Tele appointment yesterday

[wilsond]

Good day folks!

As promised,an update on yesterday's appointment. Quite lengthy,you might need a cuppa ready lol

It went well,even with the terrible mobile signal here( eventually asked him to call me back on landline)

We went through the history,and what happened ' when I came off flecanide '

I said I didnt actually get that far as AF pounced as I went down to 50x2 a day after a few days.

He asked me if anything could have caused it other than drug reduction. I described a very upsetting family problem that happened on day 2,that it was really hot here,and that my blood pressure had dropped ,strangely ,to silly lows( 85/45/50 etc) at the same time. I'd had to call GP for advice on that.

' hmm,he said, I have a theory on AF when it occurs like this. In a similar way when people get triggered into an asthma attack,you may be prone to this all your life. But ,like chronic asthma it can be managed conservatively just as you are doing already.'

He was happy that I'd gone straight back to normal dose,and that I'd taken a oneoff 100mg during the episode. He was encouraged that it stopped it.

We had a good chat,quite surprised how long. It was decided that he would like me to stay on flecanide rather than go straight into an RF ablation. He said he was happy with the amount of AF I'd had since June 2022( 4 episodes known to me).I keep very careful notes of BP,AF etc.

I have shared kardia readings with Prof Osman each time which he always acknowledges.

I asked if my Echo on 2nd July was on my records,from another hospitals cardiology dept.,as GP hadn't got it yet.

Really pleased to hear that my bicuspid aortic valve was the same as previous ( mild stenosis) same for descending aorta.

Extremely pleased that ejection fraction has now gone up to 55%/60%, well within normallevels.

Result of ablation.

So all in all, I'm glad I had the ablation,even though I am still on meds,at least now they work for me,which they had stopped doing.

My ejection fraction has improved a lot and I feel .much more myself.

I asked who I was talking to ( wish theyd say) and to my surprise it was the man himself,Proff Osman. I said ' wow its really you?' He laughed ,'I am allowed to talk to patients sometimes!'

Finally he said,'We will let George Eliot Cardiology continue to look after the valve care,and you continue with your current meds with us. If AF becomes more frequent,say a monthly occurrence,we will review'

So not sure if I've been discharged from Electrophysiologist but I will know soon when letter comes.

Thank you all who took time to join my thread on this. Its always good to know this forum and its wonderful members are here.

Bless you all.

Dawn

😘

[BobD Volunteer]

All fabulous news Dawn, especially EF.

[wilsond in reply to BobD]

Yes happy bunny! Xx

[Kevinder23]

That sounds lovely news xxBrilliant to speak to the man himself😍

Would of been so reassuring xxx

[wilsond in reply to Kevinder23]

Yes indeed,you always wonder if anything gets lost in translation! Xx

[jeanjeannie50]

Good to hear you're doing well.

[wilsond in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you Jean xx

[Jim987]

What a marvellous post wilsond, thank you. I’d never realised that online consultations could be so productive.

I really liked your Prof Osman. He sounds like a Cardiology Prof I saw 20 years ago, He was charming, very intelligent, urbane and a good listener. He could probably have sold me a fake Renoir

I’m very happy for you . Good results, and a clear plan.

[wilsond in reply to Jim987]

Thank you my friend, appreciate it xx

[108cat]

Is this Prof Faizal Osman who is connected with Coventry and Warwickshire? Is he recommended by people in this forum for ablations?

I don't think I'm in need of that at present but interested to know.

Cat

[wilsond in reply to 108cat]

Cat,he is indeed at Cov and Warwick. Excellent reputation . He has spoken at AF patient groups before. Highly trained,and his team are also good under his tutelage.Xx

[108cat in reply to wilsond]

Thank you!

