I am wondering how many people in the group are classed as young for having AF? I am 43 and am often told I’m very young to have it. I would also like to learn from others and there experiences of living with AF whatever their age. Do people still work? Thanks
What age did you get AF and who can g... - Atrial Fibrillati...
What age did you get AF and who can give me advice on living with it please!
90 Replies
•
Hi Pingu.
Let's get down to this one. You are young and will benefit from future treatments. Who knows what will happen before you are 50 - maybe a total cure.
Look you adjust - make life style changes and you'll cope. Serious stuff. It's a bl@@dy pain at times but of course you will still be able to work. Don't let fear get to you.
Here's a promise - it won't be half as bad as you think. Can be a nuisance I know but you'll cope.
Have seen a cardio or EP yet ? If not ask your GP to refer you.
Your see it through no worries.
Paul
• in reply toPaulbounce
Thanks for replying!! I have an appointment with a cardio in March. I suppose it’s the fear of the unknown and as I never know when it’s going to happen I let it rule me by fear!! I’m working on this though and if I can get my anxiety under control I’m sure I’ll feel better. Never thought about them finding a treatment good idea!!
Thank you for your positive words
Paulbounce• in reply to
My pleasure Ping.
Just had look at your other post.
"I’m 43 and overweight (down 3 stone now but a lot to go!!) and I have health anxiety anyway so I’m sure these factors don’t help. I want to understand the condition more so I can learn to live with it but google always gives worst case scenario’s so I’m trying to avoid that"
First off all well done with that weight loss. Try for a bit more over time. Anxiety is not good for afib - kick that one in to touch for starters - you have no need. We all feel anxiety when we are first told. As for Doctor Google - ask questions on here as he is a real downer - I had a cold once and he told me he I had lung cancer !
Has your medic put you on anticoagulants (known as blood thinners) ? If not I would request these.
Fire away with any other questions - people on this forum are friendly and will be more than happy to help.
All best,
Paul
• in reply to
Hello, fellow afibber, started at 48 y.o. (51 now). Also have anxiety. Can relate!
I hope you are well~ I had an enlarged heart 1st (around 46 y.o I was told this). Was also told although it was enlarged, it was the heart of a 25 y.o. So, I continued living as if I was 25. Not really but I just didn't worry about it & change eating habits etc. Fast fwd & I got a raspy voice, phantom smoke smell, strange anxiousness for about 3 mths. Then, progressively short of breath. As a teacher, walking car to classroom, I would put my purse away & just say "something is off". 2 weeks later, woke up 1 day unable to focus, like to fold wash. It's bizzare, extreme impatience is what I compare it to. Could not walk 1 flight of atairs nor stand to brush teeth. Rushed to hospital & heard "your bnp # is over 500, heart failure, thyroid storm". Scared to death the whole scenario you can imagine. Test after test. After years of underactive thyroid, mine went overactive. Pumped me full of diuretics & stopped my thyroid meds. I slowly recovered enough to go home.
Still had stumbling heart that turned into afib about 2 months after hospital. 1 cardioversion lasted a year. Then went into afib persistent but covid stopped me from getting 2nd cardioversion.
Sorry this is long. I walk and take meds to keep heart rate down. The meds make me feel like not walking because their pirpose is to keep heart rate down so i feel tired out but I 1000% push through because its so important. Once I get going, I feel much better.
Its hard not to focus on your heart, right?! But you will find ways to manage it. Your Dr. should be a big help & if they aren't, don't stay w/that doctor.
My husband also has a fib, 3 cardioversions later he is in permanent afib & his is managed with meds too. His last visit he said he didn't want another shock. Dr. said that at 63 y.o he will be able to manage life well & to stay active was most important thing (diet too). Young people physically fit get it too. I am sure you have googled. But, try to get your anxiety under control & make sure you get a blood thinner. From what I understand, it's going in and out of a fib that is risky for blood clots.
Take care, you really will be ok. I never thought I would be this calm but experience is everything.
You got this!!!
cloudbreaker• in reply to
Hello, Cookie341, thank you for your detailled explanation. Would you mind referencing to the statement of "From what I understand, it's going in and out of a fib that is risky for blood clots. " Is there literature? I am 56 and have afib irregular. My Cardiologist says one has to do something regarding blood cloths after 24 hours of being in afib. So I take 2,5 mg concor when it starts and then wait at least 12-18 hours before taking 200mg Aristocir which has sofar reseted it, however it has also converted by itself after as little as 4 hours. Thank you for your comment.
• in reply tocloudbreaker
Hello and you are welcome. From my understanding from my doctor, the longer you are in afib, the more chance the blood pools and can form a clot. That clot can dislodge when you return to regular rhytym. But everyone has a different stoke risk. I, being overweight and in persistent a fib need the blood thinner. I know when people say they "have" afib it isnt always "persistent" & their doctor most likely goes over their stroke risk. But I also like to err on the side of caution in case they mean persistent a fib & suggest blood thinner. Take good care!! Sounds like you are doing well on your meds!
