BrianGuitar

Hi I am Brian retired 71 years old I had two AF attacks just over 2 years ago and I have just had one more last week think it was stress on the Motorway home, I find your forum very informative and it has helped me reading what other people who like me suffer from AF, thank you all.

[jennydog]

That's a very kind post. Welcome to our world.

AF can be an absolute pig of a condition but by gaining knowledge you can learn how to cope with it. Bob always says that it won't kill you and you need to bear that in mind. Stroke risk is the biggest problem so ensure that you are adequately anti coagulated for the rest of your life.

Very best wishes.

[Hidden in reply to jennydog]

Hi jennydog thank you and yes stroke is the one to watch out for with AF keep your blood thin.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Don't get me started Brian. Anticoagulants don't thin blood them merely stop clots forming. Welcome to our world and be sure to go to AF Association main website and read all you can.

Out of interest, who is treating you and what drugs are you on.

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Hi Bob D i am on 7.5mg Warfarin + 2.5mg Bisoprolol, St James HospitalLeeds, i know it does not fine your blood but stops clots!! All the best.

[P0rtnahapp1e in reply to Hidden]

Hi Hidden , everyone here is very helpful, but, as in any group in society we are a disparate lot. We even have some pedants.

Call them "thinners" if you wish. We'll all know what you are talking about. It isn't the hanging crime that it's made out to be in some quarters. 😂

[Hidden in reply to P0rtnahapp1e]

Hi this debate on blood thinning is causing quite a stir among our members, but what's a better way of discribing it !!

Talking of being lucky only having 3 AFs in 2 years, I have terrible arrhythmia and I have paroxysmal AF but have the same risk of having major complications such as a stroke as people who have permanent AF.

All the best Brian

[gillyflower13 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Brian I am a young at heart but older in age lady who has put up with af now for nearly 20 years!!!!!!!!! I have been prescribed every tablet now that is availabe to us!!!!! At last I am going to have ablation and i sincerely hope it works!!!!! If it doesnt tnen im going to shut myself away in a monastery!!!!!! That at least would be more interesting than a nunnery!

I will keep you posted.

Best wishes

Gillyflower

[Hidden in reply to gillyflower13]

Hi gillyflower13

I like your sense of humor, and do hope your ablation works for you, keep me posted

All the best Brian

[gillyflower13 in reply to Hidden]

Hii Brian thank you for your reply - I have been low in health and spirits the last few years especially when my lovely husband died in 2011. I decicded to call upon my sense of humour to help me thru the bad times. So far it has helped even tho my health has not been good. Have a good day and I will keep in touch.

Gillyflower

[bambi57 in reply to gillyflower13]

hi Gillyflower i was the same as you had AF for a few years in the end medications didnt do any good so had an ablation 3 months ago doing great so far good luck and i hope it works for you as well

[gillyflower13 in reply to bambi57]

Thanks bambi I thaught I would never be af free after all these years - it is good to read about other sufferers that now feel so much better

Gillyflower 13

[Redders in reply to gillyflower13]

Hi gillyflower13, I also have suffered from AF for 20 odd years ( seems forever ) but had my second ablation 30th June this year. I'm feeling fine at the moment When do you go for your ablation ?

[gillyflower13 in reply to Redders]

Hi Redders have only just been referred to a cardiac specialist and knowing how long the waiting lists are at our local main hospital i would think I will end up on the end of the list!!!! It's s helpful to know that im in the "line". To be af free would be wonderful!!!!!

Gillyflower 13

[Redders in reply to gillyflower13]

I was 9 months on the waiting list. Seemed forever but so glad I had it done. Hope you don't have to wait too long. Val

[bambi57 in reply to gillyflower13]

i was 6 weeks i live in Tasmania and had to go to melbourne for the procedure

[Jamila123 in reply to BobD]

The blood is clotting is effected

Outcome

If blood INR to high extremley high chance of bleeding out within any part if the body

End result the same

Thats why health proffesionals and patients will call them blood thinners

[Hidden in reply to BobD]

Hi BobD hope you are well, the BHF booklet Atrial Fibrillation page 24 Quote, you will need regular blood tests while you are taking warfarin to make sure that your blood is thin enough

Yes I know it does not thin your blood but what's a better way of describing it, all the best Brian

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Yes it frustrates me because some people believe that it thins your blood so that it might leak out spontaneously which of course is nonsense. I really don't know what is wrong with anticoagulant once you can spell it. lol Whenever I proof read booklets I try to change it but no-one is infallible.

[bushy2016 in reply to jennydog]

Just a quick reply Im not a profit of doom , but AF can kill you...I was in AF at a heart rate of 210 and had heart failure all organs failed and I was in Critical coronary care for 3 weeks this was all due to me having AF

So all I can say everyone must keep on top of there medication and appointments and not just believe it wont kill you its called the silent killer

[P0rtnahapp1e in reply to bushy2016]

bushy2016 , yes, you're quite correct. I went through a really bad few days, suffering without help, because my GP had told me that no one ever died of AF. When I eventually got to A&E, apologetically explaining my symptoms, I was rushed into Resus, thence to CCU and kept there for 10 days. They told me that I shouldn't have left it so long.

