new to afib

[sandoval22]

afib only since July so new to this. Awaiting cardioversion. Out of breath walking up stairs. Seems to be constant afib. Only meds apixaban for thinning blood. BP is fine , just heart rate up and down all the time

[Deb1838]

Hi Sandoval I am in constant afib since two weeks ago. I find I am regularly out of breath, I walk the stairs like an old lady. I think my 85 year old Dad would pass me at the moment. I did mention it to the hospital but they didn’t really seem bothered about it. Hope you are sorted soon. I am only on 5 mg of bisopolol and rivoroxiban. I was given 7.5 by a and e but my gp cut it back down to 5 as my pulse was low 🙄

[jeanjeannie50]

It sounds like typical AF Sandoval, so we understand exactly what you are experiencing and it's not nice is it! Try not to get stressed about it, I know it's hard to do that but stress sometimes appears to feed the condition. Take lots of slow, deep breaths and try to relax your body. The more relaxed you are, the more chance your heart will return to it's normal rhythm. By the way I've had this condition for 15 years and I've never heard of anyone dying from it.

Try to get absorbed in something on t.v. and let your mind forget about AF as best you can. If you can't do that then read some of the posts on this forum and learn as much about AF as you can. Dr Sanjay Gupta of York Cardiology (in the UK, not the US one) has some excellent easy to understand talks on YouTube which you could search for.

Jean

[sandoval22 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I hear what you say but 'm just not the TV watching type. I'm 62 and been a single parent over 10 years so I'm used to being active. Hoping cardioversion sorts me out but seems it doesn't last forever (sometimes days )

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to sandoval22]

No, I'm not a t.v. watcher either (though can watch a film on a winters afternoon), but have to admit to being an internet addict.

So your AF is not slowing you down much by the sound of it, if you don't feel the need to sit and relax? I used to be a long distance walker, loved the countryside and coastline. That's my biggest loss since starting with AF 15 years ago and something I dream of getting back to, but I've discovered that exertion sets my AF off!

You may find that you will have to live your life as AF predicts, but that can still be a full and interesting one. I'm bit of a local history fanatic, so go to lots of meetings relating to that and also volunteer as a room guide at a National Trust property (they don't mind if I sit down).

I've had numerous cardioversions and three ablations, but still have AF. I would advise not doing anything strenuous for a few weeks after your cardioversion and letting your heart gain strength beating in it's normal rhythm again.

Please keep in touch and let us know when your cardioverson date is.

Jean

[sandoval22 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Cardioversion date is Oct 16th but I'm doing all I can to bring it forward. I would go private if it was permanent but seems pointless if it's short term.

[sandoval22 in reply to sandoval22]

Only had afib 4 weeks so I still try to do what I always have. Been to A&E 4 times and called ambulance twice . Dont want to live in A&E but I have to do something . Seriously considering ablation in India since the prices are much cheaper and probably no waiting lists.