Still fresh with the diagnosis but a lot more educated on it now and aware of the different forms of treatment. Also got my echo booked in and appointment with the consultant in the next 6 weeks which is good. 2.5mg bisoporlol seems to be working okay. No side effects that I’m aware of. Having AF makes so much sense as to why some times I’m so tired and lose my breath so easy. My bad cough that I’ve had for nearly ten weeks seems to be clearing up and been for a chest x ray so will see if that’s connected to the issues with my heart. Hard to know what the future may hold until I’ve seen a consultant. But just worrying as I feel I’m only young and every time I take my heart rate on a monitor now it seems to be all over the show with the rhythm. I’ve had a mitral valve repair twenty years ago and when I got my heart checked three years ago, there was no af discovered but the repair seemed to be a bit worn resulting in leakage but nothing to worry about they said. That echo was only done as I needed it doing for life insurance purposes not because they was keeping an eye on me. I know it’s a manageable condition. But I work for myself as a window cleaner and being in my early thirties I’m thinking my condition change things in the future for my business. I will be more in the know once I’ve seen the consultant.
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wordzo
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A lot of members here have been where you are now and will give you some good tips. Mine I'm going to give is some changes that we have found that can reduce AF symptoms. Firstly a lot of members have found that having an artificial additive free and more plant based diet helps. As does supplementing with magnesium. Losing weight, if needed, can really help too. I'm afraid alcohol and caffeine are often triggers, so it may be an idea to avoid those for a while. Reduce the size of your meals if you can as large ones are a sure trigger for most.
I've had AF for 16 years and have learnt all that I've mentioned the hard way, but they are common knowledge to most here now.
Hi and welcome. It’s so difficult getting heart issues at such a young age and unfortunately the one thing that AF teaches you is to live with uncertainties.
In addition to everything that Jean has said, I would say if you can learn to live with uncertainty and stay calm, listen to your body and not the ‘monkey brain’ of worry, live life at a slower pace then perhaps you are used to or want to.
My husband has had a leaky mitral valve since childhood after Diptheria - which is a disease most young people won’t know but was the COVID of earlier years. He has controlled AF, during his life he has run a marathon (not very fast), sailed around the world, sings in a choir and is still an active member of the community at 87.
There is a lot of mileage in positive thinking.
You don’t say but I am imagining that you are in persistent AF? Many people with persistent AF ie: in AF all of the time seem to be much less symptomatic than those where the AF comes and goes ie: Paroxysmal AF.
That is tough when you're so young but I imagine you'll be encouraged to have ablation. Are you self employed? If so, that'll mean you can't work for a bit but worth nevertheless. I run a home business with my husband, so I know what that's like - to not have the money coming in. It's good you're getting on with the bisoprolol. In the meantime my advice is to look into lifestyle changes such as diet, hydration, sleep patterns and regular gentle exercise. Obviously your job is physical but maybe just walking for 30 mins 5 times a week will provide a different form of exercise?
It's also will keep a symptom diary - of you notice the AF - how you feel and what you were doing before you noticed it. Although doing the HR checks is helpful, the more important thing is how you feel.
I agree entirely that keeping a diary of what you did, ate, etc. during the day, or even day before, an a-fib episode helps to determine what triggered it. I keep my diary in a Word document and can search for certain key words -- cat fur, alcohol, too much to eat, etc. -- and can usually find a pattern.
Hi Wordzo. Welcome to the consistently irregular world of AF. Here you'll find friendly advice and other people's life experiences to learn from. Me? I was diagnosed with AF when I was 47. It is permanent and does not go away,but like most people (I think) I am asymptomatic so you can only tell using a ECG/stethoscope etc. It may have started up to 10 years earlier. As CDreamer say it sounds like yours is permanent too, so I would add these things: bisoprolol can slow you down and make you feel lethargic so it may take a while to settle the dose level down. I presume you have told them you are up and down ladders during the day? Second, like us all you will think OMG heart problems, I'm doomed! Well you're not but the NHS in my opinion sees AF as a stroke risk primarily so you may need to refocus your attention toward that, certainly as you get older. Lastly, the further away from your diagnosis, the less likely are you to get interventions, so make sure you see whoever you can and get whatever tests are available. Lastly, again, 1.4 million people in the UK have afib, so that's about 3% (adults) though only 2% are aware of it, so it's a really popular disease and as you'll find out here some really nice people have it. Good luck, keep well, Gary
Hi WordzoI’m 54. I’m in persistent AF since about May and have a slow pumping left ventricle which is apparently just on border line, have an appointment to see Cardiologist beginning of Sept (can’t wait)
I’ve had echocardiogram.
I was very symptomatic at first now taking Bisoprolol at first this made me feel awful but ok now started on 5mg then 7.5mg now 10mg, also taking Apixaban and Digoxin.
My HR is also all over the place and have to pace myself, I find I can’t rush around anymore I hate not being able to run. But plan to do a bit more like walking ect and keep eye on my HR I wear a watch that tracks it.
Lots of wise words. Nutrition, lifestyle within lifestyle the big one-stress.How to avoid stress in today's world. Worry over health, worry over finance, worry over employment.
When I get stressed usually following the call pager for the Lifeboat. I do a breathing regimen, sometimes called box. My pager just gone have to go. Breath deep and slow.
my mom 87 yrs old was in permeant afib for over 3 yrs. and all kinds of rhythem, rate medications as well as anticoagulants all for 3 consecutive years. Then she went to See Dr Wolf. i =n Houston Texas. He does what has been coined a "Wolf Mini Maze", with 96% sucess rate of ending afib once and for all. This is a one stop deal. IT WORKS! 17 years he has been doing this. Weather you have had ablations or not, he can fixt this. He will till you that the AFIB begins on the outside NOT the inside. 17 years to kepp this success rate, Check it out! He is lovely and very talented. Check him outWolf Mini Maze, Houston Texas, Im scheuled for tomorrow, and Im terrified.
ive never had or wanted the 'temopraty fix" of an ablation. If im gonna do anyting medicall it MUST ne a cure... Wolf Mini Maze in Houston Texas is my cure,
I recommend acquiring a copy of ‘The AFIB Cure’ by Dr John D Day, MD and T. Jared Bunch, MD especially as you are new to AF and so young. I wish I had read it 10 years’ ago though not possible as it was only published this year! They are both Cardiologists in the US so different health system of course but there is a lot of info on AF, medication and lifestyle changes. If your appointment with the Cardiologist is not for about 6 weeks, you’ve got time to buy and read it before you go, it includes a list of questions to ask your Cardiologist which you might find helpful to go armed with. Doing your job and being self employed means you need to keep yourself as fit as possible. Good luck!
AF is a journey. And there will be some good times and bad times. Episodes of AF can give you a sense of dread if your symptomatic. There are many people that don't even realise they have irregular heart beats. If I can give you one bit of advise-keep a spreadsheet/log of AF episodes. I kept one for 3 years and it greatly assisted my EP to recommend an ablation. I haven't had to update my log book since ablation. Good luck going forward and keep positive.
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