AFIB, my testimony

[Lien-Ju]

Good morning everyone it is 10:00 in France and I would like to share with you my experience with AFIB.

Let me introduce myself, my name is Julien, a 23 old vigorous and active guy living near DisneyLand Paris, I dedicate my time to improve my mental and physical knowledges.

My first experience with AFIB has started in March 2018, I was at the office around 7:30 pm when I felt that something was wrong, I felt stressed and oppressed and I couldn’t understand why and where it came from.

As far as I remember, around 8:20 am I started to feel a pressure in my chest and some “Blip” I deduced that my heart was skipping a beat.

The day after I went to see my doctor who told me to run/swim/fly to the nearest hospital.

After some exams they gave me a pill and everything get back to the normal, according to the cardiologist anything could lead to paroxysmal AFIB and I didn’t have to worry a lot about it.

Since, I became paranoiac and I used to check my rhythm, to document myself on AFIB and to try to understand how stress could lead to AFIB.

Anyway, 7 months later and 2 days after my birthday I felt something was wrong in my chest while I was sleeping. My girlfriend drove me to the hospital around 5am and they told me to not worry about and practice some yoga.

The point is, 3 days later I was breathless when I was eating or speaking or walking and I knew something was wrong (trust your instinct guys) and this time I decided to see a private cardiologist.

The cardiologist made some test, it took 2 minutes to see that I was back into AFIB.

I explained my situation and the wrong diagnosis that the hospital made 3 days, he told me to consider the cryoablation as a solution to get my life easier. I was freaking out about ablation because to me heart surgery was something big.

Then I decided to do it because I couldn't live a life full of stress and constantly ask to myself how many time do I have before the next AFIB attack?

Here I am today, 3 months and 1 week later, it is still hard to accept that my Resting Heart is between 74-95 (was 55-70 before cryoablation) but I think everything is normal and it is a part of the healing process (at least I hope).

I would like to thank all of the people on this forum (and especially BobD).

I use to read the posts related to AFIB testimonies, stress managing, self-development and others topics that I find useful for myself. I know each person is different but I don’t feel lonely anymore since I discovered this forum.

Cheers, Julien

[meadfoot]

Good to hear the ablation has worked for you and you can return to normal life. Best wishes and thank you for telling us of your journey. Wishing you a heart calm life.

[Lien-Ju in reply to meadfoot]

Thanks for your support meadfoot, I appreciate!

[Hidden]

Hi, thanks for taking the time to tell your story.

I'm sure that your heart rate will return to pre ablation rate in time. I think it was more than 6 months for my heart to stop being angry with me an my HR drop back to my normal zone.

Best wishes

Mike

[Lien-Ju in reply to Hidden]

I guess Time is my best friend for now, thanks for your feedback Mike! I appreciate.

[Kaz747]

Hi Julien

Welcome to the forum. Glad to hear that things are now under control. Heart problems can be tough to deal with at any age but it must be extra hard being so young. Sending you best wishes from Australia.

Karen

[Lien-Ju in reply to Kaz747]

Hi Karen, thanks to this forum it becomes easier to be connected with other people who are dealing with those problems. Thank for your support I appreciate, have a nice day!

[jeanjeannie50]

Welcome to the forum Julien.

Your higher heart rate should settle soon, it's often the case that it can take many months to settle back to what it was before having an ablation.

Do you feel that you have more energy now?

Wishing you a healthy life, free of AF.

Jean

[Lien-Ju in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean, it tends to reduce some days and increase a little bit others (this is why I don't fully understand I thought it will reduce day after day).

Today I have more energy, I guess AFIB was there to tell me that I needed to change my lifestyle (better sleep, stress free, more reading) thank for asking. And thank you for your support!

[Hidden]

Thank you for relating your experiences which will be a great help to other forum members. You probably have already seen it, but I’ve added a link which refers to elevated heart rate after an ablation. Can I suggest you try not to be too vigorous and active because it is well known that extreme exercise does not sit well with AF. Best wishes.......

heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

[Lien-Ju in reply to Hidden]

Hi Flapjack, thank you for the attached file, it is full of information and helpful to understand most of the side effects. Thanks for your support!

[BobD Volunteer]

Merci boucoup for telling us your story and I am so glad we have been able to help you. It must be hard to face this at such a young age as AF is usually considered an "old person's" condition but as we know that is increasingly proving not to be the case. I just wish that hospitals would consider this and not just assume that people are being paranoid or hysterical.

[Lien-Ju in reply to BobD]

De rien ! I hope the hospitals will stop to eradicate the "age factors" and as you said stop thinking people are paranoid. Few weeks ago I discussed with a nurse who told me that her husband had AFIB since he was 10 years old and doctors constantly told him that was impossible because of his young age. He was a professional tennis player and one day ambulancers found him down on the ground, breathless and couldn't take his pulses. Then they started to consider it was AFIB.

[planetiowa]

My resting heart rate went from about 52 before ablation to 95 right after and then it gradually dropped down over the next several months. It's around 58 a little more than a year later- so just slighty higher than it was before.

[Lien-Ju in reply to planetiowa]

Hi, thanks for sharing your recovery story, it is exactly what I needed to read this morning. Keep it up!

[Altius]

Hi Lien-Ju! I am also part of the young afib club. Had my first episode when I was only 21. I'm 28 now and just had my cryo-ablation last week. So far so good! I have the raised HR and occasional ectopics, but my ectopics are much less intense than pre ablation. Best of luck to you and long may you remain in sinus rythym!

[Lien-Ju in reply to Altius]

Hi Altius! I am glad you finally made the cryoablation, according to what I found on this forum is it life changing!

Welcome to the next comfortable years of your life, don't hesitated to send me a private message if you have any questions.

Best regards.

[Cutie1]

Thankyou for sharing it’s do encouraging your story

[Lien-Ju in reply to Cutie1]

You're welcome Cutie1, I hope it will help you. Keep listening your body and your heart and you will be fine. Cheers!

[Hidden]

Have you figured out why you developed AF? Do you have a genetic predisposition, perhaps too many espressos, too much wine? Knowing your triggers for AF is sensible. Dehydration was an important one for me.

[Lien-Ju in reply to Hidden]

Hey Oyster! I think it is because of several years with no sleep, really high level of stress (from my 10 years old). And 2018 was bad: drink/smoke/no sleep. I think my emotions are controlling me most of the time.

[Kellyjelly]

What a lovely uplifting post, I’m so happy that you are on the road to recovery. I’m not as young as you but I did first start with this condition at the age of 17 so I know how isolating it can be.

I’m new here and I can’t believe how friendly and supportive everyone has been and how positively it can change how you feel when you know you can reach out and find support.

Wishing you continued good health and recovery and thank you for sharing this part of your journey, it has been a real help to read about another person post ablation and doing well!

Bonne chance!

[Lien-Ju]

Bonjour Kelly! Thank for your comment I appreciate, this community is very supportive as you said and I would like to share my journey with all of you. I hope it could help some people.

Take care and stay strong!