Very nervy anxious man here

[Dan33ynwa]

Hi guys and girls os anyone here who has afib, I've just been rung by the ep to inform me of an episode I had during the middle of Friday night I knew something was up but being praying it was nothing but hospital have rang and just wondered if could get some help as I'm now in panic mode

[ijregner]

Relax first, deep breath and know that AFib is unpleasant but not life threatening (qualified as non professional). Good behavior, good medical provider, and proper treatment and it will get better. Anxiety is the norm for many of us at onset but good education (which many here are capable). Keep watching here, folks with more expertise than I will be very helpful and soon you will be able to relax and conquer you anxiety demon.

[Dan33ynwa in reply to ijregner]

I really hope so thank you for your message I'm just finding it terribly hard to relax and calm down

[Staffsgirl in reply to Dan33ynwa]

It’s so hard to relax in these circumstances, isn’t it? I recently posted on here asking for advice on how to unpick anxiety from AF: feels impossible sometimes.Someone recommended a book: Unwinding Anxiety, by Dr Judson Brewer. I found it really helpful. The author also has an app which I am currently using and finding helpful.

Hang on in there…

[Rollcast in reply to ijregner]

I’m a Newboy here but I have had a fib off and on all through my working life. I remember the first very well. scary stuff, but here I am 40 + years later. The difficult things for me, were coping with side effects from Amiodarone, amlodipine, istin and a handful of others. Once I was over the first attack I researched what I could do to put it right. We are all different but I have kept fit walking about 8-9000 steps per day, taken up a plant based diet, that’s hard but it lessens the chances of anything else attacking the heart and your circulation. My mind is sharper. I don’t smoke, I’m pretty skinny now but I never was overweight. I meditate and try to be mindful. I worry less, measure blood pressure and heart rate for positive feedback. I have not sorted it yet but I will keep going at it. It’s pretty tiring when in the middle of af. I watch what I eat. For lifestyle advice I read Dr John Day. Everyone, including me will wish you good luck. We all get scared sometimes. Take some positive steps. There’s lots of good advice out there.

Rollcast

[LordGabriel]

It’s horrible when you’re first diagnosed and very scary but honestly it does calm down and get treatments and drugs etc. Are you booked in to see a doctor?

[Dan33ynwa in reply to LordGabriel]

I had a cardiac arrest 2 years ago and recently got my icd upgraded to a crt-d but I knew I got flutters etc but I never actually had the icd clinic ring me to tell me that I experienced such an intense one during the night for 4 hours now that may seem like child's play to some of you so I hope I don't offend anyone but it was weird it freaked me but not sure if it was prolonged because of anxiety or just because that's how long it lasted I am on medication for it sotalol entresto dapagliflozin warfarin eplerenone but I've never had an episode quite like the one I had

[CDreamer in reply to Dan33ynwa]

We get it - the anxiety, the freaking out and the flutters.

Still here after 18 years of it. Believe it or not you will adapt but I doubt you will believe me right now.

Read as much as you can and take heed of Lifestyle changes and get a treatment plan.

Information arms you to ask questions and armed with knowledge and treatment options you will start to accept and adapt.

Lots of help and support here.

[Dan33ynwa in reply to CDreamer]

I'm already looking at following the Mediterranean diet as alot of the foods in there are the foods it says help with calming afib and cutting out the fizzy (not that I drink it at all anyway and same with tea and coffee) and trying to do a bit of exercise aswell. I also did read up that stress and anxiety can be a contributor which for me at the moment is going to be a tricky one to get passed as I've been stressed and anxious for 2 n half years since it all happened tbh

[Dan33ynwa in reply to Dan33ynwa]

The thing is aswell is Google correct for a certain type of diet or any sort of inputs dietary wise will help a great deal, I'm not the best with diets etc but I want to try and get this to where I'm atleast eating healthy for maybe 80% of the week atleast

[Dan33ynwa in reply to Dan33ynwa]

I also don't think it helps that I'm feeling a little under the weather

[Chuyueling in reply to Dan33ynwa]

They feed each other massively, it's horrible. Perhaps try and address the anxiety and amy emotional issues with some professional support as well as a little exercise and good food. It's awful to live with anxiety. Very normal things become overwhelming.

