Heart appointment tomorrow

I am not terribly up on these things, but my DH has had a pacemaker since 2012. Prior to that his heart would slow to the extent that he lost consciousness and once whilst (luckily) he was in hospital it stopped altogether, and all the staff rushed to his aid, with those paddle things etc.

Nothing like this has happened since the pacemaker was inserted. In fact he is on his second battery, and alls well.

So sorry you have this, AF caused my DH to have a stroke and he recently underwent a procedure in Barts London to seal an appendage to the heart in order to stop clots occurring. But he still gets AF the procedure could not cure it only the dangers allied to this. He feels his chest shaking when it happens and feels dizzy and sick. He presently takes beta blockers to control it but it can still occur.
I honestly can’t advise you on this, is your body, your call, but if it were me or my DH I would welcome any procedure that would give us a better quality of life.
I wish you all the very best with this and please keep us updated.

I am in the same boat. I have had atrial fibrillation for almost 30 years. I hate it. A nasty, sneaky condition that makes you feel as if you are about to die. In March this year atrial flutter joined in. Although these heart conditions are the most common of the cardiac problems I find them so hard to contend with. The many cardiologists I have seen always say that it won't kill me but only a fellow sufferer knows how ill they make you feel and how life limiting they are.
I am on a 6 month stay of execution prior to a decision to fit me with a pacemaker.
Any type of heart procedure or surgery is scary. Make a list of everything you need answers for and tell the cardiologist exactly how you feel about all this. Ask him what the success rate is and what the pros and cons of this ablation might mean for you.
The very best of luck. I sincerely hope that whatever decision is made that it is the right one for you and you can go forward enjoying better health. X

I have intermittent AF but well controlled currently by 5 mg bisprolol per day (and apixiban). Cardiologist has mentioned ablation if it gets worse, and a friend has had 2 of these- 1st didn't work, but 2nd seems to have completely stopped AF. I don't think he has a pacemaker.

Cardiologist mentioned pacemaker to me in the case of beta blockers lowering heart rate too much.

I feel well and energetic on current regime, despite bad reports from some on beta blockers.

Babs03

So sorry you have this, AF caused my DH to have a stroke and he recently underwent a procedure in Barts London to seal an appendage to the heart in order to stop clots occurring. But he still gets AF the procedure could not cure it only the dangers allied to this. He feels his chest shaking when it happens and feels dizzy and sick. He presently takes beta blockers to control it but it can still occur.
I honestly can’t advise you on this, is your body, your call, but if it were me or my DH I would welcome any procedure that would give us a better quality of life.
I wish you all the very best with this and please keep us updated.

Babs03 I hope your husband is on an anti-coagulant. Very important for AF sufferers. I wish him well.

@sarnia

Thanks. Sadly he also has the complication of spontaneous bleeds on the brain since having the stroke so long term thinners cannot be given, he is, however, taking low dosage thinners since the op, until Feb, because despite his bleeding condition no op can occur without thinners, or the risk of clots increases again. Is a vicious circle.
Will just be glad when he goes for a heart scan in feb then he should be able to stop taking thinners.

My DH also has had AF for a few years now, he had periods of a very rapid heart rate - over 200 bpm - which frightened us both. He has beta blockers now which thankfully help but the most dramatic help has come from us swapping to decaffeinated coffee, since we made the swap he hasn’t had a single episode of AF.

The problem of AF is in DH’s family, two paternal aunts had it and his paternal cousin has it too, she is in Canada and had a pacemaker fitted a few years ago, it did help but she had a few episodes of a very low heart rate so has had ablation and it has helped her. I understand your apprehension but I would be guided by the Cardiologist.

Just to say that fitting a pacemaker, whilst not something you’d choose, seems a straightforward procedure. It is done under a local anaesthetic. In fact last time DH’s was replaced, (june) he phoned me to pick him up after an hour and I picked him up walking up the road towards the route he knew I was taking in the car!!

I already have the pacemaker - it was fitted in April - so if they do this AV node ablation, I am all set up for it.

