How was your AF diagnosed? If you wou... - Atrial Fibrillati...
How was your AF diagnosed? If you would like to share your diagnosis story, please email us info@afa.org.uk
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Happened a couple of times and a and e
I felt unusually unwell. Lasted longer than usual virus. Would not normally go to GP for this. She felt my pulse and found arrhythmia. Have a naturally low pulse of 40. I am now on Apixaban. I do think they do not really know how to deal with us ‘low pulse ‘ people when AF occurs. High pulse of 60 very uncomfortable for me but luckily rare. Thank you for the work you do. Viv Jane
Showed up for years no symptoms until I reached 72 then put on Azkaban still no symptoms
Azkaban is where the bad wizards get locked up in Harry Potter!
Heart beat went over 200 so was rushed to A&E
Irregular pulse noted at periodic check when attending a ‘flu jab session - subsequent ECG revealed Atrial Fibrillation.
This was my experience too was asked when did I have h/attack I said never. Been on Bisoprolol. And Amlodopine since recently had Pacemaker to aid very slow heart beat
I have been on warfarinfor AF for 5 year and I have never see a specialist after being diagnosed.
At a quick care center..went because I was SOB due to CHF caused by afib. Then sent to hospital by ambulance..
I had a heavy cold for a week. Went out for a walk when I felt better but was very breathless. A friend thought I had a chest infection so urged me to make an appointment at surgery. Saw the nurse practitioner who organised ECG, diagnosed AF and sent me straight to A & E .
Irregular pulse detected during routine check by nurse when I attended for a routine ‘flu jab. Follow-up ECG revealed AF
TIA caused by asymptomatic AF
i had it for 24 years, and was sent to see a specialist cardio-chap who said he could see it happening (on a 24 hour monitor read-out), but he said nothing was wrong with me. so i suffered for years, mentioning it occasionally to a series of GP s, but no one seemed interested. eventually a little nurse said my heart-beat was all over the place and i should be given an ECG. then everyone sat up and took notice - warfarin, bisoporol etc.
I felt dizzy after a spell of gardening in the heat and my heart was erratic. Went to A & E, admitted, observed, cardioversion and follow up with GP and Specialist two days later. Metoprolol, for some months, and after repeated episodes of AF had an ablation. Still infrequent episodes. But none for six months since starting Magnesium supplement.
TAke 50mg Flecainide if AF starts. Also on Apixaban to thin blood.
Hey Polly, what type of magnesium are you using?
Thanks
Hi Neil, I take one capsule a day of Magnesium Taurate which I buy from iherb in the USA. No problems importing it into Australia. TAke it at lunchtime mid way between my daily prescription drugs 50mg Metoprolol and Apixaban. I have a BP monitor at home to monitor BP if I suspect AF, but it's gathering dust😂
Hi again,
How did you decide on using Taurate? My doctor recommended magnesium but she prefers Mag Oxide. Tried that but couldn't stay on it due to stomach upset so I switched to Mag Citrate. That does not seem to help with my PVC's which are the bane of my life at the moment.
Thanks
Hi again, I did a lot of reading online, and there seemed to be more people who said they had good results with Cardio Vascular Research Mag.Taurate. There are some film clips on Utube by an Indian Cardiologist in York UK who suggests Mag Taurate, and you can buy it on his web site. I have had good delivery times and prices buying direct from iherb. My Dr is OK with me taking it, and it hasn't caused any bowel problems. HOpe this helps.
I went to my GP surgery for help with symptoms that turned out to be a DVT. This is a rare time when my heart rate/rhythm had been checked........
I was diagnosed 9 years after a heart attack, when I went for an ECG at my hospital.
Had experienced a few scary episodes of fast, erratic heart beats lasting around eight hours and GP told me to go to A and E when it happened again (Oct 2017. )Diagnosed with PAF and prescribed Apixaban etc. This web site has been invaluable in sorting out problems with the meds. learning about possible triggers and treatments and carrying on with my life in a little more relaxed and confident manner.
surgeon abandoned my cataract operation because of previously undiagnosed atrial fibrillation
Was at a reunion in the US, feeling funny, one of our friends was a cardiologist and took my pulse and diagnosed AF. Rang an ambulance, who confirmed it with a ecg on the way to hospital, I converted before I arrived.
I think I have had it for years but no idea what it was. On Bisoprolol and Apixaban.
At routine pacemaker clinic. Had previously had brief episodes of feeling odd. No treatment offered other than Warfarin and now I am too elderly,with other heart problems. Feeling abandoned.
Could you ask your gp to review your situation Audrey? Sorry you feel let down
Audrey, I am on bisoprolol and it works wonders. Can be taken with heart problems so worth checking out.
I noticed a funny HR pattern on my Fitbit and then visited the GP to get my heart checked.
Felt unwell went to go who sent me to A&E then to cardiac ward for tests.
Felt unwell after bout of flu went to Gp who said i was in Afib at 147 bpm and sent me straight to hospital.
During an ablation for SVT it was discovered that I had AF which had not been suspected. A 7 day holter monitor had shown only bradycardia and sinus rhythm.
Wife was terminally ill, and started to get flutters etc, which I put down to stress. Had several episodes which always started at night and lasted for 3 days.
After my wife passed away, the symptoms continued and GP arranged ECG, but no obvious problem. Episodes continued, feeling very week, raised heart rate , dizzy and generally unwell.
Then I had a much worse attack, 2 am in morning, left it to see if it would ease , very high heart rate, could just about walk to phone and phoned ambulance.
Admitted to Coronary Care Ward after Resus and duty consultant was an EP, how lucky was that. Kept in 3 days and given Apixaban and Sotalol. Problem settled.
Had mild symptoms and then an echocardiogram to check heart, all ok, 24hr heart monitor and several ECG, then referred back to GP.
Still have mild episodes every few weeks but very manageable, still lasted 3 days until last one which lasted 12 hours. ( Had been taking Magnesium for a month, so may have influenced the shortened duration.
Went the docs for more than two years, he kept telling me nothing wrong. Had 1 reading at home of 180 bpm. Saw doc again, normal pulse 2 minutes later it was 155bpm. At last he believed me. Blue light to hospital.
