Hi, I have always exercised and had a healthy diet, but like a lot of people in lockdown I got some bad habits. When I was diagnosed with P.Afib a year ago I became very proactive healthwise. I lost weight. My diet is now low sugar/salt no red meat, alchohol, caffein or processed food etc. Plenty of Vitamins too. That's the good part. However, every time I have a bad episode. which is every few weeks. The longest time without any episodes was 6 weeks, when I felt very happy and and hopeful, but as soon as I had another episode I became very ill with depression, which lasted around 2 weeks. It's the anxiety of not knowing what is causing them. I don't know what triggers them, as I'm very careful what and when I eat and drink.
Does anyone know how to avoid the bad low times? Does anyone take antidepressants?
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Art_lover2022
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I don’t have much to contribute in ways to get over it because I can very much relate to what you are feeling as I felt the same when diagnosed a year ago. I had some really tough weeks and found that I have now turned it to a real fear longer and worried about anything and everything.
I suppose 2 things I can add from my experience. Really focusing on techniques and ways to get rid of anxiety has helped although it’s not a magic switch, i have to keep going with it every day to keep in check and improving.
Another thing I would add which I hope gives you hope. I was getting them every 2 weeks without fail also for the first 7 months, lasting about 4-6 hours then boom….I’ve only had 1 in the last 5 months….have hope!
I think Tom's post sums it up very well. Anxiety and afib go hand in hand for most of us - rest assured you are not alone. I think over time your body adusts more and the anxiety starts to fade. What you are going through is quite normal for us afibbers but seems to improve overtime.
Hi, I relate to what you are saying completely. After my 2nd ablation I tried to convince myself I was cured, I went a few weeks feeling ok and out of the blue came an episode of Af pulse 155. I hit an almighty low straight away and even had a bit of a meltdown on here, however I picked myself back up and started again. Thing is for me I think the heart can be triggered by anything if it is that way inclined on that certain day, meaning one day you can have a glass of beer and all is good but a week later another glass and bam AF. So for me I am not even trying to work out what triggers it, just get on with life and when and if it happens deal with it until the next time.
I must admit that it’s affecting my mood a lot. I was getting episodes about once a month, and found the unpredictability really hard.
At the moment I have been stuck in A Fib for two weeks, on Flecainide (which has had the delightful side effect of constipation ) and Bisoprolol. Getting some control of it during the daytime, but I can feel my heart when I wake and the rate has gone up again. Just feeling so weepy and sorry for myself. (While realising that many others have it much worse.)
I have lost weight, BMI now 26, stopped drinking and try to get a reasonable amount of exercise. Exercises for my sore back, Nordic walking etc. Then an episode comes along and I can’t do hills and stairs without my heart rate shooting up.
To me, it’s like one step forward, two steps backwards. Honestly, what a grump. I’ve always been an optimist in the past, but AF is the pits. However, I should be getting a cryoablation quite soon, so onwards and upwards. (When I can travel upwards that is 😂)
if you don’t mind me asking - what makes you think flec has caused the gut issue?
I am on flec and biso the same as you and have had stomach cramps and mix of diarrhoea and constipation with constant dull ache in stomach. Could it not be the bisoprolol?
I’ve been on Bisoprolol alone, with no problems. But have noticed that each time I’ve had Flecainide this has happened. Though it is listed as an uncommon side effect in BNF. Could be that my diet alters a bit when I’m worrying too.
Nothing unusual about your feelings, on initial diagnosis I too had huge anxiety/borderline depression.
I didn't want to take anti-depressants and so started to build a different life under the threat of AF. Key aspects of the new life are learn all you can about it (here is one of the best sources), change many poor lifestyle choices which may be causing a build up to an episode, start new hobbies & spiritual strengths (in my case God & Nature).
My volunteer role is to help teenagers and older people with additional needs find a farm to visit weekly to help with their anxiety and more; we have found when they look after something rather than being looked after themselves this has the most beneficial outcomes eg usual & rescues. It works for me as well, so a double benefit.
