Please....
Age....how old were you when diagnose... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Age....how old were you when diagnosed with AF
Written by
jillgloucester
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75 Replies
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59.
BeancounterVolunteer
57
72
I was 45. My mother was 66
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37
56
48
I was 67
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69 but probably it first appeared at 63.
Diagnosed at 61, had it since 52.
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72
54 (8 years ago).
40
32
55 but think I had had it since mid 40s
Diagnosed aged 55, but believe I'd had it long before then.
58 ....... I know I've had it for longer
51 but i'm pretty sure i has similar issues many years before that that were undiagnosed, at least 10 years or so beforehand, so it could be 40.
Thank you for all your comments , amazing how young everyone was, especially the 30s and 40s! I'm 60 just got diagnosied 4 days ago... Gutted of course! I had ectopics before but not for a good nine months . Thought I was out of the woods until 4 days ago! Saying that I did feel some stuff going on, but docs don't take much notice! Thank you again,, I know I will think of some more questions , so be prepared ha!
in reply to jillgloucester
I,m waiting for an ablation, i have ectopics and svt, ignored for 12 years until the big attack for which i was hospitalised. I,m 70.
jillgloucester in reply to
Sorry to hear that del.....This is what I wonder! If they had realised earlier could they have stopped things being so bad now? Hmmmm....??
Doctors seem to drag their heels all the time!,,,!!
jillgloucester in reply to
Was it heart attack?
in reply to jillgloucester
I was treated by GP for stress o was so went along with it. Think I'd had mine about 10 yrs so mid 40's prob
I was investigated for an irregular heartbeat in 1994; I wore a monitor for 24 hours. The specialist said, 'I can see that it is happening, but there is nothing wrong with you.' Finally, in April this year, I got a proper diagnosis and treatment. Hence my username. I wonder if they didn't take it seriously in the past.
They kept telling me too, that my ectopics were nothing!!
What did they give you to treat it???
sod all basically. they just said there was nothing wrong. I kept reporting it to my GP when I went to see him about other things, and he just shrugged and gave me rueful smile. then in April this year I had the med centre rushing around in circles; couldn't do enough for me. I take Bisoprolol and warfarin now. I am not sure whether we have finished experimenting yet though.
Snap I am 60 as well although I had symptoms for the last two years on and off Interested to hear of your journey Having been on bisoporol and Flecanide for 8 weeks we are now trying Sotalol before going for ablation referral Apparently I have Atrial flutter as well This has come as a big shock to me and AF attacks are currently happening every two days now Just as well I am now retired
Best Wishes
Kelvyn
67 but had it for longer just not diagnosed
65 ..... that was 7 years ago BUT had 2 and half years of massive palpitations before that. (I'm 73 in this coming Sept).
I have to say I was diagnosed by my local A & E in 9 hours from onset. No stuffing about - brilliant GP who initiated hospitalisation, brilliant A & E team too.
The speed of diagnosis I am convinced has been critical to the severity of my paroxysmal AF and it has not progressed. I have now been AF free for over 2 years thanks to meds and massive changes to diet.
John
Ianc2 in reply to
Can you give us a bit more information of the changes in diet that you implemented?
Ian
Batbara in reply to
Hi John , could u you share the changes you made to your diet.
I'm always interested in new information.
Thanks, barbara
in reply to Batbara
Hi Barbara and Ian,
OK - well firstly the symptoms that occurred when I became aware of the link between vagal nerve, food and AF. These were massive, massive and painful bloating around the heart area of my chest. also, diahorrea, very loud and unsocial unacceptable intestinal gurgling and burping. Not all at the same time, all at random and in no particular sequence. The most common was the massive bloating. Like I was in a garage with an airline attached to me inflating me.
I have to say when the bloating occurred my blood pressure rapidly increased - my normal is around 126/72 with an average heart rate of 65. When I had the bloating my BP would jump within hours to anything up to 160/90. The heart rate was unaffected. I would then feel as sick as a dog. It would then take 5 days for the BP to revert to normal. Then I'd feel fine once more.
