cardiology appointment today and back on anticoagulants.

[Jetcat]

hi you lovely folk. You may have noticed from my previous posts that I have not been on anticoagulants for some time now because my chads were zero but I was still having some AFIB episodes.!!

well I met a different cardiologist this morning to mainly talk about my ectopics I get for up to 2 weeks a time and they bother me more than AFIB to be honest.!! he didn’t seem bothered at all about them after looking at my cardialive ECG print offs. and jumped straight onto the AFIB Iv been getting. He sent me for my BP and it was 160/ 99 at 8.30 am after a stressful drive to the appointment on icy roads and surrounded by idiot drivers😡.?

I told him I monitor at home and it’s never this high and he wasn’t overly concerned. After answering his questions for a good 25 minutes+ I asked him if anticoagulation would be beneficial for me because Iv been rejected for it in past because of a zero chads score. he studied for a while and said ok yes, I’ll write letter to your GP and you can start them if you like because you are a 1 chads now. Hes convinced that if I start taking another 1.25mg bisoprolol before bed it may decrease the nocturnal AFIB I sometimes get.? I told him that I’m on 10mg daily all ready and he said he can still increase it a little and if it doesn’t suit me then start taking 5mg morning and 5mg before bed.!

he sees me again in 3 months and is going to take it from there and there is the option of another ablation but he knows I’ll only use this as a last resort and iff the AFIB becomes really troublesome. I’m pleased with the appointment and he spent alot of time with me but I feel like I did at the very start of this AFIB journey that I’m going into battle again with it.?😡 my main fear is going into permanent AFIB as I’m nearly 56 years old but feel it’s too young to be doing that yet.?😜 he couldn’t answer my questions about when/ iff would it happen of course. So I’m basically going to try taking the bisoprololol at different times but start with an extra 1.25 mg on an evening on top of my 10 daily. At least if things start going downhill I’ll be on anticoagulants so that’s a good thing I think.👍 Thankyou for listening you lovely folk.

all the best to you.

Ron.

[Hidden]

Hello Ron, an interesting and detailed account of recent events. Apologies, but normally before responding I normally run through earlier posts to get a better understanding of what’s gone on before so I may ask things which you may have shared before. Understandably, you say that facing persistent AF at a relatively young age is a major concern. Your cardiologist is suggesting that you consider taking slightly more than the normally accepted maximum dose of Bisoprolol which often brings with it significant side effects. Of course these may not affect you currently, but hopefully with a potential 30 or so years in front of you, it might seem a bit intimidating. We know that many who make the transition into persistent/permanent AF adapt quite well and actually benefit from not having to contend with the onset of episodes. What I don’t know is what the effect might be on the dosage needed to control permanent AF in terms is likely to remain the same, increase or decrease. If you haven’t already, maybe that’s something you should discuss at your next appointment as it could become more crucial as you get older.

You clearly have strong views on having an ablation, many do, not always an easy decision to make. I admit to being pro ablation but I am 77, was diagnosed with lone persistent AF in mid 2014 and having had 1 cardioversion and 2 ablations, I have largely been in NSR since October 2014. I’m not sure if any of this missive is going to help you directly, but it might stimulate a discussion that will, I just hope that you get some helpful input from members, you never know, they might even mention a mini maze procedure. I just hope you get the help and advice you are looking for………

Just realised, not said anything about anticoagulants- at 55 it’s not age which scores 1 so it’s likely to be something health related so I would be inclined to follow the advice of your Doctor.

[Jetcat in reply to Hidden]

Thankyou flapjack really appreciate it.👍 and I will definitely be taking the anticoagulants Iv no concerns about that. It’s my health anxiety that’s the problem lately.?? My AFIB burden is very low to be honest but I’m already thinking about a life with permanent AFIB instead of just getting on and seeing what happens.!

All the best flapjack

Ron.👍

[OldJane]

was the other ablation off putting? I note you are not considering one?

[Jetcat in reply to OldJane]

Hi Jane, My ablations under general anaesthetic were a breeze. I’m not against them but Iv had 3 all ready and I think the heart can only take so many.?? So I reckon a fourth would be the limit. I may be wrong.?? So I’d like to save it as a one last chancer if that makes sense.?👍

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Research say that BP rises early morning so it is better to take BB Bisoprolol at night to cover us.

Cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)

[Jetcat in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Thanks joy, I didn’t know that. 👍

[Hidden in reply to Jetcat]

Are you aware that apparently it’s impossible to take accurate BP readings on home monitors when in AF…….

[Jetcat in reply to Hidden]

No I didn’t to be honest flapjack but that’s good to know 👍 . I only take my BP when in sinus rhythm anyway.