Atrial Fibriliation - any experience of this?

Discussion in 'Bulletin Board ARCHIVE' started by Zebedee, May 19, 2016.

  1. Zeb

    Zebedee Well-Known Member

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    Well, I’ve gone from worrying about the relatively trivial matter of tonight’s game to worrying about something else entirely. Parents are on holiday at the moment and were due to fly back tomorrow. However, Dad has been having some discomfort and shortage of breath. He was admitted to hospital in Spain the other day and diagnosed with atrial fibrilation (irregular heart beat and related issues). Looking likely that they won’t be able to fly on doctor’s orders. Now I’m looking at alternative routes home for them – trains, ferries, Eurostar. Then there’s the question of what to do about playoff tickets and travel if we get through tonight, although I suppose I’m just trying to find other stuff to focus my worry on. Has anyone had any experience of this medical condition?
     
    Zebedee, May 19, 2016
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  2. Glo

    GloucesterRedsBigBro Well-Known Member

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    I suffer from it although with the medication I'm on I feel better than I have for years and the water tablets I'm on have caused a dramatic but welcome weight loss
     
    GloucesterRedsBigBro, May 19, 2016
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  3. wil

    wilkojohnson Active Member

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    Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) is a condition I suffer from. My condition is 'cured' by a pacemaker which was a relatively straightforward operation done by local anesthetic. I can do most things (not that I choose to do most things) although I have to be careful with security scanners and the like. I also carry a 'card' (it's a bit of paper really) which informs people details of my pacemaker.
     
    wilkojohnson, May 19, 2016
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  4. Epsom Red

    Epsom Red Member

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    Yes - I suffered with it on and off for a number of years - very unpleasant, particularly as I was only in my 30s at the time. There is a treatment available that may be suitable. It's called Catheter ablation. They insert a catheter into a vein in the groin area which then goes directly to the heart. They can use this to do a number of tests to find out what part of the heart is responsible for the irregularity (although for atrial fibrillation they generally know that it is around the area of the pulmonary veins) they can then apply a burn (or freeze) to prevent the targeted area of the heart muscle from transmitting erroneous electrical signals.

    I had this procedure done several times and I no longer suffer from this distressing condition. It's minimally invasive and can be done with just an overnight stay in hospital. After which the patient is required to take Warfarin for 6 weeks to prevent any clotting. There is a chance that the ablated areas of the heart recover and the procedure may need to be repeated - this happened to me.

    They may try to control it with drugs but I would push to see whether they feel an ablation is suitable. If your father is offered this treatment, he should take it. It gave me my life back.

    My best wishes and sympathies go out to him.
     
    Epsom Red, May 19, 2016
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  5. Brush

    Brush Well-Known Member

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    Can you still play guitar?

    You did some great work with Dr Feelgood and Ian Dury.
     
    Brush, May 19, 2016
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  6. wil

    wilkojohnson Active Member

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    Re: Can you still play guitar?

    ................and I've never used a pick
     
    wilkojohnson, May 19, 2016
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  7. Mr C

    Mr C Well-Known Member

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    Re: Can you still play guitar?

    I have it and have likely always had it. It caused my stroke. I'm now on meds to prevent further clotting and hopefully no more stroke. If I'd have known about it, the stroke could have been prevented.

    There is quite a bit of useful literature, I was given it when I left hospital. Hope your Dad is ok. :)
     
    Mr C, May 19, 2016
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  8. Zeb

    Zebedee Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the replies everyone. Some useful and interesting stuff here. Helps me get a bit of perspective, as I'm prone to blowing things like this out of proportion and worrying a lot, which I suppose is natural to a large extent. I've found some good links on the NHS Choices and British Heart Foundation websites. I'll tell Dad to avoid watching the match later anyway. :)
     
    Zebedee, May 19, 2016
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  9. Nor

    NorthernDreamer Well-Known Member

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    I have an irregular heart rthyhm which can cause shortness of breath and black outs; although initially worrying this is being monitored via an implanted heart monitor and I take daily medication which so far, touch wood, has been very effective.

    Having the monitor caues problems with Airport scanners and the like, but I have a card explaining the situation with translations into several languages which helps.

