Good evening all, well folks woke at 5.30 this morning heart was all over the shop, took 200 grams flecanide tried to get to sleep to no avail. Thought check blood pressure, it was through the roof, ridiculous reading.called 111 after talking to three very nice nurses and a doctor who got me to check it three times and it slowly came down. They sent me to hospital to be checked out everything was fine, my pulse is back to normal and blood pressure is fine. Does anyone else feel totally zapped out after an episode? Xx
Aftermath of AF: Good evening all, well... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Aftermath of AF
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Gillybean123
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Think it’s normal as it’s like doing a major workout from your hearts point of view !
Pleased things are settling, yes it wipes us out take it easy now and rest. Good that you have been checked out and hangs are better.
Yes, I feel dreadfully tired for up to 24 hrs after a episode.
Trying to explain to people that tiredness is likely to be a problem used to be difficult. I now say that as my heart wasn't pumping properly so oxygen wasn't getting to my nether regions.
Morning, have you ever tried telling someone what you have and because they have never heard of it they say such stupid things. People at work just look at you. I think because you have no signs on the outside they don't understand. X
Gillybean it is amazing how people don't believe you. My wife suffers from asthma and quite often had an attack during the night which totally wiped her out during the day so would take just one day off work to get over the lack of sleep etc. When she went back to work people never seemed to believe her as quite often back to normal and could run upstairs the same as anyone else. Eventually, after HR got involved her GP got letters photocopied and signed which she took to work to say she had had an attack and contacted a Doc - quite often she would have to have an emergency appointment the following day to see if she needed antibiotics or steroids but Doc wouldn't normally give a sick note for that as she was quite alright to return to work as not doing manual work and quite able to do her administrative work. Gets very annoying when there are people quite obviously "swinging the lead" who always manage to avoid anything like this and yet they tend to come down on the peope who are ill and would be in work if they could. Thankfully I am retired when all my problems started but do understand how people react. They look at you askance as if to say "well you don't look ill" or "you look alright to me".
Hi, one of my colleagues said to me AGAIN!! When I said I was having an attack. As if you have any control over it. I do everything right, but my doctor said anything can trigger it off. X
Yes again! It just shows how much we let appearances make our judgements for us doesn't it. I understand that everyone is ignorant of the condition unless they have someone close with the same condition. Sometimes though I just wish they would just say sorry to hear that, hope you get better soon. Then they would probably say to their work colleague or neighbour well just saw Des at no 10 or from admin and he keeps saying how ill he was but he looks fine to me! Can't win!
Glad to hear you are okay . After any episodes I have had it takes me sometimes 2 days to feel my old self . Just take the rest time .you will know when your body has recovered .☺
Gillybean123 in reply to
Thankyou. Felt like I was dragging myself around last night. Feel much better this morning but will take it easy. X
Gillybean123 in reply to
Funnily enough I have just this last hour started to feel better.i am still going to take it easy.not going to work tomorrow. X
Yes the aftermath can be awful sometimes.
I believe it is a combination of the poor circulation during the AF, the exhaustion and the stress that all result from an episode of AF. Add to that your high blood pressure and it should be no surprise.
There can be relief too that all is well. Just relax and enjoy your NSR.
I hope all will now remain calm for you.
Pete
Good Morning, it's been here for five days. Feel a lot better this morning. Gonna take it easy and do myself a nice lunch. X
I'm afraid so, I always feel like I've run a marathon. Which I probably have, from my heart's point of view!
Mimiaberdaron in reply to
As far as our poor hearts are concerned they have run a marathon. It’s exhausting.
I hope you are managing to keep your chin up. I used to feel shattered after AF and would regularly lose a couple of days trying to return to normal. The worst episode that I had lasted 11days and it was such a relief to return to NSR.
Since my last ablation the AF is not as intense and the episodes usually last for just a few hours so are bearable although still much to regular for my liking!
Hopefully you are taking it easy and trying to stay calm. Have a relaxing Sunday and take care.
