Thanks in advance for the great responses and for taking the time to respond .
So I was diagnosed with PAF in May 2021 . I was out on 200mg of flecanide and 2.5mg of Bisoporol per day . I was also put on the list for a cryoblation and a procedure for my Flutter .
I don’t really get any symptoms when in AF with only tiredness or lethargic being the issue .
With no real symptoms should I be getting a check up every 6 months to see if it has progressed . Should I pay to be connected up to a 48 hour heart monitor and have another echogram ?
My last echo gram 5 months ago was perfect with no issues ?
Advice welcome as always
Thanks
Matt
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mjm1971
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I’m not medically trained but given what you have said, I see no point in seeking regular checks and I would be surprised if they are offered on the NHS. If your symptoms (or lack of) dramatically changes then the situation may be different but as you are already on the list for an ablation, unless you are a private patient, I think you will just have to wait your turn…….
Hi Matt - sounds as though you have things in hand.
It’s not usual to have any check ups from the specialist clinic. If symptoms worsen then you can ask for a consultation.
Echo Cardiogram - if there was anything of concern from the results, it would normally be followed up but very unusual to have more than an occasional echocardiogram because that is more about the structure of the heart rather than the AF. I was diagnosed in 2007 and in all I’ve had 2 echocardiograms.
From your GP side it will depend very much on the practice protocols and the meds you are on. If you are not on anticoagulants (??) then you would need to ask your GP. At my practice when I was in your position the practice had a protocol which would do a Healthy Heart check annually which would include taking BP, Full Blood tests, urine, weight/height and a talk with the practice nurse. Once on anticoagulants the blood tests became every 6 months. But as I say, each GP practice may have a different way of doing things.
Are you concerned about something? 48 hour monitor is normally used for diagnosis. Once you are diagnosed, unless you have increasing episodes or worrying symptoms it is unlikely you will need a 48 hour monitor.
What you might want to do is ring the specialist’s secretary and ask where you are on the waiting list and how much longer you may need to wait. Secretary’s number is often on any correspondence you received or you can look it up on the hospital’s website.
Please don’t hesitate to come back and ask any specific questions or concerns.
Hi CDreamerChanges in meds one should have a new echo
I had 3 last year and finally I have been diagnosed with CONTROL OF A.F. Thanx to CCB Calcium Channel Blocker.
My doctor gives me a full blood test 3 mthly to make sure meds are not causing kidney or liver problems. also B12 as I am deficient and of course I have 6 forms for my thyroid levels as and when I want them. CCB affected and I can now have less of my Synthroid pills. Hooray.
As I won’t take any meds it’s not an issue for me.
My husband had to wait 9 months for an echo last year so that’s not always possible here. Regular blood tests are automatic at our practice some 12 weeks whilst others have 6 monthly tests. My GP goes beyond and does many Biomarkers as well.
What is important to understand is that AF is not a fatal condition and that provided your rate is well controlled the outcome is all the same. Since you are asymptomatic you are one of the lucky ones!
When you get older then anticoagulation will be added to your party bag to protect you from the five times icrease in stroke risk you gained when you developed AF.
Any and All treatment for AF is ony ever about quality of life as cure is not a word often seen in AF circles. OK ablation may terminate symptoms but neither the stroke risk nor the underlying reasons for it are stopped. Personally after three ablations, my AF symptoms were stopped some twelve years ago and apart from my anticoagulation I stopped all drugs. Then in 2017 a different arrhythmia reared its head for which I am still taking a small amount of drugs.
So to re cap, AF wont kill you (unless you are stupid and try and run a marathon in AF) and all treatments including ablation are for quality of life. Even if your AF changed from paroxysmal to permanent, you being asymptomatic wont change that and provided that your rate is well controlled no additional harm should befall you or your heart. By the way permanent merely means that you and your doctors agree that no future attempts to obtain NSR will be made.
Makes me wonder why I’m bothering with the ablation ?
Yes I get tired and lethargic and I guess I wonder if my life would change if the ablation worked . I don’t know how long I’ve had AF so do not know if I would be different without etc .
I could have the ablation and have no difference even successful 🤷♂️Or I could have a new lease of life .
That’s my thinking but now I’m questioning if worth having it
Generally speaking that is why people have cardioversions, ie to see if they feel better in NSR as that can direct future treatments such as ablation. Horse needs to come before cart.
How were you originally diagnosed with PAF ? Is your EKG normal or is that how you were diagnosed ?
You mention heart monitor. I am biased toward its use because that is how I was diagnosed. If available, I would recommend for an extended period, ideally at least 7 days. Tells everything, even when you sleep.
In my area, echocardiagrams are given every 2 years for asymptomatic patients, sooner if issues develop.
1. Afib begets afib, the more you have it, the more you will have it. ( Many people Inc Dr Sanjay Gupta have said this and it is my personal experience)
2. A Cardiologist ( later my EP) advised me after my first episode, that if I have had one Afib attack I woud most likely have another, but he could not forecast when. ( it was about 3 months later) .
I was asymptomatic in afib except for a high heart rate ( 165bpm resting typical)
After 20 months I had what was my 12th ( I think) attack . Unfortunately that one did not terminate and I spent 8 days in high rate afib, up to 195 resting, and 5 nights in hospital where I was eventually cardioverted by flecainide infusion in the hospital coronary care unit.
At that time I did a UTurn and decided ablation was possibly a good thing. (previously I was against it)
6 months later I had one . Ablation succesful but I then developed re entrant atrial flutter promoted by the flecainide I was taking for controlling the afib, and had an ablation for the flutter a month later
I have not had afib since the ablation which is 4 years ago in 2 weeks time.
I have not taken ANY drugs since May 15th 2018 .
Looking back my mistake was in not having an ablation after my 3rd episode. At that point it should have been clear to me that points 1 and 2 were true!
It would have saved a lot of hassle, and 18 months of afib drugs, and I woukd not have experienced the joy of atrial flutter!
I was 55 when I was diagnosed and 57.5 when I had the ablation. I had no other co morbitities and was otherwise fit.
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