Time for A and E

[trixie100]

How soon should you go to A and E if you are having an AF attack?

[Spangle14]

Hi Trixie, it really depends on how unwell you are feeling and what meds you are on. How long have you been in AF?

[Finvola]

If you have chest pain or difficulty breathing - call for help immediately.

Otherwise it depends on your symptoms and health status, as well as considering the journey to A&E. Some of us need help with a very high heart rate others can ride it out at home. Are you able to take a drug as a pill in the pocket?

The answer to your question is difficult as we are all so different. I always stayed at home lying down on my right side breathing and trying to keep calm The journey to A&E plus the awful wait put me off ever going there again after the first time.

Best wishes with it - hope for a return to NSR.

[meadfoot]

If you feel in danger and not coping or symptoms are dreadful give 111 a call. We are all different and have varied symptoms and concerns. Do whatever feels right for you, there is no right answer. If you feel a and e is best for you currently then so be it. You only have one heart and need to treat it with care. Best wishes.

[jeanjeannie50]

How are you now Trixie, sorry I've only just seen your post?

Jean

[irene75359]

I have never gone to A&E but I should emphasise that when I had a really bad episode before I even knew what AF was my daughter was so alarmed she drove me straight to my GP who did an ECG there and then and I was diagnosed. I carry a PiP and it works within a couple of hours for me.

[Bertson in reply to irene75359]

Hi Irene. I am new to this forum could you tell me what PiP is please.

[RoyM in reply to Bertson]

PIP means Pill-in-pocket in other words the pill is taken when considered necessary, rather than taken continually.

[irene75359 in reply to Bertson]

Sorry - I rattled off the abbreviation which Roy has explained. You may find this link usefulhealthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[Singwell]

Additionally to others' thoughts - if you feel dizzy and cannot sit or stand. Having said that many of us learn to manage without going to A and E. I prefer not to go if possible but ended up there last month nth due to a BP hypo which came on 2 hours after the episode - a secondary effect that had never happened before. I'm really glad I went. All the other episodes I had last year, I managed at home. Ultimately it's your call A and E don't mind although currently they are very busy in some cities.

[MarkS]

This is a repeat of another post you made and there are good comments on there. I would suggest that the majority of people have never been to A&E with just AF. Of course if you have other symptoms associated with heart attacks or strokes then that's different. AF is a chronic condition, not an acute one, so there is little that can be done in A&E.In any case, I wouldn't dream of going anywhere near A&E at the moment.

[Jajarunner]

Arrythmia nurses at Papworth told me to go if two doses of PIP didn't work AND I didn't feel well.

[Hidden]

I was told by doctors and consultants that it depends on the heart rate. If the heart rate is 100 or above-one consultant said 90 or more-then sit quietly for 20 mins (and in my particular case take an extra half tablet of Sotalol). If the heart is still going at that rate after 20 mins go to A and E. If the rate is <90 or lower it’s ok to sit it out, but go to A and E if the episode is longer than usual or you have any unusual symptoms.

You may hear different advice in relation to this, but that pertains to issues like whether the health service would cope if everyone followed this advice, or whether it’s safe to go to A and E during Covid.

[momist]

I have only been to A&E once, the first time it happened and I didn't know what it was. I thought I may be about to die. This was some years ago now, and I still get AF, sometimes frequently.

I am tempted to answer your question simply by saying "never", but that would indeed be too simplistic. I would consider A&E if I had severe pain in my chest, or excessive breathlessness, and this could indicate something beyond 'just' my heart racing in a random pattern. My experience of A&E was not a good one, after waiting for an hour on a trolley to be seen, I was then left on that same trolley (there were no beds) from midnight to 10am and all they gave me was an aspirin and bad advice. I was told that I would be referred to the cardiology team, but that never happened and I had to chase it up myself through my GP.

I quickly found this forum, and started to educate myself about AF, and then persuaded my GP to refer me to an EP at our nearest heart centre of excellence, at a hospital just outside my area. I bought a Kardia after only two days, so that I could monitor my own condition.

Since then, I have accepted that a bout of AF stops me from doing anything for the rest of the day, and that the best thing to do is rest and distract myself (book or TV) until I can sleep it out.

Your mileage may vary, as they say.

[Lesleyray]

Hi, I was in A & E just before Christmas, my doctor told me to go in as I had 3 long episodes in 48 hours just to be checked over, I asked the cardiologist nurse the same question, he said if my PIP did not work after 2 hours to go back to A & E, currently I’m on a 7 day event monitor and having episodes everyday, been free of them for 6 years so not sure why this sudden surge