Result of 4 month post ablation review

[Gincalpe]

My heart rhythm is normal - very good news. Further review in 9 months to ensure it has not reverted to AF. Reducing Bisoprolol from 7.5 to 5 mg and staying on apixaban.

The consultant stressed the need for regular exercise.

[djbgatekeeper]

That's good news for you 👍 What type of excersise are you thinking of? I've not done much past long walks with the dog for a couple of years and was thinking of doing a bit more .....

[Gincalpe in reply to djbgatekeeper]

Like you I am with Dr Todd in Liverpool - excellent EP.

I aim to do walking and cycling and trying to do some brisk walking to raise the heart rate. I have an electric bike which helps uphill. I can’t get out much due to caring but need to make it worthwhile exercise when I am able to get out. If the weather is poor I will plan some indoor exercise.

I have a heart rate and steps monitor so will set some targets and record activity.

Are you still AF free?

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Gincalpe]

That sounds like a good plan... Yes still AF free, I can get a few palpatations some days, the main trigger being stress which I try to avoid. Certainly no issues like pre ablation though so I am thankful for that. Dr Todd was awesome, it was one of his under studies who performed my ablation. Have a good weekend 👍

[Gopheby in reply to djbgatekeeper]

So very happy for you. I’m scheduled for an ablation in July 18th. Had Cardioversion but it did not take.

Thinking positive that the ablation will

Be good. I need to get back to work.

[Gincalpe in reply to Gopheby]

Not long to wait for your ablation hope it is successful

[Gopheby in reply to Gincalpe]

Thank you so much. I’ve been in constant AFib now for 4 months.

It’s good to hear your success story.

Wishing you much continued success.

[Gincalpe in reply to djbgatekeeper]

Pleased to hear you are AF free and long may it last.

[jeanjeannie50]

It's good to hear that you're keeping AF free, long may that continue.

Best wishes

Jean

[Gincalpe in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks

[Morzine]

Good result! Lovely to hear of successes and calm waters,

Sue

[Gincalpe in reply to Morzine]

Thanks

[AIW58]

Hello, re the exercise have a look at your local park run, I started in Jan and whilst I've been convalescing post ablation have volunteered as a marshall. It's a great atmosphere, community spirit all organised by volunteers and completely free. Most weeks 3 or 4 people do it at walking pace so no pressure to run/jog.

Hope you continue to make good progress.

[Gincalpe in reply to AIW58]

Good idea thanks

[allserene]

Top banana and mega brill ! Like to hear good news.... I would encourage all success story people to keep posting after being 'fixed', coz morale boosters are good for those 'in waiting'

[Gopheby in reply to allserene]

Yes thank you. I’m in waiting. July 18 for ablation.

[Gincalpe in reply to allserene]

Thanks

[Seventy9]

Hi all great to hear some of us may get

rid of AF !

Lovely. Exercise is good trying hard to get

Mine under control.

But recently discovered LVEF Any INFO

Here. Unfortunately my tests show in

4 years mine number has dropped

It’s at 40% 50 % May be normal ??

Anyone has same ??

John

[Gincalpe in reply to Seventy9]

I believe a poor LVEF Is quite common in older people

[allserene]

I have 3 monitors coz I am the King of Hypochondriacs. All 3 have AF indicators which have never flashed. I bought the 2nd one to check on the 1st, then realized I didn't know which of the two was lying, so I bought a third and I go by the democratic vote... Airbus uses 5 computers on their planes with the same principle to decide if the data is believable..

[Horse57 in reply to allserene]

I must say that is very funny!! I will remember that!😊

[allserene]

Too true.... Mine went to 150 pulse with 170 systolic.... so having more than 1 monitor is only good for checking pressure and the pulse is very obvious....... 150 pulse seems to be the standard for most people in an episode, and when the emergency room used cardizem drip its just halfed it...and now I know know that 75 means you have not converted...and only when mine was fluctuating and showing 61, 63, 62, 61 etc.... that is when I knew I had converted

[allserene]

Indeed it's weird.... Since going on metopropol beta blocker 25mg, my pulse is very predicable at 59 to 61 and when I am all serene, my BP looks good at 128/78 range... But at seemingly random times it can be 150/ 92 etc... Some of that can be explained by poor monitor cuff techniques and some can be a long hangover from loading top soil into my trailer 45 minutes before or eating a cheese sandwich..But yes when I first went on meto, BP was higher than before but pulse was stable at 60...... Could be my heart is so sensitive to Meto (which flat lined me for 5 seconds initially), that it takes some settling when I do exercise or eat. My 'plumbing' was declared very strong so that's a comfort... Could be if I stop meto I would go into flutter, but I dont intend to find out the hard way...

[allserene]

wow trial and error indeed ! A lot of that 10 pounds would be water but you still have to carry it around... When I was single in early 2000s I was doing a couple of pints of beer every night and I was 150/95 all the time. Doctor said I should do BP tablets for life. Got married and she stopped my disco habit, and now 15 years later I am 128/78.. That put me off "tablets for life" so I am struggling with whether to do statins now and reduce my 10 year heart attack risk from 23% to 19% if I get perfect cholesterol..... Wife is 2.5% risk with zero meds...!!!!! Doc says if I can change from being 71 and white and male it would half my risk... Then he laughed at me...

[allserene]

I look forward to the 'never' stage.... When I see the EP on July 17, I will ask about getting off the pills one day..... I reckon he will keep me on anti-coags until the fall at least to see if the early April flutter repeats.. If he is a early ablation sort of guy, I will be doing an ablation within 6 weeks. I dont know how they figure out which atria to go for if I am flutter free... I will lake my list of questions with me ! My GP is a cheery sort. He told me my heart attack risk was 23% and said my new Camry would last longer than me; and then gave me the 'pull the plug' patient power of attorney form. At least with flutter/afib you can do something and get ablated, but with cholesterol, the best you can do is get down from 23% to 19% coz the main factors are fixed. My cholesterol is 183 which is not flagged as bad.

[Gincalpe]

Thanks

[Goosebumps]

Hello. Hope you don't mind me catching up on an old post but you seem to be one of the few posters on here mentioning an ablation for persistent Afib. How are you now, I really hope you and your husband are doing well.

Are you still in NSR? Can you tell me if you had a normal heart rate previously, before the ablation, I can't imagine persistent Afib with a heart rate over 100, that would be awful to have to live with.

I'm persistent, failed cardioversion, HR never goes above 110, just on Apixaban.

Paul

[Gincalpe in reply to Goosebumps]

Hi

It is coming up to one year since my ablation and I am still AF free. The persistent AF was an irregular rhythm but not a high rate about 80. It meant I was breathless just going upstairs or walking and I have so much more energy now. It has improved my quality of life (QOL) so was well worth having done.

I had 2 failed cardioversions prior to the ablation. I was fortunate they did the ablation under a general anaesthetic.

I take Apixaban, 5mg bisoprolol to slow the heart rate and lisinopril for high blood pressure so now have a low heart rate around 65 and in NSR.

I am in the UK and got a private appointment with an EP in Liverpool. Things moved very quickly after that and I am very pleased with the outcome.

I would recommend finding a good EP and asking to be referred. They are the specialists who understand AF best.

Good luck with treatment.

[Goosebumps in reply to Gincalpe]

Many thanks for the advice. Seems like choice of EP is crucial but I assume they need to refer you to a local one so you can go through the NHS.