One step forward, two steps back...

[jayjaybee]

Further tales from an AF wife

Hubby is in permanent AF now, px apixaban, diltiazem and more recently ramipril.

10 days ago he was feeling better,  able to accomplish most things with only a little degradation in stamina and breathing.  Then he had a CV, which went well and they got his heart back into sinus rhythm.  Unfortunately that lasted 18 hours only and now his breathlessness and stamina are much reduced.  He has also begun to take ramipril (he tried it once before but found it so toxic, he refused it after 4 days and is giving it a second chance). As the CV didn't work, does this mean an ablation is out of the question? Is there any advice how to cope with the breathlessness?

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi jayjaybee.

Firstly just some terminology if I may, hubby is not in permanent AF if the CV worked and put him into NSR even were that for a lot less time than the 18 hours,. Hubby is in persistent AF. Not crucial except that permanent AF is usually never able to go back into NSR.

People like me are long standing persistent, they can get me back into NSR but only with rhythm control drugs and a CV and then usually only for a few hours.

Re Ablation, not my specialist field, but my understanding is that the successful CV actually means more chance of the ablation being successful, your EP will of course advise you on this.

Re breathlessness, personally I just have to get used to it, but working out which drug combination works best does seem to help, and that's just trial and error with your GP usually.

Be well

Ian

[jayjaybee in reply to Beancounter]

Many thanks Beancounter, persistent it is. Perhaps time will tell.

[Barb1]

The CV was successful just not long standing, so he could be a candidate for an ablation.