Thankyou Patsy, I need to get back to normal, need to catch up on some housework. Took my bedding off on Wednesday and have not the energy to put clean ones back on. Pathetic isn't it.xx
No it's absolutely not pathetic but normal under the circumstances. I know exactly how you feel as do most people on here. When I had my last long episode of ten days my GP ( who worked as a cardio at the local hospital) took me off flec. and prescribed Bisop. telling me to take a loading dose of 10mg and it worked. That was a few years ago now and I have changed to Nebivolol as the Bisop was draining me. Flec is kept as a PIP at the moment although the EP wanted me to take a maintenance dose, I was not too keen and adjusted it after seeing Cardio privately.
I am so sorry to hear that you lost your hubby which probably increases the anxiety that you feel. Do take care, if you lived locally I would come round and make your bed up.
Fond thoughts, Patsy xx
Thank you Patsy I did it took me four days but I rested in between the sheet and the bedspread. Ha ha. And I have just had a nice dinner which I enjoyed.
Hi Gillybean,
My heart goes out to you(excuse the pun)!!. Flecainide can be a very unpredictable drug, your experience of the AFib episode, well we have all been there, knowing on the one hand that it is not life threatening at least so many people who have never had the experience constantly whitter on! The frightening aspect is when episodes become more and more prolonged, so we wonder each time if it's ever going to stop, and we worry about the damage these episodes are causing. Even though I am 2 years free due to an ablation I still tune in to this forum as it's like a blueprint in our minds, we may never be free of it given that medical science haven't yet solved why it happens in the first place. So I fully support you in whatever you are exeriencing, and it must be gratifying to see so many in this wonderful community rallying behind you. Hope you feel better soon. I used to rest completely each time I had an episode, drank lots of water, a light diet, which helped in my recovery the next day. Some people seem to remain active throughout tbe episode, so everyone is different. Good luck!☺
Hi there, thanks for your reply. I am resting, my dogs are looking at me they will have to chase each other around for a bit.i paid someone to walk them the last two days so they will be fine. The forum is brilliant. X
Sorry you've had an episode. I can sympathise as my ticker behaves like this too, and I always end up having to go to A and E to be converted back. I always feel absolutely zonked after an episode and can feel zombie-like for several days. It does eventually go and I feel human again. Rest a lot and feel well.
Sue
Hi there, I have had AF for 12 years had numerous cardioversions and one ablation. Have an appointment with specialIst next month with a view to another ablation. I have been monitored for days. We shall see. Had nothing for 10 months then had two. This is a sad time for me as it was the time i lost my lovely hubby.xx
I had an ablation in 2012 hubby was on chemo the AF came back in think 2014 lost my hubby then I had the most awful two years of my life. Lost it a bit. Then had cardioversions done. Saw specialists with a view to another ablation. After a lot of talking changed my mind. I was scared, on my own. But have decided I am definitely going to have it done this time.
The 200mg Of Flecanaide causes a fair bit of wooziness with me for 24hrs after an episode which thankfully happens v rarely
I think it is the flecanide that's making me woozy will be back to normal meds tonight. X
Yes it great that it stops it but it does leave an after effect
Had one 4 days ago, took 200mg flecainide after half hour and 5hrs later converted to NSR. Had 3 ablations, 2 for fib and one for flutter. No rhyme nor reason for odd recurrences every few months. Takes a good 24 hours to recover. Hope this helps. (Kardia monitor very helpful in confirming what I pretty much know now already).
Yes!! Sometimes, after a particularly pronounced episode, I am totally spent as if I had been exhausted from a long workout!. I've learned, that afterwards, it helps me to walk around very slowly, gently stretch my arms, back and legs and drink plenty of clear water.
Wipes me out. It is like someone pulled the plug on my energy.
Yes, I do! And even recently when I've tried taking the flecainide 50mg twice a day (as it states in the packet) instead of as pill in a pocket, in order to prevent further epsiodes. It hasn't stopped the AF (I've had several in the two weeks since I've been taking it so might stop that now) and the Kardia keeps asking if it's me as the readings are obviously unlike those I had before- all very scary which doesn't help with stress levels even with meditation etc. The episodes vary in length, once lasting only 5 minutes but are always upsetting which is why I thought I'd try to take the stuff that would prevent them but it hasn't!
We are clearly all very different and require someone to take some notice and do some research into it and until that happens, I guess we each have to work this out for ourselves in the absence of any real interest from the medics! I have an appointment with cardiologists for the end of October but they were pretty useless the last time I saw them and decided to stop seeing me without letting me know! I am not that keen on an ablation, especially as the success rate does not seem to be that great! Good luck!
