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Trying not to panic

Deb1838 profile image
80 Replies

Hi all having a full blown attack. I am at work and it is about 174 at the moment. I don’t have any other medication than bisopolol. Sorry needed to talk to you all to try and not panic. I just hate this feeling.

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Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838
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80 Replies
Lien-Ju profile image
Lien-Ju

Hello there! I know it is difficult but are you in AFIB or it is tachycardia?

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toLien-Ju

Hi lien I don’t know if I am honest.

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toLien-Ju

Apparently it’s Afib

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly

Hi, first of all try to breathe steadily, long breath in, pause, long breath out, pause, repeat. Second, if you feel chest pain or pressure, faintness and breathlessness you should tell someone you are not well and if you have chest discomfort they should call an ambulance. I don't know where you work but they should have a designated first aider. Maybe you would rather not tell your employer about your heart problem but at this point your safety is more important.

Best wishes, hope you feel better soon 💜

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toBuffafly

Hi Buffafly thank you for your advice. I have told a colleague who is talking to me, trying to take my mind off it.

I am trying to do breathing exercise as we speak.

I don’t have any chest pain. Do feel very wobbly but my problem is I suffer from anxiety and so this makes my heart worse.

I am fortunate that the company has its own occupational health surgery and we have first aiders scattered around the site.

We also have dfibs on site!!

mrsg46 profile image
mrsg46

Hi Deb, I'm sure you must feel wretched, especially if you're at work and needing to cope. Are you able to get in touch with your GP surgery and ask for an urgent appointment so they can do an ECG and then take things from there? I'm guessing your work knows you have AF and will be considerate about you taking time off, it's not the best place to be having an ongoing episode. I hope this passes soon and you're back in NSR before too long, but sending a virtual hug and best wishes in the meantime. Kate

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply tomrsg46

Thank you for your response Kate.

My work are really good and do know about my afib.

Getting an appointment could be a problem, however if it comes to it we have an out of hours Doctors that I could go through.

doodle68 profile image
doodle68

Hi Deb, not sure what kind of work you do, is there a staff room where you can go

If so go there and drink some very cold water then start slow breathing excercise counting them in a pattern like 5in 6 out.

If it continues can you pssibly tell someone you are feeling nauseous and get home?

I agree with Buffafly,if you have chest pain or feel faint call an ambulance.

Now is not the time to discuss your condition with those at work if yo have not already done so,

Try to stay calm and get well soon...

Hilly22 profile image
Hilly22

Hi Deb

I agree with all the advice so far.

I don't know what dose of Bisoprolol you're on but my cardiology nurse told me I could take extra if I was having an episode. I'm on 5mg a day and take an extra half tablet if I need to, maximum dose is 10mg a day.

I do hope things are calming down now, I can imagine how awful you're feeling x

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toHilly22

Hi holly I am on 5 a day, I was wondering what the max was I will take another 2.5 and see what happens. Thank you for your reply.

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toDeb1838

Sorry predictive text Hilly

pottypete1 profile image
pottypete1

Whenever it happened to me when I used to work I used to get somebody to drop me home.

I would then go and lay on my bed and do very slow deep breathing exercises if you can get near six a minute it is often very helpful. Even if it doesn’t stop the AF it will help you cope with it more and maybe find some meditation music on YouTube to relax by.

When you are at home it may be a good idea to call your GP surgery and ask for advice.

To calm down in this situation you need to be in a quiet place and being at work is not going to be helpful.

As I said if you have any chest pain or discomfort in your chest or your arm you must call for an ambulance.

Pete

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply topottypete1

Thank you Pete, if I can get through the morning then I will take the afternoon off and try and rest. I will contact gp as I have been discharged from cardiologist.

pottypete1 profile image
pottypete1 in reply toDeb1838

Sorry but I don’t think you are helping yourself by staying at work this morning I think you should go home now and relax.

Pete

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply topottypete1

I agree Pete I suppose I was trying to do it in my own time

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

What is your heart rate now Deb? Has it calmed? Are you feeling very hot or faint? As Pete has said, calling your GP's surgery and asking for their advice is the best step.

Jean

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Hi Jean currently at 111 but still jumping about a lot. I will call the doctors when I get home. Drinking lots of water to make sure I am not dehydrated. Felt terrible earlier but now it has slowed down a bit I don’t feel so bad. I don’t know whether to take a rivoroxiban as they took me off anticoagulant but I am worried about having a stroke

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply toDeb1838

Deb, you really must call your doctor for advice. I would want to be back on anticoagulants too, but we really can't advise on medication. I think it's vital that you call your doctor asap, they are the only person who can say what's right for you to do.