I saw my GP about the strange heart beats to be told "Do not worry about!" a number of years later I was admitted to A&E for double Pneumonia and they picked up on the AF and treatment started then.1992
Australian Male 62. After several weeks of SOB I went to the GP who though it might be an infection or pneumonia and ordered tests of a throat swab and a chest XRay - at the last moment "just to be sure" he ordered an EKG as well. The EKG showed AF and a HR of 150 and when the GP saw it I was immediately directed to the nearby public A&E with the EKG in hand. I have good insurance to was immediately transferred across to the associated private hospital cardiac unit and was diagnosed and prescribed over the following few days. I was unaware of cardiac symptoms before then though in retrospect I can see I may have had persistent AF for months or years.
GP told me next time it happens, come down and we check it out. Which I did.
I was aware of an irregular heart beat but it could never be caught on an ECG. When I had a worse episode than usual - very fast pulse, didn't calm down in 20 minutes - we dialled 999 as advised by my GP. First responders arrived in 5 minutes and took an ECG. Paramedics followed and I was taken to A&E. Palpitations finally calmed down about 2 hours from start, but ECG taken by first responder confirmed PAF.
Hello Rachael,
1999 I woke in the middle of the night first episode,but did't know what it was,only that my heart was missing beats and jumping about.
My husband took me to A&E diagnosed there and kept in for a week,heart scans and all sorts of tests,found a heart murmur too and said I was probably born with this.Different medication tried until things settled.
After 19yrs,the rest is history.In Dec 2012 went into hospital for Flecainide trial.
I started Flecainide,Cardiologists advice,as PIP.300mg all at once 10mins after AF starts, within 40mins to 2/3 hours heart back to normal.I have Paroxysmal AF,so only take this when I have an episode.
Fingers crossed,have not had an episode since June 2016,but I know it can return at anytime,lovely to have a break thou.Hope this helps .
Best Wishes.
Eleanor.Boyle.
I Don't think the orange segment 'I experienced symptoms...' is correctly labelled. Should that be 18%?
I had a stroke and was referred to cardiology for a week long monitor as there was no underlying cause for the stroke. PAF was diagnosed following the monitoring.
Had funny sensations and jumping in chest when I went to bed. Was still there the next morning. Rang GP and receptionist was a bit off. It was not until she relayed my symptoms to GP that it all changed and I was to go straight away, not walk or drive and they would be waiting for me. Knew then it was more serious than I had thought.
12 lead ecg at GP and straight to hospital from there. NSR when got there, sent home. Happened again few weeks later. GP called ambulance, blue lighted, onto MAU, cardiologist called and AFib diagnosed straight away. It’s 12 years now. On flecainide straight away. Apixaban for last 3 years.
How was it misdiagnosed more like. Told I had a virus or possibly asthma and given an inhaler. If I didn't feel better in 6 months go back.
How I didn't die with a HR of 195 for 2 months I'll never know
Wow that’s aweful u had to go through that
It was pretty bad.
I finally saw a GP that spotted the AF and he sent me to hospital.
I then spent 2 weeks on a ward and never saw my designated doctor, just a daily stream of junior doctors, mostly first years. I got nowhere fast. HR still 140 after 2 weeks.
I can only say I had a bit of a breakdown, unplugged myself from the ECG machine and went for a walk. I was sobbing in a corridor contemplating going home when one of the rhythm nurses found me.
Within 20 mins when she had calmed me down I had an EP sitting on my bed explaining what was going on, possible treatments and a care plan.
My EP went ballistic at the ward staff and juniors because he hadn't been made aware that I was needing help
I had a bad episode of norovirus at home, passed out twice banged head,ambulance called,found to be in AF.As mum had it,and died from massive stroke( uncoagu!aged) as well as her mother same way,same thing,and dad had stroke 5 weeks after mum died...I feel I should have been checked instead of find ing out by accident.
I have been a keen amateur runner since school days. In 1986 I entered a competition in a running magazine and was awarded a free fitness assessment. Having just recovered from a nasty cold and sore throat I stupidly still went along. The assessment went well and I obtained very good results. I was told, though, that during the static exercise bike test, my heart rate raised to about 190 bpm as I was really 'giving it some!' I felt well and left. However, walking back to the car park, I felt my heart beating irregularly. It lasted about five minutes and then returned to it's normal l(low 50's) rhythm. I felt fine and so got in my car and drove the sixtyish miles home. I felt completely well and forgot about the incident. The next day I went for my usual run with no problems and as far as I know I have had no repeat episodes until twenty years later when, in Switzerland, high up in the mountains, I went out for a run. The air was very thin and it was very cold. I noticed the same sensation of heart irregularity. It again lasted for only a short time and then spontaneously stopped. Over the many years since, I have had very occasional short bursts of AF. I was officially diagnosed in 1998 and placed on Flecainide 50mg twice daily and Aspirin 75 mg as a kind of 'insurance policy' as the cardiologist stated! More recently I have started taking Pradaxa to prevent blood clotting. Very fortunately I have never had any side effects with either of these. The pattern of AF has remained the same. The last episode (as far as I know) was over two years ago and before that one year before. I have not changed my lifestyle in any way. I still do lots of running and fast walking. I run a business from home. My wife has a Garden Care Business that I help with and we have a huge allotment. We both follow a vegetarian diet and neither drink nor smoke. I wouldn't say we are pillars of virtue, but we don't get stressed about much if we can help it. I guess I am very fortunate in that I have not, as yet, had any AF set backs. I don't think about it and I have put it firmly outside the room with the elephant! I really do believe that lifestyle and a positive outlook are big contributors in keep this beast at bay. If I wake up in the morning as well as I was when I went to sleep the previous night, I am on a winning streak!
I was in hospital with a completely unrelated condition. About 2 a.m., major drama as alarm bells started ringing. By the time the nightshift doctor arrived, all was normal again. But next day, I was put onto a Holter monitor, which found that I had AF. It had been totally unsuspected before that.
A routine hypertension review, soon as pulse checked she said was prob AF. it was found to be there all the times & I haven't had any obvious symptoms. Cardio version worked for a while just drug therapy now.
Over a 6 month period, had a couple of episodes, but put it down to a virus or something, by the time I got a GP appointment my heart was back in rhythm. I had suffered high blood pressure for twenty years and was on medication for that. Then one morning I could hardly lift my head off my pillow and was extremely breathless and sweating. My partner took me to A&E and I was admitted immediately and put on Amiodorone intravenously, kept for 5 days for tests, heart did not go back into rhythm for 48 hours. Monitor showed my heart went out of rhythm during the night and went very fast. NHS have been very good for me over the 16 years since diagnosis. Only found Health Unlocked recently, but it is excellent, I did feel rather 'alone' in the early days with this condition. Thanks AF Association.
Self detected. No adverse symptoms. No particular reason for taking my pulse.
