Is it only me that has permanent AFIB without any symptoms ? Everyone else seems to be suffering terribly.

[bc109]

[Beancounter Volunteer]

No BC

You are joined by a few of us, all persistent and in A Fib continuously.

Ian

[bc109 in reply to Beancounter]

Thanks for that Bc, I thought I was on the wrong forum.

[gerryatriq]

when you say No Symptoms, what do you mean exactly?

You cant feel the AF? or you can run for 2 miles without any issues?

How long have you been in permanent AF and what pills are you on?

[bc109 in reply to gerryatriq]

I have normal B.P. (140/80) and resting pulse rate (60). I practice Karate extensively with no problems. I was diagnosed with AFIB only after my GP couldn't get his digital BP meter to work properly (missing heartbeats). I was prescribed aspirin until I had a TIA, then it was changed to Warfarin (six weeks ago).

[glenpointe in reply to gerryatriq]

I was diagnosed with persistent afib recently but don't know when I got it. I guess it has to be four years ago because my average resting heart rate suddenly jumped from 50 to 68. However, I have no symptoms and can't feel the atria fibrillating and beating fast at all. I wear a heart rate monitor 24/7 and my average resting heart rate is 68. I exercise and run regularly. Matter of fact, I can run a half marathon at any given day. When I run, my HR shoots up to 155, but goes back to 68 after I stop. I am thinking of getting an ablation hopefully getting my atria back to normal rhythm.

[gerryatriq]

sounds about par for the course if in UK, so you weren`t diagnosed with AF properly after the GP found the missed beats by accident?

So is this permanent AF ie 24/7 ?

Amazing you had not noticed it some time ago.

So you are not on any meds to try to control the AF at all, just warfarin for stroke prevention?

Any cardio visits planned? Or EPs?

[bc109 in reply to gerryatriq]

As a result of the missing beats I was referred to an NHS consultant for an ultrasound scan that confirmed permanent AFIB (24/7).

I never noticed it as I have no symptoms, and therefore can't even guess as to how long its been there.

In addition to the Warfarin I've been prescribed Diltiazem and a statin, but I think they are just par for the course as they don't seen to do anything.

No other treatment has been mentioned (ultrasound scan showed that my arteries are over 80% free).

[Hidden]

What is asymptomatic AF? A year or two ago, I had a tiny feeling under my left armpit , a slight twitching that you could easily put down to something else. Had a monitor fitted and recorded when it happened, it was AF.

Or do you literally get no symptoms whatsoever? Anyone!

Koll

[bc109 in reply to Hidden]

I never had the slightest suspicion that anything was amiss, until the digital BP meter couldn't make any sense of my pulse. But the ultrasound scan showed that my atria were definately fibrillating.

[Marion62]

Hi,

A random pulse check 15 months ago showed a fast irregular heart rate. An ECG confirmed AF - I am in AF permanently and could have had it for years. No symptoms - and I've been put on rate control medication and warfarin. I just carry on as before diagnosis - but am so thankful it was diagnosed.

[bc109 in reply to Marion62]

Yours is almost an identical situation to mine - apart from the fast pulse. It's amazing that almost 50% of the heart isn't working properly, and yet there are no symptoms. One wonders what it might feel like to have a 100% functioning system. I suspect that my AF could have very well been with me since childhood (I'm 71 now) but when I suggested this to the consultant she poo-pooed the idea.

[glenpointe in reply to Marion62]

If you have no symptoms, I guess your ventricles beating normally because your AV node does a great a job filtering out bad electrical signals. Why does your doctor put you on rate control meds?

[bnewman77]

yep , same for me, 65 and have had irregular '' missed beats ''for 30 years or more, just didnt happen on my check ups, finally diagnosed with afib about a year ago,no obvious symptoms, tried metropolol first , then adalat, both made me feel lazy, tired with no interest in anything.quit using anything , docs here in canada suggest aspirin with low risk for strokes , so take a baby aspirin once in a while, i understand in U.K. aspirin regarded as useless, strange there is conflict in that regard..alcohol and caffeine dont agree with me, so avoid those mostly, exercise makes me feel better, even somewhat strenuos with no problems.

[Beancounter Volunteer in reply to bnewman77]

HI Bnewman

I have to say it's not just the UK that says that aspirin does not work as an anti-coagulant with AF, and note the "with AF" tag there, there have been a number of studies and all agree, now we are just trying to educate doctors worldwide that anti-coags are the way forward.

I'm 59 with persisitent AF and a CHADSVACS score of zero, yours will be at least 1, and I consider that warfarin is my "best friend". Do think about this and do some research of your own.

Completely agree with all other points however, aspirin has it's use as part of an overall drug regime, just not to keep you safe from stroke.

Be well

Ian

[bc109 in reply to bnewman77]

Following the AFIB diagnosis my GP prescribed Aspirin. Now five years later (after having a TIA) he grudgingly agreed to put me on Warfarin. I got the impression that it involved too much extra work for his practice.

[Hidden]

Very similar toy AF situation. November 2013 went for my 6 monthly visit at my GP for diabetic (type2) check up. I told the sister that my own digital BP monitor had recently started giving me erratic results both in BP and pulse rate. She checked my pulse and noticed my heart was occasionally skipping a beat so gave me an ECG which the doctor examined and he informed me I had AF. Went to a Cardiologist who conducted several other tests and then prescribed Rivaroxaban which I have taken since the beginning of December 2013, taking 1x 20mg tablet every night. No side affects and feeling very well. I check my pulse rate several times daily using an app on my IPhone and it is around 60 to 70 and misses a heartbeat approx every 10 to 15 seconds.

[bc109 in reply to Hidden]

Same as me with the pulse rate, skipped beat and feeling OK. Are you on Warfarin ? I had to wait until my medication was updated.

Mike.

[Hidden]

I would say lucky you, but of course it is much more difficult to catch if there are no symptoms... Very glad your doctor did catch it in the end! I think warfarin is generally accepted as better for preventing strokes, not just in the UK, aspirin does nothing for AF-related strokes, as my doctor admitted.

[bnewman77]

There might be 100s of thousands of people with Afib with no symptoms,the people here are motivated to post because of problems and symptoms,Many folks without any health program in the U.S, for eg. probably cant afford to go to the doctors for a skipped beat here or there if they feel O.K. I know i spent over 20 years in the U.S.with no medical, so had to be prudent with my doctor or hospital visits, amazing how many complaints fixed themselves.

[derrylynne]

I had skipped beats for very many years and it did not bother me. I had a fast pulse so went to my doctor about it and found out I had afib. Had no symptoms apart from the fast heartbeat. I declined going through the electric treatment as research showed that did not work well and several had it done often. Instead voting for management so was put on Diltiazem and warfarin. I have no symptoms that I am aware of. In that way I am lucky and as it don't bother me don't worry about it.

[bc109 in reply to derrylynne]

Thanks for that dl. You were lucky not to go through the aspirin phase (which is useless).

[gerryatriq]

i think also the problem with AF is that it does usually get worse over time. And at the same time over numbers of years we all age, as such organs are not as fit as they once were, and then the lower efficiency of the AF heart will start to show signs, like walking up stairs etc.