High Heart Rate - 226 BPM ???

[Alexandra]

I thought I'd give you an update on my heart issues.

Sorry to read this, Ian. Sounds as if you had a horrible time. Hard to understand why they didn't go for the defib. straight away. Maybe it would be worth keeping your chest hair shaved, in the circs?

Do you follow Dr John Mandrola's blog about AF? I get his stuff automatically in my email inbox, also the latest from Heart.org. I am impressed how much stuff targeted at specialist health professionals is available to us patients. Unlike yours, my AF is mostly vagal, so occurs at rest. I am now taking 50mg Flecainide twice daily since last October. No AF incidents so far since then, but I get them mostly between May & September anyway, so I'm suspending judgment til I've been taking it a year. Certainly no bad effects. I am due for a major op. soon (hysterectomy) and am just hoping I won't go into AF while anaesthetised. I'm supposed to take extra Flec. if I have an attack, but can hardly do that if unconscious.

Hope you are able to enjoy your time off and recuperate thoroughly.

[MickTor]

Glad your OK IDP. Very interesting thread. I wasn't aware of AF really, just had a read through and a quick internet search. All the best

[Stagger]

Good to see your back typing.
Get well soon mate and keep us up to date on your progress.

[IanDarkpeak]

Saw the specialist last week and he said I have more than one issue with my heart

so next year I have two procedures to look forward to or if my private health insurance will cover it I'll be going to hospital in October.......

[Mike T]

I thought I'd give you an update on my heart issues.
Last night I did a 2.5 hour reccie of the HPM on Howden edge. on returning to the carpark I bumped in to Peat Water at Langsett. we'd both been out for long runs over Howden reccieing the HPM. Just after he left I became "ill" I managed to get my self home but realised soon after another trip to hospital was needed.

Once again the Northern general were fantastic, whipping me through the queue and in to a resus room where after the nurse, doctor, resident and consultant had seen me it was decided to try a paticularly Nasty drug called Adenosine which basically stops the heart straight away and gives the "Impending doom" feeling you get when having an heart attack. after the first dose which was unpleasant but failed they doubled the dose and tried again with even worse feelings also with no success, third time lucky and I have to say that was the worst but still with no cure..... Out came the defib. the knocked me out and then zapped me....success!

I had to stay in over night but I'm home now. The worst bit was trying to get the sticky electrodes off my hairy(not so much now) chest at 2.00am in the Cardiac intensive care ward.

Anyway home now but will take a a few days off. no drugs or conditions applied on the discharge sheet so for the moment in ture Sharpe style...IDP will soldier on...

Missed this at the time. Adenosine does not treat AF, though it can help differentiate between AF, SVT, and VT, as sometimes it is difficult to know which rhythm the ECG shows. Some heart patients carry some ECGs with them - for example one when in normal sinus rhythm and one in their abnormal rhythm - at all times, together with a letter from their Consultant clarifying the diagnosis and treatment options.

[IanDarkpeak]

Well here we are again, Tomorrow I go in to hospital for a procedure. They plan to try and find 2 of the three extra pathways they believe I've got. It's bit weird to think that in 18 hours I'll be in theatre with a camera in my heart and some guy with laser zapping bits. I admit to being a bit nervous....

I should be home on Wednesday all being well , might even be home tomorrow but not counting on that.

4 weeks off and then I can start light training....

[Alexandra]

Very best wishes, Ian. I've read a lot about the laser zapping and it does sound daunting, but lots of people seem to find it a miracle cure after years of problems. My consultant suggested it to me, but considering that I haven't had an AF episode for over a year I'd prefer to keep on with the Flecainide, nice as it would be to be pill-free. Fingers crossed this will be the start of a great new running career - you must have been so frustrated in recent times.

Well here we are again, Tomorrow I go in to hospital for a procedure. They plan to try and find 2 of the three extra pathways they believe I've got. It's bit weird to think that in 18 hours I'll be in theatre with a camera in my heart and some guy with laser zapping bits. I admit to being a bit nervous....

I should be home on Wednesday all being well , might even be home tomorrow but not counting on that.

4 weeks off and then I can start light training....

[withaY]

my very very best wishes for the procedure tomorrow. i owe my life to men in white coats with sharp knives and zappers.. i wholeheartdly reccomend NOT eating before the procedure no matter what your told and a quick shave of that chest hair.. ( a dry shave by a male nurse is not something i wish to repeat!)

[Amex]

Best of luck Ian, will say a little prayer for you tonight x
Worry not all will be well

[Feet in the Cowclaps]

All the best Ian.