Was being seen by anaesthetist prior to minor op who suggested I should go back to GP and ask for a 24 hour monitor. Voila!!
Di
felt ill after a meal and could feel my heart pulsing oddly went home to bed and still erratic in the morning so phoned GP but by time I had appointment it had gone back to normal. GP asked lots of questions and then suggested it was paroxysmal afib.
I had a TIA.
Had symptoms for several years before managing to get fast heartbeat captured at A&E
I felt unwell at work I had a viral illness I work on a paediatric ward .One of the sisters put me on a saturation and pulsometer and it showed irregular heartbeat so they carted me off to A+E where I was diagnosed with Atrial Flutter it was during my first ablation when I went in to atrial fibrillation that it was confirmed I had both arrhythmias. I have just had a second ablation for the atrial fibrillation .
I had not noticed any symptoms but it was picked up on a routine ECG about nine years ago.
My A/F was found when under anesthetic for a jaw cyst removal operation. The operation was cancelled until I took Soltalol to calm things down. It was then completed ok. Since had Ablation which has improved things no end.
By interpreting a rhythm strip from Omron HCG-801 cardiomemo device
I returned from America in October 2015 and spent the weekend in bed thinking I was suffering from the effects of jetlag. On the Monday when I returned to work I felt very unwell all day but battled on and when I went home I went to bed early. The pain, heart racing and difficulty breathing was awful and I called my daughter around midnight who phoned the ambulance service. I was admitted to A&E and my heart rate was 187 and they took a long time to get it back into sinus rhythm. I had never had any previous symptoms. It turned out I had bilateral pneumonia which I picked up in America. I was two weeks in hospital and told my AF would go away once I was fully recovered. This was not the case and I progressively got worse and the more pills they pushed at me the worse I got. I eventually found out that ablation was a potential solution to my problems and last September 2017 I had cyroballon ablation in London. I have never looked back and as of now I am very well, working full time and enjoying the life I had before AF. Being on the forum greatly helped my education and allowed me to find out information that I could use to make decisions without fearing the outcomes.
Kateyarm
My occasional heartbeat irregularities, which I have always been able to feel, went on for 45 minutes one afternoon...something that had never happened before...so I decided to go to the Instacare (a kind of mini emergency room office for off-hours visits not meriting the hospital). They performed an ECG and referred me to the hospital. There, I was diagnosed with afib, given a pill, probably flecainide, and finally returned to NSR. It was just the first of many full-blown events until it became persistent in less than a year. After many visits to a GP, then a cardiologist, I self referred to a rhythm specialist, had my first ablation and relief!
Went for a cardio ultra sound(Id been having chest pain for a year), feeling better than I had done all year, they found my heart was doing around 200bpm so sent me to A&E and they found I was in AF (Previous ECG's were fine) As they did not know when it started I had to be on Apixaban for 6 weeks before they could Cardiovert me.
I was clearing up after hosting a bbq for friends. I leaned into my fridge and my heart began to pound in my chest and then suddenly stop. I felt feint and my partner rang for the paramedics. Apparently my heart rate was well over 200. The paramedics escorted me to ER where I was in resussitation for a couple of hours with IV before the doctors finally restored normal sinus rythym. I spent the night on the cardiac ward and the doctor there alerted me that my TSH was 10.0. I had an echocardiogram which revealed no significant arterial disease. I was prescribed bisoprolol and clopidogrel. I was stable on these drugs with just one or two acute episodes of PAF but continuing lesser episodes. The cardiologist elected me for an ablation which was arranged for early May 2009. Before my procedure and before I commenced taking Warfarin to prepare, I went on holiday to the Canaries (a 4 hour flight) on my return, after completing all the laundry for both of us I was tired and started with AF. My partner and I had a row about a trivial thing, we went out for Sunday lunch. (I neither smoke or drink alcohol) and on our return I had a massive stroke , paralysing my entire left side. After splendid treatment in UK I can now walk, but have no mobility in left arm /hand , dropped foot, troublesome left leg (I fell after stroke and broke my hip ) bad temper, frustration and an overwhelming determination to write a best seller (nearly concluded ) I now take Sotalol, warfarin, ramipril, phenytoin,levothyroxine, paracetamol, pregabalin, sertraline, butrans patches,(for my hip pain)
Ann L Gillott
My Angina symptoms had worsened and a blood pressure monitor (bought from Lidl) showed AF. Went to doc they felt pulse, gave ecg then sent me to hospital.
Is this the same as a PE or DVT please if not it’s not relevant to me.
HAd it for 20 years and kept being told it wasn’t panic attacks (started aged 18). It wasn’t until the ‘attacks’ were lasting 2-3 days and I ended up seeing a locum doctor who picked up on the problem that I was diagnosed.
Rushed to A and E feeling really unwell - pulse of 190
Woke up in night short of breath pulse over 200bpm irregular. Extremely frightened though this was it. Conveyed to hospital. That was in 2011. Have learned to live with it but still get anxious when it happens. Have to say attacks been a lot less since using magnesium oil. ( have poor kidneys) so chose the oil instead of oral magnesium after speaking with Dr Gupta who changed my life. Also on Apixaban and Bisoprolol. Still get tired but am managing a lot better. My A F is paroxsizmal.
After a small stroke in January 2016 I wore a heart monitor for a week and the consultant saw the AF from the readings, explaining that with the AF some blood could pool in one of the heart chambers, clot and then get stuck in the narroe vessels in the brain, which it did on the right side above my ear. Effects of the stroke, speech and weakness of my left leg have now amanded themselves
Acute onset during a severe E Coli infection while on holiday in Tenerife!
After first episode didn't have another for 18 months - Then always came at night so never recorded as didn't go to A&E as after a few hours i was back in sinus rhythm.Finally recorded by paramedic who came in response to a 999 call when feeling very unwell
I got into bed one evening and felt funny and could feel my heart beating. It was149. I went to sleep and woke up a couple of hours later still feeling the same. My husband persuaded me to ring 111 and was told to go to hospital. At hospital was told I had AF and given metropolol in tablet form and then intravenously as the tablets had no effect. Referred to EAU and kept in for the day until back in NSR and then sent home and told to go back if I had any more attacks. Twelve days later had another attack and went to A&E and taken into resusc as HR was 180. Kept in overnight as couldn't get HR down with metropolol and so was given digoxin. Sent home once back in NSR the next day with bisoprolol to take and referred to cardiologist. Had cardiologist appointment three months later and put on Apixaban as well as bisoprolol. Now on sotalol after having tried flecainide which didn't suit me. Suspect I had been suffering with AF some time before as I had had dizzy turns and went to see GP but he put it down to a build up of pressure in my ear.
