Help please I am terrified x

Hi Sara,

Its ok, you are not going to die. At first l was so scared as well and just hoped that it would go away. I was investigated and no contributing factors were found. I am 51 and a nurse and started getting Paroxysmal AF last year. Through this forum l have got lots of support and knowledge and has helped me to not feel so alone. I have discovered that my triggers are preservatives and msg and if l can successfully avoid those then l am fine. Most people have different triggers. I can drink alcohol if l put "pure wine" drops in it to remove the preservatives. Coffee doesnt seem to affect me.... its all a big learning curve and it helped me to keep a diary...food took up to 24hrs to put me in AF, drinks much quicker. My episodes last 2-4 days and they make me feel really tired and l pass lots of urine (which is typical) Sometimes my heart rate is up to 120's but often it is slower but irregular. I think the most important thing is to have a blood thinner so you can prevent a stroke. Hang in there and once you have seen a cardiologist you will hopefully feel better. Best of Luck, Robyn

Try harder to put the fear away, I know exactly how you feel, I was alone when the first one kicked in, looked at my chest going quite berserk - so I actually got the car out and went to the clinic, 182  and even tho they stopped my heart twice (dont let them do that, the pain is horrific) still rattled on. The cure was the violent shaking about in the ambulance to the big hospital, I was normal when I arrived. I have stopped caffeine and tea, any mix will start me off. My cure seems to be shaking, my horse will cure me, my motorbike will cure me- sadly as I have asthma I dont have the puff to hurtle myself about. Good luck, get yourself health insurance quickly before you see anyone else. 

Hi Sara

I know this is a tough one - but find a way to relax; stress is a major trigger.

Sounds like you have paroxysmal AF, the least problematic form, but it can get more permanent, especially if you remain so stressed out.

I suggest that you make note of the triggers which could be food/drink related as far as 24-48 hours previous. Then find ways to avois them.

Do these episodes happen at night, or when you are lying down?  That also is a clue.

RELAX!

Frank

Hi Sara

I know it seems scary, but AF is more common than you would think.

I'm in my late 50's and was diagnosed about 6 years ago.

I have AF attacks about every 6 months.  When it does, it's always at night time which seems more worrying.  My normal heart rate is around 67 bpm, yet when it goes into AF it always goes up to 180-190 bpm.

It lasts like that for several hours. I take 1/2 a anatolol tablet and if my heart rate goes back to normal all is good; if it doesn't I head off to hospital. I'm always in the hope that it will go down by itself, but it rarely does, so I end up heading to the hospital.  They hook me up to monitors and keep me overnight.  Watching your pulse and heart rate on the monitor isn't very relaxing, but help is near.  They usually put an injection into my stomach which feels like an elephant is standing on me.  It's usual for the cardiologists to attempt to put the paddles on you if your heart rate keeps high for quite sometime.

Watching the monitors you can see the heart rate going in and out of sinus rhythm (from normal to abnormal rhythm).

It's quite normal for people with AF to often have irregular heart beats, however, when a heart races for several hours, it's worth a trip to hospital.

Try and relax, I know it's easy to say.  When your heart goes into AF, 160bpm isn't severe.  If you feel your heart is racing or your pulse is skipping a beat, try and relax and breathe slowly, you will often find it will return to normal.  If you have had a baby, use the breathing exercises.

Hope this helps.  You're not alone.

Hi Sara,

i get intermittent Arrhythmia, and can hit 220 bpm... had 4 shock restarts and two digoxin corrections at all at A&E i am a fit (was!!) ex elite athlete and this started for me at 41 now 52... and 10/12's when it happens its scary when its not its great... sounds a bit simplistic but that is how i deal with that part of my health issues, when the Arrhythmia kicks off, 999 and let them deal with it... i stop worrying and just try to cope with mind in semi neutral. With other bits going wrong with my heart i have different worries and they do cause me worry... but arrhythmia..... not so much now. Remember though when it happens call 999 and let them worry as to the future well i wish you all good things and hope that a with me a pill in the pocket approach is all that is needed.... I am not saying dont worry but i am saying this is livable with, just uncomfortably.... well done on the lifestyle changes, really remarkable achievement to be proud of!!! 

Hi sorry to hear of your AF. in answer to your question about shocking.  As I understand it is nothing to worrry about, they will give you an anaesthetic to knock you out for a few seconds, they attach (stick) electrodes on your chest and use paddles to bring you back in synus rhythm, all over very quickly.

You must have seen this at some time in a film or hospital program.

Regards and good luck Ken.

I was diagnosed with AF about 17 years ago; believe me it's 'liveable' with. I carried on working, driving etc. and am retired now.

Like you I was a heavy drinker once and this may have been a reason I got this condition - BUT tbh the experts don't know for certain what causes it. I've read that exercising too much can be a reason (no way would that have included me!).

Soon after my AF was diagnosed I had the 'shock' treatment you refer to. This is cardioversion and I was given a general anaesthetic during which they use those paddle things to try and shock the heart back into normal rhythm. Apparently it is 80% successful - but naturally I fell into the 20%! I was left with a slightly burned feeling on my chest for a few hours afterwards but that's all.

Due to the risk of blood clots with AF it's important that you are prescribed an anticoagulant (a so-called blood thinner). I was on Warfarin for years but was recently transferred to Rivaroxaban which is less hassle.

Please try not to worry too much about it. As long as you get the appropriate medical assistance from a decent Cardiologist, your life should get back on track.

Can’t thank you all enough – you have really put my mind at ease and I have managed to stop crying.

I am going to have to go private reluctantly, it’s against my principles and definitely my bank balance but I can’t wait 6 weeks for an initial consultation through the NHS.

I am going to have a consultation and echocardiogram and will cost me £450.00 but at least I will know what I am dealing with and if there is an underlying issue. I am terrified as I suffer from health anxiety anyway.

I am sorry you are all going through this it really is horrible but I will keep on this forum as I am sure it will help xxxxxxx THANK YOU  xxxxxxxxx

Hi there Sarah (Bardo)- Did you have AF when you were very heavy? (I did read right there- you lost 13 stone?) That may have been a load on your heart-and may have left it slightly enlarged. However-now you are lighter the load will have lessened and it should return to normal-if there's no other problems with it.

Drinking heavily for a long time can enlarge ther heart (alcoholic cardiomyopathy) but this again, can revert if the drinking is stopped 100%.  This may be the case with you.

Also-watch out for other triggers like MSG and Aspartame, make sure you drink enough water and make sure your electrolytes are balanced.

By the way chocolate has caffeine in it, as does Lucozade and Dr Pepper-so beware!

 

Hi Sara, what you are saying is relativley normal for AF, if no underlying heart issue I recommend you find a good ep and discuss an ablation option, I had to have two procedures but am now cured and off all medication.

All the best