My last P-AF occurrence was 5th December last year, and I had become quite blasé about it. Yesterday though, around 6pm part way through my usual 48 minute walk, at my normal pace, I suddenly went into AF with no warning. I plodded out the last part slowly and have been totally wiped out ever since. I usually revert naturally some few hours later, often in the small hours of the morning while I'm asleep (it wakes me up!) but this time I was still in AF when I woke at 8am. It's now nearly 11 am and my heart is still jumping painfully around in my chest.
I've only resorted an ambulance once for this, the first ever time it happened, and I'm very reluctant to visit my local A&E since I have never had good treatment there in the past, and with Covid19 still rife I really don't want to impose on them now. At some point though, I guess, I will have to make that decision unless I revert to NSR soon.
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momist
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Ahhh feel for you as I know what it's like thinking ' it's over'. Do you know your BPM? And isn't it typical of a holiday weekend? Can you call 111 for advice? I've found them.very good if you explain your situation. Usually they'll get a duty GP to call you back. Fingers crossed for you.
I know it's never over, but this rather took me by surprise because I was feeling quite good about life. See my reply to BobD for the rates, and thanks.
A and E seldom help other than observe and send you home after a few hours. Unless you have chest pain or feel as though you may pass out that is the last place I would consider. What drug regime are you on for AF by the way?
Thanks BobD. That's my thoughts exactly, I will try to just sit it out if I can. I'm on Apixaban and 1.25mg Bisoprolol twice daily, and also Famotidine for my digestive problems. The Ranitidine suited me better, but went off the approval list.This bout only got up to the low 150's BPM. ( I use a Kardia). Usually I've been much higher than that, and with the fear and distress of the first time it reached 280 (according to the paramedics). Never so high again, usually 170 - 190.
My ablation has been cancelled once, due to my reluctance to have an EP I'd never heard of, and then deferred twice due to the pandemic. I'm still happy to wait until it's all over.
That was quite a strange feeling though. I was quietly sitting playing a card game on my mobile, when I suddenly went cold all over, with a singing in my ears and tingly feeling all over, especially down my arms in my hands. I did wonder if I was having a stroke.
My Kardia now reads 48bpm and reports Bradycardia, but that's normal for my resting heart rate and it can get down to the low 40's in my sleep. I guess that's the Bisoprolol doing what it should.
I'm now feeling much better, although I still feel 'washed out' and somewhat weak and shaky. So glad it's all over. I've never had a bout that lasted this long.
I suppose, as everyone tells me, AF begets AF, and it is getting worse. Certainly the symptoms are getting stronger, as well as longer. In the early days a couple of years ago, I could function during a bout, even driving home from wherever I was at the time. I wouldn't want to attempt that now. Just walking was hard.
Not yet Padayn01 . I've been on the waiting list for nearly 2-1/2 years, but with one cancellation and two deferrals (due to Covid19). My time is nearly due, but not quite yet. I'm waiting for my second vaccination, before I enquire again where we're at.
Sorry you've had this episode. It sounds like you could have been in atrial flutter if your heart rate appeared to stick in the early 150's. I had flutter at that rate once and my goodness it made me feel ill.
Your poor heart will be feeling like you've ran a few marathons now, so be content to rest for a while. You've had a lot of experience with AF over the years so I guess you don't need me to tell you that.
Isn't it odd how when we take our mind off what our heart is doing we can revert to normal rhythm. I'd once been in AF for what was probably weeks, went to a neighbours one afternoon for pre Christmas drinks and suddenly realised my heart was back in normal rhythm. Now I always think that alcohol can put you into an abnormal rhythm, or if already in one take you out of it and perhaps things that can cause AF could possibly take you out.
Thank you Jean. Weeks? Ouch! Experienced, yes, but it's never felt quite as bad as this time. Let's hope the hospitals can get back to normal soon, and I can get back on the schedule for the ablation.
I was just about to say has your EP discussed a PIP, certainly worked for me for over two years plus until my first ablation. I have always found 111 really good and on the occasions when the PIP didn't work ,in the latter stages of using one, and I ended up in A&E as guided by 111 , probably six out of the five they were really good and eventually got me sorted, the 6th time it was the early morning changed over time, probably the worst possible time to be down there and having been sent home had to return later. I am certainly not a big fan of A&E but would always listen to the advice of 111, a service put in place to help us. Glad you have returned to NR by yourself, something I could never master!
