Interesting article

[weezergeezer]

This may be of some use, youre not alone !

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

[Beancounter Volunteer]

"She said if I didn't have ablation, I would have heart failure within two years"

I'm stuffed then...... that makes me at least 3 years past my inevitable heart failure....

The Daily Mail...... I like that it runs these articles and I applaud it for that, but Oh the dramatic language and factual inaccuracies....

Be Well

Ian (The Zombie)

[Hidden in reply to Beancounter]

The heart failure bit should have referred to fast AF. This can cause heart failure if left untreated for a long period of time

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Beancounter]

I'm a zombie too, having had AF for over 10 years.

Did anyone see the feature in the Mail about the girl who claimed she died about 8 times during her ablation - she had 8 cardioversions during the procedure, this is what she was calling dying! Will see if I can find it and post the link.

Here is the link, talk about over dramatising!

dailymail.co.uk/health/arti...

Jean

[Beancounter Volunteer in reply to Beancounter]

Sorry if I was not clear, I AM aware that for some people with either other symptoms or fast symptomatic persistent AF that there are real challenges, but for the 900,000 or so of us (guess) who have either paroxysmal or persistent AF, I don't think reading "heart failure within two years" is good journalism. Either explain why, or explain that in this case heart failure means not working perfectly. Or use the term "blood thinners" for example

I understand that these might be medical terms, but I think we should hold to account especially "medical" journalists to either explain medical terms in laymans language, (and blood thinners is not laymans language but a scary unnecessary and inaccurate term) or they can rightly be accused of "scaremongering"

Be well

Ian

[dmac4646 in reply to Beancounter]

It is the Daily Mail after all there does need to be some additional drama ! - but on the positive side they do publicise this stuff and it is great to see refinements being introduced which help.

[heather110]

It's the 'heart faulure' bit that is over dramatic. It seems to be the proper medical term for the situation where all of the heart muscle isn't pumping properly because of blood flow to the muscle. I understand that such damage can be caused by longterm fast AF. It doesn't mean that your heart is going to stop which is what one immediately thinks if you don't look it up. So I agree an over dramaticisation but unfortunately it is an over scary proper term that is used out there everywhere!

At least they mentioned stroke risk - but why do people insist on talking about 'blood thinners' surely the concept of anticoagulation isn't too difficult for people to grasp?

Heather

[Hidden in reply to heather110]

Yes I was grinding my teeth at that too...

[DavDug]

Hi! Weezergeezer.

Thanks for that. At least they got it the right way round and the gentleman received prompt attention.

The article is excellent and worth a read giving both the patient and EP angle.

I wonder how we get all these guys to speed up the process and become more efficient. Think of the budget saving.

Get well yourself. Dave.

[Rellim296]

An interesting read. I must remember to drop 'I may have a problem with my ganglionated plexi' into the conversation when someone asks how I am.

[Hidden in reply to Rellim296]

My EP mentioned the ganglionic plexii to me quite some time ago so the words have remained with me ( to be given an airing on a suitable ocassion which has not yet presented itself !! )

Sandra

[dedeottie in reply to Rellim296]

Oh yes it sounds so much more interesting than "an irregular heartbeat " doesnt it?!

[Finvola]

Interesting, weezergeezer - particularly the point about those nerve endings adding to the mix of interactions with arrhythmias.

Rellim - love your comment - it would certainly stop the 'oh you look soooo well' types dead in their tracks.

[seasider18]

Qoute:

"I was told there was a small risk of a fistula - where a hole is accidentally burned between the heart and oesophagus, meaning stomach contents could enter the heart, which would be fatal"

Is that the case with all forms of ablation?

[dmac4646 in reply to seasider18]

yes , I think it is.

[Thomps95]

Glad to see they are continually making refinements on the procedures