Good morning, first time writing new to all this. Feeling a bit low today I am awaiting treatment for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation think may need an ablation, symptoms getting worse not able to drive, can also feel very faint so getting scared to go out for daily walk- live alone so lockdown has been very difficult, have good and kind neighbours but don't want to burden them with my problems. Bit scared about possible procedure, trying to keep positive but feeling anxious which can lead to more symptoms! Any advice would be most gratefully appreciated, thank you.
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Positive Wellbeing During Self-Isolation
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Ochg
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Thank you Square251, I really appreciate your kind words thank you, has made me feel much more positive. Will keep on smiling and as Captain Tom said- Tomorrow will be a better day!
Hi Ochg,
A very warm welcome to our community and so sorry you aren't well and feeling anxious too. I too have an intermittent heart arrhythmia but it has never been properly diagnosed. I have learned to live with mine as I just plain old got fed up trying to marry up my symptoms with a period of time when I was wearing a monitor. So I know a bit about the sort of feelings you are experiencing in terms of symptoms. I've had a few occasions when I've been out and about and just had to go home because it doesn't feel so good, does it?
If it comes to an ablation, then I'd say try to just relax about it all. I'm sorry, I'm assuming you haven't had an ablation before as it's making you feel so worried, but in any event, please don't. I don't know if you've had the procedure explained fully to you, but the NHS site for atrial fibrillation is really good and can be found at:
nhs.uk/conditions/atrial-fi...
You'll probably have a general anaesthetic and after the procedure can usually return to light everyday life the next day, taking extra care for a week or two, with heavy lifting etc.
It does make you dwell on things much more when in isolation, so if you can, try to distract yourself when you feel you are thinking things over too much.
Very best wishes and all the best for a successful catheter ablation. 🙏
Ochg in reply to
Good Afternoon Callendersgal, have my 7 day heart monitor on at present it certainly is capturing episodes, so a good thing. Have looked at the info on the British Heart Foundation website about the ablation procedure which is very good. As a newly retired nurse ( 42 years in the profession), I need to be less anxious and let the excellently trained staff 'do their thing'. The lockdown mixed up with my health changes and new 'retiree' status has impacted upon my mental wellbeing more than I think I have fully appreciated, so as you advise need to stop over thinking stuff. Thank you for your support
Thank you Jerry for your kind words- you'd think I'd know better than to get all anxious about health stuff, I have recently taken early retirement after 42 years as a nurse! I need to be mindful now though that I am the patient!
Hi, come on over to the AF site. I have AF but have decided against an ablation. I’m controlled by drugs at the moment after years of suffering. I’ve lost two stone in weight and have a brisk 30 minute walk each day to help.
Ochg in reply to
Hi Hylda, thank you for reply. Will go over to the AF site. Three months ago I used to walk 2-3 miles a day with my new puppy , but the sudden onset of AF has stopped me being able to walk far- feel faint quite quickly have also had to give up my puppy for re homing, as not now able to give her what she needed ( a border collie with bondless energy) - that was so sad and hard for me to do as I have always had dogs, but best for her. Slowly coming to terms with that, and being totally alone. Having this site and you to chat to has helped me today, thank you
I was like you. Had to give up my walking group, could hardly climb upstairs, now I’m having a new lease of life. Can I ask if you are on Bisoprolol as that really knocks you out x
Ochg in reply to
Hi Hylda,
I being advised to only use Bisoprolol as a 'pill in the pocket' only used very occasionally if I get palpitations along with an irregular and raised heart rate that lasts longer than a day. Have only used it twice in the last three weeks as it will send heart rate really low, can go down to 48 beats per min also blood pressure goes very low. I don't think this medication is quite right for me but the hospital prescribed it for emergency use really until they have all test results and the Cardiologist can give me a definitive diagnosis and treatment plan
bobbybobbAmbassador
Hi and welcome to the site. Ablation is a relatively quick procedure with a high success rate, which produces instant results. Once recovered, you should be able to carry on as normal and your dizzy episodes should disappear. This is a very good alternative when mediation is not successful at controlling the episodes. Palpitations can make you feel very anxious so you will be very glad to have this procedure over with I should expect. It is still very important to seek medical help if you have a symptoms that are out of control and making you unwell for example slow AF, fast AF, as these symptoms will need assessing, whilst you are waiting for your procedure. xx
Hello bobbybobb, I have been given Bisoprolol to use - 'pill in the pocket' if AF goes into 'fast mode'. Did need to call paramedics out last week as fast AF did not seem to respond to the medication after a period of 8 hours, but when they arrived and attached me up to the ECG machine, yes you've guessed it, all back to normal and in sinus rhythm- blood pressure in normal parameters. Made me feel guilty for calling them out but not sure what else to do at the time. Will be really glad when I can finally get this all sorted. Thank you for your advice and support, very much appreciated.