Because of the similarity with IBS and Coeliac Disease my GP had me checked out for these two conditions but I was all clear. He offered to do more tests but I declined. Instead I consulted a Nutritionist.
After carrying out some basic tests she put me on a course of Probiotics and suggested I go Gluten Free and Wheat Free. She also suggested I look at the FODMAPS diet. Much later still in Feb 2014 (some 3 and half years after seeing Nutritionist) I cut out all added sugar, my choice not the Nutritionist recommendation.
From the time I saw the Nutritionist I began experimenting with food and keeping a diary. The following went OUT - runner beans, baked beans, peas, anything with Gluten and Wheat and Oats in it (this list is almost endless). This included I might add all English traditional ales. In fact the only beers I can drink now are Tiger beer and Peroni. Also soft cheeses, yoghurt and a good many fruits went out. (If you 'google FODMAPS you'll understand what I mean). Raspberries no good but strawberries - yes ! and clotted cream are fine. Pork is out ! Booo hoooo - no more crackling.
Initially, cutting out foods which aggravated the vagal nerve was not negotiable. It just had to be done. Bread for example. Strangely the worst were most of the range of 'brown wholemeal, seedy type breads. The best for me to have was any sourdough bread. So I occasionally have that - well toasted - today. Otherwise I stay with a Gluten Free Crispbread. I can handle occasional nuts like salted cashews and salted peanuts. I cannot handle most other nuts, Almonds, Walnuts etc etc.
Chinese Foods regardless of MSG is a problem and the range of this food I can safely have is limited. Thai or Indian spicy food is right out. A nice so called healthy salad with lettuce and other forms of rabbit food is out. Onions are out - yet - shallots are no problem and I find a radish very soothing on my gut.
Rice is best. Little or no processed meat.
This has been a monumental task and is still very much a work in progress. I just have to be aware of anything and everything I eat. But it doesn't stop me enjoying life BECAUSE I now have no AF. Yes I do have an AF induced damaged left atrium and I'll always be on warfarin ( my new forever friend) but hell I still work, driving a bus 30 to 40 hours a week and I still pass my annual bus drivers licence medical, even though all my medical frailties have been and continue to be declared to DVLA.. I'm active, travel, often to my family in Australia and even survive a partial knee replacement.
BUT all this is thanks to getting this rotten mongrel AF controlled.
Hope this is of interest to you guys.
John
Ianc2 in reply to
Hi John
Thanks for the impressive reply. I have had a similar experience which had a very random set of medical diagnosis. Like you I was tested for Coeliac and IBS without success and stumbled along on a voyage of discovery leading to dumping of all wheat products but I can still get along with porridge. I too have random blood pressure but I hadn't linked it to diet. I note your comments regarding sourdough bread - Tesco in my area have some new 'free from' fresh sourdough cob bread -expensive but very tasty.
I will chase up your fodmaps suggestion. My Cardiologist tells me I am Asymptomatic and is currently trying to find out what my heart is up to at the moment. I have had heart valve replacement and an ablation for flutter a year later - which worked until I took some antihistamines and the afib came back.
Now the irregular rhythm is back but seems to be becoming more regular again. I try to avoid any thing which is processed because of the additives which are chucked in, usually avoid alcohol as it is usually a trigger, and drink decaff coffee.
Thanks for your post . It has started me thinking again
Ian
in reply to Ianc2
Hi Ian, Very interesting - will have a look in my local Tesco for that bread and give it a try, although I find generally 'Free From' bread too dry for my palate.
I'd love a plate of hot porridge - but - if I did I'd have a half day occupancy of the bathroom. Yep, its that bad for me.
Like you, when I was diagnosed my Cardiologist stated in writing that I was at times asymptomatic. I rely on my blood pressure monitor which incorporates an AF detection feature as approved by NICE to confirm if I am in AF. So far nothing for a little over 2 years.