[bushy2016 in reply to P0rtnahapp1e]

Ive also been told if i have AF over 130 bpm for more than 20 mins to dial 999

[CDreamer in reply to bushy2016]

That sounds very scary for you, has it happened more than once?

And it is quite unusual to have such a high, sustained heart rate with AF. I have had +200 HR within an episode but only lasted for a few moments. I have one contact who regularly has SVT episodes of 260+ but knows how to cope with them.

I know of one person who died of AF - a very fit ex-marine who ignored symptoms and carried on exercising and pushing himself to the limit. And we must stress that this is a very unusual occurance.

I think AF episodes feel very scary and it seems to me that doctors now take a high heart rate much more seriously than AF, hence after anti-coagulation second line treatment is to reduce heart rate.

I have probably got rather complacent because I have had so many episodes, I was really surprised when GP called paramedics to me a few weeks ago as HR 150-170. It did unduly concern me as I felt OK and could still function, my concern was I was not anti-coagulated so wanted an emergency prescription.

Best wishes CD

[bushy2016 in reply to CDreamer]

Hi I had ko symptoms other than short of breath

I was aldo diagnosed with a large clot behind my heart so couldnt have conversion I am on so much medication and have AF every day with a 80 to 140 bpm lasting all night

[CDreamer in reply to bushy2016]

That sounds terrible! I am so sorry. I know that it really drains you when it is so frequent and symptomatic.

[traveler65 in reply to jennydog]

jenyydog I think you are wrong; afib can kill you slowly because it changes the size and structure ( the architecture) of the heart which change s various functions and slowly evolves you into heart failure and plaque on the aortic and mitral valve leaves which can be fatal, in fact aortic stenosis is,if not treated, and also aorta plaque is highly correlated with afib and is not a good thing for continued existence,. These plaque areas I mention are due to the turbulence of blood flow in those areas during afib. It is wise to keep yourself in normal sinus rhythm and to keep your pulse below any highly abnormal rates.. Additionally, having an extremely high heart rate, skipping heart beats, having your heart stop briefly then restart, and having premature ventricular contractions if you have too many in a row, certainly can kill you and are all possible in afib. So--not meaning to be a messenger of doom--as that is not the situation--just saying the afib should not be dealt with in a cavalier manner it should be stopped from happening as this is better for your healthy longevity.

[Goldfish_]

It sounds like you're onto the case. Only 2 episodes in 2 years. Lucky you!

Hopefully you've looked into pill in the pocket flecainide, so you have something to abort any future episodes, since more af begets more af.

[P0rtnahapp1e]

Lizty , the people who are irritated by the "misuse" of the word thinners are perfectly entitled to their view, but does it have to be expressed EVERY time the word is used? You just know that, a few minutes after the aberration there will be a correction, which distracts from the poster's original point and must leave them feeling that their wrists have been smacked. Not a good introduction to the group.

When these people were at Primary School they probably corrected children who talked about lead in their pencil. Who cares? We, of all people should realise that life's too short for hair splitting 😩

[Lizty in reply to P0rtnahapp1e]

Hmm... yes..... I used to get irritated by the grocer's apostrophe.... but, as you say, life is too short to correct every box of 'apple's and pear's' !

[CDreamer]

Hi Brian, thanks for introducing yourself, welcome to our forum, don't hesitate to ask any questions or contribute with your views or experiences, we all learn from each other.

Best wishes CD.

[Jamila123]

Welcome

Yes i too have PAF so far had one event

I do hope you find it helpful here

As for the "blood thinners" i can see why you say this word

Many health professionals actually use this Term all the time

Because its important to know since patients can have bleeds due to the blood not cloting due to the anticoagulants

So its no big deal my friend 🌺

Use what term you like 🌺

[Dadog]

Welcome Brian. I'm intrigued by the 'Guitar' part of your name! Has it any musical connotations?

David

[Hidden in reply to Dadog]

Hi Dadog, yes I love acoustic guitar, did not have time when I was working so when I retired I needed a hobby so took up learning guitar self-taught, it's not easy but keeps your brain active.

[Dadog in reply to Hidden]

Me too, Brian. Skiffled when I was a young aspiring musician - and now play accoustic stuff purely for pleasure and relaxation. Don't give AF, regurgitating mitral valves, etc. a thought when I'm lost in some new blues technique!!

[Hidden in reply to Dadog]

Hi Dadog keep it up music will take your mind off health problems,

The only thing is we are both old enough to remember Lonnie Donegan !!

[Finvola]

Hello Brian and a belated welcome to the forum which has proved such a lifeline for so many of us at diagnosis. As you can see, AF and all its miseries doesn't keep us from being a lively bunch of debaters - but if you need help or support, this is an excellent resource - day or night.

Continue with us - all input is experience to our shared knowledge, which helps each of us.