Is it normal to feel weak after an A-Fib episode? What else should I be aware of?

[TwoLuckyStars]

46 year old diagnosed with Arrhythmia, SVT and A-Fib in September 2016. Had an ablation after my heart went up to 250 bpm. I'm new to this health site and diagnosis, and would appreciate any and all feedback. I was told I have paroxysmal Afib, still unsure, but been having scary episodes. Episodes can feel worse on certain days. Help! The symptoms i have scare me.

[BobD Volunteer]

Attrial Fibrillation is a very mongrel condition and affects people in many different ways. Paroxysmal AF is often more symptomatic than permanent as the switch from normal sinus rhythm (NSR) to AF and back can be traumatic. Some who are permanent may feel mild palpitations or actually have no awareness that they have it whilst others with PAF can be rendered incapable even to the point of collapse or black out during events.

One of the allied symptoms is a feeling of impending doom and serious health anxiety which needs to be addressed by consideration of CBT or mindfulness, even to hypnotherapy in extreme cases.

If you go to AF Association website and read all the fact sheets available you will start to understand that in general this is a condition which can be survived successfully but which does tend to limit or change one's life. Knowledge is power and power to eleviate fear.

Ask here any questions and we will try to help but the short answer is yes you are normal.

[TwoLuckyStars in reply to BobD]

Thank you! I was starting to think I was going crazy. Especially when the episodes start, It makes me super focused on how I'm feeling. And I am trying to be more knowledgeable and gain some relief, and this helps me a lot. I'm in tears, because I don't want anything bad to happen. Thank you and I will check that out.

[CDreamer]

Hi, yes you can feel very fatigued (not weak which has a different medical meaning) during and after an episode. If your heart rate goes high it is can have to work as hard as if you were running a marathon so you can take 24-48 hours to recover - least that was my experience.

Do you monitor yourself ie- take BP, SATS & Kardia?

It can be a good idea because if you have guidelines as to what to get concerned about to seek medical attention and when you can ignore symptoms as long as your numbers are within guidelines I found to be really helpful.

Some people are much more symptomatic than others so the main symptoms are normally breathlessness especially on exertion, palpitations, fatigue rather than weakness. BP can become very volatile when in AF or can sometimes go very high or very low and often readings you get from the automatic machines can be a little unreliable so you can’t really take them as certaintities when you are in AF.

Other symptoms can include pain/ache in chest area, clamminess, dizziness and feeling generally very unwell. If you have any or all of these symptoms then you should seek medical help for monitoring.

Episodes can feel terrible but be relatively benign whilst others can be have few or nonsymptoms. Because you feel bad doesn’t always mean that episodes are immediately life threatening but they can feel as though they are so knowing your own body and knowing when to seek immediate help and when you can sit it out is important and only your doctors can advise you what would be right for you.

Hope that helps, best wishes CD,

[TwoLuckyStars in reply to CDreamer]

Hi CDreamer. Thank you for your reply. I do monitor myself at home. But when im at work, sometimes I'm not able to do that. When I do, I take an EKG (hand held device) and it's normal. according to my Dr. The type of A-fib in have is hard to catch. Which sucks! I have been to the ER, Urgent care and with my dr. and they said I'm fine. Tests are ran. and they come vacn normal. But my Dr. did notice the rapid heart rate. I'm not good at describing how I'm feeling. So I would say more fatigued and exhausted. With the episodes I get, my electrophysiologist advises me to bare down, find things that will calm me. He said I'll be alright. I'm waiting to see a cardiologist, and will see what he tells me.

[doodle68]

Hi TwoLuckyStars welcome.

I too have Paroxysmal AF . It started with the odd isolated episode that went undiagnosed for many years. Then 2 years ago episodes became frequent, I was officially diagnosed, started taking medication and made lifestyle changes to help my body to cope.

I guess you could say I have 'grown into' my P-AF. The long episodes which have severe symptoms including breathlessness and shaking leave me feeling weak and drained but no longer cause me fear or anxiety, they are just an inconvenience .

I have learnt when an episode starts I need to slowly do any essential tasks around the house then to lay down and use relaxation techniques and distraction. I do breathing exercises and listen to the radio or read. If I am lucky I might sleep.

