Getting the Rhythm (the low down on AFib)

[PeterJemmett]

Since getting AFib I have noticed that many people I speak to have no or little idea what this is, even though it is a fairly common condition which could affect almost any adult. So, as part of my 'heart attack to 10K' series of blogs I wrote this to try and raise a little bit of awareness ...

peterjemmett.blogspot.com/2...

[Singwell]

Enjoyed that. Find the same re AFib. Would eventually like to get something up and running in our area where I can help others via our local health Trust with chats and info. Plus I'd really like to tell 'a patient's story ' at a conference sometime. There are things much needed within the NHS system to help us AFibbers

[BobD Volunteer]

Since you obviously enjoy this forum which is sponsored by Atrial Fibrillation Association it might be nice to mention them in big letters. Otherwise welcome to my world.

We have been working to improve public awareness sinse 2007 and until covid, had annual Patients Days at our conference in Birmingham. I bet you did not know that there is even an All Party Group on Atial Fibrillation in Parliament which I have attended on several occasions helping to focus NHS and allied services on the subject.

Singwell, many of us have started local support groups , some allied to a particular hospital, others merely social which sadly covid has knocked sideways but all of which have been well received. There is support available from the office for such ventures (not financial I must add).

[PeterJemmett in reply to BobD]

I had orginally posted this in another group and was pointed to post it here as well by another group member.

I have added the following to the end of the blog ...

ADDENDUM 27/03/2022:

ATRIAL FIBRILLATION ASSOCIATION

Through the publication of this blog I have been introduced to the 'Atrial Fibrillation Association'. This is a UK registered charity focusing on raising awareness of AFib by providing information and support materials for patients and medical professionals involved in detecting, diagnosing and managing AF.

At the time of this blog I was writing from my personal experience at the lack of general knowledge of the condition and was not familiar with this organisation which would appear to cover the exact points I laid out above ..... web site link.

I shall certainly be taking a closer look at the work of the charity!

[CDreamer in reply to PeterJemmett]

Also has an International/US arm.

[Tomred]

hi peter you are right ,people have no idea in general about afib ,ive been told when during an afib episode and feeling really unwell , to stop been so negative, hmmm that will cure it , lol.

[Ablation7 in reply to Tomred]

That’s horrible. Sorry people don’t understand. 😔

[Hidden]

I’m currently on holiday and my long suffering wife gets a bit irate if I spend too much time on the forum 😉 so I haven’t digested the content but can see you have put a terrific amount of effort into producing your post……….looking forward to reading more later 👍

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Peter, welcome to our forum.

Thank you for sharing your well written and informative explanation of Atrial Fibrillation. It will be very helpful for newcomers here.

Jean

[saulger]

Thank you, Peter, excellent blog. Did not come across your previous blogs and will do so soon.

I am four years into Afib (Mar 2018 diagnosis) and believe that it may have been there much earlier.

So far, I am still paroxysmal and since recently it is well controlled.

PIP (100mg Flecainide + 1.25mg Bisoprolol) two hours before rowing on the ergo and I am good to go. 45 minutes rowing at 400 Kcal total (8.5k) seems to be the currently tolerated effort level with HR 95-105 max. With longer rows, the HR slowly creeps up.

I gleaned that your episodes last 4 hours or so, on average, but didn't understand your chart of episode frequency?

Do you take PIP before your runs?

Well done Peter. Brilliant recovery and may it long continue. Saul

[PeterJemmett in reply to saulger]

The red lines represent the number of hours in a day that I'm in AFib, if the AFib lasts longer than a day the lines become thicker giving a quick visual indication of the duration of an episode. Each episode varies in length, the shortest was 4 hours and longest 96 hours, the overall average was 35.25 hours.

Since I published the blog last December I have had another 5 episodes (I think that confirms the frequency is increasing), the last being a particularly horrible 85 hours which quickly followed one a of just 3.5 hours just a day before.

AFIB chart

[saulger]

I now understand. My episodes are shorter but more frequent, if I don't take the PIP as a precaution. Keep up the good work !

[PeterJemmett in reply to saulger]

I'm not familiar with PIP though I am on a daily low dose of Bisoprolol 1.25mg, this has been kept low as my resting heart rate is typically in the lower 40’s

[saulger in reply to PeterJemmett]

PIP = "Pill In Pocket" as and when episodes begin, rather than a daily dose.

[PeterJemmett]

I guess it was just a matter of finding the right audience but my AFib blog views has gone bananas over the last few days!! ...... but it does seem like preaching to the converted which a bit of a shame as it was written with Joe public in mind.

Thank you for your interest and response.

Graph