Symptoms of AF

[Moorso]

Hi there. I'm new to this site snd have been wondering about the symptoms people expriance from AFib. Is it always palpitation or fluttering as some describe. I have recently been diagnosed with AF but don't experience either but have other symptoms. Would be curious to hear if anyone has other symptoms other than those mentioned

[Paddinton]

breathless, can't concentrate, dizziness, strange aches in my arms, chest and face, eyesight greying out, frequently followed by a headache, extreme tiredness and aching all over. Yesterday, it happened when I was sitting in front of a clock, and my sense of time was all wrong, what I though was about 5 minutes, was 15.

[Paddinton in reply to Paddinton]

just to add, my cardiologist thinks mine is atrial flutter (not confirmed yet) rather than SVT (as my doctor thought) as my heart beats stay rhythmic. Triggers seem to be tiredness and stress. Frequently happens when I am relaxed though. Has happened a few times when driving, but, so far, the cardiologist says I can keep driving.

[kitzabella in reply to Paddinton]

do you have an ICD?

[GazzaD57]

I have very few symptoms, breathlessness and occasional fatigue.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Moorso

Just breathlessness and some fatigue, wouldn't even know my heart was in AF without testing it.

Be well

Ian

[jennydog]

I get very cross when people describe my AF as "palpitations." Very specifically, I have never had palpitations. I can be breathless, tired, aware that my pulse is erratic but the main symptom is feeling dreadful - as if the blood and oxygen aren't getting round my system. And I have never had any pain whatsoever.

[Vanna-C]

Yet my AF started with tremendous palpitations, it felt as though there was a drum inside my chest, and a really energetic drummer was going for a record performance! Next came the chest pain, breathlessness and exhaustion. All very different responses!

[Perrylees]

That's so interesting. Mine was like having a bird fluttering around in my chest. Tiredness yes and some breathlessness but not that much .... The fluttering was controlled with bisoprolol but the tiredness and breathlessness were worse!

[checkmypulse]

Can always tell when AF begins, suddenly feel tired, eyes go heavy, can feel heart going like clappers (can feel it more when resting, sitting or in bed), can be light headed or get very quick lasting dizzy spells (just a second or so). Then when it goes it's like a sudden lifting of a heavy oppressive cloud, such a relief. The tiredness dissipates fairly quickly and once again I have that vain hope it's gone for good! Just had ablation 2 so even more hoping going on!

[Hidden in reply to checkmypulse]

Thats exactly how mine feels, Reminds me of being in labor. Havent had an episode since april, praying it stays away.

[checkmypulse in reply to Hidden]

I can't relate to the labor analogy being of the opposite type! That's a good spell without, I see you are on diet changes etc, it seems to work for some. Lets hope you reap the benefit also.

Take care

[ruuthmo]

Never any pain - very lucky in that respect - no fluttering or palpitations, but an exhausting fatigue that is hard to deal with and only improves by taking a nap or having a series of very early nights. Doesn't enhance life really.....................

[Jonathan_C]

The first time i was in a-fib I was in it for 2 weeks and the only reason I did anything was because I noticed my heart rate was erratic on my heart rate monitor I use when exercising. When I asked my brother in law about it (who is a GP) he couldn't stress how quickly I should get to a doctor! I have gone into a-fib twice since. One of those occasions I only picked it up on the heart rate monitor (I wasn't on flecainide then) and the second time I felt a bit of tightness in the chest (I was trying to ween myself off flec).

However, i often read posts on this forum about the symptoms of AF and think they must be about atrial flutter because I never experience those symptoms!

[Elaine1951]

Fascinating to read the different accounts. For me my heart raced so v v v fast indeed and I could not get it back in rhythm at all. V V scary. When finally it came to an end about three hours later I was exhausted as indeed I had in effect run a marathon without the leg movement !

Ectopic beats were a precursor. It also felt like Indigestion promoted it but v job sure. I find magnesium daily and breathing exersizes helps hugely. I've had only two attacks but enough to scare me significantly I read this site everyday and am full of admiration for others suffering daily.

Dr Gupta is a great person to read I take the magnesium from Holland and b my bloods didn't show Iwas depleted but then testing is pretty random I tend to do what I think my body needs Good luck to you

[CDreamer]

Frequent peeing, easily fatigued, sudden drop in BP leaving me feeling as though I was about to black out, breathless on exertion, very conscious of my heartbeat especially when lying down, heart dancing to a disco beat and sometimes feeling I was Popeye when eying up Olive - if you can remember that cartoon when the heart jumps out of his chest and beats very fast!

[KipperJohn]

All very familiar! When it kicks off I get a sort of 'hot flush' followed by increased HR, severe palpitations and pulse all over the place, heavy limbed and light headed. For the first couple of hours there is the need to pee about every 20-30 minutes until my meds bring the HR down.

No pain but general weakness and just routine activities wear me out. Always comes on when sitting or lying down and with no apparent or trigger.

Hope that helps.

[FyldeWhite]

It's great this AF isn't it, because it affects us all differently its no wonder people don't understand. I am very similar to above, most of the time it's just a constant feeling of being at about 70-80 % my normal self With the odd light headedness. If I get what I think of as an attack I sweat very heavily, feels like my heart wants to escape ala meatloaf (see lyrics to bat out of hell) and I can,t do anything other than sit or lie still, thankfully with me that only lasts 20-30 minutes then it's like a switch is flicked and I'm back to normal well 70/80% normal anyway.

[checkmypulse in reply to FyldeWhite]

Yes just like a switch,,,,on and off......and I agree others just don't understand, sometimes the people closest to me. They see you when you are ok and in nsr and cannot relate to the afib occasions.

[jayedeebee]

Very first episode was like a hammering on my ribs, it was so scary. Happened a few times over the next few years. I'm in permanent AFib now. Kicked in after a chest infection. The tiredness is the worst, just feel so exhausted all the time. I cannot walk up an incline in the road, that's a real killer! Otherwise I don't really have many other problems. Occasionially i can't sleep on my left side, or if i bend over i can't breathe when i stand up, which makes putting my shoes on a really not funny. Swollen hands, legs and feet. I can't wear my rings anymore. But I take my meds and get on with it. I don't want my whole existence to revolve around AF. Although AF has other ideas I think x

[Moorso]

Thanks everyone for your replays. It's the extreme exhaustion that I find the most difficult to deal with. Along with friends saying " but you look well "

[Hidden]

I woyuld feel breathless, tired, and often after it was over I would urinate more. Happened almost every time. I felt a heart beat in my neck the first time too. I have never felt pain of any sort. A tiny bit lightheaded and a feeling of anxiety or doom. I often had it happen after eating certain things or lots of stress. or bending over would sometimes do it too.