Gillybean123 in reply to
Hi there, I have just spoken to my specialists secretary I have an appointment on the 16th Sept. I am going to have the ablation done. It will be my second. My first I think lasted 2 years and I lost loads of weight in that time. I have changed my diet now and stopped drinking alcohol and I don't eat red meat or bacon or sausage. I don't smoke,I will stick to this after my ablation. I didnt like taking all that flecanide. It affects my eyesight. AF makes you lethargic enough without taking meds. So that is the plan. People say look after yourself. If I look after myself. I don't know how much more I can look after myself, I am back to my normal medication now. So touch wood. We are all different. I don't think the flecanide did any good. AF goes off when it wants to like it kicks in when it want to. We need a lot more research done about this horrible thing. Xx you take care. Ps. I have put the weight back on, I do slimming world all the time, I keep my weight the same but I can't lose any. FLECANIDE!!!!!
in reply to Gillybean123
I've always eaten healthily- haven't had meat for over thirty years and avoid dairy too and used to take regular exercise until a bout of shingles sometimes prevented it and then this AF. I hardly had any alcohol or proper tea or coffee before diagnosis so only way to cut it down was to stop it all entirely. I don't think Slimming World is a good idea unless you are massively overweight!
Sorry meant to say the extra flecanide didn't do any good. I think it kept theAF at bay for 10 months then something clicked and I had two bouts of AF in three weeks.xx
in reply to Gillybean123
And I'm getting far more frequent AF episodes than you- the last two just two days apart with the flecainide that was supposed to prevent it happening and then more flecainide to stop it so now very pretty zonked!
Gillybean123 in reply to
Yes. Perhaps you are right about slimming world it's become a way of life. How long have you been on flecanide?
I've been taking it as a PIP for about 16 months quite successfully though as it stops the AF episodes usually within two hours, it does tire me out (that's 1 or usually 2 x 50mg tablets) but recently as the episodes were happening more frequently, I started taking it regularly (as the instructions in the packet say) and the episodes have continued to be frequent and weirder so the Kardia asks if it's me and one lasted three hours!) I'm hoping to get a call from one of the GPs after 11.30- (nearer 1.30 most probably) to discuss what to do next. Last time I asked for help I received an offensive letter from the "practice manager" saying that "some people expected a personal service from a state funded NHS"! It's what we used to get but it seems no more!
That's disgusting, you shouldnt be spoken to like that. We don't need to be upset with AF. Who prescribed you in the first place. You need to see a specialist in the field. I take 100mgs twice a day plus bisoprolol. And I have my PIP 50mgs if needed. That person is downright rude. My Practice are amazing. Never mind see what they say.xx
First one of the GPs put me on Rivaroxyban and Bisoprolol 1.25mg daily. The first gave me diarrhoea and the second brought my heart rate down dangerously low! So after 3 days the pharmacist who I consulted told me to get off it and a GP agreed (you never see the same one) The Apixaban replacement gave me bruises and nose bleeds so I stopped taking it. Nothing else was suggested so I went privately to someone who prescribed the flecainide which has worked well as a PIP ( episodes didn't last more than two hours) but tires me out afterwards and are getting more frequent! Now following a phone call with one of the new young doctors who still takes an interest, I've decided to go back to just using the flecainide as a PIP with the beta blocker if heart rate goes over 140 (or if I want to get back to sleep quickly!) Seeing a cardiologist towards the end of October (when everything might be falling apart) and might put in for an ablation though don't really like the idea of it! You are fortunate to have a good practice (ours used to be when I didn't really need it and I've had brilliant doctors in the past) where do you live?
We are all different and must find our own way. I guess at 75, something is bound to get me eventually and life isn't fair as I used to remind the children!
All the best xx
Gillybean123 in reply to
Hi there, I am I. Tewkesbury. I am 69. Whatever our age we should be able to have a good quality of life. I was going to have an ablation last July but I wasn't sure was so scared. Losing Roy my hubby knocked all the stuffing out of me. But I need to live another 20 years or more so I am going to have it done. Sometimes we only read the bad reviews about them but there are an awful lot of good reviews. Persevere with your doctors and specialist tell them you want it sorted. Love to you. Keep me informed of how you are. X
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