WHAT DOES AFIB FEEL LIKE?

[Peileen]

Hi, I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AFib a few years ago. I also had a small infarction on a brain scan so was prescribed Edoxaban and Atorvastatin. I also have Essential Tremor so I’m unsure if it’s that or AFib when I feel an internal rattling that makes lying on bed when I waken in the morning uncomfortable. Thank you.

[pottypete1]

To some it feels like a bunch if frogs jumping up and down in their chest. I grt this with nausea

The best way without any electrical gadgets such as a Kardia, is to simply feel your pulse.

Feeling your pulse if you are in AF you will feel that you heart rate is chaotic. You most likely feel a few fast bests, a few slow beats, missed beats and extra beats.

Having said that there are many with AF who feel nothing unless they feel the their pulse.

Pete

[Peileen in reply to pottypete1]

Thank you Pete. I have twice at times of stress, bereavement, had the irregular sign shown on the BP monitor and mentioned this to GP. Thankfully that disappeared after the stress time was past. I can’t say I’ve evr been aware of anything as dramatic as you describe. Best wishes. Peileen

[sassy59]

At its worse my heart feels as if it’s having a disco in my chest, jumping up towards my throat or just fluttering around and beating irregularly. I feel my pulse and can detect that irregular beat. I have a single lead Kardia which two days ago showed possible AF. I’m on 20mg of Rivaroxaban plus BP meds.

[Peileen in reply to sassy59]

Thank you sassy59. I have twice had the irregular sign on BP monitor during times of extreme stree at close bereavements. I’ve never felt what you describe, just an internal tremor which may be my Essential Tremor. I take anticoagulant Edoxaban which is similar to yours, Atorvastatin and Propranolol for the ET which the GP said also keeps BP in check and steadies the heart beat. Best wishes. Peileen

[sassy59 in reply to Peileen]

Best wishes to you too.

[Jpot34 in reply to Peileen]

Peileen, my brother has the same internal trembling. He said it started after his vaccines. This may be your case as well. Best of luck to you!

[Elsie1955]

I think it may be different for different people. For me, when I have had them it was like an alien trying to tear its way out of my chest. I say "I'm running but my feets aint movin!" Mine are very spread apart (7 years apart and this last one was bc they took me off the flec for 17 days).

[Peileen in reply to Elsie1955]

Thank you Elsie1955. I haven’t had strong sensations like that. A 24 hr Holter showed paroxysmal AFib during the night and I was prescribe anticoagulant Edoxaban and Atorvastatin. I had for the second time recently the irregular heartbeat sign on the BP monitor, after a close bereavement. That’s what triggered that sign a few years ago too. GP said it would settle down once a period of stress has past. Best wishes. Peileen

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Peileen]

Hi

Thanx for reply.

But it was confusing because I was also found B12 deficient. Now I take 1 nugget SOLGAR 2 days running weekly to stay at 500. Under the tongue.

Also that arm to hand had a inner rotator cuff repair in 2007 and I went to Dr because an Aunt thought I had Parkinson Disease.

Mine is worse on exertion. Mr Simpson Spec Ak Hosp said 2 meds

1. A Beta Blocker

2, Glass of red wine before an event that would make me nervous.

cheri JOY

[Peileen in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

JOY2THE WORLD49 you are not unlike myself with several things going on at once which are difficult to separate. I had terrible fatigue last year and was found to be anaemic which 3 months of iron tablets put right. I have more than the average B12. I have started eating meat after 14years because with diverticular disease I can’t eat lentils, pulses, greens or most veg or fruit. I also have like yourself rotator cuff problems. It was the physio who told me to go to GP with tremor whoch I had thought related to shoulder. I have restless leg syndrome too affecting sometimes all body on bad nights. The iron did help that as well as the Gabapentin for arthritis and sciatica. Old age certainly doesn’t come alone, I may fill in an eConsult as none of this has ever been discussed with GP just for reassurance. I don’t mind any sensations as long as not heart related. Best wishes.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Peileen]

Hi there comarade!

A leg that keeps 'fidgeting' can be ADHD. My adopted son's leg or he cant keep still.

I will give you an exercise.

1. Draw a n outline of a shell. Leaving a gap between the lines

2. Stand a pencil up but lift your hand/arm off the table.

3. Draw aline in the middle of the outline gap.

Carry this out with both hands.

My left hand creats a wriggley line whereas the right was great.

Problems left hand and legs a bit.

Walking I could walk a straight line with ease. He told me to put one foot immidiately in front of other foot.

I dont show aenaemia iron but B12 was below normal.