It was found at my annual ECG test at my doctor's surgery. I was put on Warfarin straight away.
I self diagnosed as my symptoms were quite clear over the course of a few months
I was diagnosed with rapid AF by the ambulance officers who took me to the Accident and Emergency dept. I had to ask them what AF stood for as I hadn't heard of it before.
In 2003, I found myself away from home in a highly stressful-to-me family situation, feeling alone, when my "heart was pounding" for what seemed to be hours at a time. Because of the situation, it wouldn't be until 4 months later that I wore a Holter monitor. The results and doctor experience then directed me to look to an herbal approach. 14 years later, the symptoms raised their heads 'louder', and it was a Physician's Assistant that diagnosed my situation and we made plans to figure things out.
Had been experiencing intermittent periods of palpitations for a number of years. Mentioned to several gp's but was told it was either too much caffeine or menopause. Phoned nhs 111 during one episode and they advised a&e where it was diagnosed. Had 2 succesful cardioversions after trying digoxin and bisoprolol with little effect, now awaiting ablation.
I thought I had a very bad chest.
Before mastectomy. Woke one morning with hammering heart. Went to GP who sent me straight to rapid access heart clinic. The same GP who spent the previous 4 years telling me not to worry about palpitations. The cancer op put a new complexion on things! Spent 5 yrs on aspirin with verapamil as PIP. Got gastritis. AF became persistent. Now had 2 ablations and am on Bisoprolol and Flecainide and Apixaban. The journey continues...
Sudden irregular and fast pulse. 220 bpm. Phoned ambulance taken to A and E . Normally have a slow pulse 50 -60 bpm. Diagnosed with Paroxsymal Atrial Fibrillation . Now on Bisoprolol , Flecainide and Apixaban .
While exercising on a montain bike
After a night of terrifying hear palpations, I went to the ER, where the afib diagnosis was made before I went into the actual ER area. First time I'd heard of afib.......
Had symptoms for 3 months, and had ECG's, but never picked up. Breathless and urgent appointment at hospital with Lung specialist. I was in Afib that day and she picked it up, arranged an ECG there and then, and referred me to EP. I was so pleased to finally know what was wrong with me.
My mother experienced symptoms and wore a monitor for validation.
Diagnosed by paramedics who took me to A and E
A seemingly healthy, active 68 year old, I consulted my GP after being queasy for 2 -3 months (plus increase in previously reported occasional spells of unexplained tiredness; overheating; and, for first time ever, need to visit loo in early mornings). Never smoked, never obese, took regular exercise, had little alcohol and a healthy diet (a lot of this vitamin K), it had seemed odd that I had had high cholesterol and blood pressure for some years and later told I had an irregular pulse which was not a problem.
After several months of getting nowhere, I reluctantly looked my symptoms up online and began to realise there could be heart issues. When I next went to see my GP he arranged an ECG after which I was told I had this thing called Atrial Fibrillation (subsequently found to be Lone Persistent AF), would be vulnerable to strokes, referred to a cardiologist, put on anticoagulation and left to go home alone completely shell-shocked.
Cannot understand why it took so long to identify! Interesting to note that other patients receive routine ECGs and/or general health check-ups where this would have been discovered, possibly years before.
GP visit with virus I could not get rid of
Gp visit with virus I could not get rid of
24 hour ecg
After numerous 'strange scary episodes ' I visited the GP who arranged an ECG which I had after a wait of 3 weeks. It didn't show anything because I was not having an episode at the time,
I was fitted with a holter monitor by the GP but only allowed to have it for 24 hours during which time I didn't have an episodes so nothing was recorded.
An appointment was made to attend an arrhythmia clinic, I had a 6 month wait for that. A week before I attended the clinic I received a letter giving permission to have an ECG during an episode at short notice at the Dr surgery or a hospital, it was dated a month earlier and came too late to be applied before I attended the clinic . The local cottage hospital was nearest so I contacted them to ask if I could go there for an ECG during an episode if I telephoned them first , they reluctantly agreed.
A couple of days after attending the clinic to have my history taken I had a bad episode of AF so telephoned the local hospital to say I was on my way when I could get a lift. I had an ECG at the hospital , it was emailed to the cardiologist and I received a letter with a diagnosis of AF a couple of weeks later with an appointment to have an Echocardiogram and to start medication.
It was many months between my first visiting the GP with a problem and getting a diagnosis and medication , everything seemed to take a very long time and it appeared there was no urgency.
I guess had I called an ambulance during an episode and been taken to A&E I might have got a quicker diagnosis but the A&E is at least 40 mins away and I never know if episodes will be minute /hours or days long so was reluctant to call them.
Hi, I'm 65 & male, I had been to the doctors maybe 4 or 5 times spread over 30 years with a fast and irregular heartbeat, but was always told it's nothing to worry about, you just have an extra beat occasionally.
Anyway it always went away eventually. I joined a Gym for 6 years between the ages of 46 & 52, got fit and remember thinking I haven't had and any irregular beats since I'd been fit.
Then at 53 after drinking a bottle of red wine one evening the next day I woke up with a fast and irregular heartbeat, I waited a few days but this time it did not go away.
I went to my GP and was referred to a Private Specialist who diagnosed AF. He did a Cardioversion when I was 53 that only worked for a few seconds. Since then I've been in permanent AF, and left being looked after by my GP.
I take Warfarin, Diltiazem & Simvastatin. I was taking Bisoprolol for 9 years which caused bad fatigue, I have just changed to Metoprolol hoping it would be better, but it's just as bad for fatigue and I also get occasional stomach pain & bloating with it.
As I'm left with just my GP, I'm thinking of paying to see an EP as I am staring to feel worse as I get older.
Good luck to all
Mike
my gp was useless. i kept going to various doctors at my practise it was 3 years before a locum suggested next time i feel palpitations go to A & E which i did at 3am and they gave me an ecg and diagnosed AF.
Felt very strange, heart felt all over the place after returning from a holiday
Rang 111 who sent an ambulance
I have had 4 episodes in 2.5 years.
I use bisoprolol as a pip and in all episodes I have returned to normal sinus rythmn in under 2 hours
Evening time, around 10pm. Felt my heart was acting a bit weird, took my pulse and thought it was a bit skippy. Decided it was probably nothing serious(!) and went to bed, trying to ignore it. Was awake half the night, in the morning I walked to A&E - then it went back to normal in the waiting room. Drs said it was "probably ectopics" and told me off for drinking "just under half a bottle of wine" as it was "above the recommended daily allowance", which I thought was a bit strong, considering it was August bank holiday weekend and the A&E was full of paralytic people sleeping off extreme hangovers, whereas I'd had a few glasses of wine with dinner.
