I had a very thorough NHS appointment with consultant (45 minutes), following an ECG and health check (much more useful than the brief private consultation in June), he explained everything about AF and my situation.
His main message - the new cluster of episodes (4 since June, following a four year gap after 2 in 2016) may indicate an ageing (I am 71) deterioration of the heart muscle, leaving me vulnerable to AF.
There are two types of AF, and “mine” is vagal, triggered by depressants such as alcohol, deep sleep, heavy meals rather than stimulants such as coffee or exercise, but once it gets the habit it can have many triggers, and become persistent. “Vagal” triggers such as mine are not helped by ongoing use of beta blockers (the reverse in fact). He also said that I shouldn’t take Flecainide (prescribed as PIP by private consultant) until an ultrasound checked the condition of my heart, I am referred for that, it may take a couple of months. If OK, I can use as a PIP. If episodes increase, I may need to take Flecainide daily to attempt to reduce / prevent them.
He said that every episode stretches the heart muscle so better not to have them, and to shorten them. Because of that this, he fast forwards AF referrals over many other heart issues. Also he says depending on the ultrasound he would recommend ablation day surgery sooner rather than later, before the heart is stretched leading to other heart disease. It is also a more successful procedure if done before the heart is too affected.
I am minded to accept his recommendation however if the ultrasound shows my heart is good and there are no more episodes I am disinclined, I do not have a good track record with surgery, and there is a 20% chance it will be unsuccessful in some way. He said there is a 12 month wait for most heart interventions but 5-6 months for ablations.
He also explained that the likelihood is that the heart was - or is now - slightly stretched and this alone increases the likelihood of impaired pumping so I should be on anticoagulants. I accepted his prescription of Apixaban. I have resisted anticoagulants up to now.
Does this fit with advice others have received?