HOW MILD IS MY AF;

[poppystorey]

HI EVERY ONE I READ WITH GREAT INTEREST ALL THE DIFFERENT AFFECTS OF A/F I WAS DIAGNOSED EARLIER THIS YEAR MY BPM AS ONLY ONCE GONE TO 115 MOST OF THE TIME IT IS BETWEEN 80/90 WITH AN IRREGULAY BEAT TO KEEP IT COMPANY .MINE SEEMS PRETTY MILD COMPARED WITH SOME OF THE LETTERS I READ ON HERE ,DO YOU AGREE .POPPYSTOREY

[TheStand]

poppy,

Yes a pulse of only 80 to 90 is not severe. But I know many who do not have the standard 175 to 200+ pulse. Although the very fast heart rate 200+ can cause damage in the long run, it is not the primary concern with AF. The Irregular heart beat is the primary concern due to the stroke risk. There is basically the same risk of stroke in a person with a pulse of 185 and irregular and a person with a pulse of 85 and irregular. The term *Mild* really only applies to the symptoms you experience and not the risk.

Hope this helps,

Tim

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes Tim I agree with that. Many people have so called slow AF which does not produce such alarming symptoms but the stroke risk is just the same. as for those who do experience violent palpitations.

BobD

[poppystorey]

thank you both so much, once again something has been explained clearly to me in good plain english poppystorey

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

BobD and Tim always do a great job of jumping in quickly with a great explanation. AF presents itself in so many ways and I think we all are learning a lot from the varied stories from all of us who chat here.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Poppy

I am in exactly the same boat as you, I never get episodes or attacks, just the occasional heart flips, but I am in permament A Fib with an irregular heartbeat all the time (good for amusing your friends but not much else)

I have had a failed cardioversion, and now on diltiazem, warfarin, and statins.

The diltiazem is only really preventative, my HR never goes above 90 unless I exercise, and the statins likewise, but the warfarin for me is the most important drug I take, as Bob D says the risk of stroke is exactly the same as anyone with paroxysmal A Fib, and in fact greater as we are in A Fib all the time.

So what's next for us?, that's the question I am trying to research and find out, some say AF is progressive and it will only get worse, others say it could stay somewhat benign like this for some time.

So it could be argued that an early treatment say ablation has a higher chance of success now, but equally it could be argued that with virtually no other symptoms, why go through a procedure without guarantees when there is no effect on lifestyle currently?

It's a tricky balancing act, and will be an individual decision, currently I think I'll stay monitored but untreated.

Hope this helps, and do let me know if you need to talk, we are in almost exactly the same situation

Ian

[poppystorey in reply to Beancounter]

thank you for getting back and i totaly agree ,about staying untreated but monitered . have a great day ,poppystorey

[Bikerboy]

Hi Poppy, I thought my episodes of AF would be classed as mild, as my heart rate never really rocketed during one - always less than 100 - but when I went to see the Doctor during one, he gave me an ECG and it measured 116. He said some of the irregular beats don't make it to the brachial pulse if they are weak, so you can't be sure. It's reassuring to know a superfast heartbeat isn't a primary concern - you'd think if it was "over-revving" it would burn out!

The best advice I got from this forum was to listen to your body, and if you feel well enough to do something, go and do it, don't let an irregular heartbeat stand in your way.

Bill

[poppystorey in reply to Bikerboy]

thank you for your reply i do take on board all the advice you all so kindly share ,have a great day .poppystorey

[Cherjane]

I never thought my AF was serious and until I had a bad episode recently and ended in Emergency. Your condition can change so take it seriously.