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what are your AF symptoms?

purple profile image
8 Replies

May sound strange question but what are your symptoms of AF. Mine has only been picked up by my pacemaker and I'm not sure if the sensations I actually feel are AF or something else.

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purple profile image
purple
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8 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

AF normally presents as an irregular and chaotic pulse but since you have a pacemaker you won't know about that so only an ECG will prove it since the PM keeps the ventricular rate nice and steady. Because the atrium can continue to fibrillate you may experience strange feelings in your heart whilst still having a steady pulse.

Elaine1951 profile image
Elaine1951

Chaotic heart beats. V scary you don't want it !

Feels like having a nest of rats playing baseball in your chest...

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

Mine felt like my heart was doing disco dancing - out of time! I could hear my heartbeat all of the time - but then I just thought that normal as it wasn't until after ablation and I awoke the following morning I panicked because I could' their my heart. LOL.

But then I didn't have Pacemaker but Hubble does and he cannot feel AFalthough the readings from his PM say he is in AF for about 1% of the time.

Fenderman profile image
Fenderman

Hi purple

My symptoms start with a feeling of being very warm on my face faster breathing with lung pain and a fast irregular pulse.at times its like im beating in morsecode!!

When ive gone to A/E with it they dont getalarmedabout high pulse irregular pulse they just monitor me for so long and then when norman again ssend me packing!

I think you will find we are all different in what happens when we go into AF.

Good luck

Rich

DiyChas profile image
DiyChas

I may be unusual but I don't notice anything. I use the AliveECG app daily and it indicates possible Afib.

My cardiologist has me now (2 weeks) on Eliquis and I have been taking 2.5 Bisoprolol for a couple of years (since I had 2 stents inserted - one is now blocked).

I road bike enthusiastically in summer (30-60k), changed from running to fast 8-10k walking (due to low back pain) a couple of times a week and play golf in summer (walking) 4-5 times a week.

I resisted a blood thinner for a while as was advised couldn't take NSAIDs at same time. However, my cardiologist said ok to arthrotec and other NSAIDs infrequently.

Too early to be conclusive but am feeling less Afib with more moderate exercise.

Am coming to the conclusion, thru research, that really hard/long exercise (enjoyes getting heart beat into 180s) up until my late 50s (am now 71).

I am also becoming convinced continual moderate exercise and good diet are crucial to good heart health and reduced Afib indications ... in my case.

Are there some of you would have similar characteristics?

constabule profile image
constabule

Dont know if following helpful -

I am guessing many folk experience different feelings and effects on the system.

My first known attack was back in August. I woke with bad palpitations felt washed most of the day

(put that down to warm weather) happened again next day , though a Sunday decided to get checked and kept in hospital for a few days . Diagonsed with AF and given a stack of pills.

Had two cardioversions in as many months things seem a little more settled 0 fingers crossed , but Every so often feel thumpy and fluttery inside , but seem to cope better with it now.

heather-7 profile image
heather-7

At first I felt my heart pounding. Now that I'm on meds when I feel Afib( I don't always feel it) I have to urinate every 15 to 20 minutes. My EP says this is due to a hormone that causes this to protect the heart. Hopefully after an RF ablation this may stop or lessen. I had a cryoablation last June and since then 40% of trouble spots had reconnected. Hope the RF works.

Heather R

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