Result: I still have elevated anxiety and of course AF could strike at any time BUT I have controlled it and the AF.
It’s so interesting hearing other peoples AF experiences and what triggers it , maintains it etc .
My story is that since I hit my early 40’s ( now 57 ) my mental health declined . I had a big episode of clinical depression after my brother died ( of heart failure , but he had a congenital heart disorder ) and then a couple of episodes since .
My last episode ( age 52 ) was horrendous , the worst yet as I had very negative , self harming thoughts that I never had previously . Anyway as I was recovering I got my first episode of AF , it was persistent and disabling . I’ve been on fluoxetine ever since . Was 40 mgs but reduced to 20 mgs gradually . The cardiologist checked that it doesn’t interact with my arrhythmia drugs .
Hard to say if it helps , I still get anxious , which is a huge AF trigger for me , but no further episodes of the disabling clinical depression (🤞) . Could it now be placebo ?
I’m just not willing to take the risk of coming off it to assess .
Interestingly , with regards to the AF / drugs and moderate drinking post , when I’m in persistent AF and feeling low in mood , 2 glasses of white wine ( 11.5 % or 12 , not higher ) is the only thing that enables me to ‘relax ‘ and get to sleep as the palpitations are constant and stop me sleeping .
Now I’m back in sinus rhythm post cardio version I am going more or less alcohol free but in time would hope I can progress to a glass of wine again as I do love it ( not as much as I love being in sinus rhythm though !)
Hi, I think I get very down when I've been working so hard to be healthy and fit and I still have an episode. All the joy has gone, and I'm afraid to make travel arrangements in case I have an episode and ruin it for other people. The other thing that upsets me is that since my diagnosis I've had no support from the medical profession. Just given drugs and to get on with it. The cardiologist I've seen once, was very unfriendly and got irritated when I asked questions about the medication. He wasn't interested in my healthy lifestyle commitment. All they're interested in is keeping you alive, even if the life you are living is wretched 😞
I can totally empathise Art lover . Your experience sounds so much like mine .
I too have had rubbish and scant care from cardiology . My first episode when I was aged 52 and very active , the registrar I saw in clinic was so off hand and basically suggested I ‘live ‘ with AF and just have rate control ( I couldn’t climb a flight of stairs without stopping !) . No suggestion of a cardio version and this was my first episode . He finally agreed to a cardio version but there was a huge wait at this time , so in the end I had to go privately to see a cardiologist who was still a bit dismissive of my symptoms , but did get my cardio version bumped up a bit on the NHS .
I am sure their attitude was due to me being overweight . ( not morbidly obese but just touching obese on the BMI charts )
They ( the cardiologists ) have always said the AF was due to me being obese . Yet I started with it when I had lost a lot of weight and then later on when I shed 40 pounds for the first ablation , bam , straight back into persistent AF .
In the end I was in persistent AF for 6 months on bisoprolol that I could barely tolerate . I could go on but I won’t !!!
So …. I feel for you .
It’s easy to be positive when you are in sinus rhythm isn’t it , but so so hard when you can barely walk or sleep in unstable persistent AF .
Wish I had words of wisdom but I don’t . Just try and manage the anxiety as best you can , breathing , meditation , being mindful , gratitude lists and so forth .
Also , the saying ‘ this too shall pass ‘ has always helped me when feeling really low .
hi Art_lover2022. Anxiety is horrible isn’t it. Makes everything a big issue. I started with counselling which was definitely helping. But then saw an electrophysiologist also diagnosed non sustained ventricular tachycardia as well as paf. He felt that anti anxiety medication might help not aggravate things especially since it was heart muscle damage from a heart attack that’s causing the arrhythmia’s.
I started it - reluctantly. But after it initially made things worse ( which is normal), it started helping and I’m glad I’ve done it. After 2 months I feel I’m getting my life back.
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