I'm new and this is my first post. I'm 68 and retired. Ambulanced to A and E five moths ago: chest pain and tachycardia. AF diagnosed plus "mild" left ventricular dysfunction. Left hospital after 24 hours. Prescribed bisoprolol, rivaroxaban, GTN pm and ramipril. Ramipril replaced by Losartan as not tolerated. Refused travel med insurance on basis of AF alone. One week after this I flew to New Zealand where we are staying with our daughter for three months: my GP and consultant happy for me to fly; crossed fingers as crossed and briefly transited through US. Consultant said, just prior to my leaving, that left ventricle now normal but right one now mildly dysfunctional. Main issue for me is awful chronic tiredness; probably sleep 14/15 hours a day including sleeping through at night. Occasional chest pain and breathlessness though this has improved. When I read this back I'm not sure I'd insure me! Any advice welcomed.
Hello.: I'm new and this is my first... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Hello.
G'day AJFitz,
Welcome - to this forum and the world of AF.
I fly often to Australia so I have some experience of long distance flying - but I've never ever had a problem. Apart from AF itself and the heart settling down to a new life style (so to speak) contributing to these feelings I would suggest Bisoprolol could be a cause too of your tiredness and breathlessness. When I was first diagnosed it would take me some 30 m inutes to walk a distance I can now manage in 10 minutes. But over time it changed. I'm on 5 mg Bisoprolol daily, it was what I was on originally and hasn't changed. Keeps my heart rate at around 65 bpm. Nice. I can't comment on the other drugs you are on except Ramipril. I've been on that for since around 2007. I was diagnosed with AF in Jan 2010 aged 65. Nowadays nothing bothers me and I'm still working driving a shuttle bus for a tourist company and handling passengers weighty baggage, I'm now 72. My AF is controlled by meds and diet. as food is a trigger of AF for me. My last AF event was April 2015.
When you get the chance shop around for insurance. There are companies out there and although I haven't done the Sydney trip for a couple of years I have always managed to get travel insurance. Off to work but over the weekend I'll have a look and see who I used and get back to you. I have a feeling 'Good to Go' Travel is one that comes to mind that does cover AF and pre-existing conditions.
May the force be with you.
John
Thanks, John.
Hi and welcome. You didn't say if you AF is permanent or paroxysmal (comes and goes)?
If you are in AF all of the time, you may well get tired and breathless as this is your body telling you to slow down because your heart isn't pumping efficiently and yes Bisoprolol may also make you even more tired and breathless. Presuming there is nothing else wrong with you, which could be a possibility, this could just be your reaction to the AF, we all react differently.i am assuming you were screened for thyroid problems?
If you have episodes which come and go then that doesn't seem quite right, ok when you are in AF but between pisodes you shouldn't be symptomatic.
This forum is very friendly and supportive so I hope you find it helpful. The AFA have an excellent website where you can download a lot of information if you would like to know more and investigate various drugs and treatments etc.
lifestyle are often factors as to how you react to AF but if you don't smoke or drink and are generally active and take some moderate exercise then it may be worth asking your GP about other causes of your sleeping. Poor quality sleep may result you in wanting to sleep a lot during the day and sleep apnea is strongly associated with AF and is easily treatable. Your GP will go through a series of questions with you and according to your score may refer you for a sleep study which will identify any dysfunction.
Please feel free to ask questions or just have a rant, AF is a very individual journey but you will have a lot of companions!
Best wishes CD
Thanks CD. I'm just going to bed (2040 in NZ). The AF is permanent, at least since 14 July 2016 when this all kicked off. I'll try redponding to your other points soon.
PS - never had a problem with travel insurance with just AF - unless you were waiting on tests or had had multiple blue light admissions within the previous 12 months - but you will get a better deal with one of the companies who specialise in providing cover for people with medications - I use Travelinsurance4medical and have 3 declared, long term conditions and never had a problem - but US proved to be very expensive.
I travelled extensively with AF in US, NZ, Asia and Europe.
Crossed messages! Will respond later. Thanks.
Thanks to all for support and suggestions - just as an e.g. I went to sleep about 9pm last night and fully awoke at 9.45am this morning: that's about par for the course. As well as my recently problematic and diagnosed heart problems I have one other chronic condition which started three years ago (I am not seeking advice or support for this as it is as managed as it ever will be - I raise it becausi it may play into the cardiac issues ). I suffer from what my consultant cutely calls "spinal disease"; basically degeneration of all vertebrae causing severe chronic pain. After every scan/manipulation/injection and medication known to man - none of which worked - we have settled on 400 mgs extended release Tramadol and oxycodone to deal with breakthrough pain. It's as good as it gets but I have had, and still do have, some powerful meds going into my system as well as those for the heart.
In retrospect coming to NZ ( for our tenth visit ) was not the best plan I could have made though I did so much want to be with our family here; and, the pessimist in me or is it just realism? I wonder how many more opportunities I may have.
So, I will investgate other insurance companies - thanks again for yor advice here. As for the trip duration, CDreamer, the company did cover me for the spinal problems and one or two more things for three months for an extra £300. They refused cardiac cover on the basis of AF alone so it's goodbye to them. If other companies get sticky over three months - and that time span only aplies to NZ every two years - I will investigate if they will cover the outward and return journeys only - the UK and NZ have comprehensive bi-lateral healthcare provisions and which cover pre-existing conditions, as long as one is not seeking entry specifically for treatment.
As for the extreme tiredness, I guess the cause is 1/ cardiac 2/ medication 3/ both 4/ something different like ME although I'd rather not start that hare running!
Best to all 1pm Saturday 10 December NZ time.
Saying hello.
Cryoablation
ILR Implantable loop Recorder
24 Hours post ablation 
