Night time

[Over60locker]

New to ab does anybody else have night time panics where I think my heart is not beating fast enough and going to stop ? I have conquered the daytime panics just night ones now feel scared of going to sleep.

[BobD Volunteer]

Fear is the enemy I'm afraid. AF is seldom if ever fatal in itself but anxiety can destroy us all. I know too well what you mean and myself find it difficult to relax and go to sleep if the old ticker is playing up . Best cure for fear is knowledge and understanding and I recommend that you read up as many of the fact sheet on the main AFA web page so that you understand this mongrel condition .

Bob

[Hidden]

I guess the night time is when we all hear our hearts, after all the busyness of the day when it's easy to ignore. I think when you first discover you've got AF it's natural to worry about the lumping and bumping (I particularly love that long, thoughtful pause after my heart has gone in to a few seconds of rumbling). It will get easier - and there are always lovely people here to talk to if you get worried.

The other thing is: Are you on any medication? What is your heart rate? Bisoprolol has my heart rate at about 54, and I don't think that's unusual if you're on a beta blocker... If it is really low talk to your doctor, because sometimes it can be medication disagreeing with you.

Lis

[Over60locker in reply to Hidden]

Hi I am on Bisoprolol ,blood thinning and blood pressure tablets I did wonder if it was the meds I am back at Docters in 2 weeks and due an echo on 30 th July

[jennydog]

Have you cottoned on that it's not a good idea to lie on your left side as you can feel your heart beating whereas you won't feel it if you're on your right side?

[Thomas45 in reply to jennydog]

I'm always on my right side in bed, and no longer get AF in bed. I find it difficult to sleep on my back, and I'm not copmfortable on my left side. Just emphasises we're all different.

[Thomas45 in reply to jennydog]

Oops. I got my sides mixed up. I always sleep on my left side, not my right. I find I get off to sleep quicker and sleep longer on my left side. I used to be able to feel my heart beat whatever I was doing, whether upright or not, but I rarely feel / hear it these days.

[Over60locker]

Yes I have thank you I usually try and sleep on my back but end up tossing and turning most of the night .

[fallingtopieces]

My advice is to buy yourself a monitor of some description so that you really know what's happening. If you look on Amazon I believe there are heart rate monitors that clip onto your finger and run all night, then you attach them to your computer to see what rate your heart was the night. I have no experience of these but you can read the reviews of those who have.

At least that will tell you whether you should be worrying or not. You will probably find you are ok and that will put your mind at rest.

I couldn't do without my 'Alivecor' monitor now. At least when I'm worrying like you are now, I can take a quick ecg to tell me what is happening or not as the case may be. Although you have to be awake to be able to use the Alivecor so that would change your heart rate but there are monitors out there that log your heart rate whilst you are asleep.

I agree with you, night time is the scariest time if you are a 'cup half empty' person, a worrier. I'm always grateful to wake up in the morning thankful for another day.

Pat.

[Over60locker in reply to fallingtopieces]

Many thanks for that I will have a look as you say I am always grateful to wake up .

[BobD Volunteer]

It is even better when you have had something from which you may not have! My new motto is "live everyday as if your last as one day you will be right."

Bob

[mumknowsbest Volunteer]

Hi

I do sometimes wander if being hooked up to a monitor just increases the worry. Have you had a 24 hour monitor or longer ordered by your Dr, then they can see what is going on and change your meds if nec.

Eileen

[Over60locker in reply to mumknowsbest]

Hi yes I did wonder that I would be more worried I am due an echo at the end of July so I guess things might change the depending on the outcome but I might ask for a 24 hour monitor think it might just be a case of adjusting meds.

[credimus]

I woke up - again - last night breathing hard until my heart eventually settled into an acceptable A/F rhythm. I am assuming that while I sleep sometimes events occur when my heart slows down too much and some kind of automatic bodily response kicks in. It's scary because what happens if that defence mechanism fails to respond when you're asleep?

I intend to see my cardiologist in the near future and enquire regarding a pacemaker.

[Hidden]

"I sleep sometimes events occur when my heart slows down too much and some kind of automatic bodily response kicks in. It's scary because what happens if that defence mechanism fails to respond when you're asleep? "

I used to panic a few years ago when this first started - these days, I wouldn't though it's getting worse as I / poor heart grew older.

BobD - it's interesting you mention "mongrel condition" . Is there any link for this? Were you referring to Vagal aspects?

Does anyone else get loud tinnitis when you wake at night? (Sorry, I know I ought to start a new thread..) apologies.

As for how you sleep..I notice I end up being on my back whilst I try to stay on my side to begin with.