Thanks to a cancellation saw a competent cardiologist and getting some action 😃

[Buffafly]

By some miracle I had my mobile with me when it rang and decided to answer a 'no id' call, so I was able to take up a cancellation slot at an hour's notice! The consultant I saw was very pleasant but more important seemed very clued up about AF. He said he would like to prescribe a beta blocker (can anyone explain why cardiologists love them so much?) in spite of my asthma as it is not severe but as I have been having AF episodes at least once a week for the past six weeks he is arranging an urgent (in six weeks....) seven day monitor as he thinks I will need a pacemaker so that I can take medication. He did say another ablation was an option at any time but my feeling was that the first one was pretty thorough and if I had another I could be back in the same situation in a couple of years, so for now I'm opting for the pacemaker if offered. He thought that was a reasonable decision 'at my age' (73). I expect some people will see that as a bit defeatist but I'm hoping I won't need much medication as the episodes are much less violent and much shorter than they used to be and I just want to feel I have a means of control instead of being at the mercy of my dodgy electrics!

[Hidden]

Hi Buffafly. I had a pacemaker and ablation in 2016 after giving several different drugs a try. The side effects were, for me, so bothersome, I opted for the 'pace and ablate.' We are all different; I remain in permanent a-fib, am doing well (age 74), and am off all cardiac meds.I only take furosemide. Being off the drugs with their side effects has been a blessing for me. Just my opinion. But I'm happy I opted for the pacemaker. Good luck with whatever path you choose. Take care. irina PS I am also off the warfarin as opted for a Watchman Procedure in January. Happy about being off anticoagulants also. xx 😊

[Buffafly in reply to Hidden]

Pace and ablate was not mentioned at this point as the purpose of the pacemaker is to stop my HR going too low, however who knows what the monitor will show, the cardiologist told me with a little smile to 'do things that make you feel bad!'

[Hidden in reply to Buffafly]

Hi Buffafly. My final diagnosis was "tachy-brady syndrome" which meant my pulse was all over the place. So I needed a pacemaker that paced all the time. It has parameters but keeps me at a pretty steady 70 bpm. Now situations that used to cause me to have runs of tachycardia or episodes of bradycardia now maintain my rate in the low 70's. If I exercise the rate will go up but stress no longer bothers me like it once did. Your doc may be talking about a 'demand pacemaker' that only kicks in when needed (like your heart rate going too slow.) The ablation took care of the excessive heart rate end of the equation. Also I was having bad side effects from almost every med they tried and really wanted to not have to take the heart drugs. I'm very happy about that. This particular treatment, though I know it isn't for everyone, has worked well for me. It took a while to figure all this out. That's why I guess I call this my a-fib journey. I feel good now re my AF situation. Now I'm working on my thyroid issues. Hope the solutions turn out to be as effective. Take care. 🐱 irina

[irene75359]

Delighted you took the call and were slotted in. When a doctor from the research cardiac unit called me with no ID shown I was extremely frosty, I thought he was going to tell me I had been in a car accident and was due compensation...!

Hope everything goes well for you, and from what I have read on here, having pacemakers has transformed the quality of many lives. Let us know how you get one.

[Finvola]

It’s such a boost to hear a plan of action, Buffafly and a reasoned approach to our care. My cardiologist describes Bisoprolol as the drug of choice - wouldn’t be my description!!

Good that you took that call - best wishes.

[doodle68]

Hi Buffaly I am pleased you managed to get to speak to a cardiologist you clearly liked.

You say..

[''He said he would like to prescribe a beta blocker (can anyone explain why cardiologists love them so much?) in spite of my asthma'']

I seem to get on well with the beta blocker Nebivolol and it doesn't appear to impact on my asthma. BBs slow things down, I think of them as 'reigning in the horses' so the heart rate can't run away with itself.

Since being on BB my P-AF has been much more in control and my pulse rate hasn't that I am aware of exceeded 100 so the episodes are not nearly so scary.

I hope you can find a BB that suits you too

[Buffafly in reply to doodle68]

He mentioned a cardio-specific betablocker, as I said, good on the information and even better treated me as an intelligent person!

[momist]

(can anyone explain why cardiologists love them so much?)

My, perhaps rather limited, understanding is that the beta-blocker lowers your maximum heart rate and that this results in less possibility and prevalence of a high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a modern disease due to diet, stress and social conditions. It is also one of the more serious and likely 'co-morbidities' that accompany AF and are the real danger in this condition. You will not die of AF, but you might die of the co-morbidities.

[Buffafly in reply to momist]

My normal BP is perfect but yesterday I was having a stressful day already before the call so my BP was way up! I took Diltiazem before and was happy on the lowest dose so I know that is an option fortunately.

I do rather feel my AF is unfair because I have an exemplary lifestyle but my AF is hereditary I think and lately I have been sleeping on my back a lot because of back and hip arthritis and I wonder if that has had an effect.

[songbird74 in reply to Buffafly]

I think the pain from my knee triggered my elevated heart rate.