A & E visits while waiting for an ablation

[sandoval22]

I've just had my 4th visit to A&E in the last 5 weeks due to afib while waiting for an ablation. Yesterday I was just putting something in the car and pulse went to 160 which wouldn't go down with 2 beta blockers so ended up in A&E with a magnesium drip. Seem to be spending more time in A&E than at home the last month and wondering if others have had the same experience .

[Paulbounce]

I think you were wise to seek medical attention if your HR went to 160 Sandoval - certainly if you took two beta blockers and it stayed there. I wouldn't hesitate to do the same.

Let's hope it improves for you after your alation. Think positive and look forward to less A&E visits afterwards - fingers crossed.

Paul

[Outtheresinger]

I had a very similar experience during December 4 visits to A&E in 5 weeks. Eventually the A&E consultant came to see me and said (jokingly!) that she couldn’t have me cluttering up her Dept so often ! Obviously trying to control my AF with drugs was a battle that AF was winning so she sent a note to the Arrythmia Consultant basically saying get on with my ablation - result I had my ablation last week. The waiting lists for ablation are so long that sometimes it takes a Consultant in another discipline to point out that keeping patients in a cycle of trying out different drug combinations is not the answer.

[sandoval22 in reply to Outtheresinger]

Very similar. Problem here is the hospital I'm having my ablation done doesn't have an A&E so I just get my pulse lowered and sent home on a weekly basis and never see the same doc twice.

[Outtheresinger in reply to sandoval22]

Oh how frustrating for you - it’s not very joined up thinking is it. Could you email your EPs secretary and explain about your trips to A&E? Otherwise how would they know what has been happening. Don’t assume A&E automatically notify your EP.

[sandoval22 in reply to Outtheresinger]

A&E just say they are not worried about me because I am on Apixaban. I'm sent home same day or next day only to return the next week. I phoned EP secretary and left 3 messages 3 weeks ago but never got a reply. I'm sure my EP knows nothing . To see him privately is £300 which is alot at the moment.

[Outtheresinger in reply to sandoval22]

Phone the PALS service and tell them that you aren’t getting any replies from the EP. They normally leap on any complaint and at least investigate. (I was prescribed the wrong dose of Verapamil and I complained and I had a personal call from the Consultant the next day - any complaint to PALS goes on their record and will be brought up at their annual appraisal so they always want to sort it out) However it took more than three weeks for me to get a summary of my clinic appointment through the post so maybe cut them a bit of slack although 3 weeks to summarise a meeting? - in my office that would have been done the same day.

[sandoval22 in reply to Outtheresinger]

Thanks for the advice. My Ablation is this Thursday so I'll stay quiet now but I've not had a pre op or anything which seems weird but maybe it's not. It 's my first ablation so can't compare. Would be nice to know who is operating and if I'm being put to sleep etc.

[Outtheresinger in reply to sandoval22]

I had my ablation last week and I think it is very strange

not to have had a pre op. They do blood matching and go through the whole process and what to expect. I didn’t know who my surgeon was until the morning but I did know whether it was a GA or sedation. Have you had instruction about fasting and what drugs to stop and what to carry on taking? Have you read the AFA patient information sheets?

[sandoval22 in reply to Outtheresinger]

They sent me some instructions i.e dont drink 2 hours b4 and dont eat 6 hours b4. Stop taking apixaban eve and morn of op (continue any other tablets) but that was it. Maybe they do bloods /ecg etc on the day? It's Hammersmith hosp so it does have a good reputation but I am surprised no pre op.

[Outtheresinger in reply to sandoval22]

Do ask me anything you are concerned about and I can tell you what happened to me but as we have discussed our hospitals have different approaches! I am in Bristol.

[LONDS7 in reply to Outtheresinger]

Brilliant. How have you felt since the Ablation?

[Outtheresinger in reply to LONDS7]

The strange thing about AF is that it often doesn’t wipe you out at the time you are doing something to trigger it eg drinking alcohol or strenuous exercise it’s always a few hours later. Since my ablation I have reverted to immediate consequences of doing too much. This morning I was pottering about in the kitchen for an hour

Then without any warning I was completely exhausted and had to have a little sleep! I am on Ablation plus 4 days and am still tired and breathless and who ever wrote the AFA booklet warning of a small bruise was lying my leg is black and purple from groin to knee! I am deliberately taking it very slowly as I need it to work so I can get back on my bike as I love being outside but am unable to walk very far due to ankle problems.

[Hidden]

Not every week, but probably every month or two. My HR was pretty much uncontrollable when in AF and even 12.5 mg bisoprolol daily would only reduce it to 140 bpm.

My EP gave me an open appointment to visit the cardiac investigation ward for a cardioversion whilst waiting for an ablation.

[sandoval22]

I'm guessing you're not in the UK. Sounds a much better system.