Last Thursday I woke up in Afib for the third time in six weeks. Hubby got ready to drive me to my favourite large teaching hospital, but I felt so unwell he refused to take the risk of the hour long drive and instead called 999 who dispatched an ambulance. They took me (with blue lights!) to my local hospital (regular readers will know I have a hate-hate relationship with my local cardiac department!). Once there they decided to try a chemical cardioversion. The A&E doctor and I had "a full and frank exchange of views" which was a bit unfair since she was only telling me what the cardiology dept were telling her (I did apologise). They decided to try IV flecainide despite me protesting that "It won't work! It NEVER does!" - although in my heart of hearts (oh, clever pun!) I doubted even the big hospital would have done a third electrocardioversion in six weeks (two in 12 days). After 1.5 hours,I had to chase up the drugs which they had not administered because "They are not in our cupboard" and nobody had bothered to order them (Now can you see why I dont like this hospital?). I was admitted to AAU. About another 1.5 hours later I realised the heart had reset! I was wrong - the flec did work! Hallelujah. So I requested an ECG (it's sort of DIY nursing there). I was there another six hours waiting to see the cardiologists and get my meds, but I did eventually get home!
In the morning I had emailed my electrocardiologist at Papworth to see if he'd managed to sort out my place on the waiting list (there was some confusion, I was meant to be a 'priority 1' but was on the wrong list. So imagine my surprise and delight when I got a call from Papworth asking if I would like a cancellation slot which had come up on the Monday!!! Nautrally I shouted "YES" down the phone!!
So I had a long long procedure on Monday - I went down at 10 am and didnt wake up until 4 pm. Felt really groggy for ages afterwards. But then it all got a bit exciting - I had just told my husband that I was starting to feel better and not more than 10 minutes later I suddenly started blacking out. All the emergency alarms went off, I glanced at the monitor and it was showing 0 beats per minute and everyone was running about in full emergency mode! They had the emergency defibrillator pads on me in seconds and the defib on standby!!! I thought I was a goner! I rmember thinking "Darn, I thought I might die during the procedure, but not afterwards, that's a bit harsh"!!! The brain is a weird beast. Luckily, it stabilised and no shock required!
The electrocardiologist came to review me and said (classic) "I'm not worried" to which my only retort had to be "well, I AM" 🤣🤣🤣. He said it was 'just' the anaesthetic plus the ablation plus my super high dose of anti-arrythmia drugs causing the heart to do that!!! The poor nurses were shaking and shocked afterwards, espescially the new one who'd never had to do a resus before. I was amazingly chilled!!!
So obviously I stayed in overnight! Hardly slept though.😴💤. Very tired yesterday but 11 hours sleep last night so feel quite good today. I'm not getting tricked though as I was like this after first ablation last May - felt great for a week and then it took me forever to recover my vitality.
Oh, and the electrocardiologist was very happy afterwards, he said "There was loads to do" and also that two of the pulmonary vein scars had completely healed so were no longer doing the trick. Typical, normally takes me forever to recover from anything and when I don't want it to I become a Super Healer!!!!!
Sorry for long post!
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Jajarunner
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I've had exciting times like that myself so sympathise. Important to keep a sense of humour. My GP told me how traumatic it must have been to have CPR when my heart stoped after DCCV but I told her _"Oh no I wasn't there. It was somebody else's OH SH-T! moment." Take it easy now.
Dr Mellor. Lovely, very approachable . Though I've previously seen Drs Agarwal and Begley who were lovely too. So lucky to have that marvellous hospital. Whose yours?
I saw him (well, spoke to him on phone) last year when I was having major trials and tribulations with my local hospital. I told him how I'd been discharged as a drug addled zombie hatdly able to walk and he said straight away "oh, you can't live like that". He the arranged an emergency cardioversion during covid followed y an NHS ablation a month later. Excellent man. But the they all seem to be brilliant. You are not Bill who was next to me in the 'holding bay' yesterday, are you?
No, not Bill. I was originally on the day ward on the ground floor before being moved to the 4th last night. I was also in recovery but can’t remember much of that to be honest
Usually go home same day. It was three months before I could walk three miles and it was an effort. I didn't run for five months and after ten months u still had fatigue if I overdid things. BUT I am a slow healer plus I'm very sporty so full recovery to be us being able to run or cycle or walk each day. Not to brag (ok, brag s bit 🤣) just to put that long time into context. I tried to fight it a little last time. Even for a total office job is say at least two weeks off. Wish him well from me and he can message me whenever he wants xx
My goodness, that was excitement you could have done without! I hate to think how scary that must have been for you!
My scary moment, after my last ablation, was having to use a bedpan and discovering it very blood covered. Panic, was I going to bleed to death! A young nurse came to take the bedpan and I waited for someone to come and tell me what was going on. I imagined myself being rushed for an emergency procedure to stop the bleeding. Then the young nurse re-appeared. "What did they say, about the blood", I asked. Her answer was, "Oh I just threw it away". I felt really annoyed and asked to see a senior nurse. She came and examined me, saying all was ok and it must have been some blood that had leaked after the ablation. What a relief!
Wishing you a speedy and successful recovery. Please let us know how you progress.
WOW so impressed that you're able to report and laugh about it Though I guess there's no other way but up after that! I totally sympathise with the issue of your local hospital and feel reassured to hear that others have stand offs with medics on duty. Hereford cardiology is not good! Wishing you a smooth time with ablation #2. I'm currently in 3rd week of recovery ablation #1.
Humour is my best defence.🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 When the electrocardiologist came round beforehand (seeing as it was first thing Monday morning) I asked how he was feeling and whether he had a hangover. Luckily he had a GSOH too and laughed and reassured me! But I know how lethargic and fedup I always feel at work on a Monday, it's scary to think they might feel like that too! But they are.far too dedicated and professional.I think my local hospital is good on the plumbing side but not electrics. Plus all the cardiologists are v high and mighty and hate being questioned by people like me I didn't find that at Papworth, the EP chatted to me for ages.
Wish you a good recovery. It takes longer than you expect. Thanks for the message!
You're welcome. Agreed re pompous cardiologists - my last stay in A and E I told them they weren't thinking clearly and were making the wrong decision about wanting me not to take my meds. I took said meds , which were in my bag, and told them why I'd done it. Ward sister have me a right dressing down 😃. When I later met with my Electrophysiologist he pretty much confirmed that my decision had been the logical one.
Oh wow! Now THAT us a standoff! Mine was a mere slight disagreement by comparison! 🤣🤣.And I was wrong (first time for everything😉) coz I DID chemically cardiovert!
Yikes, just seen this post. Heavens to murgatroyd, what a palaver. I had to have 2 cardioversions during the ablation itself, which was a bit scary when you hear someone say, in your only partial sedation, "we need to cardiovert now!!!" I was awake enough to actually ask "Did you say cardioversion? and the team answered "yes" in chorus 😊. That made 3 in 2 weeks. Worryingly though, there were no monitors in my room and no nurses station (private hospital but NHS patient) so thank goodness you were hooked up to some and help was at hand. Think I would not have had constipation issues at that moment if it was me. Thankfully, you came out the other side but wow, what a scary moment.
Ps...... I know what you mean about A&E cardiology issues.
Now THAT'S scary. Flipping'eck.When I looked at the HR monitor and it said zero I thought "darn, thought I might die during surgery, but not after, that's a bit harsh"! Funny how the brain works!!!
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Two weeks post ablation
Ablation - all done and dusted 😁
Two weeks after ablation and I'm on the list for a cardioversion