Had to wait 8 months for the same thing to happen again in the evening. Again left it until morning, walked to A&E. This time they captured it on ECG and I had the diagnosis I needed to get a referral to cardiology.
Pulse went over 200 while talking on the phone to my cousin in,,,,,came out of nowhere although I did not feel well all day prior to this,,,,had felt sense of doom and stressed,,over nothing I could figure,,,went breathless and heated ,faint and very scared,,,,could not even take pulse cause it jumped all over with beats and pauses,,,,never hope to experience this again,,,,took ambulance to ER and IV of cardizem took 8 hours to come out of it
I went to the GP with swollen ankles and breathlessness aswell as palpitations where I was referred to a cardiologist. He diagnosed heart failure then the af was properly diagnosed.
Emergency diagnosed SVT and see a cardiologist a few days later. This later became AF.
I was very tired after a long night of overseeing a well at work that was being drilled. Felt nauseous. Collapsed trying to get from couch to bed. Started feeling tingling in both my legs. Went to a nearby Emergency Room a little while later. Was told HR was over 150 and that I needed to "calm down and stop breathing so fast". Was given a prescription for a sedative (they misdiagnosed as a panic attack). A few months later saw GP who referred me to a cardiologist who debated whether to give me a stress test, after explaining that it often gives false positives for women. He eventually agreed to do the stress test and I had short run of afib on the treadmill. Heart rate shot up over 200 and the doctor monitoring asked if my heart rate always went high when I exercise. Yes, always. I assumed it was normal. At that point, I was finally taken seriously. Wore a 30-day holter monitor which recorded additional atrial fibrillation episodes and confirmed that my HR routinely jumps precipitously high with exercise. After that I was referred to an electrophysiologist who recommended an immediate ablation.
Used a pulse monitor whilst running and noticed the jumps and dips so monitored a whole day and night with veriations between 180 and 28 BPM so presented to GP referred to cardiologist and fortunately had an AF incident whilst on ECG! Now all fixed by ablation . No meds’ with some annoying but acceptable bouts of ectopics
I felt unwell with headache and weird feelings. Fortunately the doctor was a registrar doing to training and he spotted an uneven pulse and gave me an ecg.
Felt a vibration in the chest and I could feel my pulse was irregular, went to A&E,,, after not getting anywhere at the doctors..
Severe chest pains/ supra ventricular tachycardia collapsed whilst on holiday on Gran Canaria Sept 2014
After 15 years of complaining of fluttering to my GP I mentioned that I pass a great deal of urine when this flattering happened. One doctor said it could be my heart and next time I had an episode I should call an ambulance which I did and sure enough my heart was going at 190 beats per minute. I suffered with this for all those years undiagnosed.
I went to see an EP but he couldn’t diagnose it because I only got Afib occasionally. I had to go to the ER when I had an episode for a definitive diagnosis.
Not sure what "at accident and emergency visit" means. I had non-stop palpitations and immediately went to ER where I was diagnosed with AF. Not sure how this fits into your paradigm.
Hi Rachel I was taken to A&e by ambulance with a fast heart.
Doctor told me for 7 years that I was going through the change as from time to time I said a felt like my heart was beating out of my chest, had a strange sensation wash over me and sometimes I'd faint! Diagnosed after feeling unwell whilst driving in the M1 motorway. Pulled over onto the hard shoulder, phoned hubby saying I didn't feel well and promptly fainted! A police car, paramedic car and full blown ambulance later I ended up being diagnosed with supra ventricular tachycardia in A&E, then came the Atrial flutter followed by atrial fibrillation.
In ER at a rate of 230, but I already knew from the chest pain, out of breath, profuse sweating and weakness.
I was hospitalized in a CCU due to Takisbo Cardiomyopathy, and AF was discovered at the same time. I was at the time being investigated for 2 Ocular TIA’ s which occurred 4-6 months previously, but no one considered AF as it didn’t show up in any of the testing.
Had palpitations every now and then. Told GP about them. She had me wear a monitor for 1 week. After the 2nd night, she called and set up appointment. Told me how to handle episodes. A few months later I was walking my dog and had to sit on the ground. Went to er and they treated with meds. Have now had 3 ablations- none worked. On flecainide for the past three years. This has worked! No afib since.
Was diagnosed PAF after GP did a check and was put on medication. That was 17 years ago. My PAF became permanent AF 2 years ago. I have never had any procedures only been and still am taking medication. I am now 79 years old.
Diagnosed by cardio rehab staff after bypass surgery
Felt myself go into afib and knew immediately what it was. (I was an ICU nurse for many years.) I converted spontaneously after 18 hours. Went to see my family doctor and he told me to go to the Emergency Room if it happened again. Which it did 3 months later and since then I have been on the slippery slope of meds and ablations.
Thought I was experiencing menopausal palpitations, but GP thought to send me to cardio for tests. That was 4 years ago and have meds only.
Mine was finally diagnosed at a routine BUPA medical which caught the tail end of an attack.
GP sent me straight to A&E after ECG
My cardiologist found it during a regular check-up when he listened to my heart.
Mine was diagnosed by a specialist on a cardiac ward.
Hi Rachel. Was diagnosed during an ER visit that I thought would be diagnosed as either an asthma attack or anxiety. Short of breath and no hx of heart problems. This was in 2011. An EP saw me in the ER and care/treatment began then. Doing fine. Never expected that original ER visit would turn out to be heart-related. irina1975
After having a stroke
I was feeling very unwell and was told by my GP my blood pressure was very high. Given a test showing I had ad fib. I was diagnosed a year ago with no follow up or advise. My medication has since caused me problems.
I'm an in sixties female, Nov'13 was diagnosed with persistent af, I had put my feeling terrible down to being very stressed at work and thought gasping for breath after speaking one sentence and horrible tight, aching chest was a chest infection cos I'd had a bad cold a fortnight before. (Was taking a lot of cold medication, worse thing I could have done). GP listened to chest, took pulse and told me chest clear, and after an ecg at surgery, that I had AF. Given bisoprolol and referred to cardiologist.
Yep, the night I went into afib (first really noticed it) I had taken some Sudafed and that morning I had had an entire (small) pot of my favorite strong German coffee. My Cardiologist said I'd basically done my own stress test!
