Forging On in Permanent AF

[Sowers]

Hi everyone. Saw Cardiologist for Paroxysmal AF in December 2019. He referred me to an EP. In Feb 2020, the week before I was due to see the EP, I had an SCA towards end of a squash match. According to all the reporting protocol records, despite 12 minutes of defib resus efforts by the squash centre team (and by my amazing 23-year-old daughter with whom I was playing 🙈), there was no response. Then the paramedics sprinted in and did their bit for another 10 minutes, again with no response. CPR was smashing its way through five ribs during the entire 22 minutes. Then one final blast brought me back. Curiously, no intubation or induced coma - straight into ICU. ICD fitted the following week and then I got out just before everywhere went into COVID lockdown. So physical or mental rehab had to be DIY/Dr Google. I skipped Persistent AF and found myself in Permanent AF; which is how it's been since. 10mg of Bisoprolol, 20mg Rivaroxban and 2.5mg Ramipril. Back to 5k brisk walk in the morning and 1k swim in the evening. Moved to Dubai to see if some warmth would stop my nose running and my hands and feet feeling like blocks of ice. It hasn't! Otherwise, no side effects. I think it was the very stressful 100 corporate week that killed me - so I cashed in my chips and never went back. I'm 62 and writing for the first time, to try and inspire rather than impress. I was very very fortunate. In my quiet moments, I just wonder if my quivering atria and going to get weaker over the coming - and I'd also love to know if I can do anything else to lower my stroke risk. I've made myself available to work with the British Heart Foundation to help anyone I can because I know that so many folk are doing it tough. I've been given a second chance but am not completely sure yet what else I'm supposed to be doing with it!

[Finlaysmum]

Hi I am glad you hear you have recovered and your quick thinking daughter was at hand. You have had a major life change and it is hard accepting a different season in your life that you have been forced into. The heart foundation sounds like a good first move. But I totally understand the strangeness of different days. I am new here as I have been getting many Ectopic beats that are symptomatic and stop me from living my normally busy stressful at times life - which is why I have probably got them in the first place! Our bodies are not the machines we assume they are and I am having to step back and reassess everything and take a little time to stop - which is what it sounds as if you are having to do. But oh it’s so hard when you are not ready to slow down! I hope you find something that inspires you to get involved with and grow with your ‘happy medium’ 😁

[Sowers in reply to Finlaysmum]

Wise words indeed. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Good luck

[Windlepoons]

Goodness what an experience. Well done for getting through it all and thank you for sharing. It helps put our own problems in perspective. 🤗