Does AF get worse as time goes on?

[Cha275rL]

Still quite new to this, so forgive me if this is a daft question. I was only diagnosed with AF a couple of months ago, although I’ve had it for a few years. I get it about every 2 months or so, and sometimes the odd fluttery beats in between, but does it get worse or more often as time passes? It’s only recently that the beats have become irregular, before, they were just very fast, and I get anxious about it, which probably makes it worse. Any info would be appreciated.

[BobD Volunteer]

There is an old saying that AF begets AF so yes the more you have it the more you will get it. Probably! Best get to see a specialist if you haven't already as GPs are seldom qualified to treat AF and in fact are limited in what they are allowed to do for you.

AF Association main website is a fount of knowledge and fact sheets which will help you to learn about this mongrel condition.

[Cha275rL in reply to BobD]

Thank you BobD . Have not been referred to anyone. My doc just said if it ‘started to do my head in’ to go back and see him. Everyone on this site seems very helpful.

[Hidden]

Hi,

Generally, I'd have to agree with BobD - but sometimes it can be the case ( such as me) where if you can successfully identify a trigger to AF kicking in you may have the good fortune to work on the trigger and calm the heart. I wrote some comments just now to Lilypocket which may help.

I should also stress, it also depends on how quick the initial diagnosis was made, in my case I had the good fortune to be diagnosed in about 9 hours of initial symptoms and onset of an AF event, even though I didn't know what was going on at the time.

That said, my last AF event ( recorded on both my BP monitor and portable ECG device) was in April 2018 although since then my heart has continued to skirmish around with bouts of rapid HR ( some debilitating, some just annoying).

John

PS - is that a Rainbow Lorikeet in your picture. Looks pretty much like it to me 😀

[Cha275rL in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Hidden , haven’t been able to find a trigger but keep hoping... Take care, and yes, it is a Rainbow Lorikeet in the pic. They’re lovely.

[beardy_chris]

I think it is pretty clear that AF tends to get worse over time. The problem is that the rate of deterioration can be anything from weeks to decades or longer. So, in many way, this isn't a very helpful statement! The important thing is probably to get a referral to a cardiologist (and preferably an Electrophysiologist (EP)) and to keep you heart rate under control (say, under 100 resting). Otherwise, easier said than done, don't panic!

[Cha275rL in reply to beardy_chris]

Thank you Chris. Difficult to get a referral anywhere at the moment. My surgery has almost closed down to us all. I’ve been on Atenolol for years for HBP and hb around 60, but seems to have slowed down a bit recently. Will try not to panic.

[CDreamer]

First welcome, lots of informed and helpful people to be supportive because we have been where you are now. You may find this post useful -

healthunlocked.com/afassoci.........

Read and absorption as much info as you can. Sign up for the AFA Virtual Patient Day (This Sunday). I learned more in a few hours of my first Patient Day back in 2013 than in the previous 7 years of AF from anyone or anywhere else. It helped me choose the treatments I thought most relevant to myself.

Look back a few days of post for the post by Sharonica (Admin). It’s quite a comprehensive series of talks by leading experts of the whys and wherefors.

If you go to YouTube look out for videos by Dr Gupta of York Cardiology - excellent explanations.

Read the threads, as much as you can, you will pick up a lot of information, hints and recommendations and the odd discussion with differing views which I find helpful as it can help you make up your own mind as the appropriateness for yourself.

Best wishes.

[Cha275rL in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks @ CDreamer, will have a look at these when I have more time. Am looking after my little grandson at the moment. Not the easiest job, but lovely. Thank you for your help.

[CDreamer]

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[jeanjeannie50]

It can do, especially if you give it all your attention . Anxiety feeds this condition and the more you can ignore it the milder your attacks will be. Easy for me to say who has now had AF for 15 years, but I speak from experience.

Change your diet drastically and cut out all foods that contain artificial additives. Artificial sweeteners were a sure trigger for me. Lose some weight if that's needed, drink plenty of water, cut out sugar and alcohol. Some members here supplement with magnesium and say this helps, I take magnesium glycinate and believe it does too.

Years ago my sister had AF, didn't see a doctor about it and completely ignored the condition as much as she could (that's the way she is). Guess what it just disappeared! I must add that her episodes never lasted for more than an hour and were usually when she was at work.

By the way it's normal to have a few fluttery beats, people without AF get them, but we are so honed in to what our hearts are doing that we notice it.

How I wish someone had told me this right at the start of my AF journey.

Jean

[Cha275rL in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks jeanjeannie50 your post made me feel better. Take my hat off to you tho, 15 years is a long time to put up with this. Take care.

[Peony4575 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean not disputing your story because it’s the kind I love and gives me hope . Just wondering how she definitely knew it was AF as opposed to another tachycardia ?

