. This morning a breathless, fainty feeling me, decided it was time to go...... little bag packed, book and phone charger at the door, and suddenly felt that change that comes when heart goes back into sinus rhythm. So happy me it having a cuppa and toast with hubby smiling again. Thank you Lord, and all of you who encourage me to realise I am not on my own although I dont know any other sufferer personally, its good to `talk`

Bye for now

Pat

in reply toruskin10

I am in AF permantly, drugs help and I have 2 cardioversions, but they havnt lasted, now waiting for ablation, I dont get any respite at all :(

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply to

That is tough .

in reply to

Annieszoo....what sort of rate are you in? What is the waiting list like in your area?

in reply to

my cardiologist says a month to see specialist at the other hospital, then a month after for the procedure. He said they are now working to strict guidlines for people that have already had failed cardioversions. which I have. I dont know the rate, didnt want to more knowledge worse I feel :)

PeterWh profile image
PeterWh in reply to

The rate varies according to severity, where it is and various other factors. I asked my consultant electrophysiologist what was his assessment in my case and his prediction for the first ablation was spot on. Don't worry if AF comes back after your first ablation- it does for many. Bob had three. The key thing is that if you never start down the ablation route you can never get respite from the AF!!!!

Rellim296 profile image
Rellim296 in reply toruskin10

Isn't it just so nice, Ruskin, when your heart all of a sudden obliges and you are back in NSR again! I do sympathise with those who have it all the time, like you Annieszoo, but it's such a see saw when you don't know what will happen next.

meadfoot profile image
meadfoot in reply toruskin10

Bless ya Pat. So sorry you had a bad night. I have had the same this morning, it's vile isn't it. My bp shot up to 171/108 and the fainty feeling was quite overwhelming. I think mine was down to irregular pulse all last night. People without this condition don't have a clue how distressing and worrying it is. I hope you have a better day. Take carEvans rest.

Dee

in reply toruskin10

There is a Murphy's Law that when you finally get bag packed to go to Emergency Room, drive over, begin registration, it finally reverts to NSR. Reminds me of being in birth labor wondering if we should go to hospital, walking around parking lot to see if contractions stopped.

I know, if you were newly diagnosed that episode was enough to send you over the rails lol

Ang3lc4ts profile image
Ang3lc4ts

I don't watch soaps so I was blissfully unaware of the ill informed script in Emmerdale. Even so, I shall write and complain as I am sure I can watch a repeat performance!

I know the feeling Pat, you wait as long as possible when in AF then decide time to go to A&E, I did this - actually turned into the car park and I said to my husband "keep driving, I'm back in NSR! So home we went for a nice cup of tea!

Best wishes to all for a nice calm day.

Angel blessings.

Di

suzytoshoes profile image
suzytoshoes

I was shocked to hear that, when i was watching it but with being on this site i knew it was not true, But my friends were contacting me asking me if i had seen it so it had frightened a few people, I cant believe that ITV did not check this out properly before they showed the program,

Suzy

My brother sent me a message last night....... asking if I'd seen it. I just said no, didn't realise the big who har until this morning. How bloody irresponsible of ITV.

Sabre16 profile image
Sabre16

Totally agree, don't know where they get there facts from - quite dangerous - scaremongering the whole of the country - Shocking.

Mac33 profile image
Mac33

We can rest assured if it's on the Tv, or any other form of media these days, it'll be full of inaccurate and dramatic details. Seems to be the world we live in today. We have to choose our sources very carefully.

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