Sudafed is really strong stuff, I can really imagine that starting you off....and strong coffee too. We both gave ourselves a hard time : )
I’ve had a successful cardioversion, but have had a few events lasting about 30-40 hours, one defo caused by a bad cold again but this time no meds!
That first time, I kept thinking “this chest infection is awful, I can hardly walk”, lol, the more cold meds I took the worse I felt. (Trying to put off going to the docs, good job I gave in and made an appointment...)
Yep... am off Sudafed... caffeine... but I cannot imagine being in Afib for that many hours!! Thankfully, my doc says I have a strong, perfect heart. This all came on after I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and started on Methotrexate and Humira. Wondering if those meds triggered the Afib? My cardio doc just says, well the RA is being so well controlled! 😂
It does feel like a long time : ) At first I had it from November (prob longer though) to June then cardioversion, you just get used to feeling awful and you manage as best you can.
The episodes feel much worse as you are not used to it and luckily they are quite far apart.
It does make you very wary of the meds we are taking, great that your RA is controlled. I struggle with feeling lazy and not motivated to do anything at all (bisoprolol 7.5?) but over the counter stuff that you would not expect to have such an effect, wow. Talk about you live and learn!
Your watch sounds great, a very fortunate buy, I have a kardia so if my episodes ever get bad enough to go the docs I will have a record and print offs to show her.
I got an iWatch for Xmas three years ago. I felt "funny" AND my iWatch was going crazy. Thought it was broken, so asked my husband to swap me watches. His went crazy on me, too. After three hours, we finally went to the Emergency room. Took them four hours to bring my heartbeat down. Next day cardio doc came in. My watch was the best Xmas present I have ever gotten! Am on Rythemol which helps a lot, but my Cardiologist is talking ablation later this year.
I had an x ray after a fall. An enlarged heart could be seen, so I was referred to a cardiologist who said I had DCM and AF and about 5 years of life! This was in 2009 and at Windhoek Namibia. I had to leave my VSO placement earlier than expected as although I had the medication (and aspirin at that time), my working and living environment caused concern and I was desperate for a 2nd opinion!
I had also had palpitations for years so reckon that was AF which is why I had the DCM
While in Emergency Room at hospital for episode of Atrial Tachycardia, heart went into A.Fib which showed on the monitor. Nothing would stop the tachycardia or A.Fib for more than a few minutes, so ablation was recommended.
Unfortunately, ablation procedure went wrong somewhere and although burning of section was announced to be successful, by electrophysist, the wire had poked up through the top of my heart and I had tamponade with much pain and ended up being kept in hospital for total of 7 weeks - put on strong inflammatories and other drugs until heart stopped bleeding. It was touch & go for awhile and it was thought I may have to undergo surgery to cut a window in my chest to stop the bleeding.
Conclusion was, keep up the treatment of inflammatories and keep having echo cardiographs with contrast done.
While off the blood thinners for 7 days, and sent home I suffered a stroke and was rushed into emergency at a stroke hospital and given clot buster & scans, while other tests showed clot gone and my faculties not affected.
Released June 15th, and have been without A.Fib or Tachycardia since.
Being followed and kept on various drugs by my Cardiologist ever since.
Post operative diagnosis mastectomy
June 2008 playing golf on hot sunny day and became very out of breath and struggling to walk up inclines. Saw Locum at GP surgery who suggested muscular issues but as continued with lack of breath etc returned and saw my own GP who immediately diagnosed AF and sent me for ECG. Referred to Cardio Consultant and in Sept 2008 had Aortic Valve replaced which as a bonus cleared AF up. Subsequent further episodes of AF treated by Cardioversion (3 so far) and currently on Sotalol.
I had a stroke and the doctors suspected AF. However it never showed up on the tests so I had a 5 day holter monitor fitted. Luckily I had an episode just before I was due to take off the monitor
Thought I had a chest infection as very breathless. Pulse at wrist normal. Pulse at chest 212 and all over the place. Was sent to hospital with a bed waiting . Diagnosed with AF and heart failure. Been on medication for the last 7 years. Had 4 cardioversions none worked so in permanent AF. Doesn't really stop me from doing anything. I go to the gym and I swim. I'm not great at walking up hill but I take my time and get there in the end. If you have it you just have to go with it. I was 40 when diagnosed so not old
Taken ill on holiday in Tenerife! Pulse 160 ish they thought I had a chest infection at first, turned out to be sepsis caused by e- coli,!
In hospital for 9 days , treatment was fantastic!
Language was a bit of a barrier, but they did have interpreters if you asked!
I thought I had a chest infection, became ill and went to a walk in GP centre...who called an ambulance, diagnosed in A&E and had an ablation that day ...hasn't worked but the doctors are on the case !
AF occurred after mastectomy surgery when I was transferred back to the ward. Surgeon told me my heart had been fine all through operation which had lasted 2 hours. No AF previously.
Irregular heart beat picked up while role playing a casualty in a search and rescue excercise. As a result I made a GP appointment and received formal diagnosis.
Heart rate 220, heart all over the place, rushed to the hospital. Cardioversion did not work. NSR on own 28 hours later. That was 8 months ago - still in NSR thank God!
Collapsed with very fast heart rate and was taken to A&E 4 years ago. Was diagnosed with paroxyimal atrial fibrillation. Pulse was fast and irregular. Was out on bisoprolol, atorvastatin and dabagatrin. Went a year without episodes then episodes returned and became very frequent. Had ablation 8 months ago and have been symptom free. Am now on dabigatran and atorvastatin only. Have started taking magnesium supplement.
Felt weird and breathless one morning after rushing up stairs. Thought I was having a heart attack so partner called ambulance. Paramedics diagnosed AF though I had noticed an irregular heartbeat for a few days before but ignored it. Hasn't happened again but I do deep breathing if heart is going fast. Just on warfarin with pip metoprolol. Judeth
I had started with the flu in August went to the Dr weekly as it never went away. Was prescribed antibiotics for bronchitis. Two months later I went in with photos of what I was coughing up, swollen feet and bluish fingernails a different Dr checked my heart rate did an ecg and sent me to hospital 180bpm. Never had symptoms before while in hospital diagnosed with prolactinoma as well.
Suffered for 3 years until ECG was taken during event and sent to consultant.
I had B/P for many years bought a monitor and pulse was 140 so went to G.P. Then Cardiologist and had the " jumper leads" taking Elequiss and 3/4 Sotilol the pulse now very low 80 years at end of year. Can't thank you enough for this page was told carry on, move your arms and legs and don.'t fall over or bump your head.