[Hidden in reply to Dan33ynwa]

Realistically, you will need to see an EP and get a clearer definition of the problem. Your cardiac history, which you refer to, may be relevant. If you are overweight or drink more than a little alcohol deal with these issues as a priority.

[LordGabriel]

I’m not an expert at all on these things. Other people here are much more knowledgeable. Seems like you’re on the drugs so that’s ok. I have persistent AF so don’t have attacks. When mine comes it stays until cardioversion or Flecanaide reverts it back. It is horrible feeling your heart bumping about - I hate it too. However life goes on eh?

[Paulbounce]

Hey Dan. Where to start ?

Of course you are anxious and in panic mode - I know were you are at. Everyone on this forum has suffered the same. Now lets get a few things clear. afib won't kill you - it's a pain I know but you are luckly as you know you have it as treatments are there for you. Don't worry to much but seek help from your cardio or EP.

Kick the panic mode out of the window. You have no need for it Dan - get rid of it now. I'm in afib right at this minute - it's life and there worse things that can happen.

It's a roller coaster in many ways - you'll ride it - and you'll beat it one way or another.

Stop your panic - there's no need.

Good luck my freind - you'll crack it.

Best,

Paul

[AstroFish]

I felt exactly the same way - it’s hard to unpick which is AF and which is panic - both feel the same. It’s a horrible phase but as others are saying - it will pass. Take this time to educate yourself as much as you can. One very calming and useful thing for me was to watch the videos on You Tube of Cardiologist Dr Sanjay Gupta of York. He was recommended on here and his calming demeanour and knowledgable short videos really helped me to understand. That, and lifestyle and diet changes, have been a major help to me. Hopefully for you too. Good luck.

[PeterJemmett]

Here's is a little something I wrote on the subject a short while ago, it might help .... peterjemmett.blogspot.com/2...

[bassets in reply to PeterJemmett]

Great blog Peter!

[Paulbounce in reply to PeterJemmett]

Great blog Pete - thanks for sharing. Paul

[July30]

Hi Dan try not to worry it will pass af will not kill you it's just horrible you have to learn to live with it with help of medication from hospital and gp.i have had this for about 35 years and have learnt to ignore it and try not to panic when it happens it's hard but try not to worry it only makes it feel worse good luck .

[Lupaal in reply to July30]

May I ask, as you have had it so long, do you go abroad on holiday and if so, how do you cope if you have an attack in another country?

[July30 in reply to Lupaal]

Hi yes I haVe travelled a lot over the years air and cruise s but not for 2 years now due to pandemic. I have always found I'm better when on holiday due to being relaxed and no pressure of daily life if I did have an attack just relax more and ignor it best I could drink only in moderation alcohol makes it worse and don't forget to take pills good luck.

[Lupaal in reply to July30]

Thank you.

[Slidingdoors99 in reply to July30]

I was thinking about the same thing. I haven’t dare have s holiday in ages. I only go back with a cardioversion you see….

[CloudRunner in reply to Lupaal]

I can’t exactly answer your question as I don’t suffer from ‘attacks’ and don’t know how you normally cope with attacks when not on holiday.I have been in permanent AF for several years and perhaps that makes things slightly easier than having PAF but I go happily go abroad on holiday. Next week I’m going on a walking holiday in southern Italy for instance.

Everybody’s AF is individual to them but I try to do everything that I used to do pre-AF but just accept that it does slow me down somewhat.

[Paulbounce in reply to Lupaal]

I've had it when traveling Lupaal. Most of was down to 'silly hours' flights and lack of sleep. I was lucky as it passed but I was still on edge. Make sure you have good travel insurance and it's a load off your mind - this way you can enjoy your holiday and not have to fret.I don't how old you are but you do pay extra with afib. A few years ago I had world wide travel insurance for about 25 quid a year (excuding the USA) but now it would cost far more. Is it worth it ?

