Hi, just found this, and all the writers wrote here at least one if not more years ago, can they write again, and say how they are getting on NOW!
I was just diagnosed about 6 weeks ago, my husband hardly lets me out of his sight, I think I am taking it all calmer than he is. I just want to be me! and get on with my life!
If I want to go anywhere, he want to drive, if he wants to go anywhere, I have to go too, I don't know how I am going to stand this. I am - always have been a bit of a loner.
On the other hand I don't think my 'grown up' children realise the seriousness of A-Fib, and I am not sure how to tell them. Any suggestions?
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Af2017Hn
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Hello and Welcome to the club that no one is clamoring to join I think that once your husband sees that you are getting on well, he will push down his panic a bit and see that you can have a perfectly wonderful and normal life in spite of this diagnosis. Well managed AFib (making sure that you keep it under control with either meds or ablation plus healthy lifestyle) does not affect one's life expectancy. The most important aspect is stroke prevention. Hopefully you have a good EP (electrician of the heart) who will help you make the best decisions. As for your grown children, the most important thing you can tell them, is that there is a hereditary component, so healthy eating, adequate, but not endurance, exercise, stress management, and good sleep are the foundations for keeping it at bay. As with everything your DNA may stack the deck, but it is lifestyle that can reshuffle the cards. My adult kids are happy that I have not let this run my life.
To address your query about previous posters giving their current status: Well, I was diagnosed with paroxysmal A Fib in 2002, and had very few events for the first decade, and then progressed to an all time high of 18 episodes in 2013, and then with lifestyle changes that backed down to 7 episodes in 2014. In 2015 a bout of pneumonia sent me into persistent aFib and so the next month I had an ablation and have been aFib free for the 2 1/2 years since, just living my happy life! Live your life, and keep a healthy lifestyle is my best advice to you! Be well!
How old were you when you had your ablation? I don't know if I have it all the time. I don't feel that different. I am thinking the ablation for me is not worth the risk.
Hi Af2 6 weeks, it's early days yet isn't it and the AF is still at the forefront of yours and your husband's minds. As the weeks pass and you get used to your new status as an 'Afibber' it will gradually become less of 'a thing' .
I have had episodes of Paroxysmal Afib for many years but I ignore them until just over a year ago when the episodes became more frequent and prolonged and I had to face the fact there was something wrong. I was 'officially' diagnosed last May.
Now I get on with my life, things are not quite the same as they were because I have daily medication to take, a beta blocker which helps to slow my heart rate down and to keep my blood pressure down too and an anticoagulant to help protect me from blood clots.
I have also changed my lifestyle taking more exercise , eating sensibly,losing weight and avoiding stress and appart from the odd episode of AF (which I have learnt to manage without getting stressed ) I feel well
My family, (I have one married son) know about my episodes but we don't make a big thing about it. I have been widowed for many years, live on my own and value my independence and they know I won't be fussed over.
With regard to telling your children, the AFA provide an excellent booklet here which you can apply for, you could show that to them ..
So the problem could be that your husband has an acute anxiety state. I suggest you discuss with him whether it would help if he saw his GP.
Second you talk about "the seriousness of atrial fibrillation".
In time you will understand that when properly managed it is not as serious as you imagine. You have a condition that will only prevent you leading a perfectly normal life if you let it.
My husband was exactly the same as yours to start with, hanging around outside ladies loos on campsites, sending somebody in to find me if he thought I had been too long. Now, four years later, if an episode starts at bedtime he will quite happily turn over and go to sleep!
I was diagnosed with Paroxsysmal AF two years ago. Before that I had occasional episodes for many years but until I got a Kardia recorder was unable to get it diagnosed as it eluded every monitor I was issued with. I am on Flecainide and Apixaban and over the years year have had A few episodes of short duration . I have seen an EP and offered an ablation if I wanted it but have declined for the time being ( I’m a coward) and I’m managed well on drugs. I see a specialist AF nurse practitioner every six months for an ecg and bloods. I’ve never considered it a serious condition and explained it fully to kids and husband , I’m not going to drop dead any time soon. I agree with the other posters, healthy lifestyle, exercise and avoiding triggers , alcohol can be mine and also sleeping on the wrong side. Otherwise apart from having to take meds three times a day for this and also Polymyalgia which I manage with the use of plastic daily pill boxes, this thing doesn’t really impact overly much. I walk my dogs as much as the other illness allows but I never allow this condition to define me.