• in reply to
Thank you. I too am a teacher and have an under active thyroid!! Recently it went overactive and I feel this may have contributed to the AF!! I am now on meds to try and why anxiety under control and I will ask my cardiologist about blood thinners as I’ve been told initially that I don’t need them!! I would like to know my heart is structurally ok and will ask about that at my appointment in March .
JOY2THEWORLD49• in reply to
HiI can see you sent response 8 mths ago but as I read up on thyroid problems I can tell you this.
Research has shown that Drs give thyroxin without cause.
Sometimes the thyroid may show a high TSH for several months but patience and it returns to normal.
Experts say LEAVE IT ALONE and keep an eye on it.
My AF was caused by thyroid cancer but the Embollic Stroke was caused by AF.
It is easier to monitor the thyroid hormones when it is out.
I take 125mcg or 150 mcg one day some weeks to keep my TSH at 2.00-3.00. That's all I have to do. But no food around taking it by 1/2 - 1hr. Also better taken on an empty morning wake up. I take mine between 5-7am.
I refused RAI Radio Active Iodine and being in Supperession - less than .3TSH if I remember. Age and heart condition matter. My thyroglobin is now down to 3.5. Sometimes this level shows whether you are likely to have cancer.
I take my Synthyroid under tongue to dissolve. Like my B12 Solgar gold top herbal which works. Oldies should be at 400-500.
Take care how are u doing now?
cheri jOY. 73. (NZ)
Diagnosed at 57 but I thought I had had AF & or other arrhythmias most of my life so the diagnosis was just a label,
It never bothered me much until my late 50’s when my QOL declined as the AF burden increased.
I learned that fear is your biggest enemy - it has a physical affect as much as psychological so it is essential to learn coping strategies to live with and reduce anxiety.
Treatments can sometimes help but most of what I learned about living with AF came from my own research and experience- I became an observer of myself and made lots of notes - of what helped & what didn’t. AND from others with such as those on this forum.
I’ve not allowed AF to stop me doing anything I wanted to do until the last 5 years so when 65 but I have to say that I have had to adapt & give up many of my beloved sports such as diving, sailing, skiing etc but that was also since I then developed a neuro muscular condition.
I’ve probably benefited most from addressing lifestyle as much as from medical interventions but I had a pacemaker implanted in 2018 and that’s helped more than any other treatment for me - but everyone has differing experiences and some find drugs helpful or ablations.
The one thing I learned early on is don’t just rely on what the doctors tell you - push for options - learn as much as you can so you understand the condition and how it affects you. More than anything don’t get into victim mentality - we used to have a saying - we may have AF but it doesn’t have us.
Hope some of that helps.
PS the youngest forum member I recall was 18 so ‘young’ is relative. At 70 I’m too young in my mind to have a heart condition.
• in reply toCDreamer
Thank you for your reply. I am working on a positive state of mind as I do believe that will help me cope better. Your advice is great x
• in reply toCDreamer
Super reply as well as life outlook! What a great share, thank you!
Hi Pingu,
I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AF in Jan 2010, almost now 12 years to the day - (aged 65). I discovered that my AF was triggered by food. I have also found genetics plays a part too.I follow a food plan as a result of consulting a Nutritionist and between that and medication I survive.
I am a bus driver ( now aged 77) and although retired I still drive buses 30 to 40 hours a week. I have annual medical checks to meet DVLA standards of health for bus driving. Up until CoVid I also took holidays in Australia, sometimes flying straight through sometimes stopping over in Hong Kong. No sweat.
Sure I still get attacks 4 or 5 times a year, sometimes they last a few hours, other times up to around 15 hours. Nothing serious enough to send me scampering off to my GP or a Consultant though.
For me it is what it is. These days food and my gut are much more of an issue than AF, yet the two are connected. But it is an untrustworthy condition and I am aware the ball game can change any time without warning.
John
• in reply to
Thank you for replying. I will look into the food connection as I feel this may be a trigger for myself.
Kevwray• in reply to
John -
Very interested in food link - I am paroxsymal 4 years in & just up for 3rd ablation ...vagally mediated & nearly always after food.
AF is a mongrel condition which means it tends to be different for everyone. Some people are in AF 24/7 whereas for others it comes and goes without warning. Sometimes episodes last for ages, for others it’s only minutes or hours. Some have symptoms and they can vary from day to day, others have no symptoms and a good few have it and don’t even know it. What I’m trying to say it’s not a lot of help knowing how it effects others, it’s knowing how it effects you that’s important. In your last post about a month ago, you got lots of good advice so hopefully you have taken that advice on board and working your way through it.
