AF

[Sue5453]

Is anyone else on just Apixaban and so what do they do when

Go into AF like sit it out or go to doctor or hospital

[abbababy]

In my opinion, if you are unsure what to do because you haven't had AF before and it doesn't go back to NSR in a few hours, call for an ambulance. They will never blame you for calling, better to be safe than sorry! Once you're familiar with how AF is occurring for you, whether it's paroxysmal and goes away after a time or permanent and controlled by drugs, then you'll know better whether it's worth calling for an ambulance quickly or going to the doctor.

In particular, as you're just on Apixaban, going to hospital or seeing your GP and asking them to refer you to an electrophysiologist will engage them in thinking how to deal with it (e.g. by also putting you on beta-blockers/anti-arrthymias to control heart rate/rhythm or an ablation). But don't suffer in silence!

[BobD Volunteer]

You obviously have not yet seen a consultant cardiologist let alone an electrophysiologist to prepare a proper treatment plan for your AF. You need to start banging desks and get referred to somebody who can help you rather that wait for the next event.

If you have not already, you need an echocardiogram to check there are no mechanical faults with your heart and some blood tests to check for thyroid problems at the very least.

If this has not been done then calling an ambulance may well be the only way you will get refereed up the line, and this advice is form somebody who hates A and E being cluttered up by non accident or emergency cases. AF is a chronic condition and should be treated as such but sometime we have to play the system

[jedimasterlincoln]

It depends, and you will get all manner of replies because what action you take is very individualised.

I am very reluctant to go to hospital but always end up doing so because in the dozens of times it's happened I've only ever spontaneously reverted twice and one of those was due to cannulation.

I know deep down I should go, I am told I have done the right thing, coagulated or not, as I can survive in fast AF at 160+ heart rate but I cannot walk up the stairs or lift my daughter or bend down to tie my shoelaces without feeling like I'm going to pass out. So I always go.

Other people either don't need to or feel they should go so don't.

[Sue5453 in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

I have not felt like I am going to pass out just can feel heart beating fast and out of breath

[Hidden]

AF doesn't affect me very adversely and I just carry on with whatever I have planned for the day at a slightly slower pace. I keep quiet about it and hope no one notices my T shirt is fluttering. I've had AF now and then for almost 8 years and usually it's a bit wild for a while, then quietens and goes away sooner or later. Sometimes I have it for a few hours or it may last overnight. I find it quite hard to tell when I'm finally back to normal rhythm.

My heartbeats first started speeding up occasionally about 28 years ago and I have just had one event (in 2010) that alarmed my husband and propelled me, annoyed, by ambulance to A & E.

[Sue5453 in reply to Hidden]

What meds are you on and when have you had it again after2010

[Hidden in reply to Sue5453]

I had a full year virtually AF free after my first ablation in 2011. Since then I have had AF on and off with gaps of anything between 10 days and a couple of months. Significant improvement followed my second ablation in 2014 and I gave up daily Flecainide.

My anticoagulant is Rivaroxaban and for blood pressure control I take Atenolol and Losartan. I don't currently take anything else on a daily basis. I have Flecainide in reserve to control AF if needed but I rarely take it.