Although I'm 72 years old, I do have recent EKG's and CT scans that show a normal size heart that had normal sinus rhythm with no issues. I also have no cholesterol issues. My arteries were clear. I kept myself in great physical shape by practicing bodybuilding and performing physical labor most of my life. I have an MBA, but couldn't stand working in an office. I chose instead to go back to blue collar work to keep healthy.
Then I got inflamed colon from allergic reaction to something I ate. After 3 ER visits, the doctors still couldn't find a way to help me because they didn't know it was from an allergic reaction. Food poisoning, infection, etc were all ruled out. Then I realized what I had eaten that caused my problem.
Unfortunately, my daughter took me to a 'better' hospital where I was admitted for 3 days. But because I had a cervical spine injury 20 years ago and am on maintenance dose of hydrocodone (low dosage) because further surgeries are not an option, someone wrote in my record that I am opioid dependent!! I am certainly NOT opioid dependent. My pain management doctor would have done something about it if I had been. After leaving the hospital, I personally paid for a hair follicle analysis to prove my innocence, which it did.
However, in the hospital, the doctors misread my chart and suspected that I was a cocaine abuser. They never discussed it with me. They withheld my normal pain meds and let me suffer severe abdominal pain without treatment except for stool softener. I was crying in agony for help for 3 days. On the the third day I developed a severe fiery pain at my sternum. I begged for help for that pain and nobody paid any attention. Then, they decided to discharge me, saying that even though I was not getting better, I had to leave the hospital.
When I saw my primary care physician 2 days later, he detected the Afib and scheduled me with a cardiologist. The cardiologist said the chest pain I suffered in the hospital was from my heart. He immediately admitted me to the hospital for tests. He did the cardioversion, echocardiogram and angiogram. The cardioversion got my heart back to normal for a brief time only. The echocardiogram showed enlarged left atrium, and the angiogram showed absolutely no obstructions in my blood vessels.
The cardiologist agreed that the severe pain I suffered in the hospital, plus the lack of care by the medical staff caused my Afib.
I'm sorry, but this is so upsetting to me. I worked so hard to keep my body in great shape almost all of my life, and I succeeded in my efforts. Now, to have all those efforts ruined by mistreatment at the hands of medical professionals is absolutely devastating to me.
I was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome after this happened. Even when I try to be positive, the nightmares of that hospital stay and those awful medical people just flood my mind. I have never been a person to cry, but I can't seem to keep dry eyes when these nightmares plague me.
Has anyone else had sudden onset Afib?
What do you think caused it?
How do you deal with it emotionally?
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
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DesertDeuces
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My first a fib happened almost 4 yr ago. It was a sudden onset. I was working long hours, was on a very restrictive diet, stressed... perfect storm. So Ive always blamed it my my stressful lifestyle. But recently I went thru 2 back to back knee surgeries, first one planned, second one to fix what went wrong with first one. 3 months of stress and pain but no a fib. My biggest fear was all the drama with the surgeries/ recoveries would stir it up. So I think a fib can have many or no reasons to show up. That is the hardest part I think. It is unpredictible. I havent had any for 18 months, Ive not had any ablations. Im only currently taking a low dose betablocker to keep my blood pressure down. Im thankful but know it could come knocking on my door any time. As the years go by, I worry about it less. It is a process. Good luck to you. So sorry for the nightmare you have been thru. I think it was questionable for the doc to say what caused your a fib. Hindsight is 20/20... a fib doesnt play by any rules so trying to figure it out is like chasing the wind
Hello Hoski, How are you after your second op? I am going in on Wednesday 4th December to have manipulation under anaesthetic. Unfortunately, despite working very hard to get enough flexion I cannot retain more than 95 degrees. Thing was I got so much swelling which didn't really go down until a few weeks ago and still a small amount there they didn't want to do anything until most of that was cleared - so that they can cause some more! I do hope this will work but it seems it will put me back to the beginning again and I so want to go and see my grandsons again - we were hoping to be able to go out for thanksgiving this year but now that will have to be next year. I also went back into Afib around the end of September - sure it was from all the pain and stress from the exercises. I am down to have another cardioversion - but don't want it too soon as all this might start it off again. Also still waiting for news on ablation - I could have gone to see the EP at any time but want to get the knee fully cleared and back to work before considering that so should have an appointment with the EP in January. Seems my visits to the physio are going to continue for a long while yet. Hope you enjoyed your thanksgiving.
Whilst I understand your frustration I think you must understand that AFib needs no reason to arrive so whilst you may well blame the other hospital for your PSTD the AF may be just one of those things shared by millions of others around the world.
