Help!! Update on the update...!!

[FizzioGirl]

So I've just seen the registrar who assisted with my ablation. Apparently it is 'very complicated in there' with multiple firing points for my AF and tachycardia. They gave up chasing them in the end! She also said that they think I have a lot of 'fibrosis' in both atria which could be the cause of my arrhythmias. I feel a bit shell shocked to be honest. I hoped they would come back saying they'd just tidied up the loose ends from the first ablation. Has anyone else been told they have 'fibrosed atria'? She said that it was not a real cause for concern but could explain why I am prone to AF and I may end up going into permanent AF in the future 😞. It was all 'buts' and 'ifs' though so I'm choosing to try and stay positive for now!

[CDreamer]

Living with uncertainties is difficult and that sounds as though where you are now, unfortunately. Fibrosis means that the heart has healed from previous scarring which could have been caused by all sorts of things. Fibrosis can cause stiffening of the muscle meaning it isn’t as supple as it once once. Some people seem to be more prone to Fibrosis than others.

Take every day as it comes and do as much as you can to stay well overall, moderate exercise, good sleep, eat well and eat the rainbow and manage your stress. Focus on healing and don’t look too far ahead. Focussing on what you can do rather than the maybes and cannots is a management strategy which helps keep me sane and engaged with living my best life, with the health restrictions I now live with. Yesterday was a good day because I rested the day before, today I need to take things a little easier, pacing oneself to cater for a new norm takes vigilance and a lot of practice.

Best wishes CD

[dmjtanner in reply to CDreamer]

Well said, CDreamer, I love your image “eat the rainbow”!! I had an electrophysiologist tell me that oftentimes fibrosis does cause irregular beats etc. He likened fibrosis in the heart to aging and getting grey hair. Nothing to do about it. I love your wholistic approach. Perhaps Fizzio Girl, they at least did zap some of the firing points, so overall that’s good.

[FizzioGirl in reply to dmjtanner]

Thanks dmjtanner. I like that about grey hair!! Your doctor sounds to have been less alarming with his explanation. The reg that spoke to me was very young and serious and she made it all sound quite worrying! I'm only 51 but I am greying round the edges so I'll focus on thinking of my atria as just following suit!

[rc-k in reply to dmjtanner]

The kindest cardiologist in the world told me, very gently, that we don't just get older on the outside.

[FizzioGirl in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks CD for your positive words. I do lead a very healthy lifestyle and most of the time I can handle both the physical and mental aspects of my AF. As you know i was in 2 minds whether to go through with the ablation yesterday and I'm now on a bit of a downer as now i have something else to fret about and wonder if it was worth it!

[CDreamer in reply to FizzioGirl]

You don’t know unless you try. You tried, just keep on keeping on. You are disappointed so you are allowed to be low - for a while. Best wishes

[FizzioGirl in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you CD. You are very wise!!! Feeling better this morning. Had a good sleep, breakfast in bed, and watching Philip and Holly so life is good again!!

[Buffafly in reply to FizzioGirl]

I hope your ‘very healthy lifestyle’ doesn’t include extreme exercise? Because elite athletes are prone to AF and that also seems to apply to amateurs who don’t know when to stop 🏃‍♀️🏋️

[FizzioGirl in reply to Buffafly]

Ha! No. I have a healthy relationship with exercise. Power walking the dog is enough for me!

[Buffafly in reply to FizzioGirl]

Great, wasn’t sure how to interpret ‘FizzioGirl’ 😀

[FizzioGirl in reply to Buffafly]

I'm a physio but don't really practice what I preach!!😂