An update from Norfolk

[Slim2018]

Good morning

Thought as I hadn’t posted for a while I would just leave an update. Brief re-cap, Flutter last August (at 62 years of age) Ablation three weeks later which worked but triggered off Fibrillation which was stopped with Cardioversion two weeks later. Bisoprolol and Rivaroxaban originally followed by Flecainide and Rivaroxaban up to late December. My consultant was of the view that given my general health and fitness all medications stopped except for a pill in the pocket. My major worry was the prospect of a 24 hour flight to New Zealand at the end of March and being upside down for three weeks before flying home. Well pleased to report all is good and apart from the occasional ectopics no reoccurrence. Doing all the excellent stuff recommended here including yoga, magnesium, and drink very little alcohol or caffeine drinks. Still can’t run because of my knees but trusty rowing machine and cycling to work is a great help.

But here’s the oddity, two friends of mine have both developed Flutter in the recent past. Quite unusual according to my consultant, far less common than Fibrillation.

So how do I feel my consultant asked me when I last saw him? Good question. My answer was one word. ‘Different ‘

Can’t put my finger on it but that’s the best word. Physically and Mentally I just feel different. As time passes I feel less panicky and I don’t reach for my Kardia as much but I am just so much more aware of my heart and my body generally. There is always this sense of it being just around the corner but the amazing posts I have read here make me realise a) how lucky I was to have such a relatively minor brush with this issue b) what stoicism is shown by others who have had to and will continue to have to, deal with this condition. So feeling very positive eight months on from that first weekend when I thought “mmmm something isn’t right”

[BobD Volunteer]

So glad things are better Slim. Yes this anxiety thing does go with AF and to be honest even after fifteen years or more the self awareness continues from my experience. I think we all have it but most of us learn to accept and live with it and to some extent as you have indicated it actually helps us to a better more healthy way of life.

[CDreamer]

Lovely to read about your journey which I think reflects a lot of what I and others have experienced. First the something isn’t right, then the panic on diagnosis, then adapting to and learning to manage, learning what works for you and you feel comfortable with, listening to your body and then being more in tune with your body and finally being an active agent in your own recovery with realistic expectations that it is good for now so enjoy the day and that is all we can realistically hope for. Enjoy the day.

[Kellyjelly]

Thank you so much for your update, you summed up completely how I feel in your last paragraph.

I’m almost 5 weeks post SVT ablation and I too just feel different. It’s a rather neutral feeling, not particularly negative or positive but just different.

I am getting used to my unmedicated post ablation heart and daring to believe that even though my heart is still very sensitive and all the old triggers still irritate the sh*t out of it that maybe it isn’t able to descend into complete chaos anymore, god knows some days it feels like it is trying very hard to kick off!

I know it is very early days for me and I hope as time goes by this “different” feeling will become more positive as it has for you.

Take good care, wishing you all the best 😊

[Ianc2]

Good to read that you have made the lifestyle changes that reinforce the beneficial changes made by your ablation. Well done and thanks for the feedback