Whilst we understand what it is, nobody yet knows why it is although we do know that over exercise and some activities such as flying fighter jets can make it more likely as can over use of ibuprofen type medicines. It can be genetic or occasionally brought on by heart surgery and yes stress can exacerbate it. Read all you can from AF Association main website so you fully understand what a mongrel condition it really is.
Also seems that top level athletes get it a lot. Apparently it is a thing that a lot of high performing rowers get so I have been told. Unfortunately just something you get- I can find lots of reasons in my life for getting it and wonder why the heck all the dreadful problems I had with my youngest son didn't bring it on in my 30's and 40's rather than my 70's. Whatever it is that brings it on I try and console myself thinking of all the family, friend's and colleagues I had who would love to be still alive grumbling about AF, back and neck pain etc. Some of whom died or were killed in their 30's and 50's. My friends and I joke that we are in "The Queue" now and sometimes we jump a place forwards then get better and drop back but we are still in "The Queue". A bit morbid but even though I have kept myself fit - it was my job all my life and I still go to the gym most days it is not surprising that at my age; just turned 76, some thing(s) is/are wrong with me - but yes I am envious of those of my age who seem to have nothing wrong.
Keep yourself as well as you can, keep exercising in moderation, eat as well as we can but have the odd treat too and enjoy the life we have - it's all we can do.
Sorry to hear about your problems after reading the post. All I can add is you have positives - your heart went back to sinus after the CV. That's great news as it shows treatments could well help. Even if it doesn't afib won't kill you - you have more chance of being tun over by a bus than dying from afib. No problems with your blood vessels ticks even more boxes. An enlarged left atrium is pretty common too - as far as I'm aware it's no major cause for concern.
If you have Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome maybe it would help to talk to a professional about this ?
In any event I hope things go well for you - I'm sure they will
Just check your pulse is a quick and simple way to do it. You could also invest in a Kardia or similar device. Another way is to call in to the chemist and have a free blood pressure test. They will often check your pulse too.
I am pretty sure that some time one of my Docs told me that it is usual to get a slightly enlarged left atrium and it depends on the actual size and/or possibly the difference in size between left and right that can decide on treatments? Someone correct me if I am wrong please. I have had two successful cardioversions and waiting for another or an ablation which ever comes first once I have sorted out this new knee.
Thank you all for the replies. I have talked to a professional about the post traumatic stress. Reading what you wrote gives me confidence that I didn't have before. I was completely in the dark about afib until I found this website. It's a great help to hear from you all!! I have already told my daughters what song to play at my memorial, LOL. Now, I can take that back!
Good man! Now...breathe! You have found a great source of knowledge and support here. Your heart being in great shape will only help you..AFib is not a death sentence,with care and medical supervision.
What wonderful people you are! I feel like I just dropped in to a community full of friends - understanding and compassionate friends! Thank you all for being here! It really helps the anxiety of what we're going through just go way down. Everyone here is good medicine
AF does come as a shock - my first sudden onset happened in 2005/6 - when I was in the middle of Atlantic Ocean sailing a 40ft yacht 500 miles from land - so I had no option but to cope. It lasted about 3 hours - I went down below and rested, felt weak for a day or so and then was fine. It was 2 years later before the next episode - relaxing in Spain on holiday. I chased every reason, correlation with experiences and food and drink for years - correlated a few for a while and then like a chameleon triggers changed and what used to trigger AF didn’t and what never used to did! No rhyme or reason to it I have found!
Anxiety and stress however does exacerbate it so staying calm, breathing deep and slow and keeping positive mindset helps enormously.
Take care and get help for the PTSD. Outrageous behaviour on the hospital - hope they will pay for your treatment!
My AF onset came in my sleep and both times I went back into AF after cardioversion - first one lasted a year second a few months and came back on in my sleep - think I went back in the second time because of stress from knee pain after TKR and painful physio but didn't go back in when having the physio. Seems it just is what it is just have to do the best we can.
Dear DeserDeuces. You must stay positive to emotionally prosper and enjoy the rest of your life. We are the same age (I was 73 last week). I was also fit and saw my diet and body as my responsibility and swam, ran, cycled and rowed.
Almost ten years ago I won the silver medal in an indoor rowing championship in my age group.
And, what do you know, a couple of years ago I had my first (as far as I was aware) Afib episode.
I too was disheartened and I also believe that it is connected to bowel issues.
As many a famous person said "we don't leave life alive" and we also don't leave life in the same condition that we started out.
We cannot have perfect body and health throughout our life and as we age. We have "planned-obsolescence" built in. Genetics, environment, and the wear and tear of daily living take their toll.
Please get yourself to a place where you can balance your emotional and physical well-being and keep looking for the challenges to make yourself the best that you can be whilst carrying the burden of a less than ideal heart. Wishing you all the best and a long life.
