AF episode - when to go to emergency room and when to sit it out at home?
Posted , 36 users are following.
Hi everyone
I was diagnosed with AF October 2015 I woke at 3am with racing heart and heart jumping around all over the place went to doctors next morning at 11am given ECG and sent straight to hospital and told off for not ringing an ambulance 😳 And told if it happens again I need to call an ambulance
After various drugs heart calmed down at 5 pm started diltiziem
After heart monitor for 48 hours also started flecinide
All fine for a year then got another episode after an hour called an ambulance who did ECG reading and took me to hospital they rang through saying I was tachycardi not sure what that is?
After being monitored for a number of hours in hospital I was sent home when things calmed down
In the past 6 weeks I have had another 3 episodes lasting between 3 and 5 hours and I've just sat then out at home which is scary as I live on my own but really don't fancy getting taken away in an ambulance again
My friends have told me off ! So when do I sit it out at home and when should I go to the emergency room?
Thank you for any advice 😄
1 like, 78 replies
gwen81475 laura20601
Posted
I have these episodes the most recent the other night when my heart was crashing around like a washing machine on an uneven spin cycle.
I just take an ordinary painkiller 1000mg, breathe deeply and relax and before I know it I'm asleep and, although not in normal sinus rhythm, it's a lot quieter.
I think we make ourselves more anxious by thinking something is really wrong and then imagining having to call the emergency services and all that entails.
michele41198 gwen81475
Posted
That's great I usually sit it out but my af lasts 24 to 29 hrs the rhythm I can cope with its the rate over 2oo beats a minute for 29 hours which gets me down chest pains dizziness etc and the tablets im on dont make the wlightest diference
gwen81475 michele41198
Posted
Well then I agree that's not right. You need to see your cardiologist and reevaluate your medication. You can't be expected to put up with that condition on a long term basis.
michele41198 gwen81475
Posted
diana95576 michele41198
Posted
Good for you Michele ...it's sad we even have to get to that point..I have only seen my cardiologist once because I'm not in continuous Afib ..I'm not on any medication either because he said I don't have any of the risks factors on the list???
marco diana95576
Posted
michele41198 diana95576
Posted
Should be on a blood thinner I had afib once a month each lasting 24 to 29 hr's when I got diagnosed no meds i had a Tia before that was low risk factor so spk to your cardio again better safe than sorry diana
diana95576 marco
Posted
I don't know but I can tell you I called The cardiologist today.to get an appointment .waiting for them to call back..after joining and hearing all of the stories I was like why am I not on anything? Thank you I will keep you all posted and thank you Michele41198 for your input ..god bless you all 🙏
Okapis michele41198
Posted
Michele, its worth giving your local PALS Patient Advise and Liaison Service a call if you've been rescheduled 3 times or more. I did on my fourth "rescheduling" and did myself and a whole load of other people a big favour. I had a phone call an early appointment in no time flat.
The consultant grumbled at me when I arrived. It turned out that he had had to put on extra clinics to catch up on the ones he did not make. He worked in another hospital and his excuse was that his rota there made it difficult...ho hum! So call but have the details to hand!
marco Okapis
Posted
It is an unfortunate fact of the NHS that if you want to be seen in reasonable time you have to make a noise. Not the way it should be but that's the way it is.
My experience is that I needed an operation and nothing happened for a year. When I complained I had the op within a month.
davrots81 laura20601
Posted
Hi laura20601, I've only recently been diagnosed and from my recent visit to A&E and (very luckily) having my cardiologist app brought forward almost 2 months, I was giving the very strong impression that unless you get other worrying symptoms that could be indicative of a heart attack or stroke, it's probably better to avoid going to hospital unless it last longer than 24 hours. I've had 2 visits since January and was diagnosed in the Accident and Emergency department by a resident cardiologist. This has since been confirmed by a specialist and I'm due to have catheter ablation in a few months.
The first episode was brought on by vomiting strongly, the second seemingly out of nowhere but both freaked me out and I thought I was going to die, quite literally. It's a horrid feeling but knowing that the consultants and specialists aren't overly concerned and because I have no other heart issues (they actually said that risk of blood clots at my age are "trivial"
and reading up a lot on symptoms and the risks, etc. made me feel - as jane below said - much more aware and in control. It still doesn't prepare you or make it better but if you understand what's happening and are aware of anything 'out of the ordinary' to look out for, it can certainly help.
buddah laura20601
Posted
Some of the advice here is really wrong. AF IS serious. Problem is Drs have no idea how to "fix" it. So they waffle on about how it won't hurt you, and don't worry about it etc. WRONG. Read up to date research. Clots can form in very short time. I had a PE and I was taking Xarelto !!! No way said my doc...yes definitely said the ER Doc.i was lucky as I picked it up myself.
Heart muscle can weaken resulting in heart failure. Dizziness and fainting can cause you to fall and hurt yourself.
I was told by my Cardio to take a pill and go to bed...WTF...I need to earn a living.
24 hours and HR between 145-178! You think that's good for your heart , then your crazy.
Insist on treatment, don't risk a stroke or worse.