Paul is absolutely right when he says you need to see an EP (Electrophysiologist) a Cardiologist who specialises in arrhythmias. At your age, you need to see someone who can work with you to develop a treatment plan which is specific to your condition or type of AF. Hearing what others do may be interesting, but to be honest it’s unlikely to be of any great value to you for the reason above. I know you have been advised to search the AF Association webpages and this is vital because it will help you to have meaningful discussions with a specialist which will be valuable.
AF can cause more serious problems for some but the majority who have not retired, continue to work but again, this is something you would discuss with a specialist because there are so many factors to consider. Again Paul is right, when most are first diagnosed their mind goes into overdrive but once they realise that life goes on, they may need to make adjustments but by ‘n large, they continue to lead near normal lives. Also best not to underestimate the importance of making lifestyle changes where necessary………
• in reply to
Thank you for your reply. I know I probably sound silly but it’s all new and very scary right now.
• in reply to
Not silly at all. Soon after I was diagnosed I joined a small group of folk who met socially in London. This was back in 2014 and as I approached the restaurant, I was getting more nervous not knowing what to expect. It was one of the best things I could have done. There were around 10 of us there, perfect ordinary people all coping and getting on with their lives but with one common interest AF. Each of us had different variations of the condition but to be honest, no one else in the restaurant would have thought the group was any different than anyone else. Back in 2018, I went to a similar gathering in Exeter, this one was organised by JeanJeannie. BobD, CD, carneuny, redders and several others from the forum were there to and apart from BobD , everyone was perfectly ordinary 😉, all with different variations of AF but all leading normal lives.
The difference was we had had some time to adapt and adjust whereas for you now it is raw and frightening. Please don’t misunderstand the point I’m making. Not for one moment am I suggesting you are over reacting because believe me, we have all been where you are now. What I’m trying to get across is that in time, things will get better but you have to do the right things to help the process along…..I hope that all makes sense 🙏
At least I wasn't wearing a pink floral frock and hob nail boots FJ.
My dad has just been diagnosed with A fib after a stroke (he was in A fib) he's had symptoms from time to time since been in his 30s and I remember him having them as a child said it was anxiety... vertigo... the rest 🤷♂️I've had same symptoms since 30s
Don't think the drs have a clue imho
• in reply toworriedcats
I can understand what you are saying but in fairness, it is very difficult for GP’s to diagnose paroxysmal AF because hearts rarely perform when you are with the doctor. This is why monitors like the Kardia can be so helpful…..
worriedcats• in reply to
Would a doctor diagnose or take kardia seriously though?
The GP’s who diagnosed me certainly took AF very seriously and really fought my corner with what was very poor care from the local hospital. Does depend on the individual GP and their knowledge base and experience though. My GP had been a cardiac registrar. Every doctor I have ever met has always taken Kardia traces seriously and my EP was involved in testing of Kardia when first came to UK.
• in reply toworriedcats
Most Cardiologist’s/EP’s do. Some GP’s might be less well informed so they would need to be asked. Once they had made their own enquiries, I’d be very surprised if they didn’t……
My AF diagnosis was from my kardia. Best £99 spent ever.
Two EPs I went to took Kardia seriously and wondered why I didn't use it more regularly. I tend to use it when feeling off. I'm in NM USA.
HiI was diagnosed in hospital for stroke.
But my Dr could see it on my eCG in clinic
but
I hAve RAPID AND PERSISTENT H/R
but still with AF but now CONTROLLED.
cheers JOY. 73. (NZ)
Elli86• in reply to
I agree flap but also would be nice if they listened to what your telling them and didn’t just tell you it’s all in your head, which is basically what they say 🤦♂️
Especially annoying when they say your anxious but you flat out tell them your not, have never been and have no reason to be but they still don’t listen. It takes a hospital visit to get diagnosed half the time.
HiLatest says Vertigo is due to low levels of Vit D which carries on to support and absorb calcium.
cheri JOY. 73. (NZ)
I was diagnosed with AF at age 55, but believe I had it long before then. I've always been a keen walker and sometimes after driving to a location would feel too drained to start a walk. Looking back I think it started in my early 40's.
My heart used to really bang in my chest if I exerted myself e.g. walking up steep hills, but I thought everyone's did that. It wasn't until after my first ablation that the banging stopped and I realised it hadn't been normal.
I wasted years fretting about what my heart was doing. I've been diagnosed for almost 17 years now. Please don't make the same mistake as me and let anxiety make your bouts of AF worse than they need to be, because anxiety is like fuel to AF. Now I totally ignore how my heart is beating and am so much better for doing that. I really can't be bothered to check what's happening, I know that if I do my heart rate will go even higher.
