A strange phenomenon
Posted , 6 users are following.
Every now and then I suffer from a peculiar bout of fibrillation where a heat rises inside me coming up to my head, makes me dizzy, faint and nauseous. It builds up
slowly to every half minute or so. In the meantime, my heart is going crazy and the whole thing makes me feel really ill.
Two nights ago I had to go to bed at 9 pm because I felt so bad and all night my heart was in fibrillation and I had trouble sleeping.
Last night it happened again, so to combat the heat which seems to be the cause, I got a cold wet towel and wrapped it round my neck while I watched TV. I had to rewet it and cool it down a few times, but voila it did the trick!
I had a really good sleep and have woken refreshed.
Does anyone else have these awful sensations with fibrillation?
1 like, 33 replies
hope4cure gwen81475
Posted
good the towel helped I used battery operated fans I carried around will me.
Also vit b -d could be low they are responsible for running several systems in our bodies.
just in case have you had a chemo up for Adib.
Hopexxxx
gwen81475 hope4cure
Posted
Unfortunately I can't put it down to the menopause because I went through that when I was 32 years old and I am now 68! So that's a dim and distant memory
I had these unpleasant sensations occurring after my last ablation but they gradually went and nobody could really give an explanation then.
kate07761 gwen81475
Posted
Thankfully No. When I get AF I get cold and shaky. In the middle of my chest I get these pulses or firings. When these start to happen I know that AF is around the corner maybe that day or next and then one firing will acheive the AF. I pop a pill at this stage to correct it and if it dosn't correct after a couple of hours+ I have to get help.
hope4cure kate07761
Posted
Do you have High blood pressure? Heart or Coronary artery disease. Abnormal heart valves. Heart defects you're born with (congenital)
An overactive thyroid gland or other metabolic imbalance. Diabetes? Exposure to stimulants, such as medications, caffeine, tobacco or alcohol.
just thinkin out loud . Mabe time to schedule a physical. That could be something as minor as vitamine defficency or something serious you catch early.
gwen81475 hope4cure
Posted
I do have high blood pressure but this has been medicated for 15 years. No heart disease but slight damage to a heart valve by my cardiologist has dismissed it as something not to be concerned about.
No heart defects except of course atrial fibrillation.
I have hypothyroidism, and have been for over 30 years (I believe that is what caused my early menopause) and I have been medicated for this also and recently tested it is fine. No diabetes, I have cut out all triggers for afib -alcohol, chocolate, coffee and I don't smoke. I take vitamin D capsules every 2 months and I have a very good diet.
My heart rate is very fast, usually around 139 bpm and it may that that's causing these flushes when it tries to reset itself perhaps.
Thank you for your thoughts, I appreciate "a second opinion".
kate07761 gwen81475
Posted
If a cold compress stops you going into AF at night that seems the best solution but otherwise I would want to get the pulse down a bit and not have it going all night. Mind you when mine goes into AF it goes to 190's and once 240 thankfully in A&E awaiting the drip for the 194 pulse when that happened and I was totally cool and calm. Good luck with working out the best way to handle it.
gwen81475 kate07761
Posted
You know what it's like, laying in bed in the middle of the night thinking the worst but I know that if I was taken into hospital they would probably do another cardioversion which wouldn't last anyway. So you just brave it out and keep the breathing exercises going. I'm not taking any medication for this, my cardio thought I was well enough to stop so I am hoping it's a passing phase.
kate07761 gwen81475
Posted
I have refused a 2nd ablation for 2 years because the first one didn't help but I am now going ahead because not doing it is not getting me anywhere ie I am getting more and more AF and my life is at STOP overall. Something about the way you have worded your last reply makes me think you have had an abalation and come off tablets? Have you talked to cardio about your symptoms - if you could take an extra dose of something to stop being in AF overnight that sounds like a necessary plan. I was not told about 'pop a pill' until I have been to A&E about a dozen times and now that works normaly within 2 hours. Thankfully I sleep well although very dreamy which I am sure is to do with one/all the drugs but I wake with AF but then have trained myself to stay calm to avoid the dreaded A&E and amiodarone drip.
hope4cure kate07761
Posted
Rhumy nor familiar with amiodarone drop . Do you mind telling me more about it?
hope4cure
Posted
gwen81475 kate07761
Posted
This was my second ablation, the first failed after leaving hospital. With Bisoprolol and Flecainide it lasted 7 months so my cardio took me first off Bisoprolol and then Flecainide. As soon as I stopped Flecainide I developed a flutter and then these flushing episodes.
The cardiologist at the hospital said the success rate was only 50 50 and I would probably need another ablation, which I really don't want to do. I'm fine with my fast heart beat, I can function normally and sleep well. It's just these unpleasant flushings that I are getting me down
GotAbitBetter gwen81475
Posted
I think 139 bpm is very fast, Gwen. My GP said that she likes patients' bpm to be less than 100 as a general rule. I have a fast heartbeat but 1.25mg of bisoprolol keeps it low (between 60 and 70).
You may be happy with it running fast but perhaps that is what is causing the heat & sweats at the end of the day and in the night. So are you on any meds at all and any blood thinners?
If not I have to say if I were you I'd think about getting a second opinion regarding your heart.
kate07761 gwen81475
Posted
Good that you can function normally - good luck sorting out a way of managing the flushing. My first ablation was given 60% success rate but it didn't thankfully Number 2 has been give 80-90 success rate. Not so keen on the 50/50 given to you.
gwen81475 GotAbitBetter
Posted
I know it's too fast at 139 and it does sometimes drop to between 60 and 70 for a while so it's not constant
I can't get to see my cardio until next May but perhaps my GP will be able to get me in sooner. I am taking blood thinners so I can relax from that point of view
suzanne48640 gwen81475
Posted
The 138 is too high but the 60-70 is not a problem. It's terrible that you have to wait u til may to see your cardio. I thought the wait was long here but that takes the cake. Where do u live? Good luck with getting an appointment sooner -- or maybe u should check with another doctor.
GotAbitBetter gwen81475
Posted
If there is a Cardiac Arythmia Nurse specialist at your hospital I would ask to see them to get advice if you can't see the Consultant until May....
Best wishes