Long wait for appointment.

[Jbeans]

Thanks for all your replies. I do appreciate the advice. I think I will seek a private consultation with my cardiologist. My heart rate when I was in casualty was around 180. It was brought down to around 100bpm before I was allowed home. Because of the arrhythmia it's hard to get an accurate reading but generally below 90 now. .

I do need to lose weight and have lost 18lbs since diagnosis . I do need to lose about another 5 stone though, and am sticking to Slimming World diet. I will see about having a private consultation with my cardiologist. My previous echo showed only a very mildly enlarged LA and slight regurgitation of the tricuspid valve...which according to my Cardiologist was unremarkable. I have good ventricular function. Normal ECG when in normal sinus rhythm.

Thanks for advice. Its so good to have this group.

[BobD Volunteer]

It is very likely that if you can get to a BMI of 26 or better then your AF will vanish so keep it up!

[baba in reply to BobD]

It would be nice if that were true for everyone.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to baba]

Yes I know there are racing snakes with AF but LEGACY trials in Australia showed how a BMI of less than 26 often removed the need for ablation. In may centres EPs will not do ablation for obese patients anyway as the chance of success is so limited.

[Elli86 in reply to BobD]

Is this only true if your overweight to begin with then? As my bmi has never been over 24 and is currently 22.3 😫😫 even though I think the ranges in bmi are a little crazy. If I went down to less than 9 stone, which they still say is healthy for me, I would look like a corpse 🤣🤣 definitely not healthy

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Elli86]

As I said racing snakes also get AF so obesity is not the only fruit.

[Elli86 in reply to BobD]

Sorry Bob forgive the ignorance but I do not get the racing snakes analogy 🤣 maybe I’m too young or maybe I’m too dumb? 🤔

I’m assuming your just saying that there are other ways to get af but judging by the fact you said it was very likely that if the op was to get down to a 26 bmi, I’m guessing you feel being over weight is a huge contributor?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Elli86]

Racing snake suggests a very fit thin person. Ir's an old saying. Obesity has been linked to AF for some time and many EPs will not ablate where no attempt to correct this is shown as the chance of success is low.

The Legacy trials in Australia a few years ago showed that people with AF who were obese often reduced their AF burden to the point where an ablation was not required when they lost enough weight to get to a BMI of 26 or less. People were put on a special 800 cal per day diet for three months and the results were staggering.

Of course AF happens to thin people as well but as we all must know AF is a tree of many fruits . In fact some doctors are beginning to think that AF is actually a symptom rather than a base condition.

There is no doubt that life style is vital and that we must all take responsibility for ourselves here. There are many reasons from a sedentary life style to one of over exercise, from excess stress, to alcohol consumption all of which when addressed can reduce AF burden dramatically. A more plant based diet with less processed foods more akin to that of our far ancestors has been shown beneficial but as always there will be exceptions.

[Lucymoo in reply to BobD]

I’m not sure I feel that this is a accurate statement. I’ve had AF for over 10 years with a BMI of 25/26. Could you point me towards the research around this please?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Lucymoo]

In my earlier comment :-LEGACY trials in Australia. Look them up. I also said that obesity is not the ony reason for AF but it is well known that many EPs will not ablate unless serious weight loss has been made in such cases as the chance of success is limited.

[Elli86]

Good job on the weight loss jbeans. I can imagine it’s not easy to lose that kind of weight. Keep it going and it can only be good for your health all round 💪💪

[irene75359]

Brilliant weight loss, well done. Do you feel hungry on their regime? Excess weight is an ongoing issue with my husband and he has just about run out of ideas. He is the first to admit he often eats through boredom and not because he is hungry.