I had complained for years of flutter in chest..skipped heart beats..they never found it or mentioned it might be afib...finaly I went in one day with symptoms and they found it.
Diagnosed after going to A&E, had been suffering symptoms for a few years beforehand but didn't realise how bad it was and what it was. Then husband drove me to nearest hospital heart rate was 220. When I think back now I really think I have passed out a couple of times but just put it down to sleep.
in November 2015, at around 2AM on a Sunday morning, I woke up with my heart racing. My husband called the ambulance as we did not know what was going on with my heart. They arrived and suspected A-Fib. They took me to the hospital where they cardioverted me with medicine through an IV. Within 15 minutes I was feeling better. However, they kept me in the hospital until Monday where they could observe me, do blood tests, etc and did an echocardiagram. I did well on all the tests and had no structural damage to my heart. They discharged me with a beta blocker called carvedilol, which I am still on to this day.
I went for a private medical screening (Bluecrest I think) where they check all sorts of things. They called me two days later and said I should go and see my GP because the ECG showed an arrythmia.
I had no clue that I had afib. I knew my mother had had it. I was describing her issues to my new PCP last fall when he was taking my pulse. He informed me that I had it, too.
I was already in hospital for sepsis after my open heart surgery, my heart rate went over 200, I had the crash team in, I had to have cardioversion. I'm on Sotalol 80mg 2x day, don't know how long as they are worried I'll go into AF again.
Way back, in 2009, I went to A & E in an ambulance thinking I was having a heart attack. Diagnosed AF, told it was a 1 off and sent home. Got progressively worse and was medicated in cardiac care unit in 2013, that was the time I found this lovely place. I thought I was going to die, literally. Everyone here was so kind and gently talked me down. Very valuable.
I am a member of a few groups here, none are as good as the AF forum.
I was diagnosed in 2011 age 67 when I went to the ER for what I thought was severe anxiety. AF diagnosed on a routine EKG. Was admitted, worked up, and treatment begun. As of today I am well controlled without meds with a single lead pacemaker, one successful AV node ablation in 2016 and off anticoagulants after insertion of a Watchman device (US) this past January. Saw my Electrophysiologist last week. EKG's stable with no changes for past 2 years. No current symptoms, no episodes of congestive heart failure for past 2 years. Feel asymptomatic and well-controlled. A good life with A-fib is very possible. irina1975
Diagnosed when I had a problem during surgery. Woke up in cardiac unit. Hospitalized 3 days.
I had a stroke and was then diagnosed with AF
I woke up one morning in 2009 with a very irregular pulse and feeling very weak and shaky. Went to local minor injuries unit and seen by a GP who sent me by ambulance to A&E department at county hospital. Admitted and diagnosed with AF which reverted by itself. Since then have had a number of episodes which are now getting more frequent and now take Bisopralol and Edoxaban daily.
I noticed my Fitbit heart tracker was telling me very high numbers so I decided to go to my annual health check.. had a successful ablation last August. Only on bp and blood thinners med now..
Picked up by the stroke association doing free blood pressure tests in the market !
Best,
Paul
I had , had a mental breakdown , during which I actually wanted to kill someone at work , and then kill myself .
I was signed off , for my own safety , and told to forget work ,and treat it as a "holiday" .
I was also put on anti d's
I kept having phone calls from work , asking when I'm going back , and when I was going in for my disciplinary .
They kept on , and I eventually felt my heart tightening . I was losing control , and unable to function .
I was taken to the Dr , where AFib was diagnosed , then sent to hospital in an ambulance .
I was given blood thinners , and beta blockers , and after a few days , began to feel more rational .
I've returned to work , got a final warning ( which I thought was more than fair ) , and have since had an ablation , which worked for 2 weeks , then slipped back again .
I believe that the stress of work caused my heart condition ,which in turn led to the breakdown .
Mentally ,I am far more rational , and have n desire to hurt anyone ,or myself .
I cannot now believe that I was in that state .
Ironically , if I hadn't , then my afib may have gone undiagnosed
Incidental I wear a chest strap /_watch.Also a finger pulse monitor. Which may be a few beats out.My GP told me i was wasting my time/money on these.just told me to use my 2 fingers to check pulse.Im sorry but they do give a good guide.
Self-diagnosis. It took years to convince clinicians that I had it.
Had ecg and this showed AF.
had a chest xray and a shadow showed up doctor said it was enlarged heart ,sent me for an ecg,then an echocardiogram diagnosed AF and now on my first week of warfarin I have an irregular heart beat bit of a shock
Went to GP to report occasional fast and irregular heart rate. Sent to hospital to be fitted with multi day holter. Back to GP for report and was told that nothing had been picked up. I wasn’t too surprised and explained that I was highly symptomatic and that I hadn’t been aware of any irregularity during the holter trial. “Well the holter doesn’t show anything “ she said flatly and the body language said that was THAT. Pretty underwhelmed by the lack of interest in pursuing things further, I took myself off to a private EP and was quickly diagnosed.
An aside - as a highly symptomatic sufferer, feeling my heart go crazy, I am very struck by how many responders here have been asymptomatic, often only aware of their AF through accidental diagnosis or feeling generally unwell. Do we have any idea of what the symptomatic/asymptomatic ratio may be?
I was diagnosed a couple of weeks after having a pacemaker fitted as an emergency for complete heart block. I had had 760 short episodes of AF in that time.
Just gp asked for ecg as part of a none specific problem I was having. He found it and then physically checked to confirm
I went for a clinical trial for a flu treatment and they did an ecg
By nurse then anaesthetist just before going down for first knee replacement operation. It later also caused the postponement of a gall bladder removal op but my EP said it could have gone ahead. The anaesthetists get nervous about these things!
After a second prolonged and frightening bout of very fast and erratic heart beats, within 24 hours over the last weekend in January this year, I attended our local A&E and was seen almost immediately. I was diagnosed within 3 hours with AFib, referred on to cardiology, and left with Apixaban and Bisoprolol. However, when attending at my GP's the following Thursday, it became apparent that the hospital had under-prescribed the Apixaban, the dose being doubled immediately to 5mg twice daily. I am a 68 years old man, weighing 110 kgs and am previously known to cardiology.