    I can't currently drive as I am still potentially prone to blackouts, but I am ok to travel by air although it is always advisable to inform the airline prior to travel.

    I hope you sort out the short term issues and that in the longer term your Dad is ok; my cardiologist was at pains to point out that this is a condition that can be managed comparatively easily with regular medication and check ups.
     
    NorthernDreamer, May 19, 2016
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  10. wil

    wilkojohnson Active Member

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    Is your cardiologist Mr Al Mohammad (sp) by any chance?
     
    wilkojohnson, May 19, 2016
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  11. Nor

    NorthernDreamer Well-Known Member

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    No, Dr Lewis at Northern General in Sheffield.

    I hope you managed to get the bloodstains off your fingerboard...:)
     
    NorthernDreamer, May 19, 2016
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  12. Mr C

    Mr C Well-Known Member

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    Are the water tablets prescribed? I've heard conflicting opinions on the benefits. :)
     
    Mr C, May 19, 2016
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  13. Gally

    Gally Administrator Staff Member Admin

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    Yeah. First happened to me about 10 years ago on Hicsky's 30th birthday weekender, which was a bit of mental weekend. 6am in the morning, having not been home long, I ended up going by ambulance to the Royal London Hospital which was quite worrying. It happened 5 or 6 times in about a two year period (all the other times without consuming copious amounts of alcohol) and hasn't happened since. I think there are various types of AF and various causes. I think a drug I was taking for my autoimmune condition probably contributed to mine since it has happened since I stopped taking it. They did give me a tablet called flecanide which stopped it fairly rapidly when it started. I felt really terrible while in AF but the second it stopped I felt fine instantly which is a weird sensation.

    While i was in the emergency room, that first time, a guy came in who had fallen through a window head first and dropped a couple of floors. I can still hear his screams of pain. What also struck me was the amazing teamwork of the emergency doctors and nurses that treated him. I've never seen teamwork like it.
     
    Gally, May 19, 2016
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  14. Red

    Red-Taff. Well-Known Member

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    you have pm
     
    Red-Taff., May 19, 2016
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  15. Zeb

    Zebedee Well-Known Member

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    Cheers pal. Got it.

    And thanks again to everyone that's took the time to post on here to set my overactive mind at relative ease on a few things. :)
     
    Zebedee, May 19, 2016
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  16. wil

    wilkojohnson Active Member

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    No need to - they were and still are always red!!!!
     
    wilkojohnson, May 19, 2016
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  17. Young Nudger

    Young Nudger Well-Known Member

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    Been there and got the T Shirt.............and its foooking horrible !!!
    Over a period of 10 years

    First I had VT which is more than an alarming experience.
    Then years of beta-blockers
    Then lazered (ablation) under local anaesthetic, which is weird watching your own heart on a television screen...........but that cured VT

    Then 6 months later AF
    Then years of beta-blockers
    Then lasered under local anaesthetic which cured 60%
    Then years of beta-blockers
    Then lasered again under general anaesthetic which was extremely scary going into an operating theatre knowing that they are going to put you to sleep and then work on your heart
    But totally cured now

    Pissed about for 10 years taking tablets and feeling unwell with VT and AF............solution is insist on your heart being lasered
    Another bit of advice - GERD (Google it) which I had over this winter which can cause all types of symptoms including flu type symptoms and palpitations and its worth taking note of if you are suffering from AF.
     
    Young Nudger, May 19, 2016
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  18. t'owd man

    t'owd man Well-Known Member

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    Bl00dy eck, diagnosed about christmas time, having a cardio version done ( heart stopped and started) 2 days after I return from Benidorm, cardio nurse said it was ok to fly but to drink no more than 2 pints of beer a day, lol. I will do it though because I want it sorted. I have joked that near on 60 years watching BFC must have had some bearing on it, with the amount of people that have replied to this post it looks like I'm not on my own.
     
    t'owd man, May 19, 2016
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  19. John Peachy

    John Peachy Well-Known Member

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    I had a stroke in my 20's.

    Relate to all of the above.

    Take aspirin every day & do a lot of exercise....

    Don't drink.... oops 2 outta 3 ain't bad
     
    John Peachy, May 19, 2016
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