After months of feeling so much better here I am again in A&E. AFib breakthrough started at 0400 and 12 hours later its still going despite taking all my daily flecanide. Only plus point is my son is a working in here today.
EDIT
Back home BP fine, rate 66-80bpm and irregularities relatively mild. Dr said to come back if the rate goes above 120bpm as she thinks this is very well managed AFib. Feel a bit foolish for going in but did so as this was the first time that it's lasted so long. Roll on midnight so I can take another dose of Flecanide 🤣
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Kennyb1968
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Hang on in there Kenny! I know how you feel. The times I've ended up in A&E with galloping AF just when I had announced to all and sundry how well I was feeling
.Hope they get you back to NSR without the electrics !
Cheers - 200mg of Flecanide and 2.5mg of Bisopropol at one minute past midnight and surprisingly I fell asleep. Woke up at 0400 - NSR!!! According to my watch I had been like that since 0100!
Back home BP fine, rate 66-80bpm and irregularities relatively mild. Dr said to come back if the rate goes above 120bpm as she thinks this is very well managed AFib. Feel a bit foolish as this was the first time that it's lasted so long. Roll on midnight so I can take another dose of Flecanide 🤣
Sorry about that. Do you have PIP dose you can take or are you already maxed out with your daily dose of Flec? I'd give it three or four days, no more than a week and then ask to be cardioverted. This may be a one off and maybe best to go back to your previous diet. Lower carb may be healthy but not always good for afib. If not a one off, then try to get the ablation earlier than scheduled.
I’m sorry you ended up in A&E. No need to feel foolish at all, it’s scary stuff and best to be checked out if you’ve had a prolonged period with a high heart rate. Hope your next dose of Flecainide knocked it on the head for you.
I know you’ve just started your new diet recently. I’ve no idea how radical a change that is from your usual diet but I have found that, for me, sudden changes can cause my heart to protest. Slow and steady seems to work best for any changes I want to make, so I just wondered if that could have been the trigger for you, or, as Jim mentions, maybe you’ve cut your carbs down too much too quickly. Just a thought, feel free to ignore😊
I hope things have settled and you have a more peaceful weekend. TC
You did the right thing going in I felt the same but stayed 4 days trying to get it down to 90 . I used to think I’m waiting the nhs time but having sat in a good few waiting rooms at A and E there are a lot of people really wasting time as a doctor told me half the people in a Saturday A and E waiting room he’s sees monthly
My son works in A&E and told me that he has had people in with mild sunburn, migraines and mty favourite, a splinter mms long! All sitting next to people with coronary concerns, broken limbs, etc! Interestingly he also says it's that they are the ones that get most vocal about waiting times!!
I had a girl next to me that claimed to have a twisted ankle from tne night out yet was up and down to the vending machine like it was going out of fashion I’m sure it was for social media attention she was in there more than pain
Glad you're back in NSR now. I'd have done the same after 12 hours I think. Only time I didn't was post ablation when everything just grumbled! Sometimes staying as calm as you can and going to sleep does the trick. But its been horribly hot again and I wouldn't be surprised if that impacted. Keep well hydrated and don't over exert over next couple of days.
I recently had the same, made great strides in NSR forgot what it was like to feel normal - just as I go used to it Af came back - at least his time it’s not constantly running at 140-160 it’s jumping up and down and at least I can still walk whereas last time I could only do slow steps then had to stop. Seeing EP Monday - hope you stay feeling ok now
I was told to subtract my age from 220 to work out the maximum my rate could go to before getting help, but was also told to go to a and e if episode went on too long ie more than twelve hours. You did right thing especially if you were symptomatic.
I wasn't symptomatic - I guess if I was being honest I was unsure and panicking a wee bit. Probably as a consequence of lock down I am still unsure about some aspects of the condition as most of my consultations have been at arms length. It was a shit day but a good day as the doctor at A&E was very knowledgeable and spent a good amount of time discussing the condition and my situation. I am now a great deal more comfortable that as things stand my AFib although occuring more often than I would like, is well controlled and the risk of heart damage and stroke is low even when it goes on for as long as it did ( rate is low and rhythm relatively stable). I am in the final stretch of getting an ablation so I can put up with this for the next few weeks.
