A perspective after one year!

Today marks one year since afib entered my life,,,the first event put me in the hospital for 5 days to put me in NSR and get me medicated and stable enough to go home,,,so started my life on meds and living with afib,,,,,it was so very scary,uncertain and I was a wreck of anxiety,,,no knowledge or experience with this and not sure where I would be heading in life,,,,made about 5 trips to the ER in the first 6 months,but not afib,just anxiety attacks,tachycardia,or nothing,,,,it was an upsetting time,,,,,BUT things have improved in the second 6 months,,,have read as much as I can about afib and the meds,,,have changed mine 3x searching for less side effects,,,,have also changed cardiologists and EP to find doctors I feel comfortable with,,,it has been a long road,but there is hope,,,,this site has helped immensely,,,I read it daily,learning and feeling more comfortable with myself,,,,,I have more acceptance of who I am now,,,yes,I am not the same,yes,I have afib,,,,but I am okay with that,finally,,,,,and it is a good thing to share with people in the same situation,,,I thank all of you for sharing your info,your feelings and your support!!! I am a 69 year old wife,mother and grandmother and have hope for the future!!

[Rellim296]

It's good to hear this. It does take time to adjust to having AF in your life. It sounds like you have managed that and are getting right on top of it and being in charge.

[Hidden]

Well done, it helps me to regularly focus on the positives AF has brought e.g. a more sustainable healthy life through less stress, better diet and supplements that I otherwise would not have achieved.

[Hidden]

Great inspirational post that will be helpful to many......best wishes, John

[CDreamer]

Happy anniversary, not one to exactly celebrate.

So pleased for you that you have come to some acceptance and have been so pro-active. Finding this site was the beginning of coming to terms with ill health - such support and information available.

Keep looking forward.... xx

[Finvola]

Good for you - you have taken control and have come up positive. Great post - thank you.

[Hms1946]

I too was knocked sideways when first diagnosed with AF last October- really frightened and upset. Am on Apixaban and Bisoprolol. Have now come to terms with condition and in the main am coping pretty well. Your post was inspiring giving hope to fellow sufferers. I am of similar age and situation - there is life (and lots of it) with AF.

[Hidden in reply to Hms1946]

Seems to be about looking at the glass as half full instead of half empty!!

[Hidden]

I totally agree with you that AF once diagnosed is an awful realization that there is a fault with your heart. This forum is such a blessing as it makes you feel that you are not alone and the diagnosis of 'palptations' that the doctors make is more than that to you. Oddly enough after years of 'strange' episodes that I had the fact that five years ago after an especially bad episode ending up with me in A and E and then 3 days in hospital, I had the diagnosis of pAF and started treatment and it all became less frightening. So soldier on take the medications and enjoy life it's a beautiful world!!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

So be it!

[Hidden]

Wish It were that easy,,,,EP says due to extra weight I carry in abdominal area,he would not advise surgery due to high bleed risk at entry site,,,I need to,lose about 40 lbs,,,,,and also am not in constant afib,,,have never had a second documented episode although I know there have been one or two this year,,,,it's the metropolol that causes me havoc,,,,,and all other beta blockers,,,my system is ultra sensitive to meds,,,,also not happy with the blood thinners but I understand I have no choice here,,,so,I Live with HR 48 to mid 50's and a lot of weird stuff,,,,,

[IsobelBrown54 in reply to Hidden]

Hi,

I too am considerably overweight, but was told I could have an ablation, but as I have had no episodes of Afib for 18 months I have been discharged by EP.

I was eventually told and have read studies confirming that losing excess weight reduces the frequency and severity of Afib. So far I have lost 2 stone during the last 12 months and have had both my bisoprolol and my blood pressure medication reduced because of my increased fitness. I hope that if I lose more of my excess weight that these medications could be stopped completely.

I also meditate twice daily and believe a calmer quieter state of mind also reduces blood pressure and the likelihood of Afib.

I find that feeling I am taking measures to improve my general well being gives me a sense of positivity and a feeling that I have some control over my health. Also as all invasive procedures carry some risk I would prefer to avoid them if I have the power to improve the situation by other means.

I was first hospitalised with Afib in November 13 and at first felt frightened and doomed, but now don't spare it a thought. I only wish I had known that there are ways for some of us to greatly influence our Afib and that, it does not always progress to a permanent state, as I was told.

I wish you all the best on your journey!

[Hidden in reply to IsobelBrown54]

Thank you for your input. I believe you really are on the right track. My EP also feels weight loss can aid to much improve afib.I also have anxiety issues and deep breathing and general efforts to be calmer seem to have much to do with less afib!

[Polski]

As you don't have many events, why not ask if you can try decreasing the amount of beta blocker slightly? Minimum reduction, then wait for a week or so for body to adjust, then if you're feeling a little better, try another very small reduction - all with doctor's agreement of course.

We all react differently, so the standard amount isn't necessarily the best for you.

[Hidden in reply to Polski]

I am on minimal dose yet EP refuses eliminate a beta blocker,says there are worse things out there to deal with. I also take benicar past 15 years for hypertension

[Hidden]

I am in the USA,in Pennsylvania with excellent insurance added to Medicare so I too am not sure why the EP had that restriction, Also had 2 heart catheterizations in the last 15 years that showed no issues and had no puncture problems,,,sometimes doctors take odd stances