If Drs suffered from it they wouldn't be so blasé
gale57715 laura20601
Posted
Hi I have had these sporadic episodes for a number of years, did the halter monitor and was told normal beats just tachycardia. Meanwhile beats are so fast I can't even feel one beat from the other. Usually break out in sweats.
Having this again tonight been except this is the first time it is lasting almost 8 hrs. Never had that before. What I have found to be my trigger sometimes is alcohol. Even if I only have two drinks and usually if I had eaten while drinking a couple of glasses of wine. Doesn't always happen tho. So hard to tell if that is the cause. My cardiologist suggest I avoid alcohol altogether. Seems like they are throwing that out there while still saying its nothing. My mom had a heart attack at 55. I am 50 now. She was also diabetic. I am not and am in otherwise good health. Except I also had Lyme disease very bad 20!years ago
It's a horrible scary feeling and I always toss around going to ER
maria11939 laura20601
Posted
Don't worry about taking meds. I had numerous episodes of AF and was diagnosed whilst living abroad. When I returned to UK however, the doctors didn't treat the AF until it was seen by them. Unfortunately, every time I got to the hospital, the AF would stop. End result, I had a major stroke and now have lost the use of my left side. I am in AF right now, despite taking 3 Bisoprolol, I too don't know when I should go to hospital.
deb68724 laura20601
Posted
I just had my first afib episode Tuesday night. It was just irregular pulse and uncomfortable as heck. I didn't know what it was, just irregular. Woke up Wednesday morning, determined to go to my doctor whose office is like three miles from me. I jumped in the shower because she hadn't opened yet, and started feeling faint. Dried off and called 911. The paramedics came and said I was in afib and carted me off to hospital. It was still going when I got there, but it spontaneously stopped about an hour later. My pulse and blood pressure were all OVER the place. I had all kinds of tests, echocardiogram, nuclear imaging, stress test, more imaging, monitoring cardiac enzimes (where were just below the borderline of abnormal they said). I was released this afternoon (Friday) with a prescription for Xarelto to take once a day.
So far I've felt fine since it stopped Wednesday noon, but now I have a headache. I had one before my Tuesday night episode and I'm worried it's going to happen again tonight. I just started the blood thinner and am not sure if I should call it in if it starts up again tonight or not.
Is everyone here on blood thinners? I'm very new to this and I'm just a bit freaked out by it.
barbara42085 deb68724
Posted
Hi There,
So sorry to hear you are suffering - I know how frightening it can be, but hold on in there - you will be ok.
My story is similar to yours - I was diagnosed last July, my HR went up to 198 and it took several attempts by A&E medics to get it down and normal again. I was kept in overnight for observation, but released the following morning with a bag of medication ( A Beta Blocker and a Blood Thinner).
I also had an Echo Cardiogram - which showed no abnormalities. Since then the medication seems to be working as I havn't suffered another attack of a racing heart, but I still get regular Palpitations which are very unnerving - hence the original post of mine asking when to go to A&E and when to stay at home.
Because of these attacks of Palpitations I am being referred back to the hospital but to the Heart Clinic, as I have never actually had a consultation with a Heart Specialist - I am also being put on a 24 Hour monitor to see what it can pick up - but at the moment it is a mystery.
I would say if your heart starts racing and/or the palpitations are bad then ring it in - Better be safe than sorry my Friend.
I'll be thinking of you - try not to worry too much ( easier said than done I know) because Anxiety in itself can trigger an Afib attack.
Babs x
deb68724 barbara42085
Posted
Thanks, Barbara. Yes, it was definitely anxiety and stress that triggered my episode, pretty much all from my job. I have to take a new attitude towards that while I try to find another one.
I told my friends about it and I'm stunned to hear almost everyone my age and older have or have had it too. One friend told me about KardioBand from AliveCor, a watch band that you wear with your Apple and I think Samsung watches with an app where you can record your pulse and it's also supposed to warn of afib attacks, so you can record it and send it to your doctor. I ordered it, we'll see how well it works. I don't know if you have an Apple or Samsung watch, but that KardioBand may be a bit more comfortable for you for heart monitoring. Just a thought... Hope things stay well for you!
I don't know, this may never happen again, or maybe it will. I have an appointment with the cardiologist in about a week or so, and I have some questions for him that I didn't think to ask when they released me from the hospital. Things should be ok with the beta blocker and the Xarelto - and me not stressing so much about things I can't control.
barbara42085 deb68724
Posted
Hello there deb68724.
Its a good idea to write down any questions you have, there's nothing more annoying than making your way home and realising you missed your opportunity to get answers. I hope your appointment goes well for you, anxiety is a swine and can affect your body in so many different ways.
In my case I honestly believe that my problems are all based around stress and anxiety, and I'm hoping when I finally get my shot at a Cardiologists appointment that he will confirm that for me and prescribe some anxiety support meds that I can take safely with my afib medications.
I havn't suffered another attack since that first one last July, and I'm hoping I never do again - I really thought I was a gonner, I have never been so frightened. Knowing what I know now I think if I did have another afib attack I would feel a lot better about what was happening to me, but in saying that I would rather not put it to the test.
I wish us both a happy and stress/anxiety free future - with no more heart related problems either.
Let me know how your Cardiologist appointment goes.
ll the best,
Babs x