Hi all

It's been a while since I last dropped by, been trying to get on with things, hope your all well, unfortunately for me I've become more and more depressed about afib, to point where im constantly worrying every minute of every day, I'm getting lots and lots of missed/extra beats, which my wife says are probably stress and anxiety driven, and I'm also thinking maybe I shouldn't have agreed to take part in Dr Ernst pilot trial that maybe I'm worse now after the ablation, than before and that somehow the procedure has gone wrong somehow.,....I know alot of this is in my head, but before AF I never thought like this, sorry to it downer on forum but I'm really struggling at moment.............. Also does anyone here hear from flipflop, she was on trial with me, however it seems she's left the site

[BobD Volunteer]

So sorry to read you are so low juggsy. I tend to agree with your wife that most of this is likely down to anxiety which tends to engulf us all from time to time. Just think how bad you would have been without the procedure!

Do try the slow deep breathing exercise which many of us find so helpful in stopping ectopics and remember that these are not AF and quite normal in a healthy heart.

I would urge you to speak to your GP about help for the anxiety though. There is no shame in asking for help and a sign post to some CBT or mindfulness may be useful. Don't reject a bit of chemical help short term either. Good luck and chin up.

[jeanjeannie50]

Lovely to hear from you again Juggsy, but sorry that you are feeling so low. Come back into the caring fold of this forum and let people who truly understand what your are going through offer support. BobD has given you some good advice.

Have you tried the healthy, plant based eating route and cutting out all artificial food additives?

Big hug my friend.

Jean

[Hidden]

hello juggsy, sorry to hear you are feeling down, there are times when it happens to us all. I expect your wife has hit the nail on the head, I know that when I feel stressed or anxious, the issues you raise affect me as well and there are no easy answers. Members like CDreamer are really helpful when it comes to matters of the mind. I tend to try and find diversions and often even dip out of the forum for a while which I find helps me.

I’m not a great fan of supplements, but I do take Magnesium Taurate which seems to help me. Would it be worth contacting the folk running the trial and making them aware of how you feel. I did a search and there is a member listed as “flipflop” but it is a bloke so have you got the name right? It might be worth contacting the trial, whilst they will not give you contact details, they may be prepared to pass on your email address for her to get in touch with you if she wishes.....hope things pick up soon, they generally do over time.

[Slim2018]

You are not alone, until I hit the Afib “experience” last summer at 62, despite having a dad who dropped dead with a heart attack at 59, barely gave any of this a thought. A successful lawyer, great supportive family with everything rosy in the garden. Then this. All fixed, ten months go by, no medication and relaxed into it all. Suddenly August back three times in a month. Has seriously hit my confidence despite having an excellent, always contactable, Consultant. Two things have helped. A) listening to the Paul McKenna “control stress CD” B) having a few sessions with a hypnotherapist. B) in particular has struck at the issues specific to this condition. It’s cost me £60 a time but worth every penny. Lastly the stress echocardiogram last week revealing all the plumbing is in ace condition was a real boost. So you are not alone and this message board resource has been a major boost for me. Read “The Haywire Heart” which was recommended by my Consultant.

My youngest daughter, who has just qualified as a Doctor and is now at Papworth, makes the point that actually having a condition like AFib and properly managing it may actually in a life extending and a quality of life extending experience by looking after yourself better. Excellent point. And when I winge at 63 having to take Flecainide possibly for the rest of my life, she points out she has had asthma all her life and cracked an amazing marathon of 7th place on Sunday in one of the toughest off road races, and the first one she had ever done. Made me think “things aren’t too bad really”

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Slim2018]

Great post Slim and I think I like your daughter already! The life style changes we make (or at least should be making) often have great beneficial affects on life quality and sometimes expectancy.

[Jalia in reply to Slim2018]

Completely agree with you here Slim2018, particularly regarding hypnotherapy. I certainly think this is worth a try.

A close family member , suffering from severe anxiety and depression (nothing to do with AF) recently had 2 x 2 hour sessions with a hypnotherapist and the effects were remarkable.

