Well I had 3 days of sinus rhythm (with a few minor bumps). I had a bad headache all day Sunday and Monday and then this morning woke up at 1.45 am in AFib and it hasn’t stopped yet, nearly 14 hours later. The Digoxin keeps it down to a manageable rate so I can cope okay. It probably hasn’t helped that our air conditioner packed in yesterday and we’re currently having 37 degree days and hot nights.
Yesterday I saw the sleep technician and then then sleep consultant and today I visited my EP. Everyone is happy with how well I’m going with the CPAP trial (I still don’t like it though). I’m well within the normal AHI range which is great. I was diagnosed with mild sleep apnea in non REM sleep but severe sleep apnea in REM and it’s the high carbon dioxide levels that impact the AF apparently. My EP was telling me about studies that have been carried out on sheep. When they pump in CO2 they go into AFIb and when they increase the oxygen the heart rate returns to normal. We had a laugh about being unable to get ethics approval to try the same thing in humans.
Anyway my next ablation is set for 29 March. My doctor said he’s not booking anyone else in that day. I’ll be his VIP patient. He’s as determined as I am to beat this thing. It was like ground hog day though, telling me what to expect and running through the risks. Fingers crossed this will be my last trip to the cath lab.
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Kaz747
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Heat does for me Kaz as well, just we don't get it that much in the UK. Hopefully your next lab visit sorts it and it gives you a nice spell of sinus. Still waiting for a new date from my cancellation, seems to be going on forever.
We get plenty of heat and I generally love it as long as the air conditioner works. We had something replaced in it before Christmas and the technician said we may have to think about replacing it soon as it’s 27 years old. We had hoped it would make it though the rest of the summer but it seems not. We don’t have the funds at the moment with me not working to buy a new one so we may be suffering for a few more weeks. Hopefully you’ll hear soon about your new date.
Well nearly March and itl be sorted with the ablation Kaz , rest up and relax itl push the afib off👍.
Let’s hope so Kaz, certainly sounds as though your EP is pulling out all the stops to make it a successful event. Everybody here will be rooting for you that’s for sure......
Thinking of you and hope you feel better soon. I also feel bad when it's hot (no air con here) just as well it's cooler in the UK and I never come to Oz mid summer as definitely affects me also the dehydration from the flight/heat.
Hope to meet you before the ablation but hope it goes well and your EP manages to get you a better QOL. 😎x
I will. The sleep consultant was actually amazed as my average usage was more than 8 hours a night and I had excellent results. I will do everything I can to help my heart and my brain (my 75yo mother has sleep apnea and dementia but wouldn’t use a CPAP).
March 29th?? That date somehow familiar with us in UK. All the more reason to think of you that day and not the B word. Wishing you good fortune. I too was diagnosed with mild SA, average of 8.5 AHI per hour. Sleep expert informed me that 'normal' people get 5 events average. They initially said I was below the criteria for a CPAP. My EP is one who supports the AF SA link and due to his involvement I have been issued with a CPAP machine. This has been so successful with my sleep quality. I can now sleep through the night undisturbed and feel refreshed on waking. AHI's average between 1 and 5. My last ablation, coming up to 3 years, is holding AF off so far and I hope the machine will help in that goal but I have been really pleased with my new sleep pattern. Stick with it in my experience.
Well all the best with the B word. The world seems to have gone crazy 😜 In my sleep study my deep sleep was normal, my other non REM score was 9 but my REM (which of which I only had 35 mins) was over 40. My AHI on the machine has been around 2 so well within the normal range.
I was just thinking about my 4th ablation being on Brexit Day. My first ablation was on Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day. Maybe there’s some link between my heart and major world events 😂😂
Interesting about the C02, it might explain I think why I am inclined to get AF when my asthma is bad, also why anxiety might set it off because of overbreathing.
My very best wishes for your ablation! If good wishes could have an effect all the ones we are sending should ensure success.
Hope all goes well. I have mild sleep apnea and haven't read much comment here or elsewhere as to how to cure it only as usual to deal with the problem. My hunch is it is partly connected to stress and that meditation and other stress busters may help.
It’s often a structural thing and can have genetic links. Although it is often worse in people who are overweight or obese, there are a lot of thin people and even children with sleep apnea. Generally the options for treatment are CPAP, mouth splints or surgery. And if overweight, then weight loss - if you are sleeping better the weight loss is easier.
Wishing you well for 29th.Iam in Adelaide at the moment (from uk ) visiting my daughter 38 today expecting 40 at end of week ,been here 5 weeks so far and although in PERSISTENT AF i have coped well with heat just had a bit of a problem with BP falling to low,have adjusted dosage myself and all seems well ,will see GP when i get back end of March.
Enjoy the rest of you stay in Oz Fastbeat. Glad to hear your holiday is going well. I’m okay but I have had more time in AF than out this week. I’m trying to get on with things just at a slower pace than usual (and usually I’m Speedy Gonzales).
Hi kaz feeling good. I feel pretty normal but my energy isn’t as good as it was, we go for a walk ea h day in morzine, Tom’s still limping with his achillies so we are a right pair, both can’t do the round the block walk we used to but it’s just time I guess. Had no afib, so hoping all’s well.
Thing is cardio befire saud from the holster monitor I had lots of brief afib s I’d not be aware of, so in that case how do I know I’m. Not getting them..., it’s weird all this isn’t it......I’m a month after op now.
Am planning a road trip with hubby and daughter and partner in September Cairns and south to Sydney, two months......I said to hubby look, you’re 70, I’m 65, let’s do it now! He’s not keen but he never is! He loves it when we do it.....
You mentioning the heat has made me think, I thought maybe September wouldn’t be as bad as November when I was last there, sweltering.....as we’re heading south I thought it would be fine.....I’m trying to focus on no afib in my life if that’s possible, but it always hides in the back of my head........I guess it always will,
It sounds like your cardio has such a commitment to getting you better. End of march isn’t long......is it......
Glad to hear you and your husband are both on the mend. I agree, none of us are guaranteed a tomorrow so we have to live today. Your trip should be awesome. Here’s a link to my blog post I wrote about our trip to Cairns a few years ago. We were there late February/early March for a mate’s birthday.
I think the heat does make things worst, hope all goes well on 29th, I read all your posts but seldom have anything beneficial to say as I have now been diagnosed with MAT (though I did have Flutter before the ablation) and recovering from an EP study and an unsuccessful ablation last Tuesday - guess what my heart rate is now too low so all the ablating did do something! Thankfully Doc thinks things are going in right direction
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