Less symptoms now I'm in permanent A.F.

[dedeottie]

I am so grateful for this forum and also glad that Ive kept reading all the posts and questions otherwise the latest twist of A.F. would have completely confused me ! I had paroxysmal A.F. but had been going through a particularly bad time having to endure 4 or 5 days at a time in A.F. with a heart rate of around 120. I was also having less time in between events. Then I suddenly became aware that I felt fine and had done for a while so I assumed I had gone back into NSR. However a couple of trips to the gym showed me that my heart was still doing loop the loop as the heart monitors couldn't cope with my fluctuating heart beat. When I took my pulse manually I could only count up to 80 bpm but I could tell my heart was fluttering away at a higher rate. I am waiting to see a cardiologist so am guessing I will have to take some medication but am glad at least that I cant feel the distressing symptoms. Thankfully I am already on warfarin. I do get some days when I can feel my heart racing,low blood pressure etc but generally its better than constantly going in and out of A.F. If I hadn't read your posts I would have wondered what was going on when the machines went berserk! Thank you.

[BobD Volunteer]

Hi dedeottie, that is very interesting and tends to back up what I have heard from others that people in permanent AF often do not notice the symptoms. I think the body is very good at adapting to things but not very good at accepting change hence then panic we all feel if AF attacks. Let us know how you get on with the cardiologist.

BobD

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Dedeottie

Yes those gym machines hates us don't they; I've all but given up trying to get a pulse rate out of them, but I do now wear a Polar watch with a heart rate band, is it dead accurate? Nope, but pretty good and if you search Polar with atrial fibriliation someone has very kindly posted the complex instructions for setting up the Polar monitor to get the best out if it with A Fib.

I have to say that I think after a few months on this board and others, the one constant about A Fib I have discovered is that there isn't one. We all differ, we all seem to go into permanent, back into paroxysmal, etc etc. My own story is that with the information I have now I am fairly certain that I have been in permament AF for around 7 years, in that time had two supposedly "full" medicals (No-one takes a pulse during a medical now have you noticed?) and not until a severe attack last November which hospitalised me and the ER doctor said, well you know you have A Fib don't you? did I actually get a diagnosis.

Since then I have to applaud my Cardio and the whole team at Harefield, they have given me a thorough "going over" tested everything they could think of (and some I thought of as well through my research), and after a failed CV I remain in permanent AF, but symptomless really and just seeing what happens.

But I remain very positive, like many on here have said I am controlling my AF, not it me, and I will stay on warfarin for the time being, and hopefully we shall see the AF go down along with my weight and my lifestyle improvements.

Your cardio will probably prescribe some rate control drugs just to be safe, but generally it would seem those of us who are permament have a better time if it than the paroxysmal sufferers, our bodies just seem to get used to it.

Best of luck

Ian

[bigE]

Well coming upto 2 weeks after my 1st Ablation and still in Sinus,which is fab(after being in A Fib for just over a year,our bodies do seem to cope somehow I notice when I'm "Out" I sweat profusely(In winter it can be freezing but my head would be steaming! I asked if this was a common problem when I visited the Cardiologist and he said well when out of Rhythm hormones kinda of go crazy and it could well be the case for me.And I never really could get a proper pulse rate.I guess it's like when an engine is running/tuned properly they work but the efficiently goes to pot......and good luck sorting out dedeottie.

The guy's on here are really good at letting us know what's going on

[dedeottie]

Thanks for all your comments. I will definitely get one of those polar monitors.Like you beancounter I have taken A.F as a wakeup call to lose weight cut down an alcohol Tec so at least I feel that everything else in my life is coming under control.It hasn't made any difference to my A.f. but must be doing the rest of my body some good hey. It's interesting to hear about the hormone theory big E. I am definitely more emotional than previous. I thought it anxiety but hormones may well play a part. It's good to hear all your experiences. A.F. certainly keeps us on our toes!