in reply to Ochg
Bisoprolol is the first pill of choice but does tend to make you fell very lethargic. Most people tend to go for Nebivolol if possible. Are you on an anticoagulant?
Ochg in reply to
I was on wafarin to begin with but now have been advised by AFib nurse can go onto alternative, no need for the regular blood checks and also has lower risk for a major bleed, think the drug is called Apixaban. Should be getting this on Friday when I see the AFib nurse
in reply to Ochg
Apixaban you take twice a day and there's no inr checks like on warfarin.
in reply to Ochg
I take Pradaxa. Was never in balance with Warfarin no matter how hard I tried.
in reply to
After I had blood clots in my lungs the doctors had offered me injections, warfarin and the modern anticoagulants like xarelto and I had picked xarelto as it was more convenient than fiddly warfarin as you only have the blood tests now and again with the modern drugs not all the time like with warfarin!
When they first suspected I had a blood clot the nurse had taken me into a cubicle at a and e and had given me a heparin injection to stop the clot from growing which was like having a bee sting!
I am fine with xarelto myself and feel safe with it. I was terrified though going through all that!
in reply to Ochg
The paramedics don't mind you calling them out if you're frightened!
Its when you call maliciously is when they get cross!
Ochg in reply to
Hello catgirl1976, I just felt as if I had wasted there time, especially with the current situation with the pandemic, but it did make me feel less worried knowing that vital signs were okay.
in reply to Ochg
999 will always be there for those who need them pandemic or not and don't mind being called out to a false alarm than not be called at all when they are needed.
Hi,
You must join the AF Ass. group on this site for lots of well informed info. They also have fact sheets on ablation written by patients which are well worth reading. I have personally had four, although my ex EP said that the first one did not count! One lasted five years which was so good. The last one was on 5th March just before they stopped doing them.
Since then I have been pretty good. I know how desperate you feel when it is happening all the time, and was really glad to go in this time. There has only been one wobble since which lasted about 30 mins. With regards to medication, I have found Nebivolol to be much better than Bisop. A lot of people think Flecainide works well as a PIP. Apixaban has been great for me, a lot less fussier than Warfarin.
Try not to worry too much, I know it's easy to say, but it really does not help you. I found that breathing exercises helped quite a lot. In fact I still do them some nights to help me to drop off to sleep. Just ask if you want any info and take care. Patsy
Hello Patsy, thank you so much for your advice. I have noted down the medications you advise and will discuss with the AFib nurse when I see her on Friday. I am trying the breathing exercises as well, thank you again for your advice and support it has made me feel much better. Keep safe, bye bye for now.
The hardest word any of us can use right now is
HELP
I am a new widow and say this to myself when anyone says
Are you ok when I have ALWAYS said Me? Yes thanks I’m ok how are you?
But at times we are not OK and I have found most folks actually want to
Help if you don’t shut them out
And THAT is the difficult bit
Sending you my best wishes and hopefully some courage too
Hello Fizzy35, thank you so very much for your kind words. Life can become hard at times. I have always been a 'glass half full' type of person , lately though it has changed to glass half empty. But with the kindness shown by you and others on this site my mindset has changed, and I am now glass half full again. Onwards and upwards.
Take care Fizzzy35 and keep safe, bye bye for now.
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