[mhoam in reply to wilsond]

Yes, my ablation was done by Prof Osman and one of his team. In fact, I’m not sure who did what during the procedure as I could hear him educating his junior throughout the process. Only problem is that I haven’t spoken to him since, just a fairly brief telephone conversation with one of his arrhythmia nurses some time afterwards ☹️

[wilsond in reply to mhoam]

It was the first time since February 2022 to actually speak to him but was very nice to!

[108cat]

I meant to say I was happy to see your upbeat post ... thank you!

[wilsond in reply to 108cat]

Thank you! Xx

[opal11uk]

Excellent, I am so pleased for you x

[Jalia]

Well you have had a really good interaction with your EP. This is how it should be. I hope all continues well for you now that you feel listened to.

[ETHEL103]

Great news.I remember you had your ablation almost the same time as me ,May 22 if I recall.I thought mine was for a fib but they said I had flutter which they abated.Ive spoken to the big cheese Proff Gill at St Thomas and it is a bit of a shock when they call .On wards and upwards now.

[wilsond in reply to ETHEL103]

Yes I recall that too. A nice surprise!

[bassets]

That's great. Hope you stay feeling fine now x

[wilsond in reply to bassets]

Thank you

[Lenlec]

great to hear. I seem to forget everything on my telephone appointments. Hope you are well. I’m down for a 3rd ablation with proff osman.

[wilsond in reply to Lenlec]

Len, make notes then ask if you can read them back to make sure you've understood, or put phone on speaker and have someone with you like my very hard of hearing friend does. Thank you xx

[Cavalierrubie]

You sound over the moon 🌙. He sounds a really nice Prof., which helps so much living with this monster. Pleased for you wilsond and your good news.

[wilsond in reply to Cavalierrubie]

He is very approachable yes thank you x

[Paulbounce]

Looking good 'our Wil'. Keep up the good work and you'll get there.

All my best Paul

[wilsond in reply to Paulbounce]

You too Mr B! Thank you x

[Paulbounce in reply to wilsond]

My pleasure Will

Paul

[Ppiman]

I dislike phone conversations with specialists, but yours went well!

What good news and a lovely story to read, too. Thank you.

Vivas Dawn et habeas felicitate, as the Romans might have said.

Steve

[wilsond in reply to Ppiman]

Or Spock? Lol! Thank you Steve

[Singwell]

Thanks for sharing. This seems like a positive outcome and also reads like a good consult. I was very taken with this part "have a theory on AF when it occurs like this. In a similar way when people get triggered into an asthma attack,you may be prone to this all your life. But ,like chronic asthma it can be managed". The double whammy for you of an upsetting family situation plus high heat leading to lower BP and boom. I am the same and have come to the conclusion that what I am infrequently experiencing post ablation in 2022 is similar I.e. that it can be managed. AF really teaches us to look into ourselves and look after ourselves in my opinion. And like you - my feeling is if things get more frequent or more disturbing, that's the time for further intervention.Are you feeling positive about it overall? Hope you don't mind me sharing my own experience here.

[wilsond in reply to Singwell]

Hi singwell,not at all,sharing our stories helps us all!Yes I feel very positive about the consult and the comments struck home too xx

[Singwell in reply to wilsond]

These good consults allow us to be in reality, understand adjustments we might need to make and hopefully to get on with our lives.

[wilsond in reply to Singwell]

That's right!

[Sixtychick]

I see you mentioned George Eliot. Did you have your ablation done in Nuneaton then. We live down the road in Hinckley. I had my ablation at Glenfield in Leicester, done by an EP whose done over 2000, so I have high hopes he’s done a good job and it doesn’t come back.🤞🤞

[wilsond in reply to Sixtychick]

Hi I'm under George Eliot Cardiology for bicuspid valve monitoring but under Proff Osman as Electrophysiologist at Walsgrave,where I had the ablation done.

I thought about Glenfield but was already on UHCW list.

Small world SixtyChick! Xx

[Sixtychick in reply to wilsond]

Don’t know much about Walsgrave, but I did have a lump taken off my tongue there, years ago.