I suppose rowing and canoeing can be compared to a degree, but my cardiologist told me that apart from the genetic cases, and the inevitable in a percentage of aging people, his next largest group of AF patients are canoeists. My son who is a competitive canoeist was diagnosed 12 years ago, but is now considered after one ablation at the time of diagnosis, to be 'cured'. Many of his canoeing friends have been diagnosed, so maybe there is a connection between paddling and rowing!
Very interesting. Canoeing and rowing are both extremely intense and require stamina.
I am not in the same class as your son and my watts of power generated are nowhere near a competitive canoeist. From the web:
"During the last 70k (Tour de France) Salvatore Commesso produced an average of 300 Watt (his average for the race: 200 Watt), which consist of many peaks in between 400 and 900 Watt."
Your son will surely confirm that this is superhuman, and possibly the cause of the disproportionately high number of power athletes with AFib. Thank you.
Yes I'm sure he will, we live in South Africa and some of the rivers are wild. We have two very well known sporting events here, one 'The Comrades Marathon' is an ultra Marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg and Pietermaritzburg to Durban, alternating every year, covering a distance of 90km and the the record is just over 5 hours. The other extreme race is The Duzi Canoe marathon, which is paddling the river from Pietermaritzburg to Durban., and carried out over three days, so strenuous it is. However certain select paddlers opt to do the three day course in one day, and it is likened to running from Pietermaritzburg to Durban and the turning round and running back to Pietermaritzburg.! My son has done it and it did not bring on AF!!!!!
Amazing and superhuman too ! Congratulations to you son and his boat club.
This is from an article:
"Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia in athletes, especially in middle-aged athletes. Studies have demonstrated that athletes who engage in endurance sports such as runners, cyclists and skiers are more prone to AF than other athletes. The effects of exercise on the onset and progression of AF is complex. Triggers of AF in athletes may include atrial ectopy and sports supplements. Substrates for AF in athletes include atrial remodeling, fibrosis, and inflammation. Modulators of AF in athletes include autonomic activation, electrolyte abnormalities, and possibly, gastroesophageal reflux. Management of AF in athletes with rate-controlling agents and antiarrhythmic drugs remains a challenge and can be associated with impaired athletic performance. The value of catheter ablation is emerging and should be considered in suitable athletes with AF."
"Reports published at the end of the 1990’s suggested that veteran athletes are also at a higher-than-expected risk of AF [4, 5]. Subsequent small [6] and large epidemiological studies including >1 million individuals [7] confirmed this association. Endurance training is now a well-accepted cause of AF [8]. Heavily trained athletes are, on average, at a 3–8-fold increased risk of AF [5, 6] and its prevalence is as high as 15% in veteran elite athletes [9, 10]."
Well he's got it coming from several directions, myself and my 3 sisters all have it - I think my dad did too- however he's fortunate his cardiologist is a canoeist too, and as he is an older man,, I would not be at all surprised if he's got it too!
My heart goes out to you. I can't help or advise but I, and others will, have, listened to you. Try and move forward & look forward time will help. My thoughts are with you.
It’s not a death sentence. You were fit. You can still be fit. I’ve had episodes since my 40’s. They were violent and horrible. But since February of this year I’ve been in persistent AF. I was 55 then. I take a low dose beta blocker, a low dose Digoxin and an anticoagulant and it doesn’t bother me. I just forget about it. I prefer it like this to the out of the blue violence of my random experiences. I can heft my stock around and work. I have thyroid problems and menopause to deal with on top of it so life is slower and more restrictive than it used to be, for now, but I’m hoping to get on top of those things eventually.
You may find EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) can help you to come to terms with the trauma ie relieve PTSD, but you need an experienced practioner. It sounds strange, but it is based on the latest science with respect to how the brain works.
I suspect your heart is fine. Congrats on keeping yourself fit - I do too. Remember lots of exercise sometimes causes your to get dehydrated. Here is what causes my afib. Try it and see it if clears yours up:
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After 9 years of trying different foods and logging EVERYTHING I ate, I found sugar (and to a lesser degree, salt – i.e. dehydration) was triggering my Afib. Doctors don't want to hear this - there is no money in telling patients to eat less sugar. Each person has a different sugar threshold - and it changes as you get older, so you need to count every gram of sugar you eat every day (including natural sugars in fruits, etc.). My tolerance level was 190 grams of sugar per day 8 years ago, 85 grams a year and a half ago, and 60 grams today, so AFIB episodes are more frequent and last longer (this is why all doctors agree that afib gets worse as you get older). If you keep your intake of sugar below your threshold level your AFIB will not happen again (easier said than done of course). It's not the food - it's the sugar (or salt - see below) IN the food that's causing your problems. Try it and you will see - should only take you 1 or 2 months of trial-and-error to find your threshold level. And for the record - ALL sugars are treated the same (honey, refined, agave, natural sugars in fruits, etc.). I successfully triggered AFIB by eating a bunch of plums and peaches one day just to test it out. In addition, I have noticed that moderate (afternoon) exercise (7-mile bike ride or 5-mile hike in the park) often puts my Afib heart back in to normal rhythm a couple hours later. Don’t know why – perhaps you burn off the excess sugars in your blood/muscles or sweat out excess salt?? I also found that strenuous exercise does no good – perhaps you make yourself dehydrated??
