Another update - any thought gratefully received as always.

[Apple88]

Hi again.

I can’t thank you all enough for how much you’ve helped me in the past couple of months with this condition. It is so very much appreciated.

Another update - I had a horrible episode at the weekend (148 HR for about 2 hrs - couldn’t stand up with dizziness) so spoke again to GP who asked for advice from my cardiologist. Sent my Kardia readings from past month in to him yesterday and immediately had a phone call saying I had to stop my flecainide (already stopped bisoprolol) and I am to give it 4 days then start on Sotalol on Sunday.

I now have a copy of his letter and it also says that my ablation should be brought forward and that he will expedite it.

I am relieved that something is being down to help so quickly, but also terrified!

I’ve been reading what people think of Sotalol and it’s not all that good! Also am nervous of going into hospital during this virus!

Does anyone have any experiences they could share please? Does this seem like a normal course of action. I’m a bit panicked by the suddenness of it all when I was expecting a long wait.

Thank you all - I hope you are all keeping well. 😊

[Dawsonmackay]

It is my belief that both in the US and Britian, that hospitals are keeping COVID patients completely separate. You need to start thinking about an ablation. I do not know anything about sotalol but ablation for me was the answer.

[Apple88 in reply to Dawsonmackay]

Thank you for you reply. Yes I hope that is true about the hospitals. I’m sure they would.

I hope that the ablation will help. It’s definitely the way forward for me I think.

Thank you for sharing your experience. 😊

[Hidden]

Although I think most of us will understand your concerns but it is good that plans are a foot to get things done. Obviously there are no guarantees, but I'm sure you will find that everything that can be done, will be done to keep you safe. Coronavirus patients are well isolated from other hospital areas and provided you follow the social distancing, hygiene advice and wear a face mask whilst in the general hospital area, you should be safe. As far as the quick response is concerned, I'm sure many waiting for an ablation are holding off at the moment and as we know, the NHS appears able to carry out more treatment on non coronavirus problems than was first envisaged at this time......good luck, and please let us know how you get on.

[Apple88 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. I will.

I’m hearing from other people that the procedures in place for non-Covid patients seem very good.

I’ll wait & see what happens, and also - how I get on with the Sotalol.

😊 Thank you for your reply again.

[sotolol in reply to Apple88]

Hi.

I can only pass on my experience to you.

I have been taking 200/240 mg of Sotalol for over 12 years no problem. I asked my cardiologist if I could change to Bisoprolol as the episodes are lasting days on end.

She has switched me to Bisoprolol 10mg and to stop all sotalol. Been on this regime for one week.

To early to say about side effects. But so far nothing. Not worth mentioning anyway.

I’m on list for ablation but if .... if the drugs work I will stay as I am.

Good luck with your journey there are many people on this AF journey that are so glad they had an ablation.

Bless you

[Apple88 in reply to sotolol]

Thank you for your reply. 10mg of bisoprolol! Wow! I couldn’t tolerate 1.25mg without bradycardia!

I hope you get on okay with it. I’ll see how the Solatol are after Sunday.

Good luck with your ongoing journey too. 😊

[jeanjeannie50]

Your cardiologist has looked at how your heart is beating and seen that Sotalol is a drug that could help. Trust him, these experts know what they are doing and how drugs work. I've taken Sotalol over two different periods during my 15 years of AF. My EP sees it as a safer drug to Flecainide. I've read that quite a few on this forum get on well with it.

As others have said the virus treating areas in hospital are cordoned off from the rest of the hospital. My daughter works at our main one and she has told me this, also that a lot of doors that lead to the area are sealed off.

You are lucky to have an EP that responds so quickly when contacted and I hope he can sort you out asap.

Best wishes.

Jean

[Apple88 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you so much. Yes, this is good advice for me to trust him. He’s really good and has been incredibly helpful so I will trust his judgement.

