Approximately a year ago I was diagnosed with heart failure. I spent the following four months or so following the NHS processes in an attempt to identify the cause and appropriate treatment. I was told that I had Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction but an angiogram and MRI didn’t identify a cause. My cardiologists seemed confused by my ECG and AF was mentioned at one point, which is how I ended up here.
I was off work and running out of patience so, having access to medical insurance, I transferred to the Private route. My GP recommended an excellent cardiologist in London who measured my Ejection Fraction at 25% and theorised that my enlarged and dysfunctional left ventricle was due to a complex and unusual arrhythmia. He referred me to his colleague - an EP with an excellent reputation - who mapped the activity in my heart and ablated around my pulmonary veins and other sources of rogue activity. Immediately after the ablation, I still had a high level of ectopics as the procedure had irritated my heart, so I was placed on Amiodarone to calm the ectopics to allow my heart to recover.
Four months on, my Ejection Fraction is 47% and my cardiologist’s theory seems proven. I have now been off the Amiodarone for a week, although remain on the Bisoprolol, Ramipril, etc. I now have to wait for the Amiodarone to wash out of my body before I know for sure that the ablation has cured my arrhythmia and that it is not just the Amiodarone. I’m hoping that I’m now fixed as a pace and ablate would be the likely next step.
The next milestone is a consultation with my EP in the New Year, but I will keep my Kardia to hand in the meantime.
it sounds like you are on the right path to better health and I hope the improvement continues.
6 months post ablation
