update

[Dudtbin]

last November i was diagnosed with Afib which had appeared overnight - possible covid induced?.

I found this site and was so reassured by people I thought i would give an update. So on 23rd November i went to af clinic, we are automatically referred here when diagnosed. I had echocardiogram first, then ecg, saw the advanced nurse practitioners and was put on the virtual ward. This meant i took home kit to send in twice daily readings, Bp, ecg and oxymeter thing. I have to say going around the hospital ust about killed me off for the test - final one being X-ray at the other end of hospital, by then i could only walk about 100yards without stopping! The echo showed damage to chambers and a leaky valve. They immediately stopped bisoprolol and put me on sotalol and entresto. I went home reassured and hopeful. On the Wednesday they rang to say i needed to be admitted as heart rate not slowing and was 160. I was in the heart failure ward for a week (my husband nearly had heart failure when he saw the name of the ward! I was put on digoxin then. When i got home heart rate went up to 140 again. Cardio version was on the cards. Over the weekend the ep was in charge of virtual ward and he upped the digoxin, nest day i was in nsr! Bit diificult to be discharged from virtual ward as twice daily chats had really reassured me. Am waiting for an appointment for TOE. But am back to walking the dogs and gradually upping what i do. Although have persuaded John im still not up to cleaning the house!

I feel so lucky when i read some of the posts on here and people waiting such a long time for appointments. I can and do still call the virtual ward if im worried about anything. They are lovely and came up to the ward to see me every day i was in hospital.

Sorry its so long!!

[baba]

What hospital is your virtual ward attached to?

[Dudtbin in reply to baba]

glenfield in Leicester . I think it is considered very good for cardiology and vascular .

[baba in reply to Dudtbin]

Thank you..it sounds good.

[Gumbie_Cat]

I think your virtual ward sounds wonderful! I can’t fault the care I’ve received, but have found the communication (or lack thereof) really difficult.

[Dudtbin in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

yes, i had to go to our local urgent care unit and saw a nurse practitioner who was wonderful and spent time explaining stuff to me

[CDreamer]

That sounds an amazing Rapid Response and I believe the way to go although some people believe that only face to face appointments work. The thing is you feel reassured, you have access to help and support and you feel cared for.

The term Heart Failure is one that frightens many people as they suppose it is life threatening and of course it sometimes can be if advanced but soonest found, soonest treated it need not be.

Best wishes

[Dudtbin in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you. I wouldn’t have liked it if the first appointment had been by telephone, but because i could visualize the people i was talking to it was ok.

[mjames1]

Thanks for checking back and sharing. Sounds like you've found the good care you need. And yes, John has to understand going forward that given your treatment plan, housework is out of the question

Jim

[Dudtbin in reply to mjames1]

its not like he’s doing it himself!🤣

[Still_Breathing]

Sounds good 😁Whats dosage of digoxin are you on?

I am on the lowest dose of 0.0625mg, but every time I do an ecg (from watch) I am in afib lately, but I cannot feel it. Been on same dosage for 18 months.

[Dudtbin in reply to Still_Breathing]

Hi I'm not on digoxin now. As soon as I was in nsr they stopped it. Am on sotalol, sprionolactone, rdoxaban, entresto, lanazaprole and thyroxin - need a wheelbarrow to carry around!

[Ppiman]

It sounds like the NHS is working well where you are.

Steve

[Dudtbin in reply to Ppiman]

hi yes certainly the hospitals and urgent care units have been great, doctors surgery not quite but still better than i read about on here, i feel very lucky!

[Desanthony]

That sounds fantastic! all the best for the future. try and keep away from cleaning and housework for as long as you can

[Dudtbin in reply to Desanthony]

certainly intend to 😊

[Desanthony in reply to Dudtbin]

Good to hear.

[TonyB1972]

If you don't mind me asking, you said it happened overnight. Possibly from covid? You mean a covid infection or was it after a covid vaccine? What did you eat the night before?

[Dudtbin in reply to TonyB1972]

I had had covid about 4 weeks before. The hospital closed in on thyroid, but I've been taking thyroxin for 20 years with regular checks. I had been for a normal dog walk in the afternoon with friends, can't remember what we ate but nothing out of the ordinary, woke up in the night with fast heart rate and off we went! Hospital in the end admitted could be combination of covid infection and thyroid, don't suppose we'll ever know. Actually the hospital ward consultant learned towards covid as cause. No family history, always been fit etc so totally out of the blue. Sorry for long long answer!