The advice re rate calculation does not seem right to me. This is a calculation I would use for heart rate whilst working out. So for example my maximim is 167bpm. If I had a rate like that whilst resting that's a big problem. I'd be going to A&E if my resting heart rate was in excess of 110bpm while resting.
My heart rate goes up to 170bpm and fluctuates. My episodes can last for 36 or 48 hours. My EP still says to sit it out unless I feel particularly unwell or have chest pains. I take my meds and try to carry on as normal. Sleeping with it can be an issue and afterwards I am exhausted. It usually slows after 24 hours but continues to be irregular for another 24. At the moment I get episodes around every 4 months and just as I am beginning to forget about it wham I am hit with another one!
I'm wary of going to A&E as pulse rate not too high. My last 3 afib episodes since May have lasted 12, 8 and 12 days. I feel bad for 2 or 3 days then start getting used to it. I had a planned appointment on day 10 of last attack and ECG slowed afib with RVR or rapid ventricular response. Doctor didn't seem too bothered except to increase my Bisoprolol to 2.5. I asked about Flex but was told it's not for me. Good luck anyway.
Hi Kenny sorry to hear, its miserable isn't it. I have just had similar. After ablation 2016 and AF free for 6 years..... a week ago suddenly AF started. Had almost constant runs of AF mixed with Ectopics all night so went into A&E last Monday morning was there 10 hours. Checked me out all ok couldnt give me anything report to GP refer to Cardiology for Holter etc. Went home, remembered had home ECG gadget so re charged it and started recording heart rate arrhythmias which got worse and more frequent each day gaps between AF getting shorter so AF for 5 hours then a break for hour then again for hours, I m exhausted. then Friday night it ramped up and I was getting chest pains feeling breathless so phoned 111 they said go to A& asap. Wasn't emergency so ambulance would take several hours. Anyway as always nightmare experience - was in A&E sat in full hot waiting room overnight from 8.30pm to 10.30am, had one ECG at 9. 30pm despite having AF and chest pains on entry! set of bloods at midnight, then saw on call doctor at 5.30am then they sent me to Same Day Emergency Care Ward...I thought for monitoring thought would be be on heart monitor. By now exhausted and in AF on and off. But no it was a converted ward upstairs sitting on chairs again but it had air-con. Temp here past few days 35 degrees!!
So there I sat from 10.30am to 3.30pm waiting to see what I thought was a Cardiologist - the reason I took myself into A&E and suffered all night was for this. But no it was the Registrar Doctor who talked to me, listened well, looked at all my Home Heart Monitor readings (printed) taken on past 6 days, agreed it was AF. But said all my tests, BP, bloods etc normal and as AF isn't fast (never is) then Im ok. I asked couldn't I have anti arrhythmia med I used to be on Flecainide. He said he would speak to Cardiologist on phone!! Who might agree or might want to see me!!! Another half hour wait. Called me back in, said 2 cardiologists agreed not to give meds now. I was on Beta Blockers Bisoprolol and Apixiban anyway so ok. Need to wait until holter monitor and Cardiology appt which hopefully will be a couple of weeks. Probably will need another Ablation. Sent home. Thankfully so exhausted despite the heat slept well last night despite having mild AF.
So here I am today got up heart calm, fed the dog, but soon as I start to move around its goes into AF but its mild and normal rate so will like you have all said try to Keep Calm and Carry on. I know that the past week has made me so very anxious as not had to deal with AF for 6 years. I do know that it will have to be be a real emergency before I set foot in A& E again!
I'm so sorry to hear this - I hope you get sorted out soon. I sometimes think the mental symptoms of this horrible condition are 100x worse than the physical!
And remember, if you have had a successful ablation a second is highly likely to be even more successful!
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