AF returned

[Lesleyray]

Hi everyone, has been awhile since I been on here after my ablation in July. In the last 3 months I’ve had 9 episodes, have just had one this afternoon over 3 hours BPM 179, the left side of chest is aching and I feel so sick. Took PIP flecainide. For the first time, in those 3 hours I could not stand up, everything went black and I was in danger of collapsing. Never happened to me before, just need reassurance as I’m getting really scared that what is happening is not normal

[Buffafly]

You should have called 999!!! That is not normal.

We always say an AF episode is not an emergency unless you have chest pain, faintness or breathlessness and you had all that plus the sickness. That could all have been caused by the high rate but equally by an MI (heart attack).

If you have continuing pain or feel worse in any way I would at least call 111 but I hope you feel better soon ❤️‍🩹

[Lesleyray in reply to Buffafly]

Hi, I feel much better today but very tired, I will ring 111 next time this happens and go from there, thank you for replying

[Lainie2875 in reply to Lesleyray]

In circumstances like this 111 will always tell you to go to A&E so you are better ringing 999 and a first responder will decide or the paramedicsWe all do this but why ??

Hope you feel better soon this condition it so dibilitating and frightening at times

[Lesleyray in reply to Lainie2875]

Hi, feeling much better thank you, with all the advise on regarding ringing 999 instead of 111 I will certainly ring 999

[BobD Volunteer]

Any chest pain or fainting/dizzyness needs investigation. If still in trouble ring for emergency services.

There are some people who get serious pain during AF events but don't decide you are one without checking.

[Lesleyray in reply to BobD]

Hi, I will ring 111 as this was the first time I was frightened with this episode, thank you for replying

[dmac4646 in reply to Lesleyray]

if u feels like that again its 999 - 111 these days does not cut the mustard

[Lainie2875 in reply to dmac4646]

Couldn’t agree more

[jeanjeannie50]

Were you on your own? This warranted a 999 call. Fast heart rate, feeling sick, chest aching and a feeling of blacking out =999. Are you still feeling sick now?

Jean

[Lesleyray in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi, Hubby was with me, I feel much better today and will certainly ring 111 next time, was scary. Thank you for replying

[Lainie2875 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Absolutely

[CDreamer]

It does need checking out when that happens but I’ve had such incidents a few times and been taken to A&E and it wasn’t an MI, it was caused by unusually low BP but as the others have said - always get it checked out immediately. Know when it could be an emergency could save your life.

[Lesleyray in reply to CDreamer]

Hi will certainly get it checked out next time, I have a medicine review with the nurse next mon, going to see if I can get a face to face with my doctor to discuss

[Singwell]

Let is know how you are. That's worrying, as all have said.

[Lesleyray in reply to Singwell]

I feel much better today thank you, very tired but am resting in a very warm conservatory which is heaven

[Singwell in reply to Lesleyray]

Happy to hear this. Definitely report to your arrhythmia nurse as this is important information about progress of your ablation. I agree BTW with others that sometimes a BP hypo can cause the dizziness and nausea. Plus feeling like you will black out if you sit or stand. Sometimes in a prolonged episode we get low on fluid and/or electrolytes. I've had this happen once and its very frightening.

[Jajarunner]

I always go to hospital to be cardioverted as my heart always goes that high. The few times I have felt as bad as you describe we have called 999 and they came very quickly.

[Lesleyray in reply to Jajarunner]

Thank you for replying, I never know how high the BPM needs to be before ringing 111 but I won’t hesitate next time

[baba in reply to Lesleyray]

If it is making you feel ill, dizzy or feel like you are going to faint, ring 999.

It could just as easily be low rates with long pauses making you feel that way.

[Lesleyray in reply to baba]

Hi, I will definitely do that as I’ve not experienced the fainting before

[Slidingdoors99]

So, so sorry to hear that. I really hope you can get this sorted out very soon.

[Lesleyray in reply to Slidingdoors99]

Thank you

[Ppiman]

I would say firstly, bad luck and poor you. Secondly, I would think that the best course of action depends on whether your symptoms are new or what your doctor already knows about and has reassured you about in the past.

Left-sided chest aching seems to be a feature in some people with arrhythmias - well, I get it, along with gastric symptoms, including nausea, and other chest discomfort, often going under my the left rib and into my back. I was assured that is all “nothing to worry about”. The accompanying anxiety is hard to deal with, though.

Blacking out (syncope), or feeling like you’ll faint (pre-syncope), could be from your blood pressure falling. If that is a new symptom, again, it does need investigating.

Steve

[Lesleyray in reply to Ppiman]

Hi, it was something new, I had a cryo ablation last July which had to be abandoned 2 thirds through due to complications, I never thought of taking my BP but will do so if it happens again

[Ppiman in reply to Lesleyray]

You might not be able to get a 'useful' BP reading because you will be very anxious in the taking of it and this might well raise the systolic quite significantly (my systolic is sometimes 140mm Hg because I am easily made anxious, but my diastolic can be 58; but even at that, I didn't feel faint, which did rather surprise me.). If you do try (and let's hope you never get a reason to!), then look at the diastolic, the lower reading, maybe. This is the one most likely to be low thanks to beta-blockers, also.

Steve

[captainKFF in reply to Lesleyray]

I’m glad you’re feeling better, may I ask what were the complications you had during your ablation and what did the doctors say?

[Lesleyray in reply to captainKFF]

Thank you, I have earlier posts regarding what happened, I don’t know if you are able to read them, if you cannot I’m quite happy to relay them to you if you let me know but it was not a happy experience

[marcyh]

I was fine after my ablation, had vaccines, then had a very scary episode a few months later. I ended up in emergency.

[Clarrie]

When I took flecainide I used to get like a black mist come over me and felt I was going to pass out. I had to stop taking flecainide.

[Lesleyray in reply to Clarrie]

I have been of flecainide for about 4 years and have been okay so not sure what happened

[Melbuckton]

Have you had a CT scan to make sure flecinaide is safe for you?

I had one and it showed that I couldn't take flecinaide.

[Lesleyray in reply to Melbuckton]

Hi, no, I’ve been on flecainide for a few years and all was good until af episodes started breaking through