I read that older folks need to raise their B12. Even 1000. But excess is safely excreted.

cheers JOY. 73. (NZ)

[Peileen in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Thank you JOY2THEWORLD for your interesting reply. I doubt if I have ADHD. Have had no symptoms of that and am 75 and worked with no problems for 43 years. My handwriting has never been good on paper or drawing the spiral which is wiggly typical of Essential Tremor.Schultz who drew Snoopy characters had ET. My B12 is well over the average limits. I didn’t eat meat for 15years so took B12 supplements. The RLS worsened when I was anaemic but Gabapentin for sciatica also helped greatly. Going to cinema was no pleasure or enjoying a video with my daughter in an evening. I had to keep pausing it so I could walk around. My RLS worsened as it became evening. Very best wishes.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

I have Essential Tremor. It is a genetic curse.

It has nothing to do with AF. In extremeties like limbs.

What does my rapid persistent H/R with AF feel like.

The H/R too fast caused fatigue and excessive sweating.

Walking up elevated areas I have to stop so that the 0/2 catches up to include all

the body..

Very tired. Its exhausting.

Take care.

Because it is persistent I don't literally feel it changing. I have been told that episodes are felt and are scary.

cheers JOY. 73. (NZ)

[Peileen in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Thank you JOY2THEWORLD49. I agree about ET. When mine became too difficult to eat with a spoon I went to GP and was diagnosed in minutes and prescribed Propranolol. It has been a great help. I was brought up in a family where a shaky hand was so usual with cups rattling in saucers and people dropping stuff that nobody had gone to see about it before me. Apart from the tremoring through my body I don’t have anything else of note. I do avoid rushing because when the holter tape was checked and pulse went up to 140 I had been hurrying for a bus at that time with a full shopping trolley.

Best wishes.

[bassets]

I have a very strong chaotic pulse and feel as though someone is sitting on my chest with frequent trips to pee. Afterwards i am exhausted as though I have run miles. /lst night my pulse went to 137bpm.

[Peileen in reply to bassets]

Thank you bassetts. I don’t have that sensation. I did have what they called atrial flutter when they checked the holter tape and my H/R was 140. I had been hurrying for a bus with full shopping trolley at that exact time. I don’t do that now. Best wishes.

[Snowgirl65]

Mine feels like a squirrel running around in my chest!

[Peileen in reply to Snowgirl65]

Thank you Snowgirl65. I don’t have that. Maybe mine isn’t that bad. I hope so. Best wishes.

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Peileen]

Best wishes to you as well.

[BrotherThomas]

Normally, I don't have any symptoms when in AF so feel exactly the same as when I'm in NSR. However, when my medication was changed last year, I experienced what I can only describe as a swarm of butterflies being chased by a stampede of horses in my chest. It wasn't pleasant and I finished up in A&E on one occasion and calling an ambulance on another. Since the change put me on two different calcium channel blockers, which I think was a mistake on the doctor's part, I have no way of knowing if it was down to the meds or AFib.

[Peileen in reply to BrotherThomas]

Thank you BrotherThomas. That sound awful. I certainly don’t experience anything like that. I hope you don’t again.

Best wishes.

[AussieHeart]

Exactly the same symptoms. Mine began just prior to Covid (Feb 2020) so it’s not the vaccine but maybe I had Covid and didn’t know it as arrhythmias now listed as a side effect for long Covid. I too dx with suspected infarction (atypical Amaurosis fugax ) by a neurologist after sudden eyesight loss/seizure-type episode that was probably start of AF. It took me to faint in a dead drop before an EP was involved and arrhythmia diagnosed. The tremor lasted nearly one year. Bisoprosolol helped, Flecainide even better but I still get it. It coincided with high constipation and clearing my bowels fully also helped. It was and is the most horrible sensation. Sending you a virtual hug of understanding. PS: many others here have likened it to sitting on top of a tractor. There’s great videos out there on YouTube depicting what’s happening. Search “arrhythmia dance” but here’s one to view m.youtube.com/watch?v=EqUfg...(Not working as expected?)

[Peileen in reply to AussieHeart]

Thank you AussiHeart. I loved the video. Informative as well as good fun. Covid seems to trigger quite a few health problems. Thankfully I’ve not caught it but have been very careful and use an N95 mask rather than a surgical one. My BP is fine 125/73 and pulse around 68 but just this whirr in my body which I tend to put down to the Essential Tremor as it’s not located in my chest.

Best wishes.

[AussieHeart in reply to Peileen]

I haven’t had Covid that I know. Is your tremor external or internal? You could get a nerve conduction test/study to rule it in/out.

[Peileen]

Thanks AussieHeart.