atrial flutter

[lambretta1968]

I've been diagnosed with Atrial flutter, it's there all the time now and heart scan shows damage to heart muscle . I'm waiting for cardioversion , then possible ablation if unsuccessful. My anxiety and depression is rapidly going crazy 😪

[Jalia]

Try not to let anxiety get the better of you although it's very difficult when you've just been diagnosed.

I hope you don't have to wait too long for your cardioversion. If you need to have an ablation feel assured that ablating Atrial flutter is simpler and normally more successful than an Atrial Fibrillation ablation.

I've had very many cardioversions over the years for A flutter and ablation.

Do you know what sort of rate you are in ? I would imagine it is not terribly high otherwise they would not keep you waiting.

[lambretta1968 in reply to Jalia]

I'm not sure Jalia , I'm on blood thinners, blood pressure tablets and beta blockers , when I was wearing my fitbit my heart was going from 80 to 130 bpm up and down for ages, thanks for you support and advice .

[Jalia in reply to lambretta1968]

You are well medicated, particularly with the blood thinner. I remember being in that sort of rate with flutter when I was on a weekend break. I tried to put it out of my mind but it was very difficult. It made me feel drained.

[wilsond]

Right,A Flutter was worse for me than Atrial Fibrillation. Horrible. However, keep this in mind ,the ablation that you are likely to be offered is the best solution. 95/97% effective once and for all. Job done for me since 2022. Awaiting to see if same for AF.Drugs largely ineffective for Flutter,cardioversion can help but is rarely permanent fix.

Now you don't need me to tell you to knock down the stress levels but if you can you will really help matters while things are put in place.

Keep.your chin up xx

[lambretta1968 in reply to wilsond]

thank you so much for your experiences and advice , it really does help 😊 x

[wilsond in reply to lambretta1968]

You're welcome, it's a scary ride especially at first!

[spinningjenny]

I had atrial flutter for some years then, back in January 2021, I had an ablation. Nothing since. It is very treatable with intervention. Good luck.

[Nick1957]

I didn't have to wait long for my cardioversion. I requested to go on the last minute cancellation waiting list. I was seen in a couple of days from being told that I needed a cardioversion. Good luck

[PICCASO]

Had same 2013, cardiovertion then ok for a few years, then flutter again bad in to a and e , 2022, recommended Ablation, saw Cardiologist private on credit card lol , Feb 2023 had Ablation July 2023 so far so good, I'm against going private but in my case had to , good luck 👍

[LadyZ13]

I went into Atrial Flutter after OHS to close a large hole in my heart. The surgeon told me it would probably settle down on its own, but it didn't. My consultant referred me for a cardioversion in July and I was told I'd get it by the end of October, but we had BUPA cover so went private, which meant I had it a lot sooner. I too was told that CV (and ablation, if it comes to it) have much better odds of correcting flutter than AFib, so try to hold on to that.

As to the signs of damaged heart muscle, please remember that all muscles can heal over time and once you're back in sinus your heart will start to fix itself. Try not to worry (!) - stress doesn't help the heart either. Keep talking to us lot, and good luck.

[Ppiman]

If you search and read my early threads from mid 2019, you’ll find plenty of information as I was also in your position and people here were exceptionally helpful.

I found digoxin alone to be useful - until an ablation safely solved the AFl problem. Unfortunately, however, as often apparently happens, the flutter was only evidence of a general electrical issue in the atria and other arrhythmias have followed and are now part of daily life for me.

You need an echo scan at least to determine what is happening, but once the fast flutter rate is slowed (mine was 155bpm) your issues will quickly resolve, almost certainly.

It won’t feel like it to you yet, but the bottom of your heart - the ventricles - is what matters the most and these will keep working well no matter what the top gets up to! The flutter (like the similar heart arrhythmia atrial fibrillation) feels like it will be the end but it won’t - not at all. Your doctor needs to get your heart rate down to normal and you will start to feel less fraught.

Steve

[milehighlinnie]

I had the same thing. I had an ablation over 3 years ago and everything has been normal since. I had a loop recorder inserted so my doctor could monitor it and it continues to be normal. Don’t be afraid. It’s very correctable and the procedure was so easy.

[lambretta1968 in reply to milehighlinnie]

thank you 😊 🙏

[DKBX]

You’ll be ok. It just feels like gloom and doom are hanging over you when in arrhythmia. Remember that it won’t kill you, it ‘just’ feels that way!

I’ve been through a half dozen ablations and dozens of cardioversions to “fix” a variety of arrhythmias (fib-flutter-atypical flutter) over the last eleven years. Also tried the entire pharmacopoeia it seems during that time. Survived it all but still anticipating “failure “ to eventually creep back in (electrical systems in organs reconnect and misfire all the time).

Dealing with the anxiety from the heart feeling like The Alien is about to explode through one’s chest is the worst. The procedures (ablation and cardioversion) are a cakewalk but count on recovery taking at least three months. Use the mantra “it won’t kill me, it just feels like it will” and breathe deeply. Repeat.

Yoga and cannabis tea helps me … even when I’m in NSR. You’ll be ok; you’ll make it.

[Cookie24 in reply to DKBX]

I have atypical flutter and afib. Did you have ablation for atypical flutter?

[DKBX in reply to Cookie24]

Yes. The last two ablations were for both.

[lambretta1968 in reply to DKBX]

thank you , this site has definitely helped for support and advice and to hear similar stories

[Shcldavies]

Yes it will be a difficult time for you, good news is an ablation is highly successful for Afl. Getting through this time until you get an ablation will not be easy but remember you will almost certainly be fixed. The damage to your heart again is highly likely to be fixed by itself as soon as you have an ablation, it may take some time but it will happen - don’t know what the damage is but its not unusual when you have Afl.

[lambretta1968 in reply to Shcldavies]

thank you for you advice . definitely reassuring