Jean
• in reply tojeanjeannie50
Thank you and I’m trying to not worry so much x
Thanks for this. And thanks to Pingu7813 especially for bringing up the topic. I'm a total worrywart and paralyzed with anxiety sometimes. I'm older than you Pingu - 60 and diagnosed 4 years ago. I may have had it for years though. Anyway I will try to take inspiration from you all and find my way.
My cardiologist told me that after older people , the largest group he sees with AF are young athletes. My son was one. He was, and still is a marathon canoeist, but at that time he was also an international white water raftist. He was 35 at the time and is now 51. He had an ablation soon after diagnosis (one of his canoeing friends was a cardiologist who referred him for the ablation) We live in South Africa and he had to go to Cape Town for the procedure as there was no-one in the Province where we live performing the procedure - there is still only one EP! It was a success, he does not take any medication, still canoes and runs every day, has regular check ups and is passed as OK to continue with these activities, I have asymptomatic familial PAF (4 sisters and a father who was affected) - so who knows what is in store for my son, but for the past nearly 17 years it has not affected him at all since ablation. I might add, that a number of his water athlete friends have been similarly affected.
• in reply topusillanimous
Thank you
When I had my first episode at age 19 (in 1963), I had taken up speed skating a few months earlier. Before that, I hadn't been especially athletic, though I was as active as most people my age. The day of that first episode, we'd had a swimming pool party, and I'd been doing some swim races and some deep diving, holding my breath for as long as I could. In addition, I was drinking a lot of caffeine in those days in the form of soda pop. So maybe that all added up to Afib. Also, my Dad had it, though I didn't find out about that until 30 years later.
Not young anymore, but got my first episode when I was 19 in 1963, and second in 1969. They slowly got more frequent after that, until I got my ablation in 2018. Now they're about every month or two.
• in reply toBrad43
Thank you
Hi Pingu, I got AF at birth so had it on and off all my life and managed without medication…but it reared its head at 40, bought on by stress, being too fat and poor lifestyle choices made over the last 20 years…
• in reply toMissTia123
Thank you
My boyfriend was diagnosed at age 28, but probably has had it for 4 years at that time. He had an ablation done in June and has ever since been able to lead a completely normal life with no more afib episodes
• in reply toIrev83
Thank you and that’s good
Got my first one in my 50's, six years ago. Luckily I got to the hospital in time and they caught me still in A-Fib. They cardioverted me with meds through an IV, and I went into sinus rythym almost immediately. I stayed in the hosp overnight, got some tests, and was discharged. My heart was doing good. After i got home I got really anxious and was overly sensitive to every little thing my heart was doing. I was constantly waiting for my heart to act up. Anxiety is not an A-Fibbers friend at all. Now I hardly get A-Fib. The only thing I am doing differently is eating lighter meals and not eating too much cheese and ice cream. I noticed when I had digestive problems I would go into A-Fib. My doctor doesnt seem to know what triggers it. Just try to stay calm, easier said than done sometimes.
• in reply to
Thank you
Mine was diagnosed at 23, but I remember docs saying I had a
"heart murmur" at age 9. Since then, I've progressed into permanent AF, with a one-two-missafew heartbeat LOL
But I'm not on any meds, although I have tried some - they just made me feel worse to the point I almost collapsed one day at work. I swore off the meds after that. Sensible lifestyle - regular exercise, good, fresh foods (no processed crap), limit alcohol (I still love a drink), limit coffee and you'll find that things will become quite manageable.
Stress can also be a factor, make sure you limit it as much as possible. I run my own business so know what stress can be, but have taken steps to curb that as well.
As suggested, note what you eat as well, as some foods can be triggers and everyone is that little bit different.
I'm now 59 and in what is probably the best condition in been in for decades, so fear not! You've just got to find your way around it and don't let the "experts" beat you down; find a cardiologist that will work with you and not just dictate to you what you should be shoving down your throat. That's why I fired my last one, he wouldn't listen and was the alleged expert, I had no idea. But feeling like I was dying told me otherwise!!
Good luck with your journey, but don't to so fearful about it, plenty of us around and surviving just fine with it too!
• in reply toPAF62
Thank you
Developed AFib at 55. NO known triggers, I suspect job stress / other life stress over years contributed to it, but obviously can't prove it. Aditionally I always burned the candle at both ends and never had enough sleep. After taking a few different drugs, ( rate control and rhythm control) most of which had indesireable side effects, my afib did get worse and I had an ablation which stopped the afib at 57.5 years old. 4 years later still afib free. However I believe I have also got my head around stress/ anxiety ( to some extent) which I think has helped. Find out what you can about AFib but do not stress about it. Anxiety affects the heart. So worrying excessively is counter productive. You can get into a vicious circle - more worry, more heart misbehaving, more worry. Not medically trained just what I think I have learned from my journey
The other important thing for you to realise is AFib is NOT one thing. Yours will be unique to you in terms of its symptoms , its triggers , its reaction to different drugs and treatments. However this forum will show that range to you. Ask questions.
