Anyone finding they're having to wait extra long for their first or 2nd/3rd ablation due to Covid delays ?

[Turquoise19]

I am now back in persistent AF n feeling scared. Cardioversion lasted 4 days and waiting for advice on possible Flecanide. One day at a time .... Just feels like my life again, is on hold. Can't get out and do anything I normally do .

[FancyPants54]

Well I had to wait 11 months for my first and only cardio version and that was a year before Covid. I'm in persistent AF now and much happier than when I had the violent lone episodes. I just take a Beta blocker for rate and an anticoagulant.

[Turquoise19 in reply to FancyPants54]

Are you not thinking of getting an ablation Fancy Pants. Be rid of the whole thing. On betablockers I can't exercise and isn't there a risk of it remodeling the heart ?

[FancyPants54 in reply to Turquoise19]

No one has mentioned ablation to me and I'm not keen. I'm not on a lot of beta blockers. I have far more issue with my hypothyroidism than I do with my AF.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Turquoise19]

And of course ablation isn't a cure, it's a thing to try and improve lifestyle and as my AF lifestyle isn't too bad I don't fancy the downtime it would take as I am the only one keeping my business going.

[Turquoise19 in reply to FancyPants54]

Ah yes I understand that. Good luck with it all. Hypothyroidism's not fun either

[FancyPants54 in reply to Turquoise19]

It's a nightmare! I've never been well on cheap NHS levothyroxine. I now have some T3 to add to it, but getting it balanced is really difficult.

[Turquoise19]

For me it's the AF nightmare and I just want it ablated. My Mum ad hypothyroidism xw

[Barb1]

Yes, my 5th ablation took place 18 months after it should have....and failed. The consensus was that it would have worked again if it had not been delayed. So I have ended up pacemaker dependent.

[Turquoise19 in reply to Barb1]

Sorry to hear that Barb, very distressing,where abouts do you live ?

[Barb1 in reply to Turquoise19]

Surrey

[Turquoise19 in reply to Barb1]

Do you feel better on the Pacemaker? Better able to manage ?

[Barb1 in reply to Turquoise19]

Distressingly no. I am still breathless and weary. BB reduced from 7.5 to 2.5

[Steve112]

After my most recent consultation with my cardiologist they discussed putting me on Amiodarone with a view to another Cardioversion possibly ablation with all that that involves and told me he wanted to see me again in 3-4 months….when I went to the receptionist to make that appointment I was told that late next September 2022 was the earliest appointment available and have a good evening sir…I have more or less given up with it all..Covid has taken precedence.

[Turquoise19 in reply to Steve112]

Distressing Steve, where are you based ?

[Turquoise19 in reply to Turquoise19]

Can I also ask why they suggested amioderone over Flecanide?

[ETHEL103 in reply to Steve112]

Same in this area.

[Foxey2]

I was diagnosed with AF in March, spoke to the consultant in May who recommended ablation and I had it done at ST Barts 15 October so overall in todays covid times I think I did extremely well from diagnosis to procedure

[Turquoise19 in reply to Foxey2]

That's very encouraging Foxey, we're you very symptomatic with very unmanageable AF pre-procedure. ?

[ETHEL103]

I'm in persistent a fib and I have a long wait for my first.Will.get longer if coving keeps going at this rateVery scary.

[Turquoise19 in reply to ETHEL103]

Yes I am cared too Ethel, whereabouts are you ?

[ETHEL103 in reply to Turquoise19]

Medway Kent.

[Turquoise19 in reply to ETHEL103]

Ah that's where I come from. Grew up in Hempstead. Am in London now.

[Foxey2]

I had 2 hospital admissions with AF and fast heart rate out of the blue and was put on Rivaroxaban and low dose bisoprolol. I was struggling with the bisoprolol as I normally have low heart rate and this dropped it even lower. I had periods of AF on and off every day and it affected my life as I used to be very active, running, cycling etc and I have a young child and work full time so the ablation was recommended to try and get my life back to a sense of normality for me. I’m keeping fingers crossed it has worked although it’s still early days 😁

[Turquoise19 in reply to Foxey2]

Yes fingers crossed for you Foxey

[Singwell]

My ablation only moderately successful and was told so at the time of being discharged. Issues with sedation and moving around apparently. I've been told 6 months to wait for my top-up, COVID willing. If there's a big spike it'll be a longer wait. I'm in mid Wales and it's Birmingham QEH that did my procedure.

[Turquoise19 in reply to Singwell]

Sorry to hear that Singwell. Hope you are settling a bit better now ? I am hopefully trying Flecanide now from tomorrow anti-arrythmic until I can get my 2nd ablation.

[Singwell in reply to Turquoise19]

Other half says in sporadically much better. I'd say 60% of the time I feel better. Still get runs of AF but usually shorter and not needing extra meds. I'd like to get off the meds and ensure the level of improvement doesn't go backwards now.

[Turquoise19 in reply to Singwell]

Yes that would be good. Same for us all I think. Have to stay in good spirits working on the next thing