Had a-fib with RVR when i was 18. Scared it will return 2 years later.

[Zachary_rodway]

When i was 18 i fell down some stairs in the middle of the night and instantly noticed that my heart was beating out of control, i called an ambulance, they found my pulse was 220 bpm and rushed me to the hospital. Long story short my heart wouldnt slow down and i was cardioverted twice once that night and again in the morning with the first one didnt work. I left the hospital that morning with no medications. Its been two years and countless doctors visits and im just now learning that a-fib is usually chronic and will likley return in the future. Does anyone have any similar experiances of it returning after a long period of time? Or getting it at a young age? Im 20 now and do not want to have to worry about this for the rest of my life.

[george19]

Hi, I don't know how much you know about this condition, but its very rare in people as young as yourself, In fact your probably the only person I've met a similar age to me who has had an episode of AF (i am 19).

AF can be very circumstantial, especially in early stages. For me the first time it happened i was 18, and it was after being sick from a migraine. I didn't go to A&E with it or anything and it went away within around 12 hours.

I didn't think it would happen again or even know what it was, but about a year later I was sick again and unsurprisingly I went into AF again.

I've had it a few times now, i've seen a few cardiologists and stuff about it, and like you I am extremely worried about this developing and getting worse throughout my life, I'm just hoping it stays as circumstantial as it currently is for me (it only ever happens after throwing up).

In your case, it may have been a one off thing as a result of your fall, however like you said it is likely that once it has happened, it will happen again. Was there any other reason you might have gone into AF when you fell down the stairs? Drinking too much can be a huge factor...

what have your doctors visits said? have you any other heart problems such as PVC's?

[Zachary_rodway in reply to george19]

Hey george, first off its nice to hear from someone in a similar position, ive never been much of a drinker and the night it happened i hadnt had a drink in weeks. Also dont do any drugs.

I do have PVC's almost daily, just a skipped beat usually once or twice a day, though my anxiety seems to correlate directly with them. For the last two years until recently ive felt totally normal with no problems. Ive seen cardiologists and done stress tests but nothing came up.

As of 4 month ago i started developing anxiety on the subject after i learned more about what happened. This lead to massive panic attacks with a racing heart and numb chest, but still no irregular rhythm present. My doctor now has me on metoprolol to slow my resting heart rate, and ativan. Ive had a 48 hour holter monitor that showed no irregularities as well. Im really hoping it was a freak incident but im having trouble being optomistic. The RVR is very scary.

[george19 in reply to Zachary_rodway]

Yeah its decent to meet someone of a similar age, though its still terrible you also have this.

What did your doctor say about the PVC's? are they particularly dangerous? I ask because I am pretty certain I get them, however this is going to be determined within the next 8 weeks through a stress test and 24 hour monitor, very similar to what you had done.

I have been in a similar position to you, not as extreme as a panic attack but once in a nightclub I had a few skipped beats and it just freaked me out, my heart also wasn't in an arrhythmia but it was pounding just because of anxiety, Its not nice. I haven't had a panic attack but I've seen one and it looked extremely distressing. Pretty vicious cycle. I too had RVR.

I've only had one appointment so far at the arrhythmia clinic, I'm almost looking forward to getting this tests done so I have more answers about what's going, however typical of the NHS it is taking a while. At the moment it's looking as if I will be given a flecanide tablet (the same stuff they would have used in A & E to convert you back ) so if episodes do happen it can be taken and hopefully give results, this could help you also?

However that just deals with episodes of AF, i'm still in the dark about PVC's and stuff.

[Zachary_rodway in reply to george19]

No doctors have explained that the PVC's are not harmful and everyone gets them, though not as often. The way they delt with my situation seemed strange, i was on no medications whatsoever for two years until the panic attacks started, and my doctor didnt explain that it could return. All i was given was daily aspirin which now makes sence.

When i saw the cardiologist two years ago he wanted to test for sleep apnea, have you been tested for that?

[george19 in reply to Zachary_rodway]

Yeah that's the general impression I get from looking online, they are more of a concern when induced through exercise but still not a massive problem.

That does seem odd, are you in the UK?

I haven't, I didn't realise there was any link or anything?

I will look it up now, thanks.