You maybe interested in googling 'Neurocardiology' a fairly new department of medical science which seems to be linking the brain with the heart brain and the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system and the vagal nerve. The Dana Organisation have an interesting description of this.
I have also read of various organisations in the US doing research into the digestive system, some even going so far as to refer to it as the body's 2nd brain.
Hope things improve for you.
John
Ianc2 in reply to
Hi John
Are you following a high fat low carb / paleo type diet? I have been looking at various publications with particular regard to the role of lectins as a defence mechanisms in plant foods, as in if you eat lots of plants with high levels of lectins your body will initiate an inflammatory response. Most cereals qualify along with tomatoes and other nightshade veg?
Ian
in reply to Ianc2
Hi Ian,
No, I do not follow a high fat/low carb diet nor a paleo type diet. At least, not intentionally.
Some items within these diets I do have but most I find upsetting or I just plain to not like. I have only about two nightshade type vegs - potatoes and in moderation tomatoes.
The only cereal I have is rice.
The purpose of my eating plan is to calm the vagal nerve, not - for example - to loose weight. Whatever I eat is based on trial and error and very much suits my body. If the vagal nerve is calm, if it is not inflamed or in any other way aggravated then my heart will remain calm and out of AF.
This approach is not a one off approach, my advice was not to follow this food plan just for once until things are fixed - BUT - it is ongoing, as in forever.
John
I was 57yrs and my mother was 81yrs
I was 57yrs and my mother 81yrs
Diagnosed at 57 but had it for 5 years ago probably 52 also had symptoms not diagnosed during my 20s when I was having my children. My sister has just be diagnosed at 63 but has had it for at least 8 years so again early 50s. My mum complained of the same symptoms in her 50s but was never actually diagnosed with it.
47
mumknowsbestVolunteer
I was 50, and my mother was 60 when diagnosed but probably had it for longer
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61
45...
65 had it for 2 years
Hi, I was 46
66, I think, but I have nieces and nephews diagnosed in their 30s!
Hi Jill, just realised that I was only diagnosed 2 weeks ago - it seems like at least 3 weeks! I'm 66, but I'm sure I've had it for 6-10 years already, just small, isolated incidents. Have a private appointment to see Dr Saha at Nuffield between Glos and Chelt next Wednesday evening. No news from the AF clinic. Hope you're doing ok. Let me know if you'd like to chat via email.
Hi Kath,, I've only just seen this sitting here, sorry late getting back to you. Yes, we can do email.. Jill_395@hotmail.com, hope to hear from you soon...
I would love to know all about your experiences and how you get on with the doctors etc!!
I feel I have no one to ask questions about it.. GP don't want to see me, so all I have is a telephone call from them next week!!! Thank goodness this site is here!
Look forward to your email , that wAy will be much better..x
I am 56 just got the diagnosis letter.
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46
57 but feeling symptoms for a year before
Hi. I was 66 but think I had it for about a year before diagnosed.
I was 65, but was diagnosed with premature atrial contractions at 38. Had little tachycardia on and off for years.
56
First af at 62, second at 68. Ablation about 5 weeks ago. Only know if it's worked if I don't get another episode.
70, after a dizzy episode with low BP 82/61 and resting HR 140 with palpitations, possibly linked to a dizzy spell 14 months earlier when low BP (80/60) was misdiagnosed as being over medicated for high BP.
49, and my dad recently at 86 (but he probably had it for quite a while and is now in permanent AF)
Diagnosed at 64 but started around 50
I was diagnosed at 59, but had been suffering from PAF since 55 I now realise. Now I am 65.
My GP didn't refer me till I had a bout of AF in the run up to a breast cancer operation aged 59, then they pulled out all the stops to get that sorted. At the rapid access cardio clinic, there were tests galore, ending by giving me daily aspirin and verapmil as a PIP, now discredited treatments.
How do you live with AF
How much exercise is good when in AF?
Feeling you get when AF is about to start 
How long have you had AF?
