AF starting in the middle of the night again

[pottypete1]

I have now gone another 18 days in NSR only to revert to AF at 04:00 this morning. Have taken extra Flecainide as usual and now waiting to see if this is successful.

I am very disappointed as my rhythm has been so steady since the last episode. It is now 31 days post ablation.

I know it is early days after my last ablation but I suppose that after all these years I was hoping for a more obvious successful outcome. However, I am trying to keep as upbeat as I can but as discussed so many times before positive thoughts when in AF are so difficult.

Pete

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes Pete it can be very deflating when this happens but as you note it is very early days. Courage mon brave.

[pottypete1 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob

I am doing other things to try and take my mind off it. I am in rate control up to a point. Last time it took about 10 hours to revert so I am hoping that this will be the same.

Got to got to GP with my wife tonight as she is having a steroid injection in her arthritic Knee. If still in AF I will try and get an ECG done to show EP at next appointment or heaven forbid if I stay this way for any amount of time.

Pete

[PeterWh in reply to pottypete1]

Pete. I would go down this morning (without phoning up) and get one. That way it'll show what's happening.

[pottypete1 in reply to PeterWh]

Good idea. Didn't want to make a big thing of it yet but on reflection it would bet very useful to have a trace whilst in AF at this stage. I will let you know how I get on.

Pete

[PeterWh in reply to pottypete1]

Sometimes I'm better at cajoling others than doing myself!!!

Saying that I am good at being analytical and tangential thoughts.

Good results so far.

[pottypete1 in reply to PeterWh]

Hello Peter

Well to contradict the bad press about Doctors' surgeries, this morning I have already been to the surgery as you suggested and had an ECG done. As I knew would be the case AF is shown.

I am very lucky where I live as my GP surgery is always very helpful. In addition I live only 15 minutes from Southampton General Hospital where the cardiac care, in my opinion, is second to none.

The ECG states:

" RSR' or QR pattern in V1 suggests right ventricular conduction delay.

T wave abnormality, consider inferior ischemia or digitalis effect. Abnormal ECG"

My heart rate about x2 my normal resting rate.

Doctor has said he agrees with my plan which is to let it run for today but I was told not to hesitate to go back if I feel worse.

Got to take it easy today and be positive get the old mantra going "it has always reverted to NSR".

Hopefully it will not be too long as I feel terrible nausea and fatigue.

Pete

[Finvola in reply to pottypete1]

It's good to have that information for your EP - my mantra is always the same 'this too shall pass'. Take it easy.

[pottypete1 in reply to Finvola]

Yes I am trying that.

George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" also springs to mind.

[PeterWh in reply to pottypete1]

Pete

That's great - the key thing is the additional information, not just that you are in AF!!!

If you are able to scan in the ECG and email it to EP's secretary. If you are still in AF later or tomorrow morning it would be good to try and get another one to see if al the rogue elements are still there as that's not just AF (though the AF may well be triggering).

[pottypete1 in reply to PeterWh]

Yes I will probably leave it until tomorrow morning if I am out of luck with the Flecainide. I can scan and email. Need to find out who the secretary is as this is a new consultant at this hospital.

Hopefully I won't need to and my heart will revert today.

In any case the ECG is good to take to my appointment in January.

Pete

[PeterWh in reply to pottypete1]

Pete. The reason for sending it to him is so that he can see it earlier. Probably 98% chance he'll do nothing but on the other hand he may decide to bring you in sooner or run some other effects.

I am assuming that you aren't taking digoxin?

[pottypete1 in reply to PeterWh]

Yes I agree.

Glad it is a Tuesday and not a Friday.

I think they are in the Cath Lab all Tuesday so I would not expect a reply today.

Normally need to phone so think the best thing is to let it run today and then if no luck ring them in the morning 1st thing.

No I am not on digoxin.

Pete

[PeterWh in reply to pottypete1]

Certainly with my EP if he is in the Cath lab that is a good day to catch him because he's there at the hospital that day and will go through emails at the end of the day!!!

[pottypete1 in reply to PeterWh]

Hello Boss

OK done that.