I only take beta blockers for rate control and an anticoagulant, no rhythm control . The beta blockers have lowered my heart rate to a tolerable approximate 130bpm during bad episodes.

I found once I got rid of the fear and anxiety of P-AF and took control it is something that can be lived with without too much disruption to my life

[Finvola]

I also have PAF and found episodes to be frightening and debilitating. In addition, AF causes the body to get rid of salt - and hence water - so frequent, copious urination is likely during episodes. The vagus nerve links the heart and gut and can cause pain, bloating and diarrhea during and after an episode.

A lasting effect for me is a super-awareness of what my heart is doing or trying to do - since starting Flecainide more than four years ago, I have no AF but I still mentally watch my heart. ☹️

Edit - pressed the wrong key and posted too soon.

Controlled breathing is a very useful method of calming the heart and mind and I use it extensively if I feel an ectopic or think I’m not breathing properly.

The best defence you can gain is knowledge, both about AF and about your personal reactions to it. Best wishes

[TwoLuckyStars in reply to Finvola]

Thank you for your reply and knowledge Finvola. Anything for me at this point is helpful. So I can learn to cope, until I see a cardiologist. I'm afraid to also leave the house, because I'm aware of my body. I know when I'm about to have an episode. Some say I may have a combo of anxiety and afib. Which make me dealing with this worse. I hate to say that. As I'm replying to you, I feel pretty fatigued. I do do breathing techniques and use oils to calm me. It works. Sometimes i have to really focus on relaxing. I dont wanna pass out. I hope i dont.

[Finvola in reply to TwoLuckyStars]

Yes, I was terrified to go out alone at the start - scared of what might happen and worried about embarrassing side effects - involving toilets. Small steps was the answer for me - a short trip to a local shop where I knew the staff, could ask for help and knew where the Ladies’ room was. I suppose it is all about trying to regain confidence and feel more in control of things.

I have two mantras - on good days I tell myself ‘today I can .......’ on less good times ‘this too shall pass’.

[TwoLuckyStars in reply to Finvola]

Does your blood pressure elevate during your episodes? This is scary. And all I can do is cry sometimes.

[Finvola in reply to TwoLuckyStars]

I have naturally low BP and episodes made it go even lower which added to the rotten feeling. I could never get an accurate reading on my Omron monitor until I went back into NSR. Have you had any input from physicians regarding your raised BP? I would certainly mention it as it may not be an issue - which might help to put your mind at rest.

[TwoLuckyStars in reply to Finvola]

I have. and the ER dr put me on a deltiazem. He said it will help my blood pressure and chest pain. I never really had a problem with my blood pressure until my afib started happening. I dont like it. And I know the rotten feeling you're talking about.

[colliedog1 in reply to Finvola]

Hi finvola, have just read your post, very interesting.. I have just had another episode of fast AF.. You sound much the same as me... I have flec now as pip... It helps but not quickly enough. Or am I being impatient... Your post is very helpful.. Thank you... I hate this AF.

.

[Finvola in reply to colliedog1]

Hello to you, my favourite dog!! Always had collies - wonderful creatures.

I've never used Flec as a pip, only as a daily dose of 2 x 100mg and it certainly has helped me immensely. I don't know how long it takes to kick in as a pip but there are numerous posts from people who use it. Try searching at the top right for Flecainide pip and see what it throws up. I seem to remember someone posting about taking a low dose pip and waiting 45 ???? minutes or so then taking another up to the daily maximum of 300mg.

But, you are safer if you discuss the method of administering the drug in your case with your cardiologist as we are all different and react to the drug differently.

Best wishes with it - I think it's safe to say you are not alone in hating AF!

[Hidden]

I think your profile and post suggest you had an ablation for SVT in 2016.

You are now having episodes of tachycardia but the EKG looks normal? That brought to mind when my EP said my EKG looked normal but the echocardiogram he did at the same time confirmed his suspicion I was in atrial flutter.

Atrial flutter and tachycardia can be a consequence of ablation. The difference is they are regular tachycardias. Does this sound anything like your situation?

[TwoLuckyStars in reply to Hidden]

I forgot to mention atrial flutter. I wasnt aware of what was hppeneing to me until I was rushed to the hospital. So they ablated me. The electrophysiologist mentioned that I have a little bit of afib. But it didnt concern him much. But now ... its concerning me. And yes, to answer your question.