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[MagnoliaCat]

I have joined HealthUnlocked as I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter last year. It would be good to link up with others with a similar health issue.

[Murderfan58]

I take it you where referred to your hospitals AF clinic also had an appointment to see a cardiologist. If not ask your GP for a referral to both.

I had been to the A&E lots of times with heart racing but every time once on ECG by then it was in rhythm. Luckily it happened at 6am one morning in 2021 and as soon as I got to the hospital on the ECG machine which showed I was in AF . Then monitor all day on the resus ward and after the doctor reviewing my notes and talking to me and my daughter by phone.

He put in a referral to the AF clinic and urgent referral to see a cardiologist. I found out by seeing a cardiologist in January 2020 as blood test showed heart failure. Had echocardiogram as I had never had one which showed a problem. Booked for bubble echocardiogram in March but Covid lockdown meant I didn't have it done until May 2020 which found a small hole in the side of my heart. Then just put under the care of my GP.

The above paragraph shows what happened next sorry wrote it in the wrong order.

Anyway going into AF was a Saturday and on the Sunday they phoned me from AF clinic for and appointment on the Thursday. The clinic is run by nurses but there is a consultant there. AF nurses are brilliant and I was put straight onto to a heart medication which began with a D but can't remember what it was called but you could only get it from the hospital pharmacy and Apixaban a blood thinner. Had an appointment once a week for a month ,then every 2 weeks for a month then just once a month then was discharged into my GPs care.

My second visit to AF clinic they took me off the D tablet as the consultant reviewed my case and found it would interfer with a tablet I was on for my rare hereditary neurological condition. So put on Flecainide which I have been find on as well as the Apixaban. Also saw the cardiologist who asked me to have an MRI on my heart which I agreed to buy MRIs scare me as I don't like small spaces but I knew it was needed.

Had it November 2021 in the machine for over 90 mins and had dye injected but because I had to follow instructions while having it the time flew by and I managed not to panic . The connections to the chambers of my heart are fine and have a strong heart function. But there is a small hole between my heart and lungs. Apparently we have flaps round our heart which are supposed to close before you are born this one didn't. It's small so safer to leave it alone as long as I don't get chest pain. I do get breathless at times but they aren't worried about that.

I miss heart beats . I had jaundice in 2017 caused by 2 tablets I had been on since 1992 to help with my undiagnosed neurological condition. Left me hearing my heart beat in my left ear.

If my heart racers or flutters I just sit and relax and do breathing exercise. It doesn't last long a minute or 2 and then I am ok doesn't happen everyday. But being on the Flecainide and Apixaban I am not worried about having a heart attack and knowing why my heart does it has given me peace of mind.

The AF clinic nurses are wonderful and answer any questions you have no matter how silly.

I have had 2 minor ops and 3 major ones all with a dickie heart made me laugh when the cardiologist told me about the hole. As I could have popped my clogs.

Hope my ramble has helped .

[Art-99]

There is a Arrhythmia Alliance group on this site where you are likely to pick up information from those with similar problems. I was diagnosed with severe arrhythmia 5 years ago, quite by chance as I’d not experienced any of the usual symptoms, but I will be taking anti-coagulants indefinitely. I also had a mitral valve replacement three and a half years ago.

[MagnoliaCat in reply to Art-99]

Thank you for your response Art-99 and I appreciate you letting me know that there is an Arrhythmia Alliance group available. I will definitely look into that.

[meadfoot]

You will get good support here. May I also suggest you try the Atrial Fibrillation healthunlocked forum as another option. Best wishes.

[MagnoliaCat in reply to meadfoot]

Thank you for suggesting the Atrial Fibrillation HealthUnlocked forum. I will look into that.

[Murderfan58]

Sorry forgot to say I have paroxysmal atrial fibrillation but my brother has permanent atrial fibrillation and 2 stents in his heart.

I have been on Ramipril for years for high blood pressure.

[MagnoliaCat in reply to Murderfan58]

Thank you for your response Murderfan58.

[Murderfan58 in reply to MagnoliaCat]

Hopefully all the replies have helped you . Having heart problems doesn't mean you can't have a full life. But it takes time to come to terms with but don't let it rule your life.😊

[Alixia]

I had atrial flutter which was successfully treated with an ablation ❤️

[MagnoliaCat in reply to Alixia]

Thanks for your reply Alixia.

[Bluedolphin123]

Hello we seem similar as I was diagnosed with AF last year and are on the same medication.

I’m also waiting for heart surgery for mitral valve prolapse to be done too

Don’t know very much or had any real advice regarding to the AF so I’m not much wiser (yet )as I guess I’ve been focussing on the up coming surgery.

It’s a lot to take in so hope your doing okay x

[MagnoliaCat in reply to Bluedolphin123]

I have got used to the diagnosis now but I found it difficult to take it all in at the time. It made me extremely anxious but I'm a lot better now as far as anxiety is concerned. Good luck with the mitral valve prolapse surgery.

[Wanderinglady]

Hi I have Afib and also had atrial flutter. I was in permanent Afib and flutter for quite a long time but now in paroxysmal. I take Edoxaban and Bisoprolol and I’m on a waiting list for an ablation. I also have cardiac microvascular disorder, so take a number of other heart meds as well. I was first diagnosed with this lot in November 2022. Please do feel free to get in touch if you have any questions, sometimes it’s good to share things with others.

[MagnoliaCat in reply to Wanderinglady]

I'm surprised that you have gone from permanent Afib and flutter to paroxysmal. I have assumed that a/f worsens as time goes by.

[Wanderinglady in reply to MagnoliaCat]

sorry, I replied on the wrong post, the page jumped! See under Choccie55 below

I need to add that I feel worse in paroxysmal than permanent because sometimes when I flip in and out I black out. I’ve had to give up driving because of it.

[Choccie55]

Hi, I have an arrhythmia called SVT - supra ventricular tachycardia and take Bisoprolol. I’m on the waiting list for an ablation.

[MagnoliaCat in reply to Choccie55]

I hope that you don't have to wait too long for your ablation. Thank you for your response.

[Wanderinglady in reply to MagnoliaCat]

The arrhythmia nurse was surprised too and even argued that it wasn’t possible because every ecg for over a year at the hospital showed persistent permanent but it has now been shown whilst I was in hospital that I’m now in paroxysmal. The nurse concluded that the body is a strange thing 😂

[theonethatgotaway1]

I have heart failure and get many ectopic beats. I was in Af but a cadioversion worked for that. I'm not sure if ectopic are anything similar to this condition? What are the symptoms of an arrhythmia?

[MagnoliaCat in reply to theonethatgotaway1]

Tiredness (sometimes exhaustion), shakiness, dizziness and shortness of breath.