help please

[karim123]

as I said last time my AF is back 5 weeks now . so my gp change my medication and put me on anetalol/

its slow my heart to 84 now , and refer me to cardio / still waiting for appointment , but still in AF 24/7

I don't know what to ask the cardio . for ablation or they is any thing else they can do to put it back to narmal /

thankyou all / hop I get some advise from you and good luck to every one

[Hidden]

Hi please look at the publications and read as much as you can write some questions down as we all forget to ask something. Take pen to write down replies or further questions from what your consultant says. Lots of information about to help you understand as much as you can or want about AF and its treatments. Good luck

[PeterWh]

Try and take someone with you two heads are worth three times usually as it is harder concentrating. It is very unlikely in most cases that there will be bad news. Remember to ask that copies of all letters (from consultants, GPs, etc) are sent to you. Also ask for copies of all blood tests, ECGs, etc. Get yourself a ring file and file everything by category. This will be a big help because normally no one will be able to see all your history as each CCG has its own electronic storage system. I have had at least three occasions in the last 15 months where my GP has not received letters (once I got theirs and my copy in the same delivery) and also I picked up that one consultant had not responses to a letter sent in.

As to information from a consultant I think that they may moderate what they say depending on the individual. In my case I am in persistent AF and I had a cardioversion but went back into AF less than 24 hours later. When I saw the EP after that he said that the only realistic option was an ablation. I asked him to be totally honest as to what the chances of success were and his plan going forward and he was! However you may not want that in one go - it is very much personal preference.

Ask for all the options.

[heather110 in reply to PeterWh]

I agree Peter. I am far from stupid and am normally an independent and capable woman but seeing a consultant about AF when it is all still new to me is a lot of information to take in. So for the first time ever Ive been taking my husband with me - just for the consultant appointments. I find that between us we ask all the questions we have and get the answers. Its definitely a case that if you dont ask you wont get told all of the answers you want. No problem with writing a list before you go either. I did that when I had an appointment with my GP after I was first diagnosed after a stay in hospital. She didnt mind at all. In fact asking any of them questions and then follow up questions isnt a bad thing anyway - it shows that we want to understand and be in control of what is happening to us and Ive found that if you ask a few questions suddenly they start to explain things in more detail as they realise you are interested.

I also agree with your comments about letters. I wanted instructions from the cardiologist after my cardioversion on what exactly I was supposed to do if / when I go back into AF and he wrote me a letter while I was recovering and gave me a paper copy before I left. The GP never got that so I took her a copy and this forms the basis of the plan I have going forward. So I dont have to worry about 'what happens if'.

Youll gather Im a bit of a control freak - this approach may not suit others who arent!

Heather

[karim123 in reply to PeterWh]

hi peter thankyou so much , is it normal to be on AF 24/7 / as I was going to gym before but I stop now , can I still go just for 20 minute

[PeterWh in reply to karim123]

I am not medically qualified.

I have been in persistent AF (is 24/7) definitely since mid September 2014 apart from one 24 hour period after cardioversion and less than 72 hours after my ablation. I don't know how long I was in persistent AF before that but my guess is months as a result of thinking backwards due to symptoms and slowing down that I put down to other things (I was only slightly symptomatic).

It has also been found that I have other heart issues including two leaky valves (one, tricuspid valve, has moderate to severe leakage).