New to the AF group

[rezdude]

Where do I begin? Finding this community has REALLY been the most helpful emotionally since Ive been diagnosed with AF. It has given me a sense of hope and everything will be ok after I learn to live with AF. I was diagnosed in 2014 at the age of 44 ( I am now almost 52) and my Dr at the time said I was pretty young to have it. It landed me in the ER (we call it ER- Emergency Room here in the states) with a HR of 175ish. It lasted a 12 hours or so and they did the CV. About a year later I ended up at the ER again but they got it under control in about 12 hours again with meds this time. I really didnt understand AF other than what doctors told me and I was frightened. I then got an Ablation around 2017 and felt so much better emotionally! Then about 3years ago I started to get blips. I learned,through this group, I believe I was having ectopic beats. I then went to see DR GOOGLE which is the WORST thing I could have done (which I now realize). ANY chest feeling, muscle twitch, weird ache, etc I would freak out. ANY arm and leg feeling, ache, etc I would think heart attack or blood clot. Finally I got an appointment with a cardiologist and went through a bunch of tests including wearing a monitor for a month. He then diagnosed me with Non Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia and put me on low dosage of Metoprolol 12.5mgs. (i wonder if there is a NSVT group?) He told me not to worry and even recommend getting back to my running routine of 2 mile runs. He also said he can count on ONE finger the number of patients who's AF didnt return after ablation. That was a bummer to hear.

So now I still have what I call blips but are ectopic beats I think daily. Sometimes I feel a little spaced out or tired. I have a tiny bit of tinnitus but nothing to complain about. I don't know if that's the metoprolol or whatever. I WONT go to DR GOOGLE again that's for sure haha.

So to recap:

Its a roller coast of emotions of depression, fear, anxiety, hopelessness but when I read others experiences and successes it helps me feel better!

I do feel my AF will return one day but until then I'll take it one day at a time and live my life.

Ive learned through this group about the Wolf Mini Maze procedure!! I hope that's as good as it sounds!! (and i can afford it haha)

My son who is 26 has described some symptoms of AF but Ill save that for another post.

So Thank You all for sharing and creating this community it really helps.

[BobD Volunteer]

Life is what you make it resdude. AF may be in your life but should not be all of your life.

For what it is worth I had my third ablation for AF in 2008 and none since but I did develop a different arrhythmia in around 2015 although in between time I also had and got rid of prostate cancer and a few other minor worries.

In 2017 whilst in hospital for a DCCV for atrial tachycardia they managed to briefly kill me but a kind young doctor broke a few of my ribs jumping up and down on my chest and got the poor long suffering heart working again. Then in 2019 had ablation for A Tach which sort of worked.

These days the most limiting factor is my arthritic knees but I'm still enjoying life. Just spent a coupe of hours in my workshop building up a gearbox for a race car and machining some parts for an engine..

l'll be 77 on Monday. ( Don't send cards please just cakes. lol 😁)

[rezdude in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob...all of my hobbies seemed to be put on hold during my time of question. I need to power through those emotions until I feel my confidence coming back. Don't get me wrong my confidence is definitely coming back strong. Even IF I get a real episode of AF or NSVT I gotta keep going. FYI im a tinkerer myself mostly on motorbikes. 👍

[Omniscient1 in reply to BobD]

Happy Birthday for Monday Bob, all the best to you, and from me - an occasional poster - thanks

[Singwell in reply to BobD]

WOW Bob, I didn't know some of that. You're a legend and I hope the birthday was good.

[Desanthony in reply to BobD]

HAPPY BURTHDAY FOR MONDAY BOB! I’ll send you a photo of the cake my wife made for our grandson’s visit from the US this weekend. She has officially called it her Celestial, Chocolate Celebration cake and nick named - “ The Black Hole” 🤣

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Desanthony]

Thank you very much. It is also my first Probus meeting since I became chairman so plenty of friends to share with.

[Desanthony in reply to BobD]

Can’t work out how to upload photo but will keep trying to work it out.

[belindalore]

This is a great forum. So many good people and good advice and support. Stick with this forum. We all have good days and bad. It's nice to know we can come here for just a shoulder to lean on. Take care and be safe.

[RoyM]

Hi I was diagnosed with AF in 2009 and the AF went Permenent in 2016. In the early stages it is very easy to worry yourself to a stand still and I was no different. Overtime, you do learn to live with it with less and less impact on your life...I realised to let AF define you is a great mistake. There are much worse conditions that do reduce your QOL. Live your life. Kind regards. Roy

[Omniscient1]

Rezdude - I was 46 when diagnosed, and am in permanent AF so probably had it before then. After initial, entirely rational fears of oh-my-god-i'm-going-to-die after a while I realised that I wasn't going to peg it any quicker than before the diagnosis. An initial flirt with over-prescribed beta-blockers aside things have settled down now. The NHS (in my opinion - and I have said this before here) sees AF as more of a stroke risk than an heart-health issue which I think when you've got to grips with the heart issues you should make sure you're aware of. Best of luck, Gary.

[rezdude in reply to Omniscient1]

That's where I was emotionally...the im going to die, mentality. That's a great way to look at it as its more about the stroke than the heart health. Thanks for the reminder. Again my confidence comes back more and more these days.

[Singwell]

Hi, as someone who's experienced anxiety through having AF you have my sympathies. But what others say here is right - you can't let AF take over your life - you're worth more! Also, think about it - how many days a year do you get AF- how many days do you worry about it? When I worked this ratio out I got help - a few psychotherapy sessions and worked my way through a book on anxiety. It's not the AF that's ruining your life, it's the worry ABOUT it. Also you deserve better interaction and perhaps information from the medic you're seeing. Your advisors have no right to be arrogant and dismissive- it's a care profession right? Why don't you ask others in the US here for advice on finding a good EP. Get yourself some decent advice from a medic who listens to you and who has an understanding of the importance of your quality of life.

[Smorgan]

Hi rezdude, I read your post just now and it sounds familiar, I too have afib diagnosed 5 years ago , also had an ablation 4 years ago which put me back in nsr for 2 whole weeks!!! My cardiologist then put me on 50 mg of metoprolol once a day . It’s the only thing I take for afib and seems to work well for me so far, hope this helps you somewhat!