Hi, hello and welcome... I'm still here, several years on, indeed I had a bout of AF on 2 January (happy New Year me!), but you do get used to it. In fact, my hubby has a heavy cold and was full of his own woes - in fact, he has decided now that I'm 'imagining it all'. Not that you want yours to get to that stage, there must be a happy medium! I'm sure your husband will calm down once he realises you're coping fine. Take it easy...
I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AF when I was 62 (16 years ago). after the initial shock and with the help of Warfarin and Flecainide I carried on normally with my life experiencing AF attacks at various intervals varying from weeks to months.
Just over 2 years ago my AF came and decided to stay. On the recommendation of a private cardiologist (who was a Rhythym Specialist) I agreed to accept permanent AF.
These past 2 years haven't been too bad. I have changed my medication. No more Flecainide ,which I discovered after stopping taking it that it often made me feel quite ill and instead take Bisoprolol and Apixaban.
I do feel tired quite easily with not too much energy but am not sure if that is due to the medication, the permanent AF or the fact that I will soon be 79.
Anyway just to say that accepting permanent AF is not to be feared.
Love the Forum .don't often write but always read religiously.
Happy and hopefully healthy(well reasonably healthy 2018)
Where are you living? Maybe there is a support group in your area. My husband was the opposite to yours and in complete denial. I forced him to become more knowledgeable!
Thanks to everyone who has written. I am getting more used to this, and tried to tell hubby that I am not in the least tired! and on the day when I got my attack, I felt exhausted all day.
My doctor is doing his best for me, and I have nothing to complain about. I know I have to lose (more) weight, I did lose 4 stone previously, and now need to go back and lose another 3 stone.
We live in a beautiful area, in fact we are on a walkers route, in a little area called Portaferry, Co Down, Northern Ireland. It's at the end of a long peninsula, I have not heard of any groups, but thought I would enquire, and if there isn't one, see about starting a group!
We are artists and potters, so both have worked from home, most of our working days!
I am also on Bisoprolol and Apixaban. I have not tried anything else, but these seem easy to take, and I have my mobile alarm set to remind me to take them!
I don't see my email every day, as my PC is in my 'office' which is in the garden, and we don't get great reception in the house! so excuse me if I don't answer your emails.
4 stone! That is impressive! I'm sure you can do it. I also have gotten used to it. At first I was the one who thought I would drop dead at every corner! Luckily that stage passed and I am quite cavalier about it now. The main thing that sends my BP up is Trump. If we could get rid of him I think I'd feel quite normal.
Hi. I have been a "member" since about 2012......The support here has helped me immensely. Like your husband is about you, I was extremely anxious when first diagnosed. One of the first things I did was re-write my Will and put my house in order, so to speak....apparently this isn't uncommon!! I was too terrified to do anything much initially, in case I started IT off!
I am in PAF now, and have got used to it all, to a point.....
Welcome to this new journey, you weren't planning on taking.......but you will be in good company on here!
Hi it's natural for him to worry and it's natural for you to want to be 'normal'. I'm not normal because I've had AFib on and off since 1984. It hasn't been constant and for the most part it hasn't caused me much of a problem. I do object to my body bouncing off the pillow on occasion though! Seriously, you really shouldn't let it rule your life as it is very treatable and essentially non life threatening. Good luck with your journey xx
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I think that once your husband sees that you are getting on well, he will push down his panic a bit and see that you can have a perfectly wonderful and normal life in spite of this diagnosis. Well managed AFib (making sure that you keep it under control with either meds or ablation plus healthy lifestyle) does not affect one's life expectancy. The most important aspect is stroke prevention. Hopefully you have a good EP (electrician of the heart) who will help you make the best decisions. As for your grown children, the most important thing you can tell them, is that there is a hereditary component, so healthy eating, adequate, but not endurance, exercise, stress management, and good sleep are the foundations for keeping it at bay. As with everything your DNA may stack the deck, but it is lifestyle that can reshuffle the cards. My adult kids are happy that I have not let this run my life. 
6 weeks, it's early days yet isn't it and the AF is still at the forefront of yours and your husband's minds. As the weeks pass and you get used to your new status as an 'Afibber' it will gradually become less of 'a thing' .
Back in A-Fib 
a flutter ablation versus a fib ablation
