One week on….

[Slim2018]

So a quick re-cap

Flutter Ablation 2018

Fibrillation triggered by the Ablation two days later

No meds for nearly a year and then PAF on and off for a few hours about a dozen times for the last couple of years, always at night and always bloated.

Discovered wheat was triggering bloating and also even a small amount of alcohol

Twice a day Flecainide 100 mg

Generally irritated that at 65 I was chained to this condition even though I know nearly everyone out there has it far worse than me and I should stop feeling sorry for myself.

Great electro-cardiologist in Richard Till at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital

Excellent resource with “chats” with Sanjay Gupta.

Have BUPA cover.

Last Sunday went in privately and had a cryo-catheter ablation under happy juice.

Going back to work tomorrow.

The procedure went fine the only curved ball was getting an allergic reaction to the sticking plaster holding the dressing so I have a very sore piece of skin but luckily well away from the entry site.

Feel fine, quite a few ectopics etc but that aside seem ok.

So seeing Richard in a month and then no doubt decisions as to whether I can stop the Flecainide which I think is giving me peripheral neuropathy in my feet and generally “flattening” my mood.

I turn 66 next month and it will be interesting if he wants me to stay on Rivaroxaban now, I have also been on Statins for a couple of months.

I feel a tad like one of my clients in prison, waiting for a parole hearing 😂

One thing was very sobering for me was that last night I bumped into another lawyer who I know who lives down the road from me. She is 20 years younger and had her ablation last year. The son of a friend of ours, who is mid-30’s and an ultra athlete has it too. Makes me realise what a real whinnying wimp I am, especially when I see my cohort group dealing with cancer and other real illnesses. So in the words of my youngest daughter, the doctor, “ man up dad!”

Thanks for listening guys, as this forum has been a massive comfort over the last three years, and hopefully for many to come.

[BobD Volunteer]

Going back to work tomorrow. ? Ill advised at the very least I would say. Please read our fact sheet on recovery . heartrhythmalliance.org/res....

[Slim2018 in reply to BobD]

That’s precisely why I checked with my consultant this afternoon. He said as long as I feel fine then there is very little harm to be done save in the case of heavy manual labour unless you have felt crap post procedure. I must say that I was under the weather after my Flutter ablation three years ago with three days of a seriously uncomfortable pain in my chest, whereas this time absolutely nothing. Is it because this was a cryo as opposed to an rf ablation or because its a different part of the heart (?) I rhetorically ask myself. I had actually read the very helpful fact sheet which is why I initially took two weeks off, but have felt normal as from coming home last Sunday night. Hence the message to my consultant

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Slim2018]

Just listen to your body. Few EPs have had ablations . We who wrote the fact sheet have!

[Tessybear]

Hi I was interested to read your story. Pleased for you that all is finally looking ok after your ablation.I am 65, had an ablation in 2015. Not all straightforward and a few blips, but I’ve been fairly free of AF since. I too had a consultation with Sanjay, who was helpful and recommended I take Magnesium Taurate. I too am still on Rivaroxaban, that I regard as the lifesaver I hope will never be put to the test! I do get a lot of aches and pains generally, but don’t know whether that’s down to age or medication!

I also take beta blockers and bp tablets- all precautionary. My cardiologist gave me a prescription for flecainide as a ‘pill in the pocket’for emergency use if I want it. So far so good- not had to use one. I have a yearly check up.

I hope you don’t go back to work too soon- cut yourself some slack to recover, and good luck with your recovery and getting on with your life.

[Slim2018 in reply to Tessybear]

On my feet doing a trial even as we speak, fortunately the prosecutor has persistent AF and has a pacemaker too so I reckon I have a slight advantage. We are both on Rivaroxaban so reckon we should be sponsored by them. The witnesses are even older and more geriatric than we are…. 😂