Did you know? 🤔

[TracyAdmin]

It is possible for atrial fibrillation to present no symptoms at all. This is why it is important to #KnowYourPulse to Know Your Heart Rhythm - It could save your life 💚

🔗 Click the link to learn more about our Know Your Pulse Campaign: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

[sassy59]

Thank you Tracy xxx

[john-boy-92]

Hi Tracy, I am asymptomatc. A pleth display in hospital or an oximeter waveform display at home shows that I have arrythmia, but no symptoms. A Bruce Protocol test or an ECG with a full compliment of leads shows atrial flutter. My rowing machine sessions at around 2:20 /500 metres can rise to 170 to 190 bpm by 5km but my respiration rate doesn't reflect that apparent maximal effort. My local Health Centre refuses to use a small oximeter with a waveform display that would quickly identify patients with arrythmia, because they say a BMJ article dismissed it. I've written here before, that I'm a stroke survivor who was not diagnosed with AF (I was told by an EP it was related to my high cardio fitness) and therefore not prescribed anticoagulation. It requires people and the medical community to get to grips with AF. I featured in a video by the makers of Pradaxa and, I'm a mystery patient for medical students, but it's difficult getting the message out there.

[bassets]

Thank you

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to bassets]

HiI had a Stroke Sept2019, with AF and then discovered with Thyroid Papillary Cancer.

So thyroid Cancer undiagnosed produced a path of AF and so on.

My Carotid arteries were perfect.

cheers JOY

73yrs. NZ

[plopper]

I was asymptomatic and had a stroke. Wish I had checked my pulse!

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

HiYes I dont feel my AF fast and persistent.

But I have a BAD RIBCAGE! My heart is pushed more to the left.

But if I think about it and I am critical the symptoms are sweating excessively (could be described as hot day. After stairs or walk fast or on Metroprolol any excursion.

And stopping to regain energy. Also tiredness.

Cheri JOY

I have never been to A&E even though under Metoprolol I had avge h/beat day 186

and night 48.(73 yrs. NZ)

[Hidden]

Spot on Tracy,

A very good friend of mine didn’t release he had AFib until he upgraded his blood pressure monitor to one that picks up an irregular pulse.

He had no symptoms felt fit and well and is in his 70’s.

He saw his doctor and then a private cardiologist, had 2 cardioversions which both reverted back to AFib and during the monitoring they found he had a dangerously low heart rate at night and was fitted with a pacemaker.

He still feels exactly the same but would never have realised there was something wrong until he saw the indication on his new blood pressure monitor.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Thank you to everyone who has spontaneously shared your experiences with the Forum- if you are interested in sharing your own patient journey with us and would like to offer support and comfort to others, then please do not hesitate to contact Patient Services - [e-mail] - you could really make a difference to someone else who are finding themselves undiagnosed or at an early stage of diagnosis. Much appreciated. Tracy

[john-boy-92 in reply to TracyAdmin]

Hi Tracy; we can also share our experiences with the medical and academic communities. As well as being a mystery patient for medical students, I'm part of a stroke service users group that is linked to Bristol University, in a group changing the Stroke Association web site and, part of a stroke study by Liverpool University. These are pathways to discuss AF as a potential cause of stroke. It can be easy to discuss AF amongst ourselves, but we need to engage with people who can bring about change. It's down to us the patients, in conjunction with AF organisations to talk about it in a rational way. I see a change in the perception of stroke and the effect on the survivor and their family and friends, we need to do that with AF.