Pleased to hear that your rate has dropped, it's quite often that the heart calms soon after a mad start.

Let us know how you get on please.

Jean

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Thank you Jean, I will give them a call. Will keep you informed.

doodle68 profile image
doodle68

Hi Debs you say...''My work are really good and do know about my afib.''

Go home please , can you get someone to take you, you would be better at home x .

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply todoodle68

My husband is picking me up in ten minutes.

Gillybean123 profile image
Gillybean123

Hi Deb, how are you now? So sorry you are going through this. Take everyone's advice. Please.

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toGillybean123

I will do Gillybean. It is still 111 but it seems less erratic. Going home now and going to get some rest. Will try and contact surgery once they reopen.

Gillybean123 profile image
Gillybean123

When you are home, you will feel better, just calm down do the breathing exercises they will help. X get on your bed and relax. X

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toGillybean123

Thank you Gilly I am home and being looked after by my husband.

Gillybean123 profile image
Gillybean123

Well Done. That's what Hubbies are for? Xx

doodle68 profile image
doodle68

Hi Debs :-) glad to hear you are home. At least you can relax now and feel safe.

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838

Still going at 125 but seems to be in rhythm. Just wish it would slow down 😡

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838

I am still here folks 😁 in sinus but in a fast rate 127. Feel ok, so will ride it out a bit longer.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply toDeb1838

It sounds like you may be in atrial flutter Deb.

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Is that the same treatment, I feel ok apart from heart racing. How long should I give it before I have to go somewhere. Is it something my go could deal with, as I am not under any specialist now.

Apologies for lots of questions

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toDeb1838

Sorry meant to say gp

pottypete1 profile image
pottypete1 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Or Atrial Tachycardia

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

How far away is your nearest A&E from where you live? If after all this time it's not going below 127, I would say pop there. Others may say wait until morning, but not me! I believe you said you weren't on any anti-coagulation now.

Jean

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply tojeanjeannie50

It is fairly local but extremely busy, might try Medoc see what they advise

Gowers profile image
Gowers in reply toDeb1838

So sorry to read through your earlier postings - like you my af/HR can take hours & hours to slow down & often when I think its calmer it seems to start up again which makes me anxious and so it goes on until utter exhaustion takes over. The thought of going to go etc makes me feel worse but, I am under cardiologist and have a reveal device fitted which I know is recording HR 24x7 so next time I see him he will have a full print out of heart activity last 3 months. I'm on slow release Diltiazam which I think is suiting me better than Bisoporol. Do hope you will be feeling better by now

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply toDeb1838

Our A&E has a doctors surgery there too. Perhaps yours does?

Aprilbday profile image
Aprilbday

Hi

So sorry you are going through this. Are you able to leave work to go get checked out? How long have you had A-Fib? No anti-coagulation? That’s seriously important. Head on in to er and get checked out at least. 💕

Lien-Ju profile image
Lien-Ju

Hello Deb, do you feel better? Are you now able to tell if you experienced AFIB attack or tachycardia?

Gillybean123 profile image
Gillybean123

Good Morning Deb, how are you doing, have you seen anyone yet? Has it calmed down? I agree with others, I sat the last two out but I am a seasoned AF sufferer and been taking blood thinners for years but lot older than you. I think you should be on one anyway. I went four days last week but I only topped 101 but it knocked me about, sounds like you are stuck in that reading for a bit. It will come down. It's just horrible while you are up,there. Xxxx

Nonam profile image
Nonam in reply toGillybean123

Hope you felling better Gillybean and AF settled now

Nonam profile image
Nonam

Sorry you are having a difficult time. Hope you feel better and take advice from longstanding AF fellows

siouxbee19 profile image
siouxbee19

Please let us know how you are feeling, hope lots better from here on out!

Tudee profile image
Tudee

I’m so glad things are calming for you Deb, I ve been in your position many times, and it’s so wonderful to have the loyal support and friendship of these friends to help “talk you down” through a bad episode, they have eased me through bad times and saved a visit to A&E when my only symptom has really been anxiety caused by the high rate AF. Good luck, rest well today,Dee x

1footinthegrave profile image
1footinthegrave

hi,am a day late with this info, but it May help in future AF, there are 2 technics I know off suck ice cube, sometimes works the other is massage the sides of neck where the vagus nerve run, both advice from cardiac nurses

