The joys of P-AF (not)

[doodle68]

A beautiful morning and I thought I would pop to Waitrose for some fruit before starting to dig and line the runner bean trench with compost and bang !!! into P-AF confirmed by my Kardia

HR 133 so could be worse.

Tried drinking a glass of cold water very fast, no result,

....tried Valsalva 'bearing down holding my nose' manoeuvre, no result,

.....tried an extra beta blocker, no result .

That's it then for the next 10-15 hours, I will content myself with sitting down and cleaning out some kitchen draws while doing measured breathing exercise then a spell on my Yoga matt trying some gentle positions that I am teaching myself with the aid of videos. With a bit of luck I might fall asleep if my peeing every 5 mins doesn't prevent it. So, the day isn't completely lost.

This is only my second bad episode of P-AF since December when I had 2, so 2 in 3 months an improvement from 2 years ago when I was getting about 4 episodes a month. I am hoping that is down to lifestyle changes.

One thing I have noticed that is new, prior to these last two episodes I have had a kind of a warning the day before with a couple of spells of a fast regular heart rate , a sort of warm up for the main event

Yes folks, you can live with P-AF even when it is symptomatic once you conquer your fear .

[Hidden]

AF has such a needling sense of timing!

[TamlaMotown]

You are such a good role model to us newcomers of the vile AF Doodle. I hope in time I can be just like you. You seem so cool calm & collected 😉

[doodle68 in reply to TamlaMotown]

Hi Tam thank you but you wouldn't say that if you could see me later staggering down the field with the dog breathless and slightly disorientated on my shaky P-AF legs

Still I look back on the jibbering wreck I used to be during an episode of P-AF and I cope so much better now

[Fibfab]

Poor you. I hope you feel better very soon 💚

[Finvola]

Lovely, positive post on a horrible subject, doodle. You are so right and fear is the common factor we all share.

Well done you - I hope it passes quickly and you can get to the important things awaiting you. xx

[jeanjeannie50]

Enjoyed reading your descriptive post Doodle, but sorry to hear you're having to put up with being in AF. Just typical on the first sunny day for a while!

Hope you're soon back in sinus rhythm.

Jean

[S11m]

When you get the warning symptoms - do you take more medication.

Do you monitor your pulse rate etc. to give you warning?

[doodle68 in reply to S11m]

Hi S11 I only noticed the short runs of rapid heart rate the day before a bad episode before the last 2 episodes, it is a new thing for me after many years of P-AF. So no I didn't take anything not that I have anything to take.

My GP suggested I try taking a beta blocker when I know I am in P-AF but it doesn't do anything to lower my heart rate at that time or to terminate an episode.

I Don't have a PIP ( heart rhythm control medication like flecainide ) in order to be prescribed one I understand for the first dose I would need to go into hospital and I won't do that unless I really have to.

I do take an anticoagulant permanently and that gives me a degree of reassurance

[jimmysouthgates in reply to doodle68]

A beta blocker will not convert you back into NSR. In my opinion GP's understand very little about PAF. You need an anti arrhythmic like flecainide or amiodarone. Why has your electrophysiologist not prescribed one as a PIP? You dont necessarily need observing for 1st dose at all. Thanks for sharing though and hope your well by now

[doodle68 in reply to jimmysouthgates]

Hi Jimmy it was suggested I take an extra BB to lower my heart rate so at least the episode is not so unpleasant . I have never seen a cardiologist let alone an EP , that's, now how things work here its a long story .

[jimmysouthgates in reply to doodle68]

In my humble view I'd make sure you'd see a cardiologist at the bare minimum. GP's dont appreciate AF at all. Go private if need be. I appreciate this is at cost and I don't know your situation but this is beyond the scope of your GP. If your GP resists maybe next time when you have a prolonged episode and this pains me to say go to A&E, "hopefully" a cardiologist will discharge you or at least see you with a follow up appt. Take care, J

[Hidden in reply to doodle68]

I saw a Cardiologist privately last July, who started me on Flecainide 50mg twice daily. I started at home and was followed up 2 weeks later to check my ECG. I’m now back under NHS care & apart from a couple of half hour blips, have been in NSR since. I have instructions to take extra as a PIP if necessary, but deep breathing with the half hour blips into AF has dealt with it and I haven’t (yet) had to resort to PIP.

Pat x

[Peddling]

You are so right Doodle. I went on the People’s March yesterday, never giving a thought to my dodgy af which kicked off on the way home. I suppose it was a bit scarey and unpredictable, but I made it home ok and was so pleased I made the effort. There were many older folk with Zimmer frames, walking sticks and mobility scooters. Youngsters too with mobility problems and who knows what. I actually felt like a spring lamb until the Adrenalin ran out. I guess my af problems paled into nothing compared with the efforts others had made, despite their health issues. Fear conquered, for now.

[wilsond]

Ridden the storm together doodle! The only day this week hubby could help me make some raised beds...af/ woozy started..so I sat on bench and directed a bit,carried on..sat a bit..blahblah...went away in the end like an ignored tantrumming toddler!! Im.too busy for this at the moment!!😀

[doodle68 in reply to wilsond]

Hi Wilson hope you are feeling better now , my demon left after 9 hours so I got of lightly this time .

[wilsond]

Thank you yes,went off afterwards! Xxx

[AmbieBambie]

Hi, What does your AF feel like? And what is p-AF? I have very symptomatic SVT (getting Ablation) and now got a kardia & yesterday & now saying possible AF. Wondering if the potassium supplement my doc prescribed contributed or if kardia is full of it. I have been having chest fullness & cramping, and feels flutters/ jumps/ irregular beats & like light headed/ dizzy feeling some times. Was in urgent care for shortness of breath & hr shooting up 3 days ago. And yesterday again I couldn’t stand up without my heart jumping to 140, just standing doing nothing !

[doodle68 in reply to AmbieBambie]

..Hi Ambie P-AF is paroxismal AF the type that comes and goes.

It feels like a fast irregular heart beat pumping away in my chest rather like being beated with a small hammer on my chest wall. Episodes make me feel breathless, light headed and shaky. If I check my pulse it will be fast and irregular .

I average about one episode a month lasting up to 15 hours, they are unpleasant and inconvenient but I have got used to them.

[AmbieBambie in reply to doodle68]

Oh wow, I think if I have experienced AF the episodes have only been for up to 30 min. That’s if it’s even AF, kardia might be wrong. But that I have felt dizzy, breathless & the vibration I feel like something other than my SVT Is happening. I’m sorry you have to deal with this. I hope they resolve completely one day for you

[doodle68 in reply to AmbieBambie]

Ambi I have been using Kardia for over a year and have never known it to be wrong. I first check my pulse for P-AF then confirm/record/ log it using my Kardia . I like to have a record of my episodes because I am managing my condition myself with medication and lifestyle changes and need to know if it is progressing or remains stable.

[AmbieBambie in reply to doodle68]

Oh wow ok thank you! I’m going to forward my readings to my doctor then