Help!

[GranmaWendy]

I am feeling quite low at the moment, I know a lot of people put up with much worse than this, but this is a new experience for me. I have had episodes of AF occasionally for 5yrs now, the longest was 9 hrs. but yesterday I started with one while out with the dog, and we are coming up to 24hrs now. I seem to be alternating between a bounding irregular pulse( which is what I normally experience) and periods when I can barely walk to the bathroom I am so lightheaded

[jeanjeannie50]

Do you know what your blood pressure and heart rate is? I would say without doubt that you need to call your GP this morning. I've had that being unable to walk feeling and it's awful, mine did that when I was stuck at a fairly high heart rate and waiting for a cardioversion. I feel for you.

Jean

[GranmaWendy in reply to jeanjeannie50]

thanks, seeing gp this afternoon, and of course, now in normal rythm!

[Snowgirl65 in reply to GranmaWendy]

Being in the US, I tend to read posts a half-day later than you in the UK, so I'm happy to read you're back in NSR. I hope you make an appointment to get to the bottom of this, and have a plan of action in place in case another long episode happens. Best of luck!

[GranmaWendy in reply to Snowgirl65]

thanks!

[BobD Volunteer]

First thought is drink plenty of water. Dehydration can adversly affect both AF and blood pressure and this hot weather is dangerous. If you wait till you are thirsty is is too late. If after drnking plenty (at least 2 litres a day by ratio) you still feel faint then contact medical assistance.

[Hidden]

Apologies, I misread your profile and now see you had a cardio ablation and not a cardioversion.

Hello and sorry to hear that you are feeling so low. I’ve just checked your profile and see that you had a successful cardioversion some while ago. This suggests that at some stage, your GP referred you to see a specialist and that you may have been in persistent AF before the CV. If this is the case, the CV would have been the initial part of a treatment plan so unless you were discharged back to your GP, the best thing you can do is to contact the specialist who arranged the CV. Otherwise, you need to get your GP to refer you again. Your GP will be limited in what he/she can do. Generally, they can tinker about with Bisoprolol doses and prescribe anticoagulants but not a lot more so getting specialist help is the best way to go. There are things you can do to help yourself such as lifestyle improvements and, especially in this hot weather, trying to stay cool and drinking lots of water may help. The fact that you CV worked for a year suggests that you should be a successful candidate for an ablation but all this takes time, so you need to try and get the right balance of medication to help control symptoms. The best route to take is to see an Electrophysiologist (EP) either privately or on the NHS. Hopefully, you will still be able to make contact with the doctor who arranged your CV……good luck

[GranmaWendy in reply to Hidden]

thanks Flapjack, its quite complicated as I have never seen a cardiologist since we moved to Ireland, and the pattern as changed considerable since I had the cardio ablation in the UK. thankfully I have an appointment this afternoon with the gp, hoping to get refered, and of course, like a switch flipping, I am now back in normal rythm!

[Hidden in reply to GranmaWendy]

maybe today will be your lucky day…..let’s hope so, if you mention the possibility of taking flecainide as a maintenance dose or as a pill in the pocket, that might encourage a referral 🤞🙏

[Jalia]

Please do not leave it too long before seeking medical attention.

I went into fast AF about 3am last Thursday. I thought I could manage it and sat it out until Saturday morning by which time I could barely move. I was seen immediately at A&E and had DC cardioversion at midday in Resus. It was queried why I had left it so long. This was my 24 th dccv so I should have known better.....

[GranmaWendy in reply to Jalia]

thanks, I have an appointment with the gp this afternoon, and predictably, I have now returned to normal rythm!

[Ablation7 in reply to Jalia]

wow, you really go through it with this. So sorry!

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Ablation7]

Hi

I hope you haven't had 7 ablations!

A friend was told after his 3rd, "that's your lot"!

Scarring your heart more times is "destroying your heart!"

Can't have one because I have an enlarged chamber but I'm so glad that I don't

have to make that decision.

One day surgeons will have a better way to resolution. I'm controlled on meds,

at 1/3 dose CCB and 1/5 dose BB.

cheri JOY

[Ablation7 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

No, two - thank heavens! Still on Diltiazem, but I’ve been in NSR for over a year! 🙏🏼🙏🏼 knock on wood.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Ablation7]

Hi

Good. But on Diltiazem then the ablation hasn't worked! What is your

H/R now. And what before Ablation?

cheers JOY

[mjames1]

If you haven't been given medications and instructions on how to control your rate while in fast afib, I would not take chances and go to the A&E now. Meanwhile stay in bed and hydrate with an electrolyte drink like Gatorade.

Jim

[Singwell]

Keep us posted. I hope you get a referral because you need a decent medical team for advice as time goes on.

[Ppiman]

The heart racing is reducing its output, I would think , so that’s why you’re feeling as you are. To my knowledge, if all else is well with your heart and body (kidneys and blood pressure, especially) it shouldn’t harm you. However, I think if I had had this for as long as you (which I have but only once since I had my ablation), I would call my GP immediately or go into A&E to be checked out.

That said, I expect they’ll only likely give you extra beta blocker- which is what they did me, and it worked although I was down for cardioversion, which proved unnecessary.

Your GP might be the easiest first adviser on this given the state of A&E nowadays.

Steve

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Have you had B12 and Folate tested. It is quite a part from your routine blood test.

Lightheaded can be low blood pressure or H/R. or dose meds too high.

Its time you were WOFed again.

Also AF diagnosed, cardiac problems or thyroid problems can give your a DOWN.

Take care, JOY