mrs Smith

[Jackiesmith7777]

Husband has recently had a stroke because of AF, his heart is still fluctuating and they have taken him off of verapamil and onto biprolol. We have an appointment Monday as they said his heart isn’t pumping as it should at the moment so need to tweak his meds . It fluctuates between 60 and 113 it was going up to 160 per minute when he had his stroke .

[BobD Volunteer]

This is tragic and I am so sorry to read it. Can you give us any more details and why he was not on an anticoagulant?

We have so many people who worry about and are reluctant to take anticoagulants and this is a salutory tale for them. I do hope he recovers well and quickly.

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to BobD]

After his ablation , he was never offered regular check ups and seem to go out of the system . As he only recently started feeling unwell we went to A and E as his heart rate was 160 he was o ky given one 40 mg verapamil and sent away . This was k. The Wednesday and Thursday five weeks ago and on the Friday he had the stroke . He now had aphasia and can’t read or write but can talk a bit but gets stuck on one word . Hopefully in time this will improve . He has not been on or been offered any medication since his ablation at the John Radcliffe Hospital in 2017 . I asked about ablation this time but the consultantant said it’s not a permanent solution as it can come back which it obviously has , she said because of the operation he had he hs come out of the system or something like that she said .

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

Hi

I an 4 years post stroke.

I could not talk.

That was Sept 2019. The speech therapist told me to sing.

I was singing back in my choir as a soprano by early December.

It was the Thyroidectomy which caused 4 months of mono singing.

Speech improving still.

Right hand fingers worse. Still cant knit and I fumble with keys.

Patience for healing and there are exercises to form mouth to get past the dropped right side of mouth.

Take care. Let him sleep anytime to allow for healing.

cheri jOY 74. (NZ)

[Frances123]

Oh gosh I am so very sorry and sad to read this. I pray and hope your husband recovers well and quickly. Was he on an anticoagulant? I really hope the appointment Monday goes well. Sending hugs to you both.

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to Frances123]

Thank you . I have everything crossed that it can be sorted . He s only 64 . So hopefully we ll get some answers Tom .

[Mugsy15]

In very sorry to read about this Jackie. I'm sure many of us would appreciate learning from your husband's experience, so please do let us know what is said when you get some answers. On the face of what you've written, his treatment does seem to have been somewhat negligent. However at the age of 64 he is just under the standard threshold for anti-coagulants, unless he has other conditions that would count towards his 'score'. You do say, though, that he was on Varapamil, which is usually prescribed for poor blood flow to and from the heart.

I'd be interested to learn how the medics were able to say his stroke was caused by his AF with such apparent certainty.

Best wishes to you both - I'm sure he will improve with time.

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to Mugsy15]

Yes they did an mri scan when he was rushed in . The clots , there were two hd travelled up from the heart into the big artery in his neck and then to the left side of brain , language part , it’s said large mca on his form. Hope this helps . He hasn’t been on any medication from the time he had his ablation in 2017 .

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

This is such an awful tragedy. I am wishing your husband as full a recovery as possible and that he regains all his functions before too long. 64 is not old. I’m shocked to learn that your husband has never been offered anticoagulants. I would have thought having had an ablation would have been reason enough to prescribe. It also brings into question the 0-1 scores that are considered “low risk”. I sincerely hope he gets the care and attention he needs. We really do need better aftercare for people after ablations and regular checks and better coordinated care for all people with AF. This piecemeal approach of only seeing people if they are having an emergency is not right. Good luck with your upcoming appointments. I really do wish you both well ❤️

[Singwell in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

So sorry this has happened to your husband. I've an old colleague from university who went through the same. Under 65 like your husband, and Chad-Vas indicated post ablation that there was no need for anticoagulants. But with no ongoing follow-up it sounds like your husband has fallen through the net. Hopefully, with time, he'll recover well.

Joy's comment about singing isn't frivolous- in due course encourage your husband join a singing for health choir if he likes music. Through singing, people are known to regain confidence in their language skills and can even learn new songs with new words. There's been a lot of research done on this and the outcomes are good.