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply to1footinthegrave

Ooh might give this a go later. Feel in need of a light nap now 💤

Ianp66 profile image
Ianp66

Sorry to hear about your day, been there so many times I've been in the same place. Panic was a lot of it but later found it was flutter and like some of the other members here have said you shoukd get it checked even just for peafe of mind. Hope your felling better today and settling a bit. Ian. X

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838

Sorry for lack of update. I am still in afib in hospital. This is such a major hospital i am in its like a war zone. Waiting for bloods to come back for them to decide plan of action. ECG confirmed afib. Thank you all for your help. Hopefully they will sort this soon x

Gillybean123 profile image
Gillybean123 in reply toDeb1838

Hi Deb. It is the best place. Even though annoying. They will get your meds sorted out then you can go home. They will probably make you wait until it has come down a bit though. We have all been there.Me numerous times you get to know the routine. You will get to know your body and how it reacts to certain things, chat with the rest of the patients. Your hubby will be in to see you. Xx

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toGillybean123

Couldn’t talk to the other patients they had me in the major ward next to resus. However everyone was so kind to me and they covered everything making sure I was ok. I did have slightly raised trop but they said they weren’t at all concerned as I had been running a marathon for a while.

Glad80 profile image
Glad80

Take the tablet you have got,I was given this as a pill in the pocket.It May take a while to work but it does eventually.well at least it did for me. Good luck.....

Gowers profile image
Gowers

Hi Deb - looks like you ended up taking yourself to A&E so expect the AF didn't calm down as you had hoped? At least you will have peace of mind after the various tests etc & maybe a change of medication will mean you will be feeling a lot better. Do keep us updated when you can (take it you are in uk)

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toGowers

Well I have just got home, still in afib but they got it under 100. They did loads of tests, don’t think I have any blood left. I have a letter to take to the dr tomorrow and for them to anti coagulate me again. Bit disappointed that they didn’t get me back into normal sinus rhythm but they said they were happy with the bloods to feel nothing bad should happen. I just got to get used to being in afib. I will insist the drs refer me back to cardiologist, I don’t think there is an EP in my area.

Really thank you all for your support this is so scary. Off for a lay down on the bed might even have a nice cup of tea. I have not eaten since yesterday morning where I have been so scared.

Many thanks to you all. Will keep you informed with where we go next xx

avma profile image
avma in reply toDeb1838

Hi Deb,

Hope you’re feeling better very soon. It is indeed very scary to be in that state of tachycardia.

You must really be exhausted, like they say, feeling like you have run a marathon.

Take plenty of rest!

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toavma

Hi Avma thank you feel better for being checked out and back on rivoroxiban. Thank you for your support.

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838

Bloods done were glucose, veneous blood gas,blood culture, d-diner, troponin, thyroid, lfts, cardiac enzymes, c reactive protein, biochemistry u & Es, plus ecg

goldey profile image
goldey

A lady came in with extremely rapid heartbeat like yours on one of those TV shows that take you right into the Emergency room. the first thing they did with her is putting both of her arms into big trays of ice water. After a few minutes, she was just fine. I've seen other shows where they dunk your face in ice water. These can be done anywhere and are worth a try -- they somehow shock the body and help restore normal heartbeat.

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply togoldey

Ooh that’s interesting I might try this. Many thanks

Bagrat profile image
Bagrat in reply toDeb1838

It increases vagal tone. That's how it works. Sticking your wrists in bowl of cold water similar idea and sucking crushed ice.

Gillybean123 profile image
Gillybean123

Hi Deb, last Thursday I ran a cold bath at. 12.00 midnight. Got in and dunked my head in. I was in hysterics. Dunked my head again. Got out I thought the shock would put me back in sinus rhythm. It didn't but it did lift my spirits a bit. This is what they mean by shocking your system. You can try getting your vagus nerve to work. There are loads of things you can try. One may work. I was in A and E once and I was put in a room on my own as after a couple of days I had awful diarrhoea. They thought I was infectious. I had been in AF for 5 days. They decided to put me on an intravenous drip thinking I was getting dehydrated. They couldn't get the needle in my hand so they put an extra large one in. My heart went straight back to normal and I was home within two hours. You need to get something to eat and get a good sleep. You might just wake and it may be back to normal. Xx

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toGillybean123

Oh how funny, I wonder about the power of the brain on our heart beat as I can sometimes bring on ectopic beats by thinking about them.

goldey profile image
goldey

ALSO -- if this starts to happen regularly, you can talk to your cardiologist about putting in a pacemaker/ICD. The ICD is a mini defibrillator, and will give you a mini-cardioversion if your heart rate ever goes above a certain level. You should have an oximeter handy and check your status regularly. Many times there are NO symptoms when your heart goes crazy, you wouldn't even know. But the ICD would notice it, and take care of it for you. Mine is set to go off if I go above 180 bpm, but I have never even gone over 100. My problem is my heart beating too slowly, and that is where the pacemaker kicks in.

