Help!!!! This was all going well and I was 95 percent back to full vigour and life, when Thursday I suddenly got a fast heart rate. This has happened before but formally for about a minute or a lot less. This time it last 30 mins with me taking 100 mcg of flecainide as instructed after 15 mins. Nothing major since.
It's thrown me into a total tailspin, happening so long after the ablation. Though I've only been off amiadarone for 5.5 weeks.
I can't face the thought of another ablation followed by yet another six months of 'cripple' life. I've had that for the last 16 months!!!!! I'm being so feeble about this, but I'm so depressed and scared by it.....
Jaja
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Jajarunner
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Hi Jaja - I’m sorry you feel this way. Unfortunately that sometimes happens, sometimes because of a trigger and just sometimes just because you have a predisposition to AF, however, I do wonder if stopping the Amiodarone has something to do with it? Amiodarone takes a long time to leave your system and it could be that is what has helped you to maintain NSR. It may be worth talking to your doctor because maintaining NSR for as long as you can now is important, especially if you want to return to an very active life.
Take one day at a time, positive mindset will help - I believe you become what you think. Think of yourself as a cripple - you will have the mindset of a cripple (whatever that means because I have never understood the meaning of the word but associate it as a derogatory term). Self love is what is required - tell yourself how well you are doing, despite having a blip.
Bending forward is interesting. I had SVT (before my ablation) and if I bent down say to pick something up off the floor or to get something from a low cupboard then this would trigger my SVT. I learnt to bend at the knees and keep my back vertical to stop the SVT starting. I think it was due to altering the blood pressure in my heart. Also though, I found that if I lay on my back for a minute or so it would get my hr to reset (could be interesting depending where I was at the time).
So here goes. True story. I was riding from Lands End to John O'Groats (not bad with SVT) and I was fully aware that generally I could reset any high hr by lying down. So I'm cycling along a country lane (not sure where now) and my hr suddenly shoots up (usually due to stress of some sort) and I'm trying to find somewhere to lie down without looking too ridiculous (or looking like I've died!). So I come across a small cemetery with gravestones behind a drystone wall and a little gate. Perfect thinks I. I stopped and went through the gate and lay down for a couple of minutes behind the wall (in the cemetery) watching my garmin waiting for my hr to reset. All good and no one came along, luckily or they may have died of shock! Others on the ride thought it hilarious. Quite a story eh.
In a word, Yes. I just checked, it was Aug 2018 when I did Lejog. The cemetery was at Eskdalemuir (north of Gretna Green). I'm 64 now but reasonably fit. I try to cycle about 100 miles a week. I had my ablation in Aug 2019 because my SVT episodes got more frequent and lasted longer and it got harder to get my hr to reset. I have been ok ever since.
Even better! What an inspiration you are to all us people trying to keep fit post ablation, very encouraging to hear how well you've done. Thanks for sharing it xx
Thanks. I'll never know whether cycling caused the svt to start, probably not. I cycle with a chest strap hr monitor though so this helped to show that my hr was erratic and led to me getting a linq implant recorder which helped to confirm that I had svt.
I was worried about having an ablation at first but after having it done I am glad that I did. In your case if the high hr episodes continue I would definitely consider having another ablation. I think svt is easier to "fix" though than afib. Good luck with it all.
I am sorry to hear of your blip - but I am sure that’s all it is, a blip.
I agree with CD, have a chat with your Dr. about the med. and keeping positive too, I know only too well that can be a lot easier said than done but we are all here for you, you have helped me so much so now the time for me to help you.
Here’s a big virtual hug 🤗. PM me if you want too.
Oh that's such a lovely message that you made me cry (but in s good way). So nice to know I helped you XXX
I was due to finally go back to work this week, until kickdown intervened!! Oh, and I crashed my bike Sunday and have a lovely bruise on my right arm (though I was lucky not to do something serious, like a broken collarbone or wrist!). Not my week!!
Another one today. Again when I leant forward. And I realise I get it every night when I pull off my socks to go to bed! So another trigger! But how do you avoid bending!!! Gotta laff! What a game this all is!
I'm a bit calmer now, what will be will be and worrying does not help.
Really appreciate the message, they all really help xx
Hi. My AF just happened and zi could never find specific triggers but after my partially successful ablation, bending down was definitely a trigger but then it only lasted a short while whereas previously it had been nearly all the time. Interestingly, I had been on flecanide after the ablation to keep me in rhythm and it was when I tried to come off this that the bending down thing happened.
I don’t suppose that’s much help !
I hope things settle down for you. Give it more time. X
I often cannot pull off my socks by bending now as my hips are so bad I cannot bend without extreme pain especially at the end of the day. So I have developed a couple of techniques to get them off. Standing up work the foot back a little to leave a bit of empty sock at the toe, stand on this with the other foot and pull your foot out of the sock. Lying down - using the big toe of the other foot pull the sock down over the heel and then off. These are slow techniques to begin with but with practice you speed up!
To give yourself confidence you should ensure that you have 100 Flecanide available at all times to deal with episodes. I have it in the kitchen, bathroom, wallet & car.
After four cardio-versions it was suggested I had an ablation and as I trusted my consultant I agreed, it was for AF but after 5 months ( the last two being off any beta blockers , Sotalol) it returned but this time it was Flutter so it was agreed I should have a second ablation , the Flutter one was far less intrusive than AF for me. My point being is that some of us have both AF and Flutter and therefore have to have two ablations. Wishing you well.
Thanks. Yes, I had flutter the first time, a sort of hybrid flutter/fib the second time (adlib?) And just Afib the third I think. So that sounds plausible.
I'm hoping this might make you feel a little better about things. I have, about two hours ago come out of a 13 hour AF attack, I had an ablation in June and things are worse now than before.
I am on the list for a second ablation and it and it can't come soon enough for me. Below is a list of attacks in the last three weeks. The attacks I get are vicious and these date right back to the tail end of June when i had the ablation
Poor you. I have been there . In spite of 2 ablations for persistent AF I still get episodes - having a dodgy time at the moment.🙄
Bending over, exercise, large meals, bowel movements, stress, lack of sleep can all be triggers sometimes - other times not.
Thank goodness AF blips are much milder and quieter than before. Till I can have a third ablation I am on Flecainide and Bisoprolol and they keep it at bay. Could you try that? I agree with CD, the Amioderone is a long lasting drug and its effects are clearing from your system slowly.
This wretched condition is a complete pain. But I try and focus on the percentage of time I am ok. Hard though!💓💓💓
The arrythmia nurses said to monitor it. I won't take a betablocker as they make me feel terrible but I was on flecainide before and am okay iwth that. Let's see what they suggest. All such a rollercoaster, isnt it!
Yes it is. And I also hate beta blockers but 1.25 Bisoprolol seems to be just about bearable. The EP says I need it with Flecainide to prevent atrial flutter, but some EPs prescribe without. Anyway good luck.
Just a month after my 2nd ablation I started having a-flutter. So I'm still taking Flecainide & may have 3rd ablation in January. I was told, too, as above, that the ablation for flutter is less complex. I used to take a beta blocker, but my BP is too low on the Flecainide.
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