I've not discussed that with my EP, as I have very little contact with him beyond waiting for my place on the list to come up - currently on hold due to the pandemic. I know others have been going through with the procedure, but at age 71 I'm not keen to go into a hospital setting until I've had my second vaccination.
That is disgusting. I went into hospital via ambulance pulse was 160. They put a drip in me gave me an injection and tablets to bring my pulse down. Kept me in over night and a consultant put me on apixaban which has help. This happened last November. I have been back to the hospital as requested by the consultant for more tests. All is going well with me. Its time your doctor or hospital took some more interest in you. As your doctor to see a consultant. some doctors re lazy some are very good. I am one of the lucky ones
Sorry if my reply wound you up allanmichael . It's all history, water under the bridge you might say.
Four years ago in May I had my first AF problem and ended up in an ambulance to the local A&E at around midnight. My heart rate according to the paramedics peaked at 280bpm. I reckon I thought I was dying, and well panicked. I knew nothing about AF when they told me that was probably the cause.
A&E gave me an aspirin and kept me under observation until 10am the next morning. I reverted to NSR myself at about 0215 when the nurse was putting in a catheter in case they needed to give me drugs, she took the credit :-). I had a chat with a doctor around 7am, who said he would refer me to their cardiology unit. The referral never happened, and two weeks later I contacted my GP and arranged a referral myself to the cardiology unit. They inspected the plumbing, gave me a stress test, and were totally uninterested in the AF problem. I got a clean bill of health!
I had meanwhile educated myself about AF, mainly via this forum and associated reading. I later saw my GP again and asked for a referral to the heart unit at Blackpool Victoria to see an EP. They are my nearest centre for heart stuff. I've been waiting for an ablation since then, as well as having in depth investigation into my digestion problems, arranged by them.
Pleased to hear you are back in NSR after that scare. I would get some Alternative Practitioner advice on your digestion problems which can be a contributory factor, even without drugs, to AF. I know nothing about Famotidine but Dr Google says one of the side effects is 'fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse.'
Thanks secondtry . I had a very extensive investigation by the gastric specialist at Blackpool Victoria that identified the problem and resulted in the medication that I'm taking. It is hoped that the ablation (when I get it) will resolve some of the vagal effects and my digestion calm down then. I'm not against alternative practices, but in this case I'll go with the science.
NB 'Alternative Practices' can be based on science too, but they specialise in areas which our conventional doctors often know about in less detail. I have found the writings of Patrick Holford very helpful. He knows enough science to read and understand the same things as the doctor, but then can present them in a readable and understandable way. There are so many things we can do to help ourselves, especially in the world of digestion, without or before resorting to the doctor's pills!
Sorry to hear about this unexpected (and most certainly unwelcome!) episode. Out of interest, was your last episode December 2020 or December 2019 and what was the frequency of episodes prior to that. Do you have any other underlying conditions Momist? Would be interested to know a bit more about your patterns - it sounds like you live quite a healthy lifestyle.
December 2020. I generally have a session some months apart, but they are now lasting longer and causing greater distress. I try to live a healthy lifestyle, fibre rich diet, regular exercise etc. I do indulge in alcohol at times, and in naughty but nice things like chocolate and curries or even fish and chips.
Everyone looks for 'triggers'. I don't believe they exist, it's just random.
Am with you on the triggers Momist - like searching for a needle in a haystack. It is a baffling thing this AF and very random. I was told by a cardiologist many years ago, that alcohol is very toxic to the heart and to not drink it at all. That was way before I was diagnosed with Afib (I had and still have another arrhythmia). Since my Afib diagnosis, I have cut out alcohol completely but I cannot claim that I have not had an episode since having done so. I was told by a more recent cardiologist (EP) that the occasional glass of wine wouldn't hurt. Who really knows, maybe the man in the moon! 😂. I too, have the occasional choc, curry and fish'n'chips, but still haven't braved a drink! It is so hard to know what to do for the best. Interestingly, I do suffer from digestive problems too, so probably should get those investigated more. I try to walk between 3-5 miles daily and, dare I say, haven't experienced an episode while doing so. I was thrown into a bit of a quandary recently, when I thought that I was going to have to drive this coming Friday. I haven't driven for some time now and I went into a bit of a panic about doing so and wondered what I would do if I went into an episode while driving. As it happens, I'm not doing the trip now anyway, so panic over!
Hi momist, I usually sit it out as my EP says it's the best thing to do unless I feel particularly unwell. I usually revert anytime between 24 hours and 36 hours. Sometimes my heart flutters on and off for days
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