I have Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation wondering if I am now having Atrial flutter too.

[meadfoot]

I have had highly symptomatic Paroxysmal AF for 6 years which requires A&E visits. Twice this week when about to fall asleep I have experienced a fluttering sensation in my chest which disturbs me and feels really weird but very different to full blown AF episodes. I have felt my pulse which has remained steady unlike the manic activity with my PAF episodes. I am starting to get unnerved by it. Any clues anyone. What does Atrial flutter feel like and is the treatment the same as for AFib. Thanks. Meadfoot.

[TheStand]

meadfoot, I have experienced atrial flutter a few times and to me it felt like butterflies in my chest. My heart rate did not soar off into space (averaged around 100 to 110 BPM) and my heart was in rhythm so my BP remained almost normal. I could tell that my pulse was elevated but really had no ill effects from it after it was over as I normally did with AF.

Tim

[meadfoot in reply to TheStand]

Hi Tim. Thanks. Your response has made me feel better, I think our experience is the same. Just hope it settles down. I did something stupid last night, I think I forgot my atenolol, never done that before. Today is my daughters wedding so I have a good excuse with all that was going on. Did not know what to do re meds and opted to risk the outcome of a missed dose rather than risk doubling up. Seem ok this morning though and have taken my morning dose. Just hope I dont pay the price later with the stress of the wedding. Like all AF'ers I have tried to minimise my stress today be being ready in plenty of time (sitting here in my finery and big hat!). Just wish the bride was more chilled - keeping out of the way for a few minutes at her request! Thanks again Tim. Regards Dee.

[TheStand in reply to meadfoot]

There should be no problem with missing a dose. Atenolol is a beta blocker and if anything you would feel your pulse increase by a small amount But honestly I doubt that missing just 1 dose would even be noticed. It would take a few days to get out of your system if you stopped taking them.

Have a wonderful day and just enjoy the wedding. Wish them well for me?

Tim

[meadfoot in reply to TheStand]

Hi Tim,

Thanks, I have not had any ill effects you were right. Not a flicker ! Had a wonderful day at the wedding and have passed on your best wishes, Suzannah and Andy send their thanks.

Cheers.

[cbsrbpm]

I too have paroxysmal AF and occassionally get the symptom you decribe, it only last a second of two but scary as you think it is another AF episode starting. I also get the feeling of a muscle twitching in my chest, don't know what that is.

Brenda

[meadfoot in reply to cbsrbpm]

Hi Brenda. Thank you. Yes it is scary, I get the muscle twitch too, guess all the symptoms are connected somehow. Good luck.Dee.

[Hidden in reply to cbsrbpm]

I know this is an old thread, but comforting to read that others have the same feeling I'm getting.

[Hidden in reply to cbsrbpm]

I was getting that too in my ribs... It went away as did my heart fluttering whatever they were ...with taking magnesium. Worth a try. Known to cause twitches and cramps as well. None of us get enough as the soils are depleted our food si depleted too.

[meadfoot in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. Hope you are keeping well.

[Hidden in reply to meadfoot]

Yeah hasn't sorted everything but having the afibs gone or whatever they were I still don't know...is a huge step forward. I still have general other Bibbles and wibbles but the success of sorting that simple thing has made me think OK what other simple things am I overlooking and underestimating their impact. And time to put all that I know into practice and be really consistent about it. So only day two of being totally considtant and getting everything ticked off my checklist. Hopefully other things will resolve too if I'm not a silly bugger.!!

[Bagrat]

I get ectopics as do most people whether they have AF or not. The difficulty is we are more tuned in to our heart's behaviour, so we are aware of them.. Ectopics are when the heart "misses" a beat then plays catch up

Ectopics feel like a little flutter behind breastbone to me and I am more aware of them if I am stressed. Maybe it was this you experienced Mead foot, if there was no alteration in your heart rate. Hope wedding went well.

Brenda, I sometimes get all sorts of weirdy feelings in my chest but they go away and I'm still here to tell the tale so try and ignore as my anxiety easily translates to physical symptoms!!

Wendy

[meadfoot in reply to Bagrat]

Hi Wendy. Yes I identify with the heightened sensitivity and stress response. My consultant said I was mega sensitive to ectopics which he thought understandable. Yes wedding went well thank you, everyone was very happy and bride and groom very loved up. Tearful time in a good way. Take care. Dee.

[lepaul]

Hi meadfoot i had atrial flutter before i had afib and the feeling you describe is just what i used to get before my ablation like butterflys and a type of quivering feeling but no disturbance with my pulse , i still get it to some extent with the afib but dont worry about that part of it at all so relax about that feeling its not unusual , regards

[meadfoot in reply to lepaul]

Cheers Lepaul. Yes what you describe was what I felt. It is comforting to get an idea of what it is. The pulse bit had me confused initially but fits with your experience. I will try and be 'cool' about it and relax. Thanks.

[Hidden in reply to lepaul]

My pulse completely was gone. No pulse just a vibration in line with what my jeart was doing which was not beating but buzzing...is that afib or aflutter or something entirely other? I've had tow people say exactly the opposite to me but since you have had both you at least have experienced the two.

[meadfoot in reply to Hidden]

Your symptoms sound like something quite different i think. Good idea to have it looked into. Best wishes.

[Hidden in reply to meadfoot]

Well thankfully Its gone since taking magnesium and it only returned once when I forgot my tablets for a few days so I really don't want to stop taking them to find out to be honest. I suppose it willr remain a mystery.

[Ads7906]

I've had the "flutter" and so far I to only notice them at night but they tend to disappear when I lay on my right side if I lay on my left it feels like a phone vibrating in rhythm on my chest.

[Hidden in reply to Ads7906]

Oh hello! At last someone who seems to have what I had!! Cmere tell me tell me... Did you notice your heart wasn't beating and you had no pulse just the vibrations instead of a beat?? Mine was like a phone ringing but not regular...it was like brrr brrrrrr brrrrrrrr br brr brrrr the vibration was regular but it would stop and start buzzing at different lengths if that makes sense. I've heard people having buttterflies and I get them too but this wasn't just butterflies this was an absence of a heart beat or pulse and only vibration..like a cat purring a bit. But nothing else...the butterflies if I get them are more just like a missed step on the stairs feeling like skipping beats. But this was no beats. Not that I'd wish it on you but I hope to find someone who knows what I mean!