AF out of the blue : It’s been 3 years... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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AF out of the blue

Babyr1996 profile image
26 Replies

It’s been 3 years since my ablation for atrial flutter. It’s been fab no reoccurrence until this morning a full blown AF session I felt it and my Apple Watch alerted me so I did ECG on my watch. I couldn’t get to my 6 lead Kardia up & running in time!! I’ve printed the ecg off to show the pacing clinic when I go for my annual pacemaker check in 2 weeks time. I’m hoping pacemaker recorded it!!

The last few days I’ve had a lot of high heart rates at rest I should have realised it may go into AF. But my AF seemed to sort itself out when I had the ablation for the flutters!!

Now I feel I’ve ran a dozen marathons in seconds feel shattered cold shaky in general feel yuk

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Babyr1996 profile image
Babyr1996
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26 Replies
jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Bless you, it's a horrible feeling when you heart takes off racing isn't it! Then as you say you feel extremely tired afterwards as though you've been running several marathons. My GP used to tell me exactly that, which was for your heart to have stayed at such a high rate you would have needed to run, often at full pelt, for many hours/days/weeks.

The only hope I can give you is that after 16 years of having AF and experiencing all the different ways it can present itself and being admitted to hospital many times, I'm now in constant AF and my life is pretty much normal. There's nothing I can't do, although I may climb hills a little slower than before - where I live is all hills and my house is at the top of one.

At one time, the way my heart would flop around in my chest, always at night, I would think that I was surely going to die before morning and wonder how long it would be before I was found. I feel a bit foolish when I think back to that now and my wild thoughts, but I believe we have all felt that way at times.

My heart rate now flits from 70's to 100, I measured those rates last night, but I was reading about Harry and Megan and feeling very agitated. I rarely measure what my heart rate is now as it makes me anxious if not right and of course that anxiety makes the rate even worse.

I've had no fierce attacks since my third ablation about 4 years ago and have been in constant, easy to cope with, AF for around 18 months. So never give up hope that you will one day feel reasonably normal again.

Oh and watch your diet and avoid all food and drink that contains artificial additives, you'd be surprised what a difference doing that can make to your heart rate.

Best wishes

Jean

Babyr1996 profile image
Babyr1996 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Hi Jean

Lovely to hear from you. It was just a complete shock as it was so out the blue. But I’m not anxious or anything like that it just knocked me for six!! I see if it happens again if it starts to persist then it will a call to my. GP!!

My diet is a Very good one I don’t eat or drink anything that can trigger it been doing that for years now it’s normal now to me.

Be interesting to see what my pacemaker recorded

My HR at rest the past couple of weeks has been between 90-149 even had a blip where it shot up to 165 bpm but was just a few seconds but boy it takes it out of me. Whereas normally it’s between 45-70 bpm. Coupled with extremely low blood pressure not a nice combination

Thank you for your reply I appreciate it xxx

rosyG profile image
rosyG

sorry you are suffering- not nice at all! Jeanjennie's reply is encouraging!

Babyr1996 profile image
Babyr1996 in reply torosyG

Awe thank you xx

I'm not sure what I found worse - the times I would only last 6 weeks between fast AF episodes/flutter or the times I've gone months without anything only for it to come back.

It is equally disheartening I think.

Be well!

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply tojedimasterlincoln

Hi Jed good to hear from you, I assume you've been keeping well? How old is your little girl now?

At one time I would never ever go longer than 6 weeks without an AF attack, but once I had it I knew I would be ok again for another 4-6 weeks. I believe quite a few others on this forum are, or were at one time much the same. It was almost like a release valve to my heart kicking off.

Jean

jedimasterlincoln profile image
jedimasterlincoln in reply tojeanjeannie50

Thanks jean she's four in July. This weekend I should have been marrying my other half.... but we've delayed. Heart is behaving!

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply tojedimasterlincoln

Four years old in July, wow that time has flown by. Are you working normal full time hours again now? Perhaps you'll be able to marry your other half once lock down is over, which hopefully wont be too long.

jedimasterlincoln profile image
jedimasterlincoln in reply tojeanjeannie50

I decided to do an update post to avoid hijacking !

Babyr1996 profile image
Babyr1996

Awe thanks yeah I know what you mean xx

Easternmost profile image
Easternmost

Did you have AF and flutter before your ablation, or just atrial flutter? Also have you just had one ablation? I’m interested as I had an ablation for flutter last October and was discussing my anxiety about it returning during my 3 month follow up with Barts. The nurse said that an ablation for flutter only was 95% successful, but that you can go on to develop AF. I wondered if this was the case with yourself or if the AF was present alongside the flutter that you were treated for? I really feel for you and hope that they can sort things out again for you. Wishing you well.

Babyr1996 profile image
Babyr1996 in reply toEasternmost

Hi

Yes I had both prior to ablation for flutter my AF had settled & not had enough episodes to warrant doing the other kind of ablation to sort AF but I was told if it returns bad to get referred back into glenfield at Leicester to go for ablation for the AF but after the ablation for flutter I’ve had no episodes of either until yesterday. Feel loads better today and all settled xx but no flutters just a lone AF episode

Easternmost profile image
Easternmost in reply toBabyr1996

Glad you are feeling better today. The good news is that there are various things that can be done if it becomes problematic, which I hope it doesn’t. Take care x

Babyr1996 profile image
Babyr1996 in reply toEasternmost

Thank you

Karendeena profile image
Karendeena in reply toBabyr1996

Hi there, if you don't mind me asking who are you under at Glenfield? I am under Glenfield too under Professor Ng

Babyr1996 profile image
Babyr1996 in reply toKarendeena

I was under dr Stafford

Karendeena profile image
Karendeena in reply toBabyr1996

Is he an EP?

Babyr1996 profile image
Babyr1996 in reply toKarendeena

Yes he is he is very good!!

Karendeena profile image
Karendeena in reply toBabyr1996

I rate Glenfield and their consultants, we have some of the best in the world!

Babyr1996 profile image
Babyr1996 in reply toKarendeena

I very much agree I’ve had excellent care from everyone the patient system is very good better than my local hospital- I t do not mind driving 45 minutes to get the care I need but then again we don’t have EP’s at Burton

Karendeena profile image
Karendeena in reply toBabyr1996

No we don't, I was in Burton when diagnosed and saw 'the cardiologist of the week', they all do a fab job but I was supposed to have a telephone appointment after 4 months, it didn't happen so took myself off to EP at Glenfield

Babyr1996 profile image
Babyr1996 in reply toKarendeena

I must admit I’ve not been let down like that I was under DR Why at Burton then he retired and it’s gone to put a bit since but I still get excellent care but like you say we only have cardiologists no EP’s I can’t fault glenfield at all either

Morzine profile image
Morzine

Oh gosh poor you think I that’s my worst nightmare must have been disbelief at first” is this happening”Sue

Babyr1996 profile image
Babyr1996 in reply toMorzine

Absolutely I totally agree it was oh heck where’s that cone from but as we all know AF is so unpredictable

Goldfish7 profile image
Goldfish7

So sorry its happened to you. Im still OK after my ablations but due to other heart and health issues Im guessing it wont be long before my AF returns. Hoping when it does it is less violent than before. Hoping yours settles down to have less effect on your quality of life.

Babyr1996 profile image
Babyr1996 in reply toGoldfish7

Thank you

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