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Peony4575]

Yes, could have been tachycardia or palpitations (it's me calling it AF). My sister is very odd in the respect that she will not talk about any illnesses she has. Me, I'd tell all if anyone was prepared to listen.🥱 She had part of her lung removed a few years ago because of cancer, but we are not allowed to mention it - would get our heads snapped off! Her heart did kick off briefly when she had that op.

Jean

[Peony4575 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Am with you ! I envy the strong silent types but it’s not me . I do sometimes feel doctors have a tendency to over medicalise things on occasion ally. Hope your sister is ok anyway

[Janith in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I’m like your sister! If l had cancer, l would tell no one! I rarely mention my afib (except here) ... my closest friends don’t know that l have it ... of course my husband knows as does my doc but that’s it. My family didn’t know that l had a cardio version! We’re weird??

[10gingercats]

There is also to be considered the difference between how you feel and what is going on that cannot be seen.One should mirror the other but it is not,I suggest, always the case.So you do need check ups from time to time and if possible from an Electro physiologist.

[Cha275rL in reply to 10gingercats]

Yes 10gingercats i would agree with that totally. Unfortunately, our NHS seems to be overloaded just now, and for something like that I’d probably not get seen till the end of this Covid thing, and who knows when that will be. Thanks for your post, much appreciated.

[starry-eyes]

My consultant described it as a slippery slope which sounds bad but actually most of us cope pretty well most of the time. It just needs keeping under review so my advice would be see your GP and ask for a referral to a consultant so you can have access to treatment the GP is not necessarily able to provide. Good management seems to slow the progression in my experience.

[Cha275rL]

Thanks starry-eyes , a slippery slope does sound bad, but all of you on here seem to cope extremely well, so I will try too. Thank you everyone who replied, I’m very grateful to you all for being so helpful.

[whiststev]

When I first started with PAF and my first visit to a cardiologist one of my questions was what you are asking and his answer was yes ,I didn't believe him at the time and refused an ablation he offered at the time ,2 years later I went in to permanent AF then I went back to see him and consequently had the ablation which has been ok .Looking back now I should of had it when it was offered . so for me personally it did !

[Cha275rL in reply to whiststev]

whiststev I dread to think what it must be like to be in permanent AF, poor you. If I’m offered an ablation, I’ll take it. Thanks for that and hope you’re ok.

[Paulbounce]

Being in permanent afib is not as bad you think Cha27. Your body adjusts and it's unlikely you'll feel the effects as you do in PAF.

Chris wrote

"I think it is pretty clear that AF tends to get worse over time"

Bob wrote

"There is an old saying that AF begets AF so yes the more you have it the more you will get it"

True - however treatment options are improving all the time. The jury is still out on this one while medicial research moves forward. Let's see how things improve in a few years time

Personally I'm very optimistic about this one. Let's see if I'm right or not.

Paul

[Cha275rL in reply to Paulbounce]

Oh that’s interesting to know Paulbounce . Thanku 👍

[Ianc2]

As well as all of the above try and monitor your fitness. It is very easy for it to slip away and you won't realise that it has gone until you try and exert yourself . Your heart is a muscle and it can get very out of condition. Give yourself an MOT, check out your weight and height - is your waist half your height? Can you walk a mile in about 20 minutes? 3 miles in about an hour? Have you considered getting a fitness tracker, apple, fitbit or similar to check on how active you are and give you feedback on how fit you really are?

I have permanent AF. the body burglars have done their best, the plumbers have had their knives out, the electricians have had a good fry up and the alchemists have given me all their magic potions and their combined efforts have helped me a lot. Valve repairs transformed my life, an ablation solved everything for a while, and I still take ramipril every evening before bedtime . I walk every morning, usually about 6 miles. and get distinct withdrawal symptoms if I can't . My heart beats strongly but it is still steadily erratic and is regularly irregular.

OK, I won't go wandering up Ben Nevis again, but I do go to the Alps when I can and let the chairlifts do the hard trudging so I can wander along the contours and enjoy the views and the mountain top chalets. I am getting a bit old now but I still haven't had a good look at the Dolomites, The Stubai valley in Austria is looking good and the Julian Alps are tempting. With a bit of luck the big birds will be flying next year and I will be on one of them.

Here's to life, to living and to getting out in the green stuff.

[Cha275rL in reply to Ianc2]

Thanks @lanc2. I was swimming 3 times a week up til lockdown, and now I walk an average of 4 miles a day, so not totally unfit and lean(ish), and, like you, want it to stay that way.

Oh and please make time to have a good look at the Dolomites, well worth it 😉

[Ianc2 in reply to Cha275rL]

So where in the dolomites would you recommend ?

[Cha275rL]

Gosh it’s almost 50 years since I was there Ianc2 , and was amazed at how beautiful it was. We stayed in a place called Vipitino, (hope that’s the right spelling) ,and toured all round from there, and one of the tours was into the Dolomites. Sorry I can’t be more helpful, just know it’s lovely.

[Ianc2]

Thanks for the information. I will look it up.