I think it was the ablation going ahead that was the biggest surprise. I’d had a letter saying it was on hold.

I will see what happens.

Thanks again. 😊

[Hidden]

I was swapped from bisoprolol to sotalol at one point although my EP was not happy with the ER doctor that did this.

However, at higher doses sotalol can have an effect on rhythm as well as rate and I have taken it a couple of times to get me back in NSR.

I've not had to do that for over three years now though as I had an ablation which has worked so far.

[Apple88 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. That’s good about your ablation too. Gives me hope that it’s the right thing to.

😊

[Gowers]

I had to come off the same meds as you as Flec according to my cardiologist had caused the flutter & high heart rate. I felt quite ill when taking it & was relieved when app for ablation came through. According to my cardiology nurse just last week they are coping well during the virus as only certain procedures & emergency surgery taking place. Friend told me few days ago cardiology wards are quieter than normal with nurses having more time for patients. Do let us know how you get on

[Apple88 in reply to Gowers]

Thank you for sharing that. I did wonder if the flecainide has made things worse.

I will see what happens about the ablation now. Hopefully will be okay.

Thank you. 😊

[GrannyE]

I understand that a number of hospitals are Covid free and do not accept Covid patients. Or else they are completely separated. The NHS is supposed to have quite a bit of spare capacity and so they can do things other than Covid. I have no experience of ablation during this period but I can say that a few years on from an ablation I feel much better than i did. Not completely cured but life is now OK whereas previously......... Good luck.

[Apple88 in reply to GrannyE]

Thank you.

That is very good to know. I’ve had a couple of episode free days and it starts to make me doubt that I need it but then I remember how I felt during the last one so I guess I do.

All the best. 😊

[easygoer13]

Hi Apple

I just had my ablation a 1 week ago. I can tell I felt better the moment I woke up. I have been fortunate as I have had almost no discomfort of any kind, a very steady HR that typically is in the 50's/60's----I feel great.

Doing this during the covid outbreak was a concern and add's to the anxiety of it. I found it to be a unique experience as the hospitals are very quiet and far less people moving about.

What I have learned is the procedure itself was not as "scary" as I thought it would be that in the end we are trying to better ourselves and this is one step towards that. I am only a week in but it has been a smooth quiet week and I am feeling good.

[Apple88 in reply to easygoer13]

That’s really good to know and very reassuring. Thank you!

Can I ask what kind of AF you had before?

[easygoer13]

At first thing I think I was like you and wondered if I needed the ablation and at one point wondered if I had AFIB as my first bout was 5 years ago and I was very very low on potassium , than I had a 2nd bout in July 2019 and was cardio converted and was good until January 2020 when it came back again. I was fortunate as my rate was well controlled with little medication but it was determined that I was in persistent AFIB as it would not convert on its own.

The ablation is something I am hoping is going to help me. I now think I suffered with this for much longer than I knew

[Apple88 in reply to easygoer13]

Thank you.

I’ve had a look at some of your other posts so I can get some context.

I think I feel weird because I’m currently between drugs and starting to doubt things, but I think it’s because I’ve had a few good days.

I need to remind myself that I’ve had about 15 episodes in the last month so I guess I do need it - I think!

Thanks for responding. Hope you continue to make a good recovery. 😊

[easygoer13]

LOL----Yes I would say you do...mine was years in between but once in I can not convert on my own

[Apple88 in reply to easygoer13]

😂 yeah I guess I do!

I’ve never needed intervention to convert back to NSR though. I just wait it out. Went to A&E once but still converted on my own.

Keep me posted on your recovery. 👍🏼

[kebewl]

I was taken to a UK cardiology ward and it was a Covid free area.

[Apple88 in reply to kebewl]

Thank you. This is good to know!

I’ve got an echo on Wednesday. No date for ablation yet. Start my Sotalol tomorrow.

All the best & thanks for replying. 😊

[kebewl in reply to Apple88]

Hope it all goes well