Give me some encouragement family!

[Vandalbragg]

First diagnosed with Afib in December. 2nd Afib episode in March. Now another one as I write this. Took 200mg Flecainide for the first time as doctor prescribed. 32 years old with no other risk factors. Tell me I’m going to be ok. I know I am, but need that reassurance from the long time sufferers.

[BobD Volunteer]

AF won' t kill you. Fact. Worry can! AF is a long journey and you will probably take some wrong turnings along the way but there are much worse things to have. Get under the care of a decent doctor who understands AF and educate yourself as much as possible. AF Association website is s good starting point. I've been in this game for longer than I care to remember.fourteen years since diagnosis and ten at least before that and t won't be AF that finishes me. Now 73 going on 19 and counting.

[pottypete1]

Not quite sure what you are doing with the Flecainide.

Are you only taking Flecainide as a pill in the pocket?

If you also take it daily then you need to check with your EP as you should not take more than 300Mg in 24 hours.

If you are stuck in AF you might need a cardioversion but for that you have to present at the hospital normally within 2 days. Otherwise you must have been on an anticoagulant for at least 4 weeks.

Having said all that I suggest that you talk to your doctors as we are all different.

Pete

[JaneFinn]

You’re going to be ok 😊 Truly you are. It’s a frustrating and horrible thing when you’re in symptomatic AF ... and when the events seem to be getting more frequent... But you’re going to be ok.

You’re at the early stages of diagnosis and treatment, which can be the scariest because everything is so new (both symptoms and treatment). But you’re young and healthy - and your EP will find what treatment helps you most and that will make all the difference. Hang in there! 😊 Hugs xx

[jeanjeannie50]

Yes you will be ok, so please stop worrying. Easy for me to say you might think, but I do know how awful AF attacks can be and there were times when my heart crashed around in my chest and I thought I would surely die, but you don't. If you get stressed about it you can make it a lot worse and keep the abnormal beating going. Do your very best to distract yourself from your heart rate. Read a book, watch t.v., or ask a friend to come round.

Some people do deep breathing or meditate. Others go to bed and sleep in the hope that they will be AF free when they wake.

Have your tablets worked? How are you feeling now?

Jean

[Vandalbragg]

Thank you all for the kind words. The flecainide worked after about an hour.

[vaga_v]

Hi! This is great community. I was happy to find it after my first PAF. I don't want to give you false info, just to share my experience. Me, female under 60, 2 kids, elderly parents, lot of stress .. 1st PAF in night (vagal?) selfconverted in November 2017 drugs (2,5 mg bisoprol, rivaroxaban) and 2nd in January 2018, (cordarone added) selfconverted. Both time drugs didn't help to convert to NSR, I refused electro.

I asked for 2nd opinion for my PAF. My heart Echo, holter fine. Approved by EC 30 days after 2nd PAFI was off all drugs (my CHAD score 0-1 max and hystory of hyperthyreosis). It was not easy, almost no info about stopping AC. EC said I am aloud to take some "valium" to help me to diggest it :)). I decided to stay PAF free :)).

I add magnesium, kalium, walking, cycling, headspace, from time to time even valium to have a good sleep, etc. and feeling much, much better. Lost few kilos, I appreciate more my "new" body and willing to help heal it naturally.

What is kind of coincidence, 1 month before my first PAF I had a visit at neurogist due some strange headaches. All test were fine. She said I am "very tense" and I should start PT asap, masagges and take "something" before sleep. Our mind makes a difference :))

[Hidden]

Ive been in this a fib situation for almost 2 1/2 yr and am no expert. One thing Ive learned is you have to try hard and manage the anxiety. Ive destressed my life as much as possible, learning to say no at times, learned how to use meditation, relaxation breathing, exercise etc. I did ask my family doc for something for depression, which was an issue pre a fib. Ive been taking zoloft for a year, which also helps with anxiety. I now dont obcess about a fib. I do not fear it, I consider it an annoyance. You will get to that point but I think timeis your friend. The longer you fight the dragon and it doesnt defeat you, the stronger you become. Hang in there, it gets better but it is definitely scary in the beginning days. 💜

[BobD Volunteer]

No AF alone will not kill you. If left uncontrolled for long enough it may result in cardiomyopathy and if that is left heart failure and if that is left OK you may die but that is not the fault of AF but lack of proper treatment. Ditto if you have AF and are not anticoagulated you may have a life threatening stroke. People do not normally die just from AF.

Sadly a few people who are asymptomatic do have life changing or shortening strokes when they are unaware that they have AF till the stroke hits which is why regular pulse checks are so important. .

[Vandalbragg]

I agree with you from what I’ve read john6. Smoking a cigarette won’t kill me, but the lung cancer that may result from smoking could kill me.

[BobD Volunteer]

And those people you mention caused the AF most likely due to the over exercise they do. ( I often suggest to people that they need to maybe re-appraise their life goals.) So does that make exercise a killer?

We know that one of the biggest causes of AF in younger people is over exercise unless you happen to be a fast jet pilot where fighting g force has the same effect on the heart. Cause and effect is complex and difficult to quantify I agree but I do believe the basic premise is sound.

[BobD Volunteer]

Interesting opinion John . Thank goodness we are all different.

[li17]

I agree with John. Though I really don't wanna die from afib or its complications. But with a heart beating irregularly, being told it won't kill me just doesn't make much sense. I still need to worry about it every single second in the rest of my life, and my life can never get back to normal like before I had afib. 'It won't kill you', doesn't make much sense.

[li17]

You're going to be ok - you probably won't die from afib. But you will never be able to live the same life as before you had afib. You life has changed, now you have the rest of your life to worry about afib. Sorry I'm just telling the truth. It's brutal. I'm 37 yo and got afib in last August, my life had never been the same as before, not for a second.

[Vandalbragg in reply to li17]

The good news is it’s not super rare and there are many instances documented of people living for 30+ years with it. Your right though, I’ve never felt the same.

[li17 in reply to Vandalbragg]

Yes, it's sad. I know we can live for decades with this condition. But not being myself anymore, it's just frustrating. The peace of mind, the state of mind, the personality, the freedom, the day to day impact, all costing the quality of life. Since my diagnosis, I had never lived for myself anymore, I live for my kids' sake that they have a father figure. But that father figure is not as the same as the one before, and it probably will not be the same again. I can't tell how much impact it would affect the kids if I had never had this condition vs I now have this condition. But I know it's huge.