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply togoldey

Goldey up until now my heart rate has been too low falling to low forty, in fact I was going to ask to cut down bisopolol. Don’t think I have any chance now. I do have an oximetre, so will keep it in my handbag.

goldey profile image
goldey

You should have a pacemaker. It monitors your heart beat and gives a little assist when your heart can't handle the load. I had 4 cardiac arrests, where my heart stopped completely -- the pacemaker they put in saved me. I haven't had any problems since then. Pacemaker keeps me at 52-62 almost all the time (well, except when in the middle of a rare afib attack). I did fall to 48 occasionally last month, so my Dr halved my Bisoprolol, from 2.5 to 1.25 -- and then it never went below 50 again. I actually feel better now too, a little less weak, on less Bis.

Gowers profile image
Gowers

Ah! good to hear you are home now bet that cup of tea was v welcome! - af is never easy. It is v exhausting as someone else has mentioned. That is a lot of blood tests you had done but, you did the right thing to get yourself looked at. Did they give you any medication to try bring HR down when you were in hospital? Hope you are feeling lot better. Good to have the update - been a long 24hours+ for you

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toGowers

Hi Gower, yes that tea was nectar I was so thirsty. They only gave me another 5 if bisopolol plus a drip. Had to laugh they asked me what medication worked for me last time it was two years ago I was out of it.

Again thank you for your help and support. I am going to take it easy for the rest of the week. Not going to go to work.

Only problem is that I can’t get an appointment with gp till 3 Sep. Fortunately I have a backlog of rivoroxiban so I have already started taking it again.

Gowers profile image
Gowers in reply toDeb1838

Can't believe you have to wait til sept to see gp. When I was diagnosed with af the gp put red flag on my file so I could be seen asap. After trip to A& E I was called in next day. I'm on Rivaroxaban, do hope you will be feeling more yourself after resting next few days.

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toGowers

Thank you Gowers I think my husband is going to go tomorrow and see if he can get me an earlier appointment with any of the drs.

I hope so too. Thank you

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Good to hear that you're feeling so much better Debs.

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Yes thank you jean thank you for your help and advice

Bagrat profile image
Bagrat

Glad things are settling gradually. Hope you get a quick referral. So concerning while as one A and E sister said to me" well you're still batting away aren't you"

Pleased your rate has come down. Easier said than done but a night's sleep will help.

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toBagrat

Yes I am so looking forward to a good nights sleep, really didn’t sleep well last night.

Thank you for your kind words

robert1957 profile image
robert1957

Please research magnesium deficiency and symptoms of magnesium deficiency also research vitamins d3 k2mk7

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply torobert1957

I will do that tomorrow when I am at home resting. Thank you for the advice

robert1957 profile image
robert1957

Your welcome and good luck

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838

Well I had the best sleep last night, think I am going to snooze quite a bit today 😴

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838

Well day 3 still in Afib however down to 60 to 80, so it is much more comfortable today.

Sorry if I am boring you all now it’s just I feel you are the only ones who know how I am feeling.

Can’t believe how exhausted I feel.

Thank you for listening to my ramblings xx

Gowers profile image
Gowers

I think you need to experience AF to even begin to know how it affects someone & everyone is different. It can be scary even after years of living through many episodes. The feeling that the HR seems to increase despite trying your best to remain calm & the exhaustion for days after is not easy. Glad you able to have a few days resting & recovering & hopefully get the gp appointment brought forward. Do ask gp if they will put a marker on your file so you can if needed get seen asap. None of us mind reading about another persons experience as I think it actually helps us learn how we can get through it & all the "tips" have certainly helped me. That's what so good about the forum its like a worldwide family reaching out across miles & oceans

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838 in reply toGowers

Thank you Gowers still feeling on edge today but that’s me anyway. I am going to go and queue at the drs tomorrow at 8 am as they do a triage service. Unfortunately you get which ever dr they assign you and a lot of them are newly qualified on work experience for 6 months. I actually have had better treatment from these drs at times as they are up to date with modern treatments.

I am a little nervous about going back to work next week but I am going to take each day as it comes.

I love this forum there is a lot of experience and warmth.

Deb1838 profile image
Deb1838

Well got to see gp sent me back to a & e getting a bit scared now

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