Thought Id beaten it for a bit longer

[jimmysouthgates]

Hi, not sure if anyone can remember but in December I was booked in for an ablation due to PAF which ive had for 18 months. Ablation cancelled at last minute due to bed crisis, GP stepped in and asked for me to put a pause on things due to her gut feeling this is a lifestyle symptom e.g stress. I gave it a go, got fit etc and held off the af for a while with no meds. Well despite being in the shape of my life I went into af for 18 hours last Friday. I battered it with Flecainide, initial dose of 50mg ( due to apprehension - recommended dose as pip for me 100mg ) but 6 hours later had 100mg, then 2 x 100mg 12 hours apart. Episode has stopped but its made me reflect and beg cap in hand for the ablation I so nearly had. Anyway, and slighly unrelated to this blog. I have a stethoscope as i am a HCP, when I listen to my heart beats in af through the steth its very irregular and fast - bit like a car that wont start! lol if this was svt or atrial flutter would the beats be regular albeit fast?? just paranoid due to the lack of ecg traces I have to confirm the atrial fibrillation. Its been diagnosed off 1 trace and the history.

Any input into this query would be appreciated.

Ta,

Jimmy

[BobD Volunteer]

AF is a chaotic beat with no regular rhythm. On ECG no p wave. If you have a fast regular rhythm it may be atrial tachycardia, atrial flutter or SVT.

[jimmysouthgates in reply to BobD]

its def irregular, i just cant get passed the lack of ecg evidence i have or havent got to confirm this before the ablation. its a personal thing im sure. thanks for the reply

[Buffafly]

Hi Jimmy, although it is not usually recommended to attend A & E with AF it might have been useful this time (if you were able) to go so you could get another ECG? That way you would feel more confident about the diagnosis and have more info for your EP? I hope there isn't a next time any time soon but if you are unlucky then maybe that would be a good idea.

[CDreamer]

Well done on getting fit!

Getting proof of AF when you have paroximal AF can be difficult and so for that reason alone, when you have a sustained episode is the time to get yourself to A&E or in my case, I went to my surgery which is less than a mile down the road, as I know they have several ECG machines & managed to get a trace.

I also bought myself an Alivecor so kept a complete record of each and every epsidode which my doctors accepted.

Best wishes CD

[pip_pip]

My GP said the same thing about stress before I was diagnosed in the hospital resus unit weeks later.

Lifestyle changes are good but won't help AF. Stress might trigger the problem but not cause it.

Of course that's my opinion.

Be well

Phil

[PeterWh]

Phil is right. My EP said once AF is there it won't be cured on its own (assuming not 100% Vagal). Yes stress, adrenaline and other situations and foods may trigger AF off again or exacurbate the AF. Some of us are in permit AF but stress and tiredness (to name but a few) does make my heart worse and more jumpy and increase signals. That stress is not just work related but could be anything. For instance seeing a road accident. A few weeks ago got a call at 9.30pm at night to say someone had been in a car accident but was 100% ok but could I help and take them home. I did but even 3 hours later my heart had not settled down (either rate or AF interference) even though I hadn't done any physical lifting, etc.

[Hi-1964 in reply to PeterWh]

Vagal ?whats that

[djmnet in reply to Hi-1964]

Afib that is often triggered by the vagus nerve, the main "highway" that serves the heart and stomach.