[Finvola]

Nice to hear from you again, juggsy - it’s been a while. I’m so sorry that you feel so low about your heart. Your wife is right I think - AF itself is a great cause of anxiety and thoughts about decisions you have made can make things worse. Ectopics and general heart misbehaviour thrive on our worries.

There are things which you can do and your doctor can give advice too. Mindfulness is the most calming and helpful treatment for stress and worry that I’ve found - as is slow, deep breathing. There are online Mindfulness courses run by FutureLearn through an Australian university - they are free and can be done at your own pace.

I remember your co-member in the trial and that she posted on some of your threads - I’ll see if I can find her.

It might help to ask for a review from Dr Ernst - she presumably will keep in touch with her groups? Don’t feel bad in asking anyone for help - we all know the rollercoaster this condition can cause.

You’ll get through it - very best wishes.

[Finvola]

Juggsy - it seems flipflop did leave the site three years ago and may have rejoined in the meantime under another ID - here’s a link to her last posts -

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[CDreamer]

HiJugsy- good to hear from you and so sorry you are so down.

Depression in itself can be so disabling.....and requires treatment. And like AF - best dealt with earlier rather than later. I would encourage you to look at Human Givens for anxiety/depression or anything that you feel drawn to.

hgi.org.uk/therapist-regist...

I think Slim has said it all really - nothing is going to change - until you change something. The hardest first step in the world is to seek help - you have a huge support network here who have all some idea of how hard it is.

What would you think would help you most now? What could you do as a first step? how can we help you?

Heartfelt best wishes CD

[wilsond]

Hello juggsy so sorry to hear you are so low in spirits. A few thoughts... Have you spoken to your EP about his opinion as to the success of the ablation? Was it a new style approach and are you due a follow up?

Have you tried any of the relaxation techniques recommended by CDreamer regularly on here?

Also,a new national service just out if you text SHOUT into your mobile it connects you with a supporter immediately

..I see you are married but sometimes we don't want to burden the.closest ones to us with our worries.

Are you retired ? I had to leave work when I was very symptomatic and strangely enough felt quite bereft. When I made efforts to volunteer at our local community library it helped me to focus on other things. ( Not saying it's all in your mind etc)

I don't know about flip-flop sorry. Best wishes xx

[Buffafly in reply to wilsond]

😮 Very nonPC there, the eminent EP Dr Ernst who did Juggsy's experimental procedure is a woman 😀 hooray!

[wilsond in reply to Buffafly]

Ooh mea culpa! My mistake! As a feminist am cringing !! Thank you Buffafly. Xx

[Buffafly in reply to wilsond]

To be fair, she is the only female EP I've heard of 😊

[pottypete1]

Sorry to read that things have got you down.

If it is missed and extradited beats then it sounds like Ectopics to me.

The others have covered all the good advice. In summary try your best to relax using any of the options i.e. breathing, diet, lifestyle and hypnotherapy.

If it is any comfort I had Ectopics and fast runs of heart rate for the first year after my last ablation. Since then I only get half a dozen Ectopics a day. Dr Gupta says that non AF individuals get circa 100 a day but they don’t realise like us professionals do.

Pete

[Buffafly]

Hi again Juggsy, I'm sorry to hear you are struggling with obsessive thoughts but glad you came to share your troubles with us - that's a great first step if only because a sympathetic response from old friends should hopefully make you feel better, at least better enough to pick up on some of the advice you've had too. I once had a period of similar anxiety about a different issue and I wouldn't ever want anyone else to feel like that, especially with no one to turn to. You can't think straight at the moment so I hope you'll go for some professional help now if possible. In the meantime big big hug 💜

[Hidden]

Thank you all for your kind words, it really does mean a great deal to me,

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

Anyway we can help, we are here.

[Hidden]

Please don’t apologise- feeling depressed or anxious and AF go together for many. Suggest a visit to the GP to get advice. Options would be CBT, medication , mindfulness or a combination of the above.