Called the EP's secretary and have emailed the ECG to her.

She said it will probably be tomorrow before I hear anything as my doctor is in the Cath Lab all day - as I suspected.

Thanks for your advice I need driving sometimes.

[pottypete1 in reply to PeterWh]

Got some good speciality foxgloves in the greenhouse though

[CDreamer]

I can relate to that feeling, I SO wanted ablation to work 1st time. It is still very early days so I do hope it settles down quickly for you.

[pottypete1 in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks CDreamer for your encouragement.

Pete

[pottypete1 in reply to CDreamer]

I too wanted it to work the first time, and all the 4 other times now.

As I have said when trying to encourage others each time they go in and do an ablation it is extra work and not a case of the previous attempt being a failure as such.

Not too sure what the scarring must look like after 5 ablations.

Pete

[Finvola]

No matter how well we prepare for a possibility, it's always such a jolt when it happens . . . I hope the extra Flec calms it down quickly - hopefully you won't be able to have that ECG done as it's gone.

[pottypete1 in reply to Finvola]

Taken PeterWh's advice and popping round to the GP surgery soon. I missed his advice to not phone but all the same they said come in and we will do ECG.

I think it is a good idea as although my follow up appointment is in January an ECG is so much better than just saying to him "I went into AF "X" times since the ablation.

You are right about the jolt I was getting very bullish about how steady my heart was beating.

It seems that it is always the night when it goes into AF these days.

Pete

[rosyG in reply to pottypete1]

think it's when the nervous system changes at night. See if you can do gentle exercise during the day 9 if allowed by your doctor) as this may help to keep tone and pulse rate steady 24/7

[pottypete1 in reply to rosyG]

Thanks Rosy.

I will see what I can do - trouble is I get such bad fatigue when in AF and when I do anything more than the simplest task I am breathless and worn out.

Pete

[Hidden]

sorry to hear this Pete, hope it resolves itself soon

[pottypete1]

Thanks Mikee

I'm trying to be positive right now.

I should be used to it after all these years but it doesn't get any easier.

Pete

[pottypete1]

Well things have been a bit chaotic unfortunately.

I went back into NSR late yesterday afternoon and within 10 minutes went back into AF. This morning the same thing happened and currently I am in AF again.

I will make contact with the hospital later and see if I can get it sorted out with a Cardoversion if nothing changes.

I know I can go to A&E but not sure I want to go down that route until I have spoken to EP's secretary.

Don't want to leave it too long as I am feeling very nauseous, depressed and generally horrible.

Pete

[PeterWh in reply to pottypete1]

Sorry to hear that - definitely the best route to get hold of EP. He may hold off DCCV if you are currently flipping naturally!!

[pottypete1 in reply to PeterWh]

Wish it had worked out that way.

Am in CCU waiting for DCCV.

Will let you know tomorrow how it went.

Pete

[PeterWh in reply to pottypete1]

Ok. Good luck.

[Hidden]

My AF used to come on when chilling out after being very busy or in the night. The latest lifestyle change that I think helps is regular deep breaths during the day and before bed, plus using the Breathe Right nasal strips at night ( Thanks Bob, I think you recommended these). Before this I used to wake up with a fuzzy head and be desperate to put my head out of the window and get some more oxygen. Hope that helps.

[pottypete1 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I do try some of these I think one issue is slow low breathing whilst asleep.

Pete

[Hidden in reply to pottypete1]

Yes, so I am hoping big full deep breaths in the day will stretch the lungs like a muscle and make them more effective at night??

[pottypete1 in reply to Hidden]

Now I am back in NSR after my cardioversions, needless to say, I shall do what I can to identify and stop the triggers.

My statistical analysis of my PAF episodes over 3 years shows that over 56% of my episodes start during sleep or just on waking - I want to address this if I can.

I tried the breath strips the night before last. One came off last night.

In fact I do have a slightly deformed nasal passage in my right nostril and have had 2 unsuccessful corrective operations to open up the breathing passage.

Wish I could talk to the EP more regularly - next appointment jan 4th.

Still very scared about going back into NSR.

Thanks as always for your support and advice

Pete