Af total exhaustion

[Woodentopbox]

My wife had had AF for some years now - usually it lasts about 3 days during which she is totally incapacitated and completely exhausted. The current episode has lasted 10 days and continues. I was led to believe a lot of people can still function when in AF but my wife cannot she remains in bed and finds even visiting the bathroom an extreme effort. What is the norm hear?

[BobD Volunteer]

We are all different. In the mid 2000s I spent a day driving to Wales and back and changing the gearbox on a rally car whilst in AF but I don't think I would want to now. (Mind you at 77 who would).

Just understand that with AF there is NO NORMAL.

[jeanjeannie50]

Some people can take off on their bikes and cycle up hills - others like your wife can barely do anything. I've had both extremes, but it was discovered that I had an underactive thyroid as well as AF. Has your wife had hers checked? What rate is her heart beating at now, it sounds as though it may be high?

Jean

[jeanjeannie50]

Has a doctor seen her during these 10 days?

[Lilypocket]

Does your wife take any medication? If not perhaps a visit to a Cardiologist and or an Electrophysiologist could help her. Many people live with AFib with no problems but they take medication too ( especially anti-coagulants and rate control drugs).

Take care

[10gingercats]

I would suggest this needs investigating .I have a few times had Afib 'attacks' that have laid me low for a few hours each timeI have then had to have medication adjusted /changed on occasion when hit by these attacks and then I am ok for a few months/years.For many years it was almost as though i did not have Afib as there were no overt signs.It was only detectable when doc. exam. me with stethascope. i would call that more normal.

[Buffafly]

You should at the very least call 111. Some people are prostrated by AF but it should not be allowed to continue. Unfortunately doctors do not always understand the variations in AF as they often see Permanent AF which is quite different to Paroxysmal. The right medication should allow your wife to carry on with her normal life even though slowly and with frequent rests.

[WendyWu20]

I feel for her, I'm on my 9th day and really struggling. I have had to drive around town for shopping and knowing I'm not well enough. My breathing rate is high just lying on the sofa and I feel awful. It amazes me how some people hardly know they are in AF! Big hugs and hope we all feel better soon xxx

[secondtry]

Private appointment with a cardiologist if funds allow.

[fairgo45]

I know exactly how you feel

Ive had afib for years and 12 years ago i could not funtion normally i would be overwhelmed by the need to sleep almost every day life was horrible i found afib boards like this my only comfort talking to people who understood

I was being treated by a cardiologist but back then it wasnt taken seriously.

2 years later i had an ablation .

Thats probably what you need so see an electrophysiologist you will be better again

[OzJames in reply to fairgo45]

hi, it sounds like the ablation worked for you... was it a while back, and do you take Meds since? I'm trying to work all this out at the moment

[fairgo45 in reply to OzJames]

When i was suffering badly from afib there were zero ablations done so i was given beta blockers and verapamil but they didnt help so i just found an electrophysiologist luckily i found one that had just completed lots of training in america and he agreed that i should have an ablation.

I wasnt insured but he did it for free it only worked for 6 months then he did another

Gradually i got better though still on some meds warfarin and diltiazem rate control

So id say try to get an ablation if you get one asap you might not needs meds at all its only my opinion but ive never gone back to that miserable life pre ablations

[OzJames in reply to fairgo45]

thanks for the reply, yes I’ve read that more than one ablation is sometimes needed. How long ago was your last ablation so I can get a sense of how permanent they can be

[fairgo45 in reply to OzJames]

It seems a long time ago, at the time i kept a journal from 2003 when it first started till 2008 when i did have my first ablation followed by another 9 months later and then another because it hadnt worked then another so thats 3 within 2 years.

I had been in permanent afib before my ablations so more difficult to treat,if you havent got that far you will have a better result than me and may only need one.

If you get offered one dont hesitate you wont regret it.

[OzJames in reply to fairgo45]

thanks… well it sounds like you had a lot to deal with back then, 3 ablations in 2 years. So it seems for the last 10 years or so you’ve been pretty much ok.. well done!

[fairgo45 in reply to OzJames]

yes if was tough but gave me my life back im in new zealand and presume your Australian i think your ahead of us with ablations so go for it.