[Lilypocket]

Hi Jugsy

I'm relatively new here but have been blown away by all the support and sound advice. I was just wondering if you are still on any meds? I have PAF and have never had an ablation. I suffered enormously from ectopics( the episodes of PAF were less annoying for me). I was on Sotalol and was changed to Flecainide and the ectopics stopped (or least the big ones I could feel). It has made my QoL much better. I'm certainly not in a position to give advice but just wondered if the info could help ?

I think Pottypete makes a very good point about continuing to have ectopics and episodes of irregular beats for a year or so after his ablation - you may be in the same situation which provokes anxiety in itself.

Best wishes to you and your family!

[cat55]

So sorry to hear that anxiety issues have raised their head for you. It is good advice to see your G. P. and ask for some help. I have had anxiety issues much of my life but it was only a few years ago I acknowledged that. I had two lots of CBT which have helped enormously, but it does take time and practise. I still get days of huge anxiety, for no apparent reason. I have odd beats during the day, every day, which would send my anxiety levels over the edge, but I try to relax the tension in my body, use Dr. Guptas breathing techniques and distract my thoughts by doing something practical, baking,. etc. I have had to learn to be kind to myself, work on everything I learned during CBT and try not to let the anxiety rule me. I don't think my family will ever know the full extent of my thoughts and feelings when anxious but slowly but surely, through being more open with them and using techniques I have learned I am mostly keeping things in check. I really wish you well, but I would strongly advise getting professional help.

My best wishes, Kath.

[Lamsie]

Hi Juggsy

You’ve made a big positive step by saying how you REALLY feel 😊 it’s so easy just to keep going and pretending you are feeling ok! I think how you are feeling is quite a common emotion I felt and still feel like that on some days with my Afib and aneurysm - “why me, I’m fit and healthy, loss of confidence etc etc” but I always TRY to look on the positive especially some wonderful posts in this forum and I think - you know what - perhaps I’m not doing too bad! You WILL feel better I am sure of it xxxgood luck xx

[Haymaker42]

Sorry to hear you are struggling! I had an ablation in January and am now back on the list for a second ablation. I have been suffering with anxiety since I am waiting for the second ablation. I was in a state constant worry and feeling down. I went to see my doctor an explained how I was feeling. She said she was surprised that I lasted as long as I did with all the stress from all that I have been through. I am now on a prescription of Citalopram for anxiety and depression. I am feeling so much better and not in a state of constant worry! Please see your doctor for help. You are not weak, or crazy or making this up. Your body is struggling and it needs some help. You deserve to feel better. I hope this helps, and please know you are not alone.

Take good care of yourself

[Hidden]

Thank you all, my ablation was three years ago now, and in general I've been great, however had couple of setbacks regarding a scare where they rung me and asked if anyone in family had dropped dead suddenly as I'd had run of VT picked up on holder, had to have MRI and all sorts of tests which came back fine, but think that scare is still in back of mind as, do I have VT or not......I've had anti depressants before and they helped hugely, however I hate the thought of being on them longer than I need to be,

[avma in reply to Hidden]

Hi,

Since your heart has changed after the ablation and all the anxiety, stress and things that have happened in your life, I guess it is very normal that you feel uncertain in your head and body.

I say this because now 4 and a half months after my hybrid ablation and a lot of anxiety beforehand in total since 10 months.

This thing with our heart changes us, makes us worry and uncertain. Our nervous system is completely off balance (mine sure is) and so we have to start over again to gain trust in body and mind.

In my case I do cardiac revalidation, this is exercising under supervision of a physiotherapist and a cardiologist. I also have some sessions with a physiologist, this is really helps me to take a look inside me and try to change my thoughts, these affect my feelings and consequently changes my behaviour. I also am going to take some lessons to relax so that when I start to hyperventilate I can cope with this. Hope this all helps.

Perhaps you can look for something like that nearby you?

In our country, this is standard procedure after an ablation or heart surgery.

[Amurray77]

This is how I feel every day. I miss my old self. The alive me. Not the AF me. It sucks. I hope my second ablation gives me some time off. A fib has humbled me, but I miss myself. This isn’t me.