HaveAHeart2006

I have always suffered from palpitations. When I was growing up I would faint in assembly at school or feel that my heart was going to leap out of my chest, become very tired and breathless. The doctors blamed hormonal changes, anxiety and asthma and I thought it was something I would always have to live with.

In 1992 I had an array of symptoms and with the help of a very supportive GP I was admitted to hospital and was finally diagnosed with a heart rhythm disorder - it was not anxiety or asthma as was continually suggested. I started anti-arrhythmia medication and things settled down for several years, occasional problems arose but were manageable, requiring no further intervention.

After a few years I began experiencing the same symptoms and a number of different medications were tried to help alleviate my symptoms - but to no avail. I suffered side effects and an increase in symptoms to the point that the local hospital suggested I be referred to a specialist.

In 2002 I was referred to Papworth Hospital. Unable to tolerate anti-arrhythmia medication further due to intolerable side effects, my Consultant, Dr Grace recommended that I have extra-physiological studies and an RF Ablation to destroy the extra-electrical pathways that exist in my heart, an easy solution to cure these unpleasant symptoms.

In 2003 and 2004 I underwent 3 ablations none of which were successful due to the inability to induce the tachycardia, devastated I created Papworth with a challenge. 

Often my fast, irregular heart beat did not revert back to a normal rhythm on its own and would require intra-venous medication to revert the heart back to a normal sinus rhythm. I had symptoms on a weekly, sometimes daily basis, and attended the Accident & Emergency department on countless occasions; the frequency was such that staff began to recognise me or knew me by name!

Due to the frequency of these visits and several admissions to hospital the quality of my life began to be severely affected as the fear of requiring emergency treatment prevented me from planning holidays abroad and this deterioration also meant I could no longer undertake the physical activity that I had once enjoyed such as aerobics and Salsa dancing. I was becoming more and more frustrated whilst attempting to seek a resolve to my plight.........

In January 2006 I had another admission to Papworth, this time under general anaesthetic and with large doses of medication the Doctors were able to induce the tachycardia and destroy some of the pathways, leaving only a 50% chance of experiencing further symptoms. The Consultant Cardiologists were also able to give an accurate diagnosis - tricuspid valvular annular tachycardia. A rare form of tachycardia - the heart has extra electrical pathways in and around the tricuspid valve.

To date the symptoms have settled down and I now feel better than I have done in years! I no longer fall asleep to the sound on my own heartbeat or have to sleep for a couple of hours when I get in from work nor am I a regular visitor at the A&E department! My quality of life is greatly improved and I have started back at an aerobics class and also planning a holiday. 

Sadly the symptoms came back which led to another admission to Papworth Hospital on 30th May 2007, a 5th attempt by Dr Grace and his team to finally eradicate my remaining symptoms.

The symptoms returned again and so I returned to Papworth Hospital in September 2008 for the 6th and final attempt to get rid of all my symptoms.

Six months on I have had no symptoms and feel fitter and healthier than I have ever done.

I wish to say a huge thank you to Dr Grace and his team for their perserverance and dedicated care.

Next page: What are arrhythmias?