[Zachary_rodway in reply to george19]

Im in canada, our health care system moves at a snails pace.

Yes apperantly it can cause many issues with the heart and i have a family history, waiting on results which im getting in a couple hours.

[george19 in reply to Zachary_rodway]

Haha the UK is the same really, especially seen as I am considered very low risk with my age etc.

I've just had a look, its something ill discuss with my doctor but reading into it I've never really had any of the symptons of sleep apnoea.

Good luck man, let us know how it goes.

p.s are you familiar with ablations? they are a last resort but are becoming more and more successful in treating Afib permanently if it gets to that point.

[Zachary_rodway in reply to george19]

Yes im just recently hearing of them, hopefully my body magically cured itself and ill never have to deal with a fib again, haha. But of course if it comes back ill be very open to that option.

Good luck to you as well.

[BobD Volunteer]

Hi and welcome to the mad mad world of AF. Yes you are young but AF is a mongrel condition which can be genetic or acquired. Unless you are a fighter pilot, endurance athlete or binge drinker it is likely to be genetic in your case. Sadly AF is almost always progressive so you need to get proper treatment now unless you want a lifetime of drugs.

My first advice is to look up AF ASSOCIATION WEBSITE and read up as much as you can about the condition as knowledge is power.

Next get in front of an Electrophysiologist (EP) as these are the experts on AF. Normal cardiologist are plumbers to these electricians. Pay if need be to get an appointment but do it soon. GPs are not generally qualified to treat AF or in many cases know much about it and A and E even worse in many cases. There is a list of EPs by area under patient information on the main AF Asoc website.

Ask any specific question here and we will try to help.

Bob

[Zachary_rodway in reply to BobD]

Thank you so much, i have never heard of an Electrophysiologist which just shows my ignorance on this subject, i happen to be seeing my GP today and will request a refferral.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Zachary_rodway]

Few people without AF have. You need to become your own expert in this game.

Bob

[Kodaska]

Your problem isn't AF. It's fear.

AF will probably not disable you, but fear can.

I got tinnitus when I was 24 and have not experienced silence since then. I'm now 65 and I think I'd rather have had AF than tinnitus. It took me many years to get over the anger (it happened due to a breach of military safety rules). AF would have been a lot easier.

Learn how to manage your fear and you'll be fine.

[mumknowsbest Volunteer in reply to Kodaska]

Af can disable you, or at least slow you down. I have tinnitus and Af and would rather have the tinnitus any day as it doesn't stop me doing things. And by the way it is not fear.

[PeterWh in reply to mumknowsbest]

Which came first?

[Hidden]

Hi Zachary and George.

It's distressing to hear that you both have developed AF at such a young age and I sincerely hope the two of you will get the right treatment for this wretched condition.

May I ask you what RVR stands for? I don't recall having come across this set of initials before.

Many thanks indeed.

My very best wishes to you two young men.

Peter

[Zachary_rodway in reply to Hidden]

hi peter, RVR is a rapid ventricular response, im not sure how common it is but when i had my episode my heart rate was extremley fast. The EMS monitor said my bpm was 220 and even with the pills to slow it down i spent the night with a resting bpm of 170 before they were able to cardiovert me a second time with success.

[Hidden in reply to Zachary_rodway]

Hi Zachary,

Thank you very much for your reply. I had never heard of RVRs before, and I thought that I was reasonably well clued up on Af related terminology. Just proves that you never stop learning!!

I had my first AF episode in May 2005. I drove myself to my local hospital (I live in London, UK) and once wired up to an ECG machine, found out that my heart rate was approx 170bpm. I was 52 years old at the time. I was put on a digoxin drip which slowed the heart rate down and put me back into NSR within a matter of minutes, as I recall. After about three hours of indecision as to whether to discharge or admit me, I was sent home and then had to wait 9 months to see a cardiologist who arranged for an echocardiogram and 24 hour holter monitor, both of which failed to evidence any problems. I have had other episodes since, but none of them have resembled that first occurrence and I question whether they have even been AF attacks. I do seem to experience many runs of ectopic beats, though.

Again, I do send you and George my very, very best wishes for successful treatment and I only wish I could be of more practical help to you both.

Take good care of yourselves.

Peter A