Keith
Despite episodes of irregular heartbeat, Keith put off seeing his doctor. His AF was diagnosed by chance at a check-up after a knee operation. A minor stroke about a year later convinced him to give up smoking. He takes warfarin and sotalol.
Keith had been experiencing increasingly frequent attacks of irregular heartbeat after meals and while playing cricket. He describes it as a curious feeling, like a butterfly fluttering around in your chest’. Yet, a bit like an ostrich’ with its head in the sand, he did nothing about it and hoped it would go away. He describes it as pure chance’ that he had an attack while his doctor was taking his pulse during a check-up after a knee operation. A couple of weeks later a consultant confirmed the diagnosis of AF. Keith was prescribed the beta-blocker, sotalol, but later had the initial dose halved after it made him feel permanently tired’.
On his doctor’s advice he also took half an aspirin a day to prevent blood clots. Although it was made clear that AF could increase the risk of stroke, Keith was not in the slightest’ concerned, believing that it would not happen to him. A year and a half later, however, after driving back from holidays, Keith’s speech became slurred and he felt slightly detached’ from his surroundings. He links his minor stroke (or TIA) to his AF and suspects he had reaped the rewards for missing his regular dose of aspirin after running out three days before the end of his holiday.
Keith recovered well from his stroke, returning to work after six weeks. He was prescribed warfarin which he continues to take alongside sotalol and simvastin, a statin designed to keep cholesterol levels low. Keith dislikes being on warfarin, which he describes as those wretched things. He has noticed that he bleeds and bruises more easily but wonders whether this might be an age thing’ as well. He also has to attend regular blood tests every 2-3 weeks to regulate his INR levels, but describes this as an amazingly efficient system’.
With no heart disease in the family, Keith is unsure what might have caused his AF, though wonders if it could have been smoking or possibly stress. Having a minor stroke did the trick’, however, in convincing him to give up smoking and reduce drinking. He now takes a bit more care’ of his health and is currently trying to lose weight by cutting out fats and cutting down on carbohydrates.
While AF has not made a significant difference to his life, Keith initially found it difficult to come to terms with the diagnosis, his subsequent TIA episode, and the need to take regular medication. As he says: I don’t like to admit weakness anyway and I could see that as a form of weakness.
Keith feels very fortunate that his care has been extremely efficient and caring’. He has been kept well informed throughout and given good advice by high quality staff who knew what they were doing’. He believes that it is important for politicians and decision makers to listen to the patient’s voice because this is who the service is for’. In retrospect, he describes his decision not to seek medical advice when he started to get palpitations as foolish’. He advises others experiencing an irregular heartbeat to consult their doctor straight away.
Since taking sotalol, Keith has had only a couple of repeat AF attacks. Describing his heart as fairly steady and static’, he continues to lead an active life, taking part in sport and enjoying his role as head teacher. Yet his experiences of AF and TIA have promoted Keith to try and achieve a better work-life balance. With this in mind, he is currently planning to retire in the next academic year.
Interview held 30/07/12