linesteps 1

[Linesteps]

hi all , at present my af burden is quite low compared to others I have an episode approx every 2 weeks lasting no more than 24hrs , on eliquis and a statin , I dont think about what causes it cos it drive me mad !! I’ve done the obligatory , no alcohol ,balanced healthy diet don’t smoke plenty of excersise stuff . Just wondering do I just go along like this ! No real symptoms other than being aware of Arrythmia , specialist nurse has asked for echo ! Six months waiting list for ? Flecanide as PIP is it worth going private ? Thanks

[LadyLawson]

Go private! See a cardiologist and get an expert opinion. Best £250 you will ever spend.

[CDreamer]

I suppose it depends upon how worried you are. I would go private as if the consultant works from a private hospital then they should have a visiting technician who could offer an echo more quickly but they will charge so ensure you get all of the information of how much it would cost for consult + all the tests which would normally be ECG, Echo + blood tests. That would amount to more than £250. If you see consultant privately you won’t get an echo any quicker on the NHS if you have already been referred.

I think your decision as to whether to go along as you are would very much depend upon the results of your echo. So if you can afford the expense, go for it. You may still have to wait 6 weeks but still better than being in limbo for 6 months which I find gives a heavy burden on my mental well-being.

[2learn in reply to CDreamer]

my personal experience in 2021 is cost would be higher. Consultation if face to face @£500, blood tests @£100 each and Echo @£350-500, so possibly over £1000 to pay.

[CDreamer in reply to 2learn]

Obviously depends who you see & where. I’ve never paid anything like that much. Last consult (last week) £180 and all the blood work, echo came from NHS records via on line NHS apps & secondary care - my area uses Patient Knows Best which records everything and is a conduit between Consultant, Patient & GP. Of course a consultant may order their own tests but I’ve not had that happen for some years now.

[secondtry]

Too much AF more action needed, more lifestyle changes possible, private Cardiologist appointment plus private Alternative Practitioner appointment, the latter selected according to individual circumstances.

[OldJane]

best research seems to indicate a rhythm control best - so yes flecanaide - or ablation. Guess you need echo to see if heart suitable for either? So frustrating. You could ask GP if “choose and book” allows you to have the echo at another hospital with shorter list however far away?

[OzJames]

I had low magnesium so added supplements mag taurate and mag Glycinate and now levels are mid range and it does help me relax.

I also started CoQ10 in January and in my blood results in August my levels were at the bottom of normal range. I have read that your bodies production of CoQ10 declines as we pass 50 years of age. There is an additional cost in adding CoQ10 to the blood test.

My AF has settled this year and so far so good. I too have changed diet and exercise daily. Make sure if you add anything you get the approval of the doctor first

[Linesteps in reply to OzJames]

I’ve had different advice about magnesium and eliquis my pharmacist discouraged it as requires regular blood tests ? But I know lots of people take it with anticoagulant therapy , thanks

[Vonnegut]

Things really have got worse since I was finally diagnosed with paroxysmal AF 4-5 years ago and told I would get an echocardiogram “soon”! It was in fact, a few months after the diagnosis and though it involved climbing a few floors of stairs as the lift was broken, it showed there was nothing wrong with the structure of my heart - so it’s just an intermittent electrical fault!

[Linesteps in reply to Vonnegut]

Thank you that’s what I’m hoping x

[Vonnegut]

Do hope it is the same in your case. Mine arrived as a result of an episode of shingles when I had the pain before the rash and couldn’t get an appointment with my surgery for almost 2 weeks by which time the rash had appeared, the pain had gone but more importantly it was too late for an antiviral jab. Thus I now have chronic fatigue as well as the PAF but had many healthy years up til then and have reached 79 - “towards the end of my 8th decade” as the GP said after he insisted I didn’t have chronic fatigue!!