Every day I feel I'm going to black out. This constant pre-syncope is getting me down. My gp just gives me pills, saying it's just anxiety.

[Gwersey]

Afib. Anti-depressants.

[BobD Volunteer]

Change your GP. This is unacceptable. Have your had a Holter monitor to see what is going on?

[Gwersey in reply to BobD]

Yes a 24 hour one.Two weeks ago. Not had results yet. It was ordered by a private consultant I saw. When I mentioned the pre-syncope to him, he told me to see my gp as he doesn't believe it's Afib related.

[Gwersey in reply to Gwersey]

I'm on my third lot of anti-depressants, or third type I should say. Latest is Prosac. I took 2 doses but it caused vision disturbance so I discontinued it. I'm not depressed, nor overly anxious, except when have episodes of Afib and syncope.

[doodle68]

Hi Gwersey , that must be horrible for you and I have experienced a similar thing myself during a bad episode of P-AF .

What do you do when it happens, if you are near a tap try running your wrists under cool water and breath slowly and gently....

[Gwersey in reply to doodle68]

Thank you doodles68. But this is happening every day, or at least 5 out of 7 days. So very tired of it now.

[mavisrich]

yes bi was like that until i changed when i took my blood pressure pills because my bp was going too low. aso it helped when i started relaxing good luck xx

[Gwersey in reply to mavisrich]

Thank you mavisrich.

[JC56]

What a horrible feeling for you to have to deal with. I agree as above that it could be blood pressure related. After reducing my bp pills that also helped me too. Other suggestions would be to ask for a heart rate monitor over a longer period - minimum 5 days or get hold of a Kardia device (some GPs are starting to provide them now but I appreciate that they are expensive) just to see if you can catch the rhythm. There is also this new patch that records ECG but sorry I forgot the name - it is on the AFA website. Another "left field" suggestion might be to do a food diary. Sometimes a food sensitivity might be a trigger. For me it was fish but it will also reassure you that you are eating well. As it for being "anxiety" well who wouldn't be anxious, its a normal response to an abnormal situation, you don't need a label, you need an explanation. At the very least the GP should explore this with you. Yes, sometimes we can all feel dizzy if we unconsciously breathe too rapidly and it would do no harm to practice, "Breathe+" is a good free App if you have a smart phone so perhaps give that or something similar a try, but you need more answers from the Drs. Ask for a Vit D check too and also ask if you can take Magnesium supplements, they may just help but Im not a clinician so its only a suggestion. I hope someone has checked your iron screen too as anaemia or other vitamin deficiencies might be at play - I am thinking Vit B12 deficiency in particular but again these are only suggestions and not advice. Your GP should be the person you can chat to about these but if not perhaps try the practice nurse instead. good luck.

[Gwersey in reply to JC56]

Thank you so much for your detailed and informative response jc56. I appreciate the effort you've to give me some answers and suggestions.

[jondeanp]

I went through a period of daily feeling of light headedness (fraction of a second). I didn't realise pre-syncope is a term used. I just had to google it!

I went to the doctor. Through the usual tests i was told i had had high blood pressure (only just above "normal" levels & high cholestorol)

I think these issues were unrelated but the doc got me on the tablets straight away. No opportunity to look at lifestyle, diet etc

I eventually took myself off the medication and addressed my lifestyle ( exercise & diet ). I was in a fairly stressful job at the time which i couldn't really just walk away from (although one GP did actually tell me to change jobs!!). Easier said than done.

I had not been diagnosed with AF at this point, this was diagnosed a few years later, however i do remember saying to my GP that i felt my heart doing odd things, but this was not followed up. Previously it had been said to me that i was "one of these people that see something on the TV and then believe that they have it". This was because i had gone to the GP about my fluttering heart( by coincidence) only a few days after Tony Blair had been reported to have had treatment for an arrythmia

I also recall seeing a new GP. He was reading through my notes and it said i suffered with anxiety. This was completely new to me. I think the previous GP had just written it but not told me. I'm the most laid back person in the world. I think the only anxiety is when i am trying to get answers to what my symptoms are. I'm sure most people must be the same. That's why we go to the GP in the first place isn't it?