I'm pretty sure that Afib is caused by a gland(s) - like the Pancreas or Thyroid - or an organ that, in our old age, is not working well anymore and excess sugar or dehydration is causing them to send mixed signals to the heart - for example telling the heart to beat fast and slow at the same time - which causes it to skip beats, etc. I can't prove that (and neither can my doctors), but I have a very strong suspicion that that is the root cause of our Afib problems. I am working on this with a Nutritionist and hope to get some definitive proof in a few months.
Also, in addition to sugar, if you are dehydrated - this will trigger AFIB as well. It seems (but I have no proof of this) that a little uptick of salt in your blood is being treated the same as an uptick of sugar - both cause AFIB episodes. (I’m not a doctor – it may be the sugar in your muscles/organs and not in your blood, don’t know). In any case you have to keep hydrated, and not eat too much salt. The root problem is that our bodies are not processing sugar/salt properly and no doctor knows why, but the AFIB seems to be a symptom of this and not the primary problem, but medicine is not advanced enough to know the core reason that causes AFIB at this time. You can have a healthy heart and still have Afib – something inside us is triggering it when we eat too much sugar or get (even a little) dehydrated. Find out the core reason for this and you will be a millionaire and make the cover of Time Magazine! Good luck! - Rick Hyer
PS – there is a study backing up this data you can view at:
And Oh - if you find that your sugar threshold is lower than 50 grams a day - it's nearly impossible to eat less than that each day, which will keep you in permanent Afib. If this is the case, try going to a Nutrition Response Tester. I am doing this and she has improved my gland processing such that we have increased my sugar threshold from 48 grams a day to about 75, which is high enough to stay under - and keep afib from happening (unless I indulge in a sweet something – which I do too often). Hope this helps.
Thanks to all who are responding! I love the advice everyone is giving, and of course the sharing of your personal experiences. It is so heartwarming to now be part of such a caring group of folks. You've given me lots of hope where before I was just looking at a dark future. This information is invaluable! I've searched and searched the internet for information, but nowhere did I find anything as enlightening as what you've posted here!
I certainly hope that lots of people get to read this, too. What a treasure trove of advice!
Just wanted to mention something for Polski: I very rarely consume sugar, however, I do find that when I eat a meal, it seems to make my heart feel a little better. I stopped consuming sugar when I was in college. I felt a little shaky and the doctor wanted to rule out hypoglycemia (that was as popular diagnosis in those days, LOL). When they gave me 8 ounces of glucose flavored with coca cola syrup, I got the worst headache. I could never drink coke again - until recently. I think I would have preferred straight glucose.
Anyway, I agree that diet is very important for our health. I took a nutrition class at the university with Pre-Med students. The funny thing was, at the end of this grueling, math-loaded course where we had to calculate everything in the foods we ate, the professor said that the bottom line to all of this is: Anything in moderation is okay. Geez! I could have save a whole semester of study! Not really. It was a great class. I'm glad I took it.
Also, the professor wrote on my term paper "I'd hate to meet the teenage boy who's consuming your share of sugar!"
Hi DesertDeuces, I’m belatedly catching up on recent posts and just wanted to add my own sympathy for what you’ve been through. Absolutely outrageous treatment by the hospital - making assumptions and then not informing you is surely unprofessional and negligent? Let alone the damage brought on by the untreated pain and stress.
But I’m glad that as a result of it all you’ve actually had a good overhaul and you know your arteries are good. And it’s great that you’ve kept yourself so healthy and fit. I wish I had!! As others have said, AF and heart failure can be successfully treated so that both length and quality of life is good - so this is what I hope for you. Along with peace of heart and mind and recovery from the PTSD. Xx
Great thread by the way- I’ve loved hearing everyone’s stories! Xxx
Thank you so much for your kind words, Jane. Just a little update: last week I was able to work every day. Even though it's part time right now, I'm feeling a little better. And this week has been even better still! Tomorrow we go to the company holiday party out of town and I'm actually looking forward to it! A few weeks ago I wasn't sure I'd be able to go. I'm so thankful for a: the company where I work, for being so compassionate and letting me work part time, and b: the people here on this forum for giving me hope I hadn't dreamed could be there, with all the wonderful stories and encouragement about dealing with Afib.
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