[OzJames in reply to fairgo45]

thanks again for sharing, yes I’m in Australia, hopefully I’ll be back to some normality. Whilst ive always been on a good Mediterranean diet, I’m now looking at some of the links Bob from this Forum shared to help extend the periods between recurrence once I’m back in sinus.

[fairgo45 in reply to OzJames]

Bob is probably one of the chief members of this site his advice is always good.

I just read your bio and your a new member so welcome .

Now your afib is paroxysmal so perfect timing for an ablation it will probably work first time.

Meanwhile magnesium glycinate 400mg works well helps you sleep as well if you take it at night.

I really urge you to take that leap of faith .

[OzJames in reply to fairgo45]

thanks so much its so helpful to hear from everyone, as having to make decisions about staying on drugs vs intervention or both is quite confronting

[Nan1]

really feel for your wife. I get AF in average couple of times a week. If I can I try to get out for a walk or get on exercise bike. Quite often stops the AF.

[Danceawaytheblues in reply to Nan1]

I find that my exercise bike also helps me.

[listerines]

Long term suffering and incapacitation should not be the norm for your wife. Is she connected with cardiologist/ electrophysiologist? If not, this is a priority as there can be medication to assist in the short term and with episodes and procedures in the long term for greater control (with the goal to increase quality of life and functioning).

[jd2004]

AandE. As soon as possible. Doc once told me I should have gone there when I had a 3 day attack.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Sounds as though your wife needs to take meds which will control her H/R.

Go to a Cardiac Specialist who should be interested.

Send history.

After 2 years 3 months I struck gold at a private specialist.

CONTROL everyone needs.

cheri. JOY. 73. (NZ)

[Ppiman]

Before my ablation when I had atrial flutter with a fast rate, I often felt incapacitated by the condition. Since then, I now get only occasional and mild AF and more often, a mildly racing heart. These allow me to cope well enough, thankfully.

From what I understand of all this, how an individual reacts to their AF depends much upon the amount of oxygenated blood the heart can still pump into the body when in AF, something that varies by person. Also, an arrhythmia can easily create a kind of "shock" reaction or anxiety effect which can't easily, if at all, be overcome and which can add to the feelings of illness and fear.

Steve

[Fibber222]

I would def take her to A & E. They will give her the correct treatment to either stop it or control it. She really shouldn’t have suffered so long.

[Afibflipper]

I’ve had AF about 20 years, it began as the odd palpitation and it was put that it was stress and because it was intermittent (paroxysmal) it took years to catch it on ecg. Then one day I felt very light headed and colour apparently drained from me but then I would flush up in colour as it kicked back in.

After 2 ablations and meds I was manageable for years. Three years ago I had difficulty doing exercise and walking left me breathless (but didn’t feel any palpitations so I just thought it was my asthma, my weight my age etc.

Beginning of the year I felt lots of palpitations, getting dizzy lightheaded and had walk slowly and gingerly or it went crazy (couldn’t go upstairs in my house.

Following 2 cardioversions this year I felt fabulous and NSR, then it failed, I can walk now still but the faster the HR the slower I am and feel burning pains around/in the heart as if it’s being over exercised.

Awaking 3rd ablation in a few weeks, very scared as had lots of complications following the last 2 but I just want normality like after the cardioversions. They made me realise how I’ll I had been before them. My EP says it affects everyone differently

Hope your wife gets treatment and feels better soon

[nakuru8]

It sounds as though her AF is not yet permanent but probably persistent. I have had AF now for about 3+ years. As it was getting worse I forced the issue with my cardiologist and had a catheter ablation just over two weeks ago. Am keeping my fingers crossed but apart from a relapse for one AF episode (which I understand can happen in the couple of months after the abalation) I have been

A F free. Early days yet. I don't want to tell you what you probably already know but has your wife considered this solution

[Cavalierrubie]

Sounds as if it’s check up time for your wife, especially if her numbers are high whilst in AF. Sometimes we need medical assistance if we have a particularly bad attack and it goes on for a long time. 111 is a good place to go for advice if you are worried, especially if you can’t get Doctors appointment. I phoned my Doctor for appointment a few days ago and was 18th in the queue. No chance. Go straight to 111 is my advice. Hope things settle soon and you get some peace from this.

