Ajmaline/Flecanide challenge

[Jspar]

Hi all, hope you are well. Has anyone had an ajmaline/Flecanide challenge before? My brother has brugada syndrome and we are being investigated as it can be hereditary. I have just been given an appointment for next week andy anxiety is through the roof. Re-assurance would be greatly appreciated xxx

[Hidden]

Hi

Ive had the Ajmaline last year.

Any questions-please ask away!

xx

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for replying. How was it? Did it find anything? x

[Hidden in reply to Jspar]

Hi

What is your family history?

My sister, one cousin and her son have Brugada.

My Ajmaline test was negative, as was other sister and my mother.

Are you having gene testing too?

Something is very strange as how can my mother be negative and my sister positive? Apparently, it does not skip a generation.

We are trying to get gene testing.

The test is fine. You will feel as if you've wet yourself- you get a "warm" feeling down below.

How come your brother knows he has it? What symptoms did he have?

x

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

My brother had a couple of black outs, problem is, he likes a drama and i think they may have said they were investigating him for it and he took it as a diagnosis, not sire what happened after that as he doesnt keep in touch. Glad you are ok. Is it maybe in your Dads side?

[Hidden in reply to Jspar]

Hi

All members are on my mother's side.

Did your brother have the Ajmaline test?

There are a few good Facbook sites. People are really helpful there.

Im going to bed but will chat again tomorrow.

Are your parents being tested too?

xx

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

Hi,

Im not sure if he had the test or not. My father has unfortunately passed away and I dont believe my motger has been tested. There was no official guidance from anywhere and no instruction from my brother which tells me he may have just taken the consultants suggestion that it could be Brugada but not officially diagnosed x

[Jspar]

Can I also ask what the plan of care is for your mum and sister?

[Hidden]

Hello

We saw a children's cardiologist for my son as he is having palpitations and he said that my mother must be positive as my sister has it.

We are now trying to get an apointment to get genetic testing.

I also suffer from crippling anxiety.

If you are positive, there is a list of medications that you should not take.

When you have the test, ask how accurate it is.

When do you have the test this week?

If you are positive, I can recommend Facebook sites to you and give you the link for the medication list.

Maybe ask for an echo to make sure your heart is structurally normal?

May I ask why the consultant said your brother may have Brugada?

I do not speak to my mother or sister,so it makes everything very difficult too.

x

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

My brother was having blackouts but was in a particularly bad patch of his life, he doesnt looj after himself and definitely dabbles in drugs and plenty of alcohol so not a great combination. I have palpitations bit have awful anxiety too. I have had a recent echo which was normal, ecgs have been fine, just really scared that it may be positive, really dont know what I would do x

[Hidden]

Hi

It's reassuring that so far your tests have come back normal.

Personally I think youre doing the right thing having the test.

When is your test?

x

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

Test is on Tuesday morning. Appt was a cancellation so was a little bit out of the blue. Do your mum and sister have an ICD fitted? Re-assuring you had a negative test x

[Hidden]

Hi

Only my sister is positive, she is classed as low risk as the "Brugada sign" was only revealed during the Ajmaline test.

She has a loop recorder that records whats going on with her heart. She sees the cardiologist every 6 months. He doesnt recommend an ICD as she is low risk. There are risks having an ICD like infection or it going off for no reason.

Some people have it on normal ECG's.

Plese dont worry atm, I know that is easy to say but you'll know more on Tuesday.

Maybe make a list of questions for the cardiologist and write them down so you dont forget and ask on Tuesday?

x

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your re-assurance. Its good to know that there are different levels of Brugada so that gives me some hope x

[Hidden]

Hi

Please let me know how you get on.

Ill be thinking of you and wishing you good luck.

x

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

I will, thank you so much x

[Hidden]

Hello

Just to say, good luck for tomorrow xx

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

Bless you, thank you so much. Starting to really panic now, have convinced myself it will be positive and am scared incase my children need testing x

[Hidden in reply to Jspar]

Hello, I know it's difficult.

Make sure you take a written list of questions.

x

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

Hi, test finished and all clear. So relieved x

[Hidden in reply to Jspar]

Hi

That's wonderful news!!!!

Im so pleased for you!!!!!

Did you ask the cardiologist how accurate the test is?

xxxx

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

Yes, she said from her experience it has a high accuracy rate, and the drug is strong enough to aggrevate the heart and expose any arrythmias which may be underlying. Im happy with that. Now just to tackle this bloody anxiety! How is yours at the moment x

[Hidden in reply to Jspar]

Hi

I am really happy for you. You can relax about this now.

My anxiety is crippling me. I dont go out of the house, only to take the kids to school and back. This is with my friends babysitting me there and back!

Im seeing a private psychiatrist in London. £300 a go.

How is your anxiety?

x

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

Wow £300 a session. Hope its helping. My anxiety is through the roof, just cant switch off from it now. We are rational people but our minds just dont switch off do they x

[Hidden in reply to Jspar]

No. Everyday is a struggle.

I go to bed thinking tomorrow will be different, but it never is.

Im sure tomorrow will be better for you now you know you're OK.

xx

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

Not too sure, had anxiety for so long now but i can always hope. Are you taking any meds x

[Hidden in reply to Jspar]

Hi, Ive had anxiety for 10 years. Just started Buspar.

Do you take anything?

x

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

I had anxiety around 8 years ago, it went and then came back about 18 months ago after I lost my Dad. I took Sertraline before and it worked well. I took it for a little while again this time and it hasnt really made much difference so stopped it. Wondering if I should start again. Is the Buspar working? x

[Hidden in reply to Jspar]

Hi.

Im sorry to hear about your dad.

According to the psychiatrist, losing my dad, almost 10 years ago, is the catalyst to my anxiety.

I was on Clomipramine and it worked, recently they stopped making it.

Im not sure if the Buspar is working, my dose has been increased. My worse problem is dizziness. It had got better in the house, so I guess it is working.

Ive tried loads of meds over the years.

I really wish that my husband could have my problems for just a couple of days, so he could understand......

[Jspar in reply to Hidden]

My husband is really supportive but I feel like he is starting to lose the will. He has had depression himself so has some insight to how we feel, but hasnt had anxiety so doesnt fully understand. Its as though they think we can switch it off. I wish we could! I hope the Buspar starts to work for you xx