It was four years ago today that I was diagnosed with Atrial Flutter and given a DC cardioversion (after the chemical cardioversion failed).
I remember sitting despondently in the hospital bed, thinking I now have a heart issue that will need declaration on travel insurance and could have a big impact on my future plans (funny how that impacted me more than the thought of what it would do to my career and life in general). A couple of months later I went back into AFlutter and then was also diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation.
It was around this time that I discovered this community, something I'm very thankful for as it's been wonderful to feel connected to others around the world who understand what I'm going through. Even though I'm on the other side of the world from most of you, I have had the opportunity to meet a couple of the forum members in person [pre Covid].
So, this is just to say a big thank you to you all xx
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Kaz747
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A lovely post Kaz. I too am so grateful for this forum as have just been left to get on with things. I’ve learnt so much. Hope you’re having a good day. Xxx
Here Here Kaz, can you imagine in the good old days, at the mercy of the medical establishment & how little some of these people know about our problem!
Hi Kaz, hopefully we can meet up again soon! Finally getting to see my son again this year when they come over in July. Hope you've managed to steer clear of the virus as we have, just spent some of the lockdowns having cataract surgery on both eyes, so raring to go now and looking forward to my next adventure. 😎x
It will be wonderful to catch up again one day Angie. We have avoided Covid but after two years of keeping it out of our State it is now in the community. We are being careful and so far so good. Fingers crossed it stays that way.
Hi Karen, yes this forum has been brilliant, not been on here for a while but great to see the usual crowd 😀 I've been keeping well thanks.Since my ablation in September 2018 my symptoms have been reduced by about 95% thankfully, not a complete cure but I only get a few palpitations each day now and some days no symptoms at all.
It was definitely worth all of the hassle going through with the ablation procedure. I take 1.25mg of bisoprolol each day to keep me chilled but nothing else.
So glad to hear you are well. I’m pretty good but having issues with my foot and ankle which is getting me down. I had surgery 18 months ago for a torn tendon. The chronic pain affects my heart but it’s mainly ectopics and occasional tachycardia. I want to get back to the daily walks I used to enjoy but I went on two walks on the weekend and now I’m hobbling around. I have to stick to the pool for exercise. Still I’m upright and breathing so that’s a good start 🤪😂😉
Oooooh! Chronic pain ........ been discovering about that for the last 12 to 18 months. Right shoulder .... originally damaged over 20 years ago when I fell off a roof ! As ya do .... 😂
When I lived in Sydney I had a holiday shack up near Tea Gardens , north of Newcastle and was doing something, slipped and dropped right shoulder first onto a timber deck. Didn't break anything, did manage to reposition the collar bone but that was all. Was warned that it would become arthritic in later life. Not wrong there.
My GP went through all sorts of processes, X-rays, then, mainly physio which was a total waste of everyones time. In the end a week and half ago I had the magic jab ....... cortisone into the Ac joint ... within days the pain had gone and for the first time I was able to re start sleeping through the night instead of waking up once or twice during the night in mega pain. Of course its not a permanent fix but its bloody lovely right now.
Amazingly there was no impact on my heart at all. It behaved with its normal beating and pumping😂 and chucked an AF wobbly a few times a year as is normal for it.
Anyway deepest sympathies with your pain and I do hope your ankle soon lets you walk with a spring in your step.
Thanks John. I had two cortisone injections last year. One in my left foot and one in right knee which I injured when I passed out on the bathroom floor not long after I’d gotten out of the moon boot after my ankle surgery🤪.
This “in later life” stuff sucks at times. After my second complicated pregnancy my specialist said that I may have blood pressure (and heart) problems “later in life”.
Getting old sucks … but it beats the alternative 😀😉
What a lovely post Kaz. Thank you. I'm so grateful for this forum! There IS life after AF isn't there? But it different and acceptance takes time. I'll look you up if we come again to Aus on a teaching trip. You're in Queensland I'm guessing?
Ah. Didn't know Perth has stayed safe so long. I knew about the Governor of Queensland closing the state. borders. Fingers crossed we get Aus the return sometime. We LOVED it!
WA had the tightest border controls in the country and we had 2 years of living life almost normally with only a few short lockdowns when Covid managed to escape the strict quarantine rules. Our borders opened in March and we’re having 5,000-6,000 cases a day (biggest day was a bit under 10,000).
Australia is a beautiful place. I was born in Liverpool and I’m very thankful that my parents brought me here as a toddler. I do love England though - it’s great for holidays 😀
My sentiments exactly! The connection with others in the same or similar boat has been so valuable in many ways. Unless you live with afib it’s difficult to explain to others what it’s like ~ on the outside we don’t show signs of a physical problem, but those on this forum “get it”.I’m most grateful for those who keep the forum running and those who reply to posts. Like you I’ve learned so much.
Good on ya Kaz,
Great to hear from you again, glad to know that you are bright and breezy. Well you sound it anyway from your post.
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