I have recently been diagnosed with af after a collapse at a shopping centre I have had a cardio scan all seemed normal apart from slightly enlarged chambers x2 had 24 hr monitor fitted which I am still waiting for results of blood pressure is a concern so I am having it monitored for a week my risk factors of a stroke are 0 ive been told but still a concern to me consultant spoke of pip rather than ablation because I only get af now and again something called paroxysmal apologies for spelling lol im 52 and always felt my heart was fine this has really hit me hard getting my head around it I know its a manageable condition but im still really anxious about it been prescribed np medications yet hoping for a miracle pill but will wait and see what occurs ,any comment from fellow sufferers will be gratefully accepted I just need a few bits of advise I don't want to seem a bit weak and soppy over this but I find myself putting my hand on my chest all the time or checking my pulse constantly lol and help will be wonderful many thanks shaun
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Hi Shaun and you are quite normal. AF does go hand in hand with anxiety especially in the early days till you start to understand how it affects you. It is a really mongrel condition with few commonalities so tends to be very personal.
Any treatment is only ever about improving quality of life so don't hold your breath about any magic pills.
Paroxysmal AF (which just means it comes and goes) is the worst kind in many respects as one is constantly on edge waiting for the next event. Many people with permanent AF are asymptomatic but that in itself presents a problem if they are not aware until the day they have the stroke that ruins their life..
At present if your Chadsvasc score is 0 then anticoagulation is possibly more risk than benefit but there will come a time when it is required so don't go wishing too hard.
AF Association have a wealth of information you can down load so read till you drop and then ask us anything.
many thanks bob ,I feel a bit more positive now after my initial diagnosis ,still waiting on consultants decision on my medication,getting my blood pressure looked at Wednesday 27th whether I get put on something who knows mate,had a couple of episodes while at work recently this seems to be the worst place for me so I just stayed calm and relaxed episode didn't ease till that night when I went to bed woke up and it was gone ,no real triggers as such that I can put my finger on but watching my diet and losing weight gradually I have also cut back on my alchohol over the weekend,i will be flying to Ibiza the wife and 2 daughters for 11 night holiday really looking forward to it just concerned that I will have no pip with me or some form of medication for my piece of mind ,I know its a gradually easing journey the more you learn about af the easier things seem I just will be happier when I have some form of medication given to me ,many thanks for your reply bob
Hello Shaun and welcome I am posting a link to the site Bob mentioned, may I venture to suggest you read every section than you will know a lot more about the condition and it will seem less threatening..
I have Paroxismal AF too, P-AF for short and have gone through the 'fear stage' and come out of the other side. I am now a match for my enemy
The best bit of advice I can give you is to be calm when you are having an 'episode', anxiety certainly used to make things worse for me. Learn a few relaxations techniques like slow measured breathing.
You can also take something positive from having AF by looking upon it as a warning from your body and checking what you eat/drink/weigh and stress levels and if need be changing them . I would guess that even with P-AF I am now healthier than I have been for years .
Don't feel 'weak or soppy ' remember most members here have felt the same as you at some time and feel free to ask about anything to do with AF, I found a wealth of experience and knowledge here that helped me considerably when I was first diagnosed.
many thanks for your reply doodle68,i feel more prepared to move on now after my initial fears don't get me wrong I still have my bad days but just keep pushing through the bad times lol still on no meds for p~af though and no definite answer regarding my blood pressure ,im seeing local gp Wednesday hope to get answers he did mention anti co-ags last time so who knows ,my main fear is the stroke risk regarding a
p-af I can handle the palpitation episodes its just that I know each one could form a clot and that is what scares me more than anything really take care
When I first was diagnosed, I wrote a rather dismal note here about my diagnosis and one of the supporters on here that was a long time AF patient and older person called me out on why I sounded so sad about it noting that it’s not the end! Made me laugh and more aware that I was just allowing myself to become overwhelmed. You came to the right place as these folks here are very supportive, polite and informative. Hope it gets better for you soon. 😊🌸
Hello Shaun. I am in the same position as you. Have had an ECG and have a four week wait to see cardiologist. Doctors provisional diagnosis is the same as yours - paroxysmal AF. Have been prescribed Bisoprolol which is making me feel very unwell - going to go back to see Doctor.
Anxiety about this condition is crippling me at the moment. I know I'm making it worse but can't seem to stop it - seems we all get it in the early days. Like you this came as a bolt out of the blue.
Would be interested to hear how you fare.
Agree with another post on here - am going to look on this as a wake up call!
hi purpletara ,I must admit to still having a few anxious moments regarding my P-AF still no decision on my medication yet hope to hear this week really,seeing local gp regarding my blood pressure being high maybe be put on co ags who knows,just will be a lot happier when I get given something to take when I have a episode of P-AF,going to Ibiza on 4th aug so need it sorted by then im not the most comfortable flyer anyway lol fingers crossed take care of yourself
Hi Shaun. Doctor dropped Bisoprolol from 5 mg to 1.25 because I was having troublesome side effects. The second night on the smaller dose i had a bad attack at 2 in the morning which lasted an hour then the fear and anxiety kicked in and at 4.45 i called my daughter and she came around. Got myself in a vicious cycle and went into complete meltdown!!!
Back to docs. Am now taking 1.25 Bisoprolol morning and night and feel much better. Have had one of two episodes during the night but having survived "the biggy" I am coping better with them plus the reassurance from this site has been a great help.
Can understand that you want medication of some kind even though at first I thought the cure was worse than the condition.
Hope the doc does give you something for your high blood pressure because you might have to have it tweaked like I did and you need it sorted so you can have a stress free Holliday.
A fiend of mine collapsed three times with AF. The first time he broke his arm while on holiday in Bournemouth. The second in the street when back home in Edinburgh and fractured his skull. The third time in the Tesco check out queue again falling backwards and fracturing his skull. This time they did find that he had AF and pauses in his heart beat and had a pacemaker fitted
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I am posting a link to the site Bob mentioned, may I venture to suggest you read every section than you will know a lot more about the condition and it will seem less threatening..
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