Yes.

Paul

[Lupaal in reply to Paulbounce]

Our son lives abroad so we would like to visit him x

[Hidden in reply to Lupaal]

I'm very late to this party but just had to answer this as I experienced this myself only 3 weeks ago. I'm relatively new to AFib - only had a few episodes so far - and have only had a phone call with 'my' cardiologist due to Covid. I've refused anticoagulants thus far but have 'pill in the pocket' beta blocker.

Aaaand I flew to the US 3 weeks ago (I'm in the UK, so 8 hour flight) having not had an episode since January, and wouldn't you know it, AFib kicked in shortly after take off and lasted until shortly before landing. I took my beta blocker and anti coagulant (I know that's not the usual way of taking it but it's what I decided to do until I see a cardio face to face) and a low dose diazepam which I'd talked my GP into giving me because I was nervous about the travelling with AFib. The diazepam was the best idea. I was a bit panicked at first and did wonder exactly how it would go if I had a stroke in mid Atlantic, but once the diazepam kicked in I calmed down, watched several movies and tried to forget about it.

I had another 14 hour episode a week later while staying with my daughter at Atlantic Beach (I've never had them closer than a few months apart until this time). I wasn't drinking much as it was a family holiday with small children around so I've no idea why this happened. I did the same things (ie took the pills), played with my granddaughter and forgot about it.

I was pretty nervous about travelling so in a way I'm glad that the 'worse' happened and it was fine, I came through it. The main downside for me was the huge hike in my travel insurance as a result of informing the insurance company about the new medical condition.

[Singwell]

As others have said, sometimes hard to see difference between the anxiety and the AF. In some if us, one feeds the other. Be kind to yourself- take regular short walks, get plenty of sleep (I nap in the afternoon most days even though I'm still working) , avoid alcohol and heavy eating. Also, super important, processed foods. These are really not good. Vent to us here and get support- we're friendly and there are some extremely knowledgeable folk here.

[bassets]

You are not alone in this. It took me a year and a half to calm down and accept the beastie, which has helped enormously. Can you try mindfulness and meditation? if so it may help you relax, as it did for me. Good luck and best wishes.

[Alessa69]

Totally understand your fear.. The great thing is , you are being monitored , take some comfort in that , you are not alone. Try to focus on well-being and relaxation, a healthy calming diet. I’ve been dealing with AF for a few years, my diagnosis took quite a long time , but such a relief once treated. I found the info from Dr Sanjay Gupta, that others have shared here very helpful. Especially info re the Vagal nerve, that runs near the heart . I found being careful what I eat, small , easily digestible meals . I try not to eat late or I suffer. Do you have anyone that you can talk things through with ? Try to practise relaxed breathing , it can help a lot with anxiety . Magnesium rich foods , bananas etc are calming . I wish that we could take your fear away , it’s so debilitating . 🙏❤️‍🩹🙏

[Auriculaire]

You can get used to it to the extent you no longer panic and thus make the attacks more symptomatic. The more episodes you have the more you realise this is not going to kill you and the more able you are to treat it as a pest that can be put up with for awhile. As for diet rather than going for any one specific diet aim to cut out as much processed food as possible. Nobody whether they have afib or not can be healthy eating a standard Western diet . There are too many empty calories in it! This will mean a commitment to cooking from scratch using fresh and if you can afford it preferably organic ingredients. If you must eat white carbs ( frankly I find wholewheat pasta horrible!) then stick to very small amounts. Reduce sugar drastically including the hidden sugar that has no place in savoury stuff . This will mean making your own salad dressing etc. When you get an attack try to distract yourself from what your heart is doing with a good book or a film . Practice deep slow breathing . There are several manouvres for ending afib attacks that work for some people that have been mentioned in this forum.