Best wishes
Hi Ping,I was first officially diagnosed with PAF when I had just turned 40 although it was an issue I had known about since I was a youth. I can remember mentioning to my grandmother once that my heart kept going funny and she said that it was unusual for me to get palpitations which I continued to think that's what it was. Small violent bursts of AF going back to NSR within a minute or two. I thought no more of it, got on with my life, didn't impact me until officially diagnosed with it in 1995. How did I cope? very worried at first as bouts were lasting 8 hours or so but cardiologist just shrugged it off and said it was nothing, here's some Sotolol, come back in six months. Ha! Unlike today there seemed to be no information available anywhere. Cutting a longer story short, bouts got worse, more visits to A&E, ablation in 1999 and again in 2018. AF I found to be a nuisance, a disappointment "an embuggerment" I read someone say but I got on with life, carried on working but over time lifestyle changes helped, reduce stress both physical and mental, good diet and weight with moderate excercise have all helped so has the ablation and information and help on here is brilliant! It's a long road and I'm now 66 but please try and have a life. Wishing you much luck with it.
• in reply to
Thank you
Hello Pingu lots of great responses on this post for you. My P-Afib (that Atrial Fibulation that kicks in intermittently) started during sucessful cancer treatment (the likely cause). My best decision was to see an EP who now reviews me annually. Important alongside life style changes ( ie loosing the excess weight, cutting caffeine out & limiting alchohol- you are doing well with your weight loss -& moderate exercise- I like walking) was finding the right meds that suited me....my Afib has been very settled since he did that. Everyone is different but honestly it doesn't have to rule your life. I used to work full time but now work part time as I'm mid 60's. I'm a teacher & have learnt to manage stress! There's so much that can be done to help reduce or even get rid of Afib so please try not to see it as destroying your life. It doesn't. Many have lived very well with it for years.....& you can and will too.
You are taking steps to improve your lifestyle & those are massive steps and will help you loads. It does take time to find whats right for you but keep going & on here you will find lots of great support from a lovely bunch of caring people on here who live their lives well. Hugs xx
• in reply towaveylines
Thank you
Hi Pingu
I was 43 when I had my first afib diagnosis. Mine was brought on by drinking cold drinks too quickly or too cold. Only happened in winter months between Nov and March. I’m a sports coach and have a very ‘clean’ heart with no mechanical issues or build up. I’m overweight though and have been for a decade. I had 8 electro cardio versions over a decade and four years ago had a pulmonary ablation. No afib since and some occasional irregular heart beats. Mine I know is entirely a stomach based issue which I have tried to read up on. It’s vagal overstimulation that sets my afib off. Like others on here please avoid websites, only access peer reviewed scientific papers. There are more treatments being investigated all the time so have confidence that you will find solutions. I am still learning all the time. I recently found out that the home water filter I’ve had for ten years makes the water acidic. I’ve tested my filtered water and it’s too acidic. This may have been agitating my stomach lining and subsequently my vagal nerve. I have overdone Christmas too so will need to get my weight down again. Keep at it and follow your own intuition regarding what causes your afib. ❤️
• in reply toJaco53
Thank you
Hi PinguLove the name, sounds like it means penguin in Catalan.
Paul’s comments are spot on. Fear and worry cause stress, stress causes cortisol release, cortisol leads to all sorts of ‘fight or flight responses’ and triggers amongst other things rapid heart beat. So staying as calm as you can is good advice. I know it sounds a bit woohoo and out there, but seriously, 5 minutes of meditation no matter where you are, 10 minutes of yoga or whatever method you choose, is really beneficial.
By the way, I started at age 39 but wasn’t diagnosed until I was in my sixties. Medicine moved on and seems to be moving on far more rapidly at the moment. I carried on working till I was 59.
• in reply toMaggimunro
Thank you for your advice
You are still relatively young Pingu7813 so don't let it blight your life. Treat it as an annoying relative who wants to accompany you everywhere. Accommodate it but don't let it take over your life. You'll have brushes with it life-long, so no sense pretending it's not there but find a way to live alongside it, being neither afraid, nor annoyed, nor becoming obsessed by it. It can and will really drag you under if you let it, but there is no need. Conquer your fear and loathing of it by accepting help when it's particularly bad, but just like any disability, it can become a part of your life without scaring you half to death or turning you into a health bore. Very best wishes for your journey.
• in reply to
Thank you for your advice
Hi I'm 73 and was diagnosed with AF in 2021 in the March. I'm on anticoagulants. I've been fortunate in that I've only had 2 episodes since March 2021 that I'm aware of. When I was initially diagnosed it came after I had myocarditis- inflammation of the heart caused by a virus they told me in hospital for which I took meds for 3 months. When I first started doing normal everyday stuff it took a lot of energy but gradually improved. Now I'm walking 3 miles a day. I do have a kardia monitor which I bought to check if or when I think I might be in af but not used it for many months. But my gp happy for me to send results. The monitor gives the assurance I need when I need it.I also ditched all caffeine in tea and coffee and haven't had a drop of alcohol since January 2021. Good luck. Its not the first or last thing I think of every day now.
