Dazed and confused

[steve60]

Hi everyone, just been reading some really worrying posts on here and a thought occurred to me, do I really have bad Afib ?. My episodes are now almost every 8 days and I will be in permanent Afib for around 2 days at a time. I take the Flecainide pill in a pocket approach (however last time I took it, my Afib came back 10 hours later ?). I am reading about people who are rushed into hospital when they have their episodes, however I still manage weight training at the gym twice a week and am an active walker, as I am able to do this am I storing up hidden problems for the future as my episodes are becoming more frequent and lasting longer. By the way I'm 52

[AFAssociation1]

AF affects people differently - people have different degrees of symptoms and deal with them in different ways. So, what you can cope with, others may not be able to. It is great that you exercise but maybe you should consider monitoring what activity or what amount of activity leaves you feeling poorly. Keeping a diary will be great to monitor this. Then maybe you will identify a certain limit to exercise for you.

Staying fit helps to strengthen the heart so it can deal with AF better. But exerting yourself too much could overwork the heart, hence making you feel worse.

In extreme cases where people feel they cannot cope, they rush to A&E to bring their heart back to NSR. If you feel an episode reaches that severity then you should also consider going to hospital at the time.

[meadfoot]

Hi Steve.

AFib affects everyone differently hence the range of treatment plans we all have as there is no one size fits all.

It is a very frustrating condition with some people apparently having no discernible symptoms until their pulse is checked through to incapacitating, debilitating symptoms and need for a and e support, and every range in between.

The only constant with AFib is that it is inconsistent, we all have our individual symptoms and treatment regimes.

I am not a medic but it must be a good thing to be fit enough to work out and go walking. If your doctor says it is ok then go with it. Life is for living . Get the go ahead from your cardiac consultant to be absolutely confident it is right for you.

Don't be over concerned by others experience, we are all unique and our ages vary massively. The best bet is to ensure you have a good partnership with your consultant and GP and together work out which treatment regime is right for you now and ongoing.

Regards

Dee.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Steve

As Dee has said we are all quite different, different symptoms, lifestyles and physical ability to cope with AF in it's various degrees. We can each only speak as we find, but what is successful with one person will not be so with another

When I first had AF I was convinced that I could cure it naturally, by diet and lifestyle. I did have a degree of success by cutting our artificial sweeteners from my diet. That took me from having permanent AF to having paroxysmal episodes with my heart racing up to 180 bpm. At first these attacks only lasted for a few hours, but then that grew to days. My sister who had also started getting palpitations went to her GP, who told her that she too had had them but had found a cure in losing weight! My sisters palpitations just disappeared, although she does still get a few seconds when she feels her heart racing.

Before my first ablation my EP told me that if I chose not to have the procedure, then it was likely that my AF attacks would get worse until I had it permanently. At that time my attacks were happening more often so I thought it a good idea to go ahead. I felt so much better after that ablation and could walk up hills without the dreadful tiredness that I'd been putting up with.Two years after my first ablation I needed another as it all started happening again - I had that about 8 weeks ago and I'm hoping that this time I'll be cured for good.

Like you I have always exercised by long distance walking, cross country (hashing), swimming, cycling etc. However as my AF progressed I found that after doing a long walk for instance, I would have to go home and sleep and then felt drained for the rest of the day. We hear on this site, so often, that people who have exercised all their lives are still hit by AF and heart problems. Do we put a strain on on our hearts with this exercise - I really don't know!!!

Today I've been out walking all morning, but am not tired now (hooray) so just going out to attack the bushes in my garden.

Just some thoughts.

Jean

[Hidden]

I have permanent AF taking Flecainide twice a day i dont exercise any more as it whacks me out after a lifetime of fitness it is soul destroying but i am ever hopeful to return to it. Everyone is different so just go with whats happening to you and follow cardiac advice

[Maitha]

My cardiologist gave me strange information

He said usually if he found AF case and the patient is not complaining , without symptoms he usually doesn't tell him about it

So what make doctors treat it that it is symptomatic .

Don't know how far this is true

[Offcut]

I have tachycardia and the Afib wobble the Wobble I notice and have had it now for some time the tachycardia I only notice once it passes 150 bpm. My last 24 hr holter test I had a low of 39 bpm and a high of 169 bpm. Some years ago I was put up for a walk test and the test was for me to walk until I peaked at 150 BPM they wired me up and sat me down for 20 minutes to rest me and by the time I had got up and stepped on the walker I was 160 bpm they cancelled the test.