So I saw my cardio an hour after I arrived back in Hobart on Monday (sometimes living in a small place has its advantages
). Yes, still in flutter. Technician will arrange a cardioversion - call you tomorrow.
Unfortunately, due to an anaesthetist shortage (flip side of living in a small place) can't get me in until following Monday. Gulp.
So during last week I tried to go about business as usual, but not feeling great. Worst, Apple watch showed heart was up and down like the Assyrian Empire (to coin a phrase) - down to 36 bpm for periods of 10 mins or so while sleeping, up to 100 while sitting. I know I shouldn't look often, but hard not to.
Finally, last Thurs night after dinner started feeling really bad - hot, a bit trembly, heart rate up while sitting until it went into tachycardia at about 114 bpm. Out of tachy, then back in. Almost certainly being driven by feedback loop of stress; I'm by myself in a small rural town. I didn't want to take a beta blocker (to slow heart rate down) due to observed low heart rates already.
Bugger it, dialled 000 for the first time ever and got an overnight bag ready if going to hospital. Local ambulance vollies turned up at 11pm (geez - lighting the place up, with 360degrees side floodlights etc. What will the neighbours think!!) Did some basic stuff, saw I wasn't too serious physically. Then state service ambo turned up with paramedics. Did thorough assessment then announced they thought I should go to Hobart (+1 hour away) for observation. I was OK with that.
First ever ride in ambulance
. Had a good chat to the lovely young lady paramedic.
Taken to Hobart Private ED, arrived abt 1am, taken to bed, blood taken, assessed and hooked up. Spent very uncomfortable night; virtually no sleep. It was all great there except for the noise! I think a well known feature, and they obviously can't keep quiet when admitting/treating others but much of the noise this night was easily avoidable. Won't go into it, as of course I was grateful to be there but certainly patient sleep and comfort isn't a priority. Nurses were fantastic, especially the lady on night shift. Oh, just remembered. the night shift Dr was very average - very heavily accented, not always understandable, but worst, had a bad cough. Had surgical (not N95) mask on, but didn't cover mouth while coughing!!
Next morning, told the cardioversion would be done that day (hooray!). So admitted, paid $500 health fund excess and $300 for ED. Taken up to private room, then my cardiologist appeared in casuals (it was obviously his day off - made me feel even more cough). Then aestheticist arrived, went through the usual stuff very business like, then everyone there, in goes the good stuff. Wake up, heart back to normal rhythm, discharged a couple of hours later.
In retrospect, this was a useful experience. I'm always worried about 'what if' when I'm travelling, esp to paces like Antarctica. Cardio previously assured me that I was OK to be in flutter, just a matter of feeling bad, maybe. No need for evacuation. But to experience it over a number of days was a new experience. Travelling these days I'm usually in populated places and/or with a group so I wouldn't be so stressed