• in reply toLovetheoutdoors
Thank you
Hello pingu I was diagnosed at 64 years of age, I had a few very bad episodes but honestly most days I forget I have it, occasionally it rears it’s ugly head but I have found that keeping calm or trying to helps me through.As regards working I lasted until I was 76 although part time because I loved my job and kept me motivated.
The best thing I learnt from this site is that you don’t die from AF.
Good luck
• in reply toHatten28
Thank you. Once I get my anxiety under control I’m sure I’ll feel better x
Hi there. I was diagnosed 7yrs ago, aged 60. Had a pretty dramatic episode whilst on holiday on Crete and rushed into hospital. Sooo scared as I dont speak Greek and the cardiologists English was limited. They were amazing though and after trying various drugs, they got me back into sinus.Still no idea of what had happened until I got back to the UK armed with the hospital report.
The only drug that kept me in sinus was amioderone, a particularly nasty drug but worked for me. I have HCM as well and have considered, along with my fantastic EP, ablation. Was on the list at St Barts for a year as I'm now in permanent AF. Didnt think I would ever be able to "cope" with being in AF all of the time but cope I have. Had another consultation with my EP early December and I've decided to stay as I am. Have finally been able to drop the amioderone, something that is a big plus and now dont have the fear of going into AF which for me felt really awful. The ablation route for me only had a 30-40% chance of success anyway. Would I prefer for my heart to be beating nice and steady? Well of course and do I sometimes feel a little wiped? Yes but I manage and I continue to do most things. If things deteriorate and medication (Diltiazem) stops working for me, pace and ablate will be my last resort. My EP and a Professor colleague of his, think I'm on the young side to have this atm, about the best chance I have of anyone referring to me as "young" , so I'll take it. Just to say that over the past 7years I've had some very down times, thinking "why me" , as otherwise I'm pretty fit but it helps to get your head around the condition and accept how you may have to "tweak" your lifestyle. This forum has helped me enormously, at times I dont know how I've got through my down days, until I've read advice or people who are much worse than me on here. Theres no doubt that it can be a scary road but you can most definitely live with it. Wishing you well and always ask for advice on here if you have any doubts or fears, as the people on here have either been or are actually going through it themselves and you will get some great pearls of wisdom. Good luck with it all and Happy New Year. Sue
• in reply toNannysue1
Thank you
Pingu wrote
"Never thought about them finding a treatment"
There already are treatments. I won't go in to all as your cardio will be best to explain it to you. He / she will also work out the best route for you and you'll move from there.
Good luck Pingu - you'll beat it for sure.
Paul
hi pingu my ep told me when i was about 56 that i was young to have afib, i am 61 now , but ive had afib since i was around 33 or 34 , it was not diagnosed for years , i continued to work a very physical job lots of climbing etc, but with increasing instances of afib i have had to cut back drastically, never knowing when it was going to kick in ,it became very difficult to plan self employed work, it all made me me realise that my health was my wealth.
• in reply toTomred
Thank you for your reply
Hello pinguI was in my late 20s when first had symptoms. Took over a year to get properly diagnosed as young (and female) and so had to get through lots of assumptions that I was anxious/ emotional etc. I didn't and still don't suffer with anxiety, but obviously was worried about what was going on. As someone who works in mental health I know how life impacting anxiety is and not minimising that, not at all. But it wasn't a feature for me.
I meditate, do yoga, pilates, keep active and eat healthily. All help, I think.
I used to play rugby , boxing, jogging. Hoping to get back to the latter this year, in moderation. Was running up until about 3 years ago. Now have underactive thyroid that's not helping, unfortunately, meds related.... but hopefully you can see that it is possible to keep being active.
I'm now 46 and only over last year or so have needed more aggressive treatment, they think probably exacerbated by covid. Been in persistent af for prob more that 8 years though, managing without medical intervention. I work in the NHS and in universities in busy roles and have only needed a couple of weeks off work over all the years. Mostly due to reactions to meds. Cardioversion done this year, didn't need any time off and awaiting ablation which will only require couple of weeks out, all being well. I have reduced some workload this year mind and am thinking about doing some more of that.
All of the procedures sound scarier than they are, in reality. Anything to do with the heart is frightening, of course.
Making good lifestyle choices helps but everyone has different triggers and some, like me, have never been able to identify a pattern. Strong family history though.
Having a good cardiologist massively helped me, only a recent thing, one that will listen as well as advise. Very helpful. I still repeatedly, get told I was young to get AF. Sometimes it's said with suspicion/ disbelief. Not much I/ we can do about that. I didn't ask for it 😉
Wishing you well. Do keep us posted.