[Jetcat]

Hi Dan, try not to panic ( easier said than done I know)!!! At first I had Dread, anxiety, depression, disturbed sleep, no appetite, constantly worrying about my diagnosis thinking life was over.! Constant visits to A+E in the early hours because of a Afib episode.But as time went on and I read up on AFIB and went through the procedures of tests, doctors visits, EP appointments etc etc life started to get slowly better.?

I realised that I aren’t going to drop down dead or become house bound or not have any sort of life.

It’s a scary time at the moment Dan I know it is and so does a lot of these other people on this site.

I just want you know that things will get better for you believe me mate. It’s sometimes hard to be positive at first but one day you will be telling somebody else the same things that in telling you.👍

Take care mate,best wishes. Ron.

[Slidingdoors99]

So sorry to read your post. I come understand. I’m one of those ones the medics call ‘symptomatic’ I can’t bear (my body can’t bear) being in AFib. I feel for you.

[Jajarunner]

Virtual hug on its way

[irene75359]

Just wanted to say on looking at your history, no wonder you are feeling apprehensive and nervous, that's no surprise. But stick with this forum, so much good advice, so many empathetic people and dare I say it many more knowledgeable than some doctors. You are not alone.

[jd2004]

In my experience the anxiety passes and then I take a practical approach - rest, contact doc if need be, and wait it out. That said, my AFib is still going after Covid a few weeks ago. I’ve reconnected my Kardia device to my phone and will discuss readings with doc. The anxiety won’t help so rest, take light exercise and try to get into a different head space - not easy I know.

[Sustainedvtach270]

Hello! We have a lot in common. You went into cardiac arrest 2 years ago, I went into cardiac arrest 1 year ago. I will never forget when I woke up on the stretcher being rushed to ICU, I screamed my child's name. He was only 7 and I wanted to live for him... When discharged, the docs said I could keep the same lifestyle... 4 months later, I felt like agonizing with my heart pounding, I was back in afib. Just like you,I am being monitored 24/7 and have a defibrilator. One night while on vacation at the beach, I went into rapid afib at HR 190 and my ICD shocked me. That is when I found this forum, I got dr Day's book, the Afib Cure. I already had stopped alcohol, sugar and processed food but I was still eating a lots of gluten. Now gluten free, I walk daily at least 6000 steps. I only converted back to afib once more when I tried to completely stop my medications in november. Now I am taking half my sotalol. I was never overweight but now I am really skinny. My wife says I look ugly but my son says, daddy you are above ground....

[Davg7]

AFib generates adrenaline cycle heart hormones, the same as anxiety does. Do you feel anxious from the Afib misplaced hormones or from your feeling weird ‘palpitations’ in your chest? Yes and yes. Find an EP associated with a major heart center hospital. And what the others have said here.

[Green-chair]

Dan I also had cardiac arrest year and a half ago …. Got icd fitted … was having bother then with afib then and racing heart … got ablation last August and have been ok since …. Off flecanide aswell now ….so I seemed to be ok … Try not wory too much you will be ok and looked after … being in here really helped me aswell .., they are people here know more than me but they are really friendly and helpful… Godbless

[Hidden]

Yes! It is super scary. I had one episode almost 5 years ago and I had no idea what was going on...then tests and more tests, sleep monitors, halter monitors (think that is what it is called) and even a roter-router through the groin and ...WOW...no heart disease, no damage, no blockage and honestly no idea what was going on or what caused the event....then they told me to chill, this isn't likely life-threatening when properly managed...so, yes, do some easy events that you find relaxing; spend time with family....something that you really enjoy and will take your mind off it a bit...but that said, listen to the doctor (something I'm not so cool at). If you have weight to take off; try hard to do it....I did end up on anxiety meds but that was not specific to this event....so, give it a little time, adjust as you must and let us all know how you are doing.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

HiFirst dont panic.

It could be a one off, but they wull put you on anti-coangulants.

Do something happen?

Diet, booze, party drugs or was it you were stressing over something?

It has only a warnin? That you are prone.

All guesses.

Once diagnosed, on meds and under control it affects us differently.

Have your thyroid neck scan. Mine was caused by thyroid cancer.

Now all removed.

Take care, JOY