Anyone else in the same boat?!

[Slidingdoors99]

Hi! A quick review! Diagnosed with fast AFib four years ago and HCM a year later.

On too many meds to mention!

Last October had my first ablation-which the hospital said was successful.

Unfortunately, that triggered another arrhythmia called atrial tachycardia.

Back in for another- and the last one they will give me due to the HCM to try and deal with it on May 3rd.

Don’t feel well because my heart rate has been 140 plus mostly for the last week…

Anyone in the same boat who could share their experiences with me please?

Thank you. 😊

[BobD Volunteer]

I had an ablation for atrial tachycardia in 2019, some eleven years after my third successful ablation for AF. It was successful though you might not think so as my HR was around 85 to 90 (within normal range) for about a year. It is now generally around low 70s but I had a pacemaker inserted in 2021 due to some measure of heart block though this is set at default 60 BPM and seldom activates.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to BobD]

PS Bob, can you remember what your recovery time was after your ablation for the atrial tachycardia?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Slidingdoors99]

Dont ask! Bad time. Spent 8 hours in recovery with ultra high HR treated with intravenous flecainide. Then over night long pauses developed. One cardiologist wanted to keep me in over the weekend and fit PM the next week but deffered to my EP who said it was caused by "the shed load of flecainide" I had been given . Went home on day four after five hour wait for my wife to drive up from Devon to London on the Sunday morning. Recovery from ablation was normal but as stated HR remained high for nearly a year. PM finally fitted in July 2022 to combat second degree block since when all good. I have come to understand that if one is prone to arrhythmias, one gets arrhythmias! Think I might have run out of new ones to discover. lol 😁

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to BobD]

Oh heck! Thanks for sharing though Bob! Nightmare for you. 🙏🙏🤪 it won’t be the same for me!

[mav7]

If your heart rate is consistent at 140bpm would be good to go to A&E and have it lowered. Also, monitor your blood pressure.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to mav7]

Blood pressure is fine. I have been told that there is no more medication that I can be given to bring it down because I am already on the maximum doses.

If only life was a little more simple!

[mav7 in reply to Slidingdoors99]

Have they discussed a cardioversion followed by appropriate medication ?

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to mav7]

Hi! I’ve had six cardioversions but another not appropriate for me apparently. On the max doses in all meds possible! 🥺

[Rainfern]

I’ve noticed a process people go through with ongoing heart problems. To start with people are quick to seek help, but over time they seem to put up with things for longer. I think that can be a mistake. Imagine you’d gone from full health to current condition - would you honestly not be going straight to A&E or calling your GP? I certainly would be in your shoes. And I’d also be practising breathing, meditation and relaxation exercises to assist the body’s attempt to bring the heart rate down. Good luck and hope you get it sorted soon.

[Ilovedogs12 in reply to Rainfern]

That's exactly right. In the beginning it's a bit of a shock to have a heart condition and we want it sorting out immediately because it's scary.Once we get used to the idea we become more complacent and inclined to wait and see, I think possibly because we feel there's little to be achieved.

But we should always be proactive because we only have this life and we want to make the best of it.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to Ilovedogs12]

PS You’re exactly right! I’m only putting up with this racing heart because I have been told that on the maximum level of meds to bring it down and so I have all my hopes pinned on May 3rd and my ablation in London.

I do breathing exercises etc in the meantime but nothing seems to help…

[Ilovedogs12 in reply to Slidingdoors99]

I hope everything goes well for you in May. Please let us know x

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to Ilovedogs12]

I will and many thanks! It’s next Thursday so am getting a bit nervous now!!

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to Rainfern]

Many thanks.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to Rainfern]

😊

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to Rainfern]

😊 Yes, you’re right but my hospital where I am say that they can’t do anymore because another cardioversion isn’t appropriate for me with this new rhythm and I’m on max medication doses now…

I do breathing exercises etc in the meantime and try to relax as much as I can, but it’s just not working!

[Rainfern in reply to Slidingdoors99]

Oh darn, that must be dreadful. It sounds like you’re doing all you can and sorry if my suggestions were a bit flimsy! When my heart is up the creak I find it impossible to ignore. Good luck with the next ablation and keep us posted with how it goes.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to Rainfern]

I will! Thanks so much!

[Tommyann in reply to Rainfern]

A&E I went to that lovely place NOT! I felt my heart was quivering it was going that fast and I was dizzy by time I got there it had slowed down a little to be told by a nurse Bpm only 195 bpm as if I was a hypochondriac!! A&E treats you like a nuisance. Well mine did and I was told I was in queue 2 as I wasn’t classed as emergency …. With a heart rate of 195 so with treatment like this I understand why people don’t trip over themselves to get to A&E. people don’t understand what is like to have AF when it goes “A wall”.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to Tommyann]

Oh dear. That’s dreadful. Poor you. 🥺

[playcards]

Similar experience and condition. I ended up having AV node ablation so heart beats now fully controlled by pacemaker. Have no regrets, wished they’d done it sooner.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to playcards]

Thank you. Very interesting. I’ve been told thss add y if this second ablation doesn’t work then I must have a pacemaker and an ICD implant…

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to playcards]

PS Sorry for typos….🤨

[SuziElley]

can’t relate to the rest of it but I do have atrial tachycardia along with ventricular and supraventricular ectopics. Apparently all my ectopics are coming from too many points for them to do an ablation so I’m controlled with medication. Been doing really well for a couple of years then last night I was aware of lots of ectopics again, most of the night…… Have to see whether this settles down

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to SuziElley]

Hope it does settle down soon for you Suzi. Xxx

[SuziElley]

I’ve been wondering how you are xx

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to SuziElley]

Just pinning all my hopes on next week and my second ablation! Xx

[Buffafly]

Hi, I’m sorry to hear things didn’t work out as hoped, best wishes for the 3rd x

[mjames1]

Have they been able to capture your tachycardia on an EKG? I mentioned that because 140 bpm is atrial flutter territory, but not necessarily. Flutter requires different treatment and a different ablation than other types of tachycardias. I concur with others that something should be done now to get your rate down. I understand the current team is at a loss here, but may be a second opinion if feasible?

Jim

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to mjames1]

Many thanks and yes they managed to capture the atrial tachycardia on the ECG.

[sharpedge]

hoping for some advice. My wife has HCM and has had an ablation a few years ago. Her Afib seemed to calm down but recently it has increased dramatically. The ablation was carried out in London and appointments were not too difficult to obtain. We now live is Gloucestershire and it seems that getting to see a cardiologist is really difficult. She has been to A&E a number of times and all they did was to monito her until the episode finished. A second ablation is planned but impossible to find out when. The most recent episode and visit to A&E was after a three day episode (always on a weekend). This time the doctor gave her a 2.5 Bisoporol which did the trick. He gave her a prescription for 28 tablets and said only to take if bpm goes above 110. A few episodes happened and the tab did the trick. We thought we would ask our surgery pharmacist for more tablets but she said can’t do as they might react with her heart medicine which is Tildiem Retard 180mg twice a day.

Despite phone calls and emails to our Glos cardiologist there is no reply. Have managed to get a telephone appointment with GP but not holding out much hope.

Does anyone know if it is okay to take Bisoporol with or without Tildiem.

Would really appreciate some help.