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to Singwell]

Thankyou for your kind advice . I’ve applied for him to join our local stroke group and will see how that goes as he seems quite keen and I’ll see how it goes today . I’m keeping everything crossed thsts it’s not going to be really bad new s with his heart

[Singwell in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

Yes. But he's relatively young and structural issues can be fixed. If you need help finding a singing group in due course DM me and I'll ask my network.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Veramapril is a CCB A Calcium Channel Blocker.

Bisoprolol is a BB, A Beta Blocker.

A have had a stroke and finally I was controlled by>

Diltiazem 120mg CCB AM

Bisoprolol 2.5mg BB PM

They need separating. Am & PM

Both did different tasks Diltiazem to control my Rapid and Persistent H/F AF

Bisoprolol to control my BP.

Both help rhythm as you can imagine. H/R was 156 on Bisoprolol 10mg.

Now 120-124/69. 60s after year on CCB and 5kg weight loss.

Is he on an anti co-agulant?

My stroke was caused by Thyroid cancer undiagnosed which caused AF which caused it.

Try and hurry up the process to control.

It would be the irregular heart beat which forms a clot and propels it along any artery. Mine went to my Left Frontal Lobe, carotid arteries were clear.

Cheri JOY

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Yes that’s what happened to him it was propelled up to his artery . They said his heart was tired and not functioning quite right so hopefully we Ll get a clearer picture today with the cardiac team at Great Western Hospital . Thank you

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

Hi

He will only improve.

All the best. Keep humming and singing.

Be his advocate.

cheers jOY. 74. (NZ)

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

I’m waiting for his blood test results and ecg as his blood pressure was 160 over 135 so really high . It’s nice to be able to come in here and chat as it’s calming my nerves a bit . I’m trying to stay calm but can’t help fearing the worst . My daughter is in with him as o ky one allowed as she s better at asking the right questions . She s texting me what’s going on .

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

Hi

Heck 160/135 BP!!!!!

My stroke happened at 130-140 /. 90s.

What meds is he on? Bisoprolol should normalise his BP, CCBs don't work much on BP. CCB for drop in H/R. What is his H/R?

Prayers are hurling across the world to him, you and family.

I was working in UK in 90s. Ancestory both grandparents (4) all came from DEVON where I lived. Exeter YHA walking group walking all over.

Take care, JOY

Click on image for private messenging.

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi well the doctor thinks it was an anomaly with the machine as his next three were either to low and then okayish we have to keep a record this week of resting BP and heart rate three times a day as they are still trying to solve his stubborn heart thst won’t come out of AF . As I mentioned before he had the ablation operation in 2017 and they don’t recommend he has it again. So we’re going on the meds route as he hd also had a stroke five weeks ago because of his AF .

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

I’m really hoping he comes through this with good symptom control and that he makes a good recovery.

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Gis blood pressure was 126/86 this morning . Heart rate 98 so at least it was under 100

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Jackiesmith7777]

Hi

I have a microlife monitor BP and it is marvellous. The other with bigger cuff would error for BP reading.

Actually the Dr tales mine physically to be accurate.

So did the private Heart Specialist.

Even though I had taken my PRADAXA 110mg x 2 day because the March supply did not show he went on and on.

I hope your husband is on anti-co-agulant. That's what all the forum are concerned with the no anti-coagulant.

Good the H/R is under 100. Lower would be better.

I find that I am super improved on 60s H/R Rest Day and my Night is 47 avge on 3 24-hr heart monitors.

Its brisk here in sunny far north, snow on Desert Rd later this afternoon so another cool night tonight.

Take care and try to stop allowing your husband to be anxious because you are.

cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Jackiesmith7777 in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Thank you

[Peony4575]

So sorry Jackie . I hope your husband makes a good recovery .

[Cavalierrubie]

So sorry to hear your awful problems at the moment and hope your husband will gradually get well again. I hope that now he will be attended too and monitored properly. Tragic that he had to get to this point for that, but now that he is, l am sure they won’t leave any stone unturned in giving him all the treatment that is necessary for his recovery and future health.