Not AF, It’s Flutter again!

[jobristol]

Cardiology appointment today, ECG confirmed Flutter is back! Being referred back to Bristol Heart institute for another ablation! The waiting begins, first for consultation then to be put on waiting list!

[Padayn01]

How long after your ablation did flutter stay away?

[jobristol in reply to Padayn01]

It’s been almost 2 years, had Flutter ablation in October 2017!

[Fastbeat]

Sorry to hear its back Jo, hope thewaiting lists are not to long . Jane

[jobristol in reply to Fastbeat]

Thanks Jane, expect it’ll be around 6 months so not getting my hopes up! When I go for consultation (that probably won’t be for a couple of months) will say I can do short notice should a cancellation come up! It’s a waiting game now xx

[Ppiman]

Bad luck. Persistent atrial flutter utterly floored me from April this year. I have learned that it is harder to deal with and harder to treat with drugs than other kinds of arrhythmia - but easier to treat by ablation.

Steve

[jobristol in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks Steve. It does seem worse this time but just have to get on with it, determined to not let it get me down too much! I hope you're doing ok. Like you I'm used to being quite fit and my exercise tolerance at the moment is quite low to what it was just over 4 weeks ago when this all started up again, it had got so much better after my first ablation. It's one of the things I find the hardest!

[Ppiman in reply to jobristol]

I’m just hoping that mine stays away after my ablation in June - but it seems as if my hiatus hernia is somehow involved as I’m still having some symptoms yet the MRI heart scan is normal.

[jobristol in reply to Ppiman]

I did get some ectopics after my ablation, they seemed to be worse sometimes but would then settle for a few months and then just get the odd one! My MRI was fine too! I’m still trying to work out what triggered it, difficult though as I hadn’t done anything different too normal! Could just be that some of the scar tissue has healed and just needs doing again! Who knows, this is certainly a strange game!

[Ppiman in reply to jobristol]

Strange indeed. What really disappointed me is the way the cardiologist / EP had no real interest in what caused the arrhythmia. I even asked them to look at my hiatus hernia and that general area when they did the MRI, since that was where so many of my symptoms were felt but to no avail.

[jobristol in reply to Ppiman]

It is so annoying when they are like that! Unfortunately it’s all too common. When I first started out on this journey I was in AF, my cardiologist recommend a Cardioversion, fine by me, put me on Amiodarone (not so fine). I asked is there anything I shouldn’t eat or drink whilst taking it, he said “Oh no, you can eat and drink what you like”. Get home look at leaflet, do not drink grapefruit juice whilst taking Amiodarone! What! I have certainly done a lot of research on AF/Flutter ectopics etc since, and also question everything which they don’t always like! Hope your ablation holds for you, Flutter ones usually do, think I’ve just been unlucky!

[Ppiman in reply to jobristol]

I suspect it will - but I had a bad Afib attack soon after the ablation so I’m keeping my fingers well crossed.

I think amiodarone is fine myself - for most people, and with care. I nearly was given it but the ablation came along so quickly that it wasn’t needed.

Like you, I have plenty of ectopic beats. They can give rise to afib apparently. Again, fingers crossed.

Steve