1. Community
  2. Heart Health
  3. Atrial Fibrillation And Flutter

paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Posted , 18 users are following.

dottybun
dottybun

I am a 74 year old woman - I had my first experience of PAF almost forty years ago; I did not know what it was then and a diagnosis proved impossible as episodes were unpredictable and always at night. Three hourly episodes continued for the next thirty years or so. I finally got a diagnosis after a cardiologist gave me a letter for immediate admittance to A&E. However in the last ten years attacks have been anything from 12 to 14 hours long with violent rapid and very irregular beats twice leading to collapse. These episodes happened every three weeks ago and began to disrupt my life. I spent three years on Amiodarone but the side effects of this drug (insomnia,weight gain,lowered thyroid function) were such that i discontinued it. Six months on a new drug Dronedarone brought back my symptoms and in August I started on Bisoprolol and Warfarin - since then no symptoms. I have been offered ablation under general anaesthetic but have turned it down to see how I react to the beta-blocker. AT first these episodes were very frightening but it was pointed out to me shortly after my diagnosis that this is a benign disease which is more of an inconvenience than anything else. Having said that it can disrupt your life with its unpredictibility.

AT present I am keeping my fingers crossed that i remain free from symptoms and that medical science improves the effectiveness of ablation. Good luck to all you fellow a-fibbers - it's quite a journey!!

4 likes, 22 replies

22 Replies

Prev
  • melanie64
    melanie64

    Posted

    Thank you so much what wonderful news. I do have a lovely surgeon (always a bonus) and I do feel that afterwards my va va voom will return. I am making it a goal to go to france on our Motorbike afterwards. How quick did you feel full of energy again?

    My Surgeon did say the plan was to get me off all the medication and that I would only be on the Warfarin for a little while if everything went well so here's fingers crossed.

    I am very lucky and my Senior Managers have supported me being off and I can do some work from home which is great. Thank you again and I hope you continue to feel fantastic.

  • dottybun
    dottybun

    Posted

    Bournemouth Hospital, where my ablation was done, warned me that I would be very tired after the procedure and they were right. You need to give yourself time to recover - also I had a lot of little episodes where my heart beat went completely 'haywire ' for a minute or two while the heart got used to the new electrics. This wore off though and after about a month everything settled down. Good luck with everything -in six weeks or so you will be feeling great!!
  • BStanding56
    BStanding56

    Posted

    Melanie, Please try not to get stressed, As I said before I have had two ablations and have improved each time, if feeling anxious and stressed, I found Kalms absolutely brilliant, even after I had both ablations, your

    heart does take a few months to settle down, which can also cause anxiety. I have been where you are, there is light at the end of the tunnel, if becoming anxious come on here and possibly we can reassure you. I have paroxamal Af, when I was in Af I was very symptomatic, would keel over when getting out of a chair, could hardly walk, it was dreadful and it is a very lonely place to bex If you want my personal email I am quite happy to give it to you. Best Wishes Beth

  • melanie64
    melanie64

    Posted

    Hi everyone

    Well I had a successful ablation on 15th July and I have been blessed with this beautiful weather to sit in the garden in to recover ! All day today in the hammock with hubby getting me food and drink ! what more could a girl want eh?

    The Dr's and staff at Papworth were wonderful and really felt like I was in the best hands. Hardest thing now is to rest when my mind wants to do stuff. So I find that when the heart is racing and as a result I feel a little anxious I do a bit of pruning in the garden and release the pent up energy and then feel relaxed and tired and ready to sit again.

    Thank you for your support - it helped me so much x

  • Soulou2
    Soulou2

    Posted

    Good news Melanie 64,

    Relax and let your body heal itself. Allow everyone to spoil you until you stabilise.

    God bless,xx

  • hugh52255
    hugh52255

    Posted

    Hi. Just discovered this page and was interested to read all the different letters. You have all had different experiences .I've had Paroxysmal AF for over 30 years - diagnosed 23 years ago. I was in and out of hospital with severe episodes; was treated first with Digoxin, It worked for a couple of years, then went on to Amiodorone. It worked for a few years then triggered Hypothyroidism. Have been on Flecainide since then with outstanding results. Had a number of episodes along the way but discovered that they were caused by drinking too much tea/coffee/coca cola/whiskey. I started dinking decaf tea/coffee/coke and discovered that clear spirits (Bacardi and Vodka affected me much less) However I hardly ever drink alcohol now and never have more than one drink. I used Plavix (Clopidogrel) for over 20 years but have just started to take Warfarin. I seem to be quite sensitive to it taking about 9mg per week. However it's early days. We shall see !!!
  • Greyskull
    Greyskull

    Posted

    Hi All.

    I stumbled across this website after being recently diagnosed with PAF.

    My story is similar to many other postings here - being woken in the early hours with a rapid thumping heart beat. . .which I'd lived with for at least two years, putting it down to stress and panic attacks. This culminated in being taken off to hospital by ambulance just before Christmas 2013 after an episode that started at 10.30am gradually stopping in A+E after aprox 5hrs.

    At 51 yrs of age I hadn't planned on long term medication and to be honest I didn't take the news too well, it dented my pride.. having been involved in martial arts since the age of 14 and reasonably fit and healthy I struggled with the diagnosis, but what choices do I have - ablation or medication? Doing nothing isn't an option considering the family history.

    So, here we are 5 days into taking 1 x 2.5mgs bisoprolol and 1 x asprin daily. Is it that bad? No. Is it a pain having to remember to take the pills? Yes, but its a bearable. Have the episodes stopped? Yes and that itself is worth its weight in gold because it means I can get a good nights sleep without it feeling like a military bandsman is practicing the kettle drums in my chest! Will it stop me training in martial arts? Absolutely not as long as the bisoprolol doesn't affect me. . .

    Too anyone who finds this website after being diagnosed with PAF - it ain't that bad, its treatable!

    Regards

    Greyskull

Back to top
Prev

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.