The sort of ablation I think they will be looking at is not the sort you can repeat if it does not do the trick - it is a once-for-all procedure that means my heart will never be able to instigate beating by itself but the pacemaker will have to do this.

I am so torn - do I want the lesser procedure that is known to need repeating? - lots of time wasted on it all when I can't get on with my life. Or do I want a chance that a procedure will stop it all for good and I can do the things I want to do?

I am aware of time ticking by and that my other health problems mean that I only have a brief window in which to do the things I want to do before I will be sitting in my armchair for good.

Babs03 - I am so sorry that your OH has had so many challenging complications with his AF.

Sarnia - you are right that only a fellow sufferer knows how ill they make you feel and how life limiting they are.

Big decisions ahead .......

Seen EP cardiologist today. He recommends ablation of the av node and leaving me totally dependent on the pacemaker. Feels like a huge step. Three month wait. I have signed the forms but I can obviously withdraw during that time. He says it's either that or go on with all my current limitations. I'm working on the principle that he would not recommend it if he did not think it was the right thing. Hope I'm doing the right thing ..... time will tell.

It is a "no going back" scenario. Once it's done it is permanent.

Good Luck Luckygirl
Put your trust in the medical profession - they know what’s best for you.

I don’t think the cardiologist would suggest such a step unless he knew it would be the only thing to improve your quality of life.
But is your decision to make. And I wish you well whichever road you take x

Luckygirl, I don't know much about AF but I just wanted to wish you well for the future. 💐

Yes I agree - and very best of luck with your final decision.

Keep us posted nearer the time😊

I’ve had permanent AF for over ten years. A cardioversion put it into normal rhythm but it reverted, as happens fifty percent of the time. The cardiologist didn’t believe a second cardioversion would be any more effective. He also said an ablation carried risks he didn’t see as warranted at that point.

I take apixiban and a drug to try and moderate the af. I came of bisoporol as it wiped me out.

During a recent A and E admission (awful virus) the consultant told me my compliance with meds reduced the stroke risk by seventy percent.

Best of luck lucky

I am sorry that you too have this annoying condition.

I think the reasoning in my case is that I am unable to tolerate the drugs for AF and my quality of life is really quite poor. I do of course continue to take the coagulant to reduce the stroke risk and will have to continue this after the procedure.

I already have a pacemaker in place for another reason so the av node ablation is a much less difficult procedure - at least that is the hope.

All I can do is hope for the best.

I hope you are fully recovered from your virus.

Luckygirl3 I hope your appointment answered your questions and has given you some reassurances going forward.

I have no knowledge of av node ablation. However I do understand your
fears . It certainly is a huge decision you have made! However I imagine you have considered the implications of not having it done and have come to the conclusion that your quality of life will be much improved if you go ahead. I wish you well in every sense of the
' word ' . Good luck, keep posting on your progress.

I too have AF, since the summer, and have been started on a beta blocker plus a blood thinner, the side effects of which is dry eyes. As I already suffered with dry eyes I now have very dry eyes. My optician did a direct referral to the hospital Ophthalmogists who I saw last week and have prescribed stronger eye drops and steroid drops (for 8 weeks) until I have a follow up appt.
As for the cardio side of it all, I have an Echocardiogram booked for next Tues. I suppose the results of that will determine what further treatment/intervention will be required.

Good Luck on your progress

I’m sorry you are facing these problems, Luckygirl. I recently met a friend for the first time since Covid, during which time she has developed AF. I was shocked at the change in her, she has aged so much and her life is so curtailed. There are no more drugs that can be used and she has been told that she isn’t suitable for ablation. It’s so sad and depressing to see someone in that hopeless situation.

On the other hand, a younger friend underwent the ultimate in heart surgery and had a heart transplant this year (for different issues). She made a rapid recovery and has had an extraordinary new lease of life. It’s been miraculous and definitely worth the risks of the operation.

Wishing you the best. Xxx

Wishing you all the best, Luckygirl3.

Very difficult situation Luckygirl I do sympathise. What would your DH say if he was himself? If you know what I mean. Hope all goes for the best.

Wishing you all the best x