[Buffafly]

Do tell us how your wife gets on, hope she gets help soon ❤️‍🩹

[mjames1]

My first guess would be her heart rate is not controlled when in afib. If her heart rate is high, all of her symptoms are very normal. Why do some people function ok in afib? In most cases, it's because either they have afib with a low heart rate, or they take medications when they go into afib that lower their heart rate. Heart rate can be taken at the wrist or neck, but if you can't do that, I recommend a device like the Kardia that will not only give you an accurate heart rate but will also analyze her rhythm.

So, if your wife's heart rate is high in afib -- say over 110 -- then she should speak to her doctor about taking a beta blocker and/or calcium channel blocker to lower her heart rate while in afib. That's what many here, including myself have done.

Along this same line of thought, it's important to monitor heart rate in afib both when at rest and when up and moving. Very typical with afib, even with rate lowering medications, is a normal heart rate at rest but a very fast heart rate when up and moving, even just standing or walking slowly. If this is the case, an adjustment in rate control medications by her doctor may be indicated.

That said, if you tell me your wife's heart rate is controlled by medications, and is below 110, then maybe it's the medications she's using to control her heart rate causing her symptoms combined with the fact that being in afib alone is not the heart's most efficient rhythm.

Lastly, 10 days in afib is a long time and she should speak to her doctor about an electro cardioversion. Or better and faster, just go with her to the A&E and they will electro cardiovert her if they seem fit within a day or so. At least that's how it works in the US.

Looking forward, your wife is inching into persistent afib territory. So she should be speaking to well versed cardiologist at this point or preferably an ep. Medical therapy with anti-arrhythmic drugs like Flecainide might be indicated and there's always the ablation option.

Flecainide, assuming she medically qualifies, could be used daily, but first might be used as a pill in pocket approach to keep her episodes short.

[BlueINR]

Has she not seen or at least talked to her doctor?

I live in the US and as I posted in another recent thread, every episode of afib I've had (about 15-16 in last 2.5 years) has gotten me admitted to the hospital and since drugs have not worked to convert me, I've needed cardioversion to get back to NSR. I would think if she is incapacitated and cannot do anything, something should be done. Even if she has chronic afib, it would probably be good to have meds, and certainly an anticoagulant so she does not have a stroke.

[DawnTX]

I feel her pain. I have permanent a fib and since my last procedure I have only had about a month of decent life. Yes I understand how even getting up to go to the bathroom can be exhausting. I can barely walk I shuffle because of the elephant on my chest.

[Dollcollector]

lf her heart is at a very fast rate she should go to A&E. Along time at a fast rate can damage the heart and cause heart failure. I hope she recovers soon.

[Seventy9]

Every one I believe is Different

I had AF on and off for about 15-20 years but I think mine was brought on playing squash when I was around 60 years old.

First attack lasted for about4/5 Hours called

Doctor who visited me at Midnight ish.

After test like ECG all was Normal then something would set AF off again sometimes a month or so between episodes

All that happened was that I could always feel AF it would normally last for a few Hours then go away.

It made things more of an effort to do .

But the same time as Covid was on the scene it became on for 24/7 AFP

Over a 2 year period up to 21/08/2021 I was Treated and and had Cardio Version never worked AF returned after an hour or so .

Next Dr Markedies carried out Cardio Ablation at Royal Brompton Chelsea.

Worked for a couple of Days only

Next up Cardio Version 2nd attempt AF returned quick . The on 21st August a Saturday 2021 Dr Jones another Heart Surgeon carried out Cardio Ablation for the 2nd time but now the Dr told me he would probably fix it and he did I am eternally grateful to Him and the whole NHS Service.

He said he could see that Dr Markedies had like mapped about half my Heart area causing the AF and with this stored INFO Dr Jones was able to restore my pulse and I believe

My LVEF the factor to measure Heart failure

has improved to almost Normal have a meeting in think December?

So you can see how bad for some like your Wife is less a problem for other folk .

I do wish her well and hope treatment works for Her any other info please ask .

At 82 yrs better get some sleep in

Bless

John ……. Seventy Nine