My heart rate is nearing 100 when I am doing not much of anything.

[Hairem]

How can I exercise regularly? Very afraid of a heart attack. I have just started flecainide. I have AFib 24/7.

[BobD Volunteer]

60 to 100 is normal range for heart rate. AFseldom if ever kills people and why do you think you could have a heart attack? Provided that you are anticoagulated for stroke prevention many many people in permanent AF live long and productive lives.

Exercise at a rate that you can carry out a conversation at the same time .

[Hairem in reply to BobD]

Heart rate zips up to 140 - 150 when doing any exertion, walking, gym. I was on Solatol for a month or so and although it did not stop AFib it did keep my heart rate lower.Cardio said my heart cannot continue to beat that fast as it will wear out. Hence the worry.

[RiderontheStorm]

It took me 9 months to get back to normal amount of heartbeats after my Ablation but I kept working out. I describe it like starting out in 3rd gear - I know what you are going thru. Just keep exercising and it will subside as your heart heals and adjusts to meds.

[Padayn01 in reply to RiderontheStorm]

May I ask your exercise routine?

[Hairem in reply to Padayn01]

All during Covid a group of us walked 2 hours a day. I also do an exercise class x2 a week. Since my AFib diagnosis I am taking time off if my heart rate is too high.🚶🏻‍♀️🚶🏻‍♀️

[RiderontheStorm in reply to Padayn01]

I have a cross training regiment that includes 100 push ups, lat stretches, tricep and curls and deep knee bends along with stretching for my back, hips and ham strings. I use 20 lb dumbells and stretch bands along with a simple wooden chair. I also bicycle between 8-20 miles daily and try to get in at least one long 36-40 miles bike ride - weather permitting.

[Desanthony]

Have you had an ablation? If you are in permanent Afib and have had a successful cardioversion - even if it only lasted a matter of hours it means ablation would work for you and the sooner you have it in your journey the better before your heart remodels itself and you cannot have either cardioversion or ablation. You may need more than one ablation but so long as your case is suitable for ablation then 70-80% success rate for first ablation and if in the 30% or so that need second ablation the rate is higher as just the problem areas will be ablated.

All the best.

[Hairem in reply to Desanthony]

I have not had an ablation, Cardio is going to refer me but it will be months. I have had a cardioversion that lasted a week, Solatol that lasted a week too.

Thanks for the reply.

[Desanthony in reply to Hairem]

Hopefully your cardio can push for the ablation sooner than later.

All the best.

[Zeinmassri]

I’m going exactly through the same thing except it’s not Afib it’s permanent flutter. Every slight movement will trigger my heart rate to go crazy so I feel what your going through I’m also waiting for a third ablation hopefully in january

[Hairem in reply to Zeinmassri]

all the best to you. Afib is very unsettling.

[FancyPants54 in reply to Hairem]

You get used to it. Persistent is 100% better than random bolts from the blue of it. You might need better rate control for exercise, but you will get there.

[ETHEL103]

Hi I'm in jour position.Cv last week only worked for 2 hours then ectopics and a fib kicked back in even tho I rested at home for 3 days.Gp has emailed St Thomas to try and get my ablation sooner rather than the very long wait.Best of luck.

[Drizzt]

Sorry to hear about your trouble. I started with AF after a minor op to remove a cyst. They put me on Solatol for over a year. I came off it and had a large SVT episode. The reason was that the solatol had given me a long QT. The cardio decided that I need a ICD. Every since I have had AF. I eventually changed to atrial flutter after an episode of endocarditis. When my AV node was damage. So now I have a ICD that works permanently as a pacemaker. The settings are minimum of 70 max 160. My heart immediately goes to 80- 90 on movement and will go into 140-150 with gentle exercise. I was told these are the normal range. You did not give an indication of age so remember that even in fit people the max heart rate is your age subtracted from 220. Aerobic exercise is should be 64% to 76% of that value. Above is anaerobic. Hope this helps.

[Hairem in reply to Drizzt]

Thanks for all the info. I am 74 and was fit!Perhaps my AFib espiode was a result of stopping Solatol. 🙃

[Thomas45]

Dear Hairem, I've just read your details and the phrase "I have an Apple watch", which you check four times a day, which I believe is the cause of your anxiety, trying to analyse every result your watch tells you.I have had AF for about twenty six years. For the last 6 years I've been in permanent, though asymptomatic, AF. I'm also asthmatic ( for the last 46 years) have lymphoedema in my lower legs, and wear an orthotic on my right leg as I have Foot drop following damaging my Peroneal nerve.

For AF I take only an AntiCoagulant, Warfarin being my choice, so I also have a medical meter to test the coagubility of my blood. When I bought my Coaguchek meter I was testing my blood every day. Now I check it when my arrhythmia nurse emails every 2 months.

If I were you, I'd take my Apple watch off, read everything you can about AF, on the AFA website, and not put it back on until I'd read everything.

[Hairem in reply to Thomas45]

Thanks for the information Thomas45 but this watch has probably made a change to how long I live with Afib. I know earlier when I am in Afib, which is all of the time except for 2 weeks after Solatol and cardioversion. Things are calm at the moment to happy for every day that happens.

[listerines]

I feel for you regarding your exercise concerns with an already higher resting heart rate. Have you been on the flecainde long as in my experience it can take up to 3-5 days before conversion back to sinus rhythm? Also are you on any beta blockers to control heart rate as this may help with confidence re: mild to moderate exercise.Based on my afib presentation (quite symptomatic) exercise is the last thing i would want to do while in an episode - if it was persistent/ permanent though could change things. Keep safe

[Hairem in reply to listerines]

Hi Listerines, I have only been on the medication for 7 days and it was only half a dose. On the full dose now and right know my heart has calmed. Dr. said he wants to increase the meds but I am not interested in that unless this party in my chest starts up again. Fingers crossed. Start a easy exercise class again tomorrow with fingers crossed.