Living with Afib

[Snnapdragon123]

I am on Apixaban twice daily. I have permanent afib. Heart rate

and pulse both okay. Has anyone else just managed like this

and not gone through proceedures....l am 71. Can l survive with

only anticoagulants? I feel okay. Just wondering.

[10gingercats]

Well over 80 and still travelling plus living a pretty full life.I also have perm Afib. and take Apixaban.Had perm Afib for many years. I find keeping upbeat in spite of various reasons to be downbeat helps a lot. I am also disinclined to acknowledge 'ageing'.My attitude may not be for everyone but it how I manage to live a 'good' life.

[Contra21 in reply to 10gingercats]

Whats perm afib?

[CDreamer]

I think you have your answer, your feel ok therefore you are ok.

Treatments for AF are purely to improve quality of life and if you are in permanent AF that means that you and your doctors agree that nothing more needs or can be done to stop the AF. The Apixaban is a prophylactic treatment to reduce you risk of stroke that is very important but it won’t affect the AF.

[Bagrat]

If it works for you it is the right way. I agree that to keep on keeping on seems to work. Social interaction makes a huge difference I feel.

[RoyM]

Been in permenent AF for over 3 years now and take Apixiban and 1.25 Bisoporol once daily. I am a 72 year old male. My resting HR is 60-65. I cycle, swim chase my 6 yesr old grandaughter around and walk 5 miles a day (weather permitting lol) I was offered but declined invasive treatment including an Ablation and up to now don't regret my decision. I can't do all the activity quite as vigorously as I once could. Is that just the aging thing...who knows but I am happy where I am at this moment in time. Cheers Roy

[SpritzerAce]

My mum just turned 82 two weeks ago. She has permanent AF may be since 6 years ago. She is on Bisoporlol and Apixaban. She is living her best life. I don’t know how she does it. I have paroxysmal AF and slightly more than half her age. But she is coping way way way better than me. She is active, very positive and always keeps herself busy with gardening, cooking for the family, vacationing and fussing over her under 10 years old grandkids (she has 3 and 1 great grandson). They way I see it - she eats in moderation, is enjoying life to the fullest, spiritually strong and is very positive. Gosh! I wish I could emulate her!! But what I am trying to say to you is YES you can survive with anticoagulant especially when you feel OK generally. All the best.

[Marytew in reply to SpritzerAce]

I was once advised by a doctor that the younger someone is when AF occurs the more impact the condition has on them because (generally speaking) they will have been working and, possibly, been used to being quite active which means the contrast when AF strikes is more pronounced, but that someone in your mother’s age group may have been adapting to the condition over a period of time and, consequently, adjusted accordingly and seemingly better. I accept it is a bit of a generalisation but I thought you were being a little hard on yourself 😊

[Love100cats]

I'm also on anticoagulant twice daily as well as all the other heart tabs for just over one year. I'm 78 do not working but I've noticed over time I am stronger but I have to Pace myself. I'm a full time carer for my husband. I have home help 4 hours per week. I do a job then sit for 30mins. I have a good read by my chair. I have ready meals so that if I do feel more tired than usual I can microwave. I have learned to close my eyes for jobs I can't manage. So pacing and prioritizing is the way to cope, I think! I may be wrong!!!!

[rothwell]

I am not sure how you have permanent AF if, as you say, your your heart rate is OK. Surely AF means that your heart is not OK and is "fibrillating" i.e. is in an irregular rhythm permanently. I do find these paroxysmal and permanent definitions somewhat confusing.

[Thomas45 in reply to rothwell]

Paroxysmal means in episodes. You normally know you have paroxysmal AF. Heart rate is both irregular and fast. Episodes can last minutes or days. At all other times your heart beats normally.

Permanent means continuous AF, without any time when the heart beating normally, but your heart rate is slower than paroxysmal AF.

I am only aware that I have permanent AF, because I previously had paroxysmal AF, which at some stage between annual consultant appointments became permanent. Prior to being permanent it was described as persistent, but as medical interventions don't have any effect on it, it's described as permanent. My heart rate is on the high side of normal, anywhere between 70 and 110 bpm, but I can only feel if I feel my pulse, or when my left ear is in a certain position on my pillow, if I'm on my left side in bed. I only take an anti-coagulant. My choice is Warfarin. I had a very rare side effect to beta-blockers so they were stopped by the doctor, otherwise my heart rate would be slower. I am 74 with other ailments, including Asthma for 45 years, lymphoedema in my lower legs, and chronic urticaria triggered by beta blockers. I lead a normal, relatively active life. (Apologies for any missing "e"s, due to a wonky keyboard.)

[rothwell in reply to Thomas45]

Thank you for your reply...I have an episode almost every day which lasts anything from half an hour to 2-3 hours. Heart rate fluctuates from 80's to 110. I take a 2..5 Bisoprolol in therror morning and another one if the episode doesn't end after an hour.I alsof take Apixaban. So I'm really not sure if I have Paroxysmal or Persistent AF. Have been waiting for a second ablation since July 2018.

[Thomas45 in reply to rothwell]

You still have Paroxysmal AF as it comes in episodes. You also have time between the episodes when your heart beats normally which is called ibeimh n Normal Sinus Rhythm or NSR.

Both Persistent and Permanent AF indicate that the heart is I'm AF continuously, with no time in NSR. If the patient and medics agree that further treatment is possible the patient is deemed to be in Persistent AF.

If they agree that there is no further treatment possible the patient is deemed to be in Permanent AF.

[DuckWing]

As the others have said I know it’s possible to live comfortably with Permanent AFib, but my question to you is do you have any side effects from the Eliquis, like bleeding issues or hair loss?

[Snnapdragon123 in reply to DuckWing]

Hello, sorry for the late reply. I'm on Apixaban and def.

noticed hair loss. My doc. says this is not due to the

Apixaban so l'm somewhat stuck with this. I've not

noticed any other side effects. What a business this is!!

Hope this helps.

[Judyrs]

I have paroxysmal A fib. I take Eliquis and Flecainide, both twice daily. I do bleed more from cuts and bruise rather easily, but nothing unlivable.

[Hidden]

I have paroxysmal AF and was told by an EP that unless my AF went on for over 12 hours there was little risk of stroke (I still got persuaded to take a low dose of apixaban as the doctors are very pushy but it makes me feel tired a lot of the time so I"m thinking of giving it up again!) However, if you have permanent AF you do really have a risk of stroke so you should keep taking the anticoagulant I'm afraid- good luck with it- If you don't get on with the apixaban, there may be one that suits you better.

[Hidden]

ps- when I get an AF episode my pulse is really weird and heart rate high so I am surprised that you say your heart rate and pulse are fine yet you have permanent AF!

[Snnapdragon123]

Yes, heart rate and pulse are okay just now but as time goes on l may find l need something else. I have heart

monitor on just now for 24hrs. Hate all this drug dependency but l need to accept the situation.

Thank you for your response.