I was in the the hospital for GI inflammation. After 3 days of severe GI pain, I was told something horrible. The hospital staff suspected that my GI pain was caused by cocaine withdrawal. I never ever touched cocaine in my life! I don't drink alcohol, nor do I take any illicit drugs of any kind. I am on a pain med lawfully prescribed by a pain management doctor and I suffer no ill effects at all from the medicine because it's a small dose. I demanded a repeat test immediately which came out negative for cocaine, like I knew it would. However, because of the misdiagnosis, my normal pain med was withheld from me and I was left to suffer immense pain. Finally, my heart couldn't take it any more. I saw my GP post discharge from hospital and he discovered the afib. A followup with a cardiologist also found that my right atrium is now enlarged, meaning heart failure.
Now my life is forever changed. Cardiologist said my heart muscle cannot get better. But it seems my overall strength is returning. I still have afib, but I'm now able to go back to work a little more each week. I am now on Cardizem and blood thinners.
Felt unwell a.m. - rang 111 - they sent paramedic who did ECGs - he called crewed ambulance and I went to A&E and was in hospital 2 days
I had been taking my BP for a long time twice daily. Normally, 1st thing in the morning, my HR was around 75 BPM. One morning out of the blue, it read 150!!! I felt fine with no symptoms whatsoever. So I borrowed a COUPLE of my wife's tranquilizers. I checked it again a couple hours later, and it read 160!!! So we went to ER, they initially checked me out, attempted a procedure whereby they inject me with some med that was supposed to stop my heart for a second or so, but it didn't work. They said I have a-fib and a-flutter, and admitted me for six (6) long days, until they FINALLY did a cardioversion and returned me back to normal, and then sent me home next day.
Note: I've been in & out of hospital subsequently in as little as literally 4-5 hours, when they did a cardioversion right in the emergency room, and sent me home an hour later.
Since then, I always IMMEDIATELY schedule an ablation, the only more often than not, a PERMANENT fix.
I was undergoing a pain relief injection at an outpatient surgical center. Before going into the operating room it was detected my HR was 175. Xfered me to the hosp where I underwent tests for 4 days (it was a weekend). Have had aflutter abl '18 then left atrium ablation '19. Another abl for AF & fllutter due next month. Gained 75 lbs over 18 monthts while waiting as exercise seems to tick it off (also tore bicept muscle, 2 tendons and rotator cuff on RT arm) while waiting for new EP to get to me. side effects of a med weakened I was told.
I had constant high blood pressure and palpitations, I thought it was to do my asthma. I was asked to wear a blood pressure monitor for 24hrs
Two weeks later I had to wear a heart monitor, I also had a heart scan
I had to wait two months for my results I was told this.
I had to go and see the consultant and he explained everything to me and prescribed my medication. Angitil and endoxaban.
Was very breathless walking the stairs. gasping. Went to GP, told it was stress. After a week I went to private GP, had ecg, and he was stunned. My heart was racing at 200 and I had no symptoms other than breathlessness after climbing about 10 stairs. Spent the next 2 weeks in hospital. After the intro of medication, I began to feel the heartbeat, quite strongly. Diagnosed as AF definitely. That was 20 years ago.
Phil
I was in a bike spinning class and decided to put on my heart monitor strap for the first time in (2) months. It showed my average BPM was at 95% of max for a one-hour period. I thought the device was broke but went to GP as a precaution....the GP determined it was AFIB.
During a pain management procedure.
After going doctor's with a chest infection
It started after I had worked outside (June 2009 in Maryland USA) all day trying to finish a project. I ended up dehydrated and exhausted when my wife called me to dinner. When I sat down, I realized I did not feel well at all and could not eat. My heart felt like it was trying to jump out of my chest. She asked me if I wanted to go to the Emergency Room. I said yes. They told me I was in atrial fibrillation when they got me hooked up to their equipment. I eventually returned to a sinus rhythm by morning. The doctor wanted to wean me off of the IV and gave me a three pill cocktail. All was well for the first hour, then into the second hour my limbs inexorably were moving into the fetal position and I felt nauseous, so I hit the emergency button. They were trying to get my pulse through one of my ankles and they told me to straighten my leg. Probably one of the hardest things I have ever done is straighten that leg. In the mean time I looked at the heart monitor, it showed 28 beats per minute. A nurse saw me look and said, "That is not life sustaining". I looked at her thinking I am still here so far. They reversed the medication and I returned to a normal sinus pattern. They eventually released me with Flecanide and Metoprolol to take daily.
Started when I was running then went away but returned had a holter mointor test and showed PAF
I had taken ill early hours of the morning and my neighbour called for an ambulance, my ECG on the ambulance was normal in fact when the crew handed me over he said she has a heart rate like someone with a pacemaker fitted, within 30 seconds my heart rate was jumping between 190 and 34bpm I was moved to resus and the rest is history ,
Felt a fluttering in my chest over night. My Apple Watch gave me an alert in the morning that I had signs of AF, went to A&E as felt very unwell and was diagnosed there.
Rachel
Driving home after a game of golf on s hot day.
Staff were a bit like ‘oh it’s just Afib no big deal’. No real advice etc. Very underplayed and not helpful.
Next time two weeks later after a few beers 0200 hrs. Frightened this time and called Ambulance as very symptomatic. After A&E I was referred to cardiologist who again was not overly bothered and only spoke about not taking fizzy drinks. No life style input.Take the Bisoprolol.
I then found this site and from there I began to learn about this condition and why it could e happening. Progress and knowledge from that point on.
Rod
Discovered as part of investigation into the cause of my stroke.
I have had this for years but it occurs so infrequently that the usual monitor device wasn't able to capture it. I had (and still have) a loop recorder fitted which managed to record an episode within a month.
I'd had a few vasovagal events sporadically over a period of 4 years. Whenever ECG taken it was normal. Had two events close together over a weekend and on the following morning never felt right. Spoke to nurse at 111 and they sent the emergency services to check me out. I was in fast AF
Apple Watch notification suggested I was in AF and should have it checked out by a medical professional
I applied for a swimming pool pass in a Russuan sanatorium, the doctor, who didn't speak Englush, examined my heart and I understood through my girlfriend, that something needed checking. I ignored this for a few months until I experienced rapid heartbeat after consuming a can of energy drink and then went for an ECG and thence to a doctor.
Podiatrist 'discovered' that I had (probable) AF and directed me to immediately contact my GP to arrange for ECG, although i had been feeling particularly 'under the weather' for a week or so prior to the podiatrist visit and generally so for couple of months. On the day of the ECG, I passed out in the early hours and was blue-lighted to A & E with asymptomatic AF. My heart rate was fluctuating by anything from 50 to 80 bpm in any minute (or less) - from 40 to 120/130.