• in reply toFullofheart
Thank you x
Hello Pingu, I was diagnosed at 44 but must have had it a while before then because of the damage (much of it now thankfully reversed) it caused before picking it up. I was quite asymptomatic & when it returned the first time it still took me 2days to realise. Thinking back I think I had episodes whilst playing rugby in my early/mid 30’s when under heavy exertion but didn’t realise anything was wrong as I had no pain & it passed quite quickly. There may have been an episode in my late 20’s in the gym too? I was a little annoyed with myself initially for not picking up on this & letting it get so bad but I quickly realised that that stress feeds AF as much as worry & anxiety. I’ve worked a lot on these things & this condition barely affects my day to day life negatively now & in some ways has made me improve it. The important thing that I try & remember is that this condition will not kill me. I’m a process operator on 12hr shifts & at times it can be physically demanding - the only thing that’s changed at work is my handling of stressful situations, this condition has helped me handle them better in some ways as I recognise that I can’t afford to let things get to me. It’s really put things into perspective at times. I pay more attention now to mild symptoms but never obsess anymore & probably don’t take enough data from my Kardia at times (sometimes a month or so apart) as it hasn’t occurred to me in that time that I have a condition to measure at all. My point being that in time with a little effort you’ll know that you’re in tune with your symptoms and you won’t be anxious about it & that to me was a big goal as anxiety & AF are great bedfellows. I would advise you keep an eye on the forum, it has been a huge help to me at times & years in I still pick up handy little tips from this group. Good luck & stay strong. 💪
Steve
• in reply toShrek1974
Thank you
Sounds worse than it is. There was a pro cyclist who was diagnosed with it at 23, but he still carried on with his career and rode in the Tour De France several times.
I was diagnosed at 74 but still carry on racing. I'm not coming in first any more but I am 78 now, so not really a surprise.
All the best.
Roy
• in reply toRoyMacDonald
Thank you
Hi Pingu, I was diagnosed at 60, but think I had it for 5 years previously. Don't panic - you will learn to live with it. You will adapt. This forum will help you immensely.
• in reply toMarinaT
Thanks x
Hi Pingu',
It depends on whether yours is chronic or paroxysmal. One of the first thing to know is what is your trigger for an episode. Things such as dehydration, being tired due to lack of sleep, etc. If you are an early AFIB patient, watch out for your triggers. Bu managing them, you can drastically reduce the number of episodes. However, you should see a cardiologist if you havent already, and he/she will put you into contact with an ep specialist who will provide the best treatment for you.
Please dont get discouraged. I have had AFIB for some years now, and my life has been normal wrt work and exercise. You will learn about how body handles it and what you need to do to keep episodes far apart. Good luck.
Jodie
• in reply toN400033
Thanks
My trouble started when I was mid forties after a traumatic death of my father in 2013. I suffered from heart flip flops and SVT for 3 years before doctors put me on a holter monitor and could not believe what my heart was doing but never caught on EKG. Needless to say, after a successful ablation where my EP burned spots in both heart chambers, I still was having some trouble for a while. Then my chiropractor told me to try going gluten free to see if that helped. I told her, I have been tested for celiac so I didn't think that was an issue. I decided to take her advice to just try life without wheat and no longer have trouble with my heart unless I accidentally get wheat exposure, artificial sweetener and alcohol will cause some trouble for me also. So far, those are the only things I must avoid to stay in rhythm and off meds. I do, very rarely, have a couple of cocktails, but last time I did and set my heart off, I drank alkaline water and it immediately calmed it down. I know we are all different but if any of my triggers may help you discover if you have certain triggers I want to let you know what to look for to maybe help. I am on no medications and expect that my heart will be fine, hopefully forever if I follow the plan to avoid my triggers. I still work but in the midst of the storm, before I found out my triggers, I had to give up a job I loved as I was traveling extensively and had too many frightening episodes in hotels far from home and that brought about extreme anxiety to traveling. I have overcome that now that I know how to manage my heart. Funny thing is that I rarely think about my heart now, as opposed to the multiple years that it was the only thing I could think about.
I hope this helps.
HI. my friend male was about same age as you.
He says 8 years ago!
He was taking 4 different meds but no CCB Calcium Channel Blocker.
Late last year he had a catheter ablation. The surgeon found that he had 2 different areas of A.F.
They zapped both.
His was occasional A.F as against persistence..
He is good so far and has Fecc... in the pocket.
No blood thinners.
