Is fluttering part of AF please ?

[Janna501]

I’m sorry to be back asking for more help,

But I have a new development that is adding to my fears.Each day, out of the blue, and not in AF as I know it, I am getting an awful fluttering in my heart. I tend to freeze and take a breath, being afraid that I’m going into it ! So far it has passed without doing that , but if I’m out I have to walk very slowly, and if I’m at home I don’t move for quite awhile because I’m afraid . It strikes fear into me, wimp that I am ! so far it has only lasted maybe a minute or so , but enough to make me fearful. Do others experience this, and is it AFib, part of afib or something else, and am I likely to go into the full blown event if this keeps happening?

I’ve recently had my meds changed to 1.25 Biso. Twice a day, and Flecainide 50mg midday.

I’d be so grateful for your input .

[BobD Volunteer]

This all sounds quite normal in the wonderful world of AF. You need to learn how to take your pulse and see if it is fast and regular or in some other way irregular. You also need to accept that these things will happen and learn to deal with what is now you as best you can. Nobody knows when or if you may have an AF event but it sounds like these feelings are very transient which sounds encouraging.

[Janna501]

Thank you Bob for your wisdom. I think I am afraid that when my heart does that, it could stop ....!

[Hidden in reply to Janna501]

Ive dealt with a fib for 2 yr now and have found it isnt as scary as time goes on. Hang in there! The beast is an ugly demon, but we learn ways to beat it back both physically and emotionally.

[Janna501 in reply to Hidden]

Hope to get there! Thank you

[Hidden in reply to Janna501]

You will. Im amazed that now, a fib doesnt consume my every thought every day. I think it just is a process. But knowing fear and anxiety fuel the fire helps in not allowing fear to take over

[GrannyE in reply to Janna501]

Don’t worry it won’t stop. Sounds like AFib to me but isn’t it good that it drops out of it again? I think deep slow breaths help to calm it and it give you something on which to focus. I agree that it is a good idea to look on Sanjay Gupta’s website. He is very practical and it can be reassuring. Good luck

[Finvola]

That sounds very familar to me and could be ectopics which are premature beats. When I get several ectopics together it feels like the left side of my chest is wobbling and shaking. Everyone gets ectopics, some feel them more than others.

Unfortunately, anxiety about heart gymnastics tends to make things worse. If you can, try to carry on normally (easier said than done) and breathe. Flecainide should be your friend there and keep you in rhythm.

There are some good videos and posts on ectopics and an excellent breathing exercise which is very relaxing. If you use the search box at the top right for Gupta ectopics, there are many threads referring to Dr Gupta and his superb advice.

[Janna501 in reply to Finvola]

Thank you so much , I’ll try that. It feels as if there’s a huge butterfly in my heart trying to get out !

[Nanabrodie]

Since my second ablation seven months ago and still AF free 🤞🏼I get the same feeling most days . When it happens it often starts quite suddenly and at the time it is a bit scary thinking AF is back. Mine usually comes on in if I’m a bit anxious, nervous, excited or sometimes if I’m walking quite fast or if I’m very tired (which these days doesn’t take much) and I’m trying to work my way through it. It seems that anything that get the adrenaline pumping brings this on.

[Janna501 in reply to Nanabrodie]

Thank you nanabrodie, it does sound the same. It’s reassuring to know it won’t necessarily jump into afib, so I need to try to control that rush of fear adrenaline!

[Flyer2820]

Hi Janna501

Your description of the problem sounds exactly like what you get with AF. I often get that problem, you just have to learn to live with it. It's what we have to put up with in AF. The secret is to not worry about it. It will only make it worse. Difficult I know but the only solution. Once in AF there seems no long term way out of it.

Sorry for the doom and gloom but that's the reality.

All the best.

Flyer.

[wilen]

It sounds like atrial flutter. I used to get bouts of it lasting 5 minutes or so. Check your pulse when it happens - if it`s fast but regular, it`s almost certainly flutter.

A heart valve replacement cured my flutter. Ablation sometimes works. See your consultant.

[Janna501 in reply to wilen]

Thakyou for replying . It all helps ..

[Ianc2]

I had an ablation for flutter which worked. My Ep said that flutter ablation is relatively straight forward as it does not involve punching a hole through the septum