Cheri JOY
Hi Pingu!I was 47/48 and now am 73. As Paul and maybe others also say it’s not so bad. In early days, I was nervous and scared. Yes it can make you feel lousy. I was not able to do too much, mostly laying around and resting when having episodes. Try staying calm, anxiety definitely makes it worse. I have always had them quite frequently, basically once or twice in two weeks. Meds really don’t agree with me. Had two ablations, which is a treatment that has helped very many afibbers. Mine for some reason didn’t help, maybe a bit less uncomfortable after that. Make sure you have anticuogulate, (blood thinner) it does not make your blood thin, just prevents it to make clots that cause strokes.
I cannot say it hold me back too much. Have been active person, cycling, avid cross country skier etc. Only when in episode could not do these, no energy. It makes me feel still tired the next day, depending on the length of the episodes. Was told to come to emerge if it doesn’t end in 24hrs.
These days I am a lot more relaxed about it and just wait till it goes away.
Good luck to you and don’t let it bother your mind too much. Yes, it will make us feel bad, but it always settles and life continues.
There are triggers for it, so now you can start guessing all the reasons why it started again😊
• in reply toFlimmeri
Thank you
Hi pingu.
I’m 35. Diagnosed at 33. You are still young to have it though although quite a few people on here around your age.
Working is not an issue normally apart from the obvious tiredness when in af or taking meds. Although I haven’t worked for 5 months but that’s due to an ablation.
Good luck 👍
• in reply toElli86
Thank you and i hope you feel better soon
I was 55 yrs old ( just turned 65) . No underlying risk factors but had a series of major losses, one right after the other...my Dad died, my best friend died and I lost my job in a 2 week period and my daughter was going on college tours getting ready to go off to college . Very much anxiety driven . Currently just on metoprolol 50 bid for rate control (recent increase after start of the pandemic...stress level went through the roof) . Meditation and exercise have been very helpful. All the best to you .
• in reply toAegean56
Thank you
I was diagnosed a little over a year ago at 45. Since then I've dropped some weight and completely cut out alcohol and I haven't had a recurrence. I'm sure it will come back at some point but I'm trying to stay as healthy as I can in the meantime.
• in reply toBonn414
Yes i too am losing weight and have cut out alcohol. Need to work on the anxiety now!
I am certainly older than you are but nonetheless, the adjustment was difficult … l had to give up alcohol … my favorite substance! Small meals only. Zero red meat. Lots of vitamins and minerals. Continue to work and exercise daily. It’s a nuisance condition but apparently not life threatening. I have PAF and haven’t had an episode for over one year. I wish you the best in coping with this occasional annoyance. Jan
• in reply toJanith
Can I ask what vitamins and minerals you take? X
HiI'm sure I had AF before it was diagnosed.
I guess it came together with the Embollic Stroke, AF and Papallary Thyroid (seen on a Carotid artery scan). September 2019.
In August 2019 a 3D scan showed the Johnson & Johnson TVT mesh 1mm away from entering my body part. ACC and Northshore Hospital declined an operation to remove it. ACC cause it had not done damage and DHB the next said I was out-of-the-area. Removal was not done in my area.
I was aged 70 and from the Stroke I was on anti co-agulants. H/B day was rapid and persistent.
From December 2021 I accepted when I was CONTROLLED. 185 H/B on Metroprolol. 156 H/Beats on Bisoprolol. 77-88 H/B day on Diltriazem 120mg am and Bisoprolol 2.5 pm. My night rate on 24 monitors always stayed at 47 H/B pe minute.
Then I sought whether I was a candidate for ablation. Answered NO by an Auckland DHB Heart Specialist. My heart is enlarged.
A friend in a band aged 40s on 4 pills and PIP with infrequently AF episodes texted me as the episodes started. He worked through them.
He had an ablation and they found that he had 2 rogue electrical responses going at the same time. His worrying wasn't helpful ... stomach and other happenings.
He has no drugs and apart from the early months after has never looked back.
I must tell you that in Feb 2020 mythyroid and 12 lymph nodes removed. Now 2 cancer free yearly scans!
In 2022 March the TVT Kit was partially removed and everyone was happy that they could operate at North Shore Hospital under ACC because my top surgeon wished me to have more support than private.
Also with inflammation healing the energy is coming back. My Ifroprohen favourite for inflammation was stopped when the anti-coagulamt treatment was introduced.
Carotid arteries vere UNREMARKABLE and the cancer was caught in time as 2. lymph nodes contained the cancer.
I no longer take my BP which is staying @ 123/72. H/R contained above.
Worry and stress can make AF worse.
ALL THE BEST. Go through the initial steps to get controlled. I have been told exercise stress is good but do not prolong it.
Its about HOW YOU FEEL. Take notes to relate to Dr and specialist. The public specialist left me uncontrolled. It was the well known specialist who did the study on me to try a different med CCB.
I enjoy helping others. But we are all different.
cheri JOY. 73 NOW. (NZ).
ManageMyHealth is what is needed. Research, test yourself, fight for treatment, reminders to book clerks are another way to move it on. Sometimes we need to go private.
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