I was only diagnosed a week ago, after a weekend of being in AFib, went to the ER. Confirmed. It's been non stop ever since. I am now on Xarelto and Metoprolol 50 x2 a day. NO relief. Most of my ECG readings show heart rate around 130-140. BP mostly ok--a bit high, but not awful.
I find myself exhausted and worrying.
Hi Arnold. How long have you had symptoms before diagnosis. Since diagnosis myself my afib had been almost daily through anxiety. I've calmed down a little and so has my episodes. I'm normally around the 150 mark for around 8 hours sometimes 18.
I have had only ONE big, ongoing episode, for well over a week, now. NO breaks in the action.
Surely after be so long something else should be tried. When I told my cousin about me he said ' come to Boston you get sorted here'. I thought it should be better in the state's.
I CALLED the cardiologist on Friday, knowing the weekend was ahead and got nowhere. Going to call again tomorrow.
Sounds as though you are in persistent AF which often requires a treatment plan. Have you seen a specialist cardiologist? AF tends to be a chronic condition and finding a management plan that suits you often takes time and often trying different treatments.
First line treatment is anticoagulants to reduce your risk of stroke so that’s been covered. The Metoprolol is to control high heart rate which is second line treatment but rarely does anything to stop or prevent AF.
May I suggest you visits the US site of the AFA - Atrial Fibrillation Association and research treatments available in your area.
I have found that beta blockers work very differently for women than men.
Unfortunately anxiety exacerbated AF so you can do a lot to help yourself by learning how to lessen and manage anxiety. It is very unlikely to stop AF but may help you to cope.
I think nearly everyone who first comes to this forum will resonate with your story. I was diagnosed first in 2007 although had symptoms for years before that. I’ve had the gamut of treatments and AF is now thankfully mostly controlled - but not by drugs.
This forum has some very knowledgeable people who are kind and supportive and willing to answer questions and share experiences but unfortunately AF often is a marathon not sprint.
Best wishes.
I would say 4-5 days, which is why they would not cardiovert me then (too much chance of clots already forming). Now I"ve been on Xarelto for almost three weeks, so I go Friday to hear about the next step.
hello , I empathise with your worry . I had 6 months of persistent AF when I was first diagnosed 5 years ago . I have never really had paroxysmal AF , it’s either there or it isnt . I was referred to an NHS cardiologist but there was a huge waiting list . When I did see one he was awful and suggested that I could ‘live ‘ with AF with rate control ( I was a 52 year old active person with an active job and it was my first episode !) . I then paid to see one privately and was referred back to NHS for a cardioversion . My advice would be to see a cardiologist as soon as possible , privately if necessary as the more AF you have , the more AF you will get . I often feel that my continued persistent AF is that 6 months I spent uncontrolled at the start of my journey .
Sending you all the best and remember that AF per se will not kill you and that quicker intervention is best .
Good morning Arnold. I'll tell you what the ER doc told me when I was first diagnosed. He said you won't die from AF. Gave me a little comfort. Still a lot of anxiety. I'm pretty sure stress and anxiety bring it on. Still searching for relief. Good Luck
Like I've said before I bounded into get an ecg while actually in afib. Then came crawling out a nervous wreck on diagnosis. Anxiety has been a nightmare for me these last few months.
Seriously! We get given such wildly differing information; I was told by several medics that persistent AF can tire the heart muscles to the point where they say sod it, I’m not doing this anymore, and simply stop working!! 🫤. NO medics I’ve spoken to have casually brushed it off and said just live with it. That’s awful.
People react to meds, differently. Yet, the protocol is often to put a newly diagnosed person with heart failure on Beta Blockers. Though they did bring my heart rate and blood pressure down, I started with unbelievable anxiety. That brought on occasional episodes of AF. In the hospital, the doctors would give me Diltiazem, which would revert me back into NSR. Finally, the doctor took me off the Beta Blockers and put me on a low dose of Diltiazem (Cartia). I have been on Cartia, along with my blood pressure med, and Eliqis, for the last 4 years, with very good results. Like I said, previously, we may all respond differently to medications.
thank you. It's so nice to hear from others.
Hi
Only a private Cardiac Specialist got me CONTROLLED.
Not Metroprolol which made me breathless and fatigued. H/R day avge 186
sweating profusely. After a Embollic Stroke Sept 2019. But they found on a Carotid Scan thyroid Cancer.
Not Bisoprolol alone brought down to 156 H/R avge day.
Introduced to CCB Calcium Channel Blocker reduced from 180mg Diltiazem to 120mg am and Bisoprolol 2.5 now reduced to 1.25mg.
Now Controlled
123/70. 77-88 H/R avge Day. and always remained 47 avge Night.
Not sure why but night always 47 H/R.
Take Care... Joy. 73. (NZ)
Sorry you had such a crummy, anxious weekend. I've been on metoprolol for maybe 10 years, for frequent ectopic beats, now for PAF as well. I was prescribed two a day when I was first diagnosed with a-fib, up from 1 a day, but I felt tired and unfocused and my heart rate was in the low 40's (a slow heart rate invites a-fib) so cut back to one in the morning and a half in the evening. I'm still somewhat tired and unfocused but my RSR is back up to the 50s. It only goes up to the 60s with afib. I like it because I had anxiety about my heart and it suppresses some of the ectopic beats also afib is infrequent for me now, every few days when I'm especially stressed. My heartbeat is much quieter and more steady which I prefer. I have heard that variation in heart rate (without arrhythmia) is a sign of health, but I feel less anxious with my HR more stable. I should mention that I went on a special diet when I found out I had declining kidney function and my general health and weight are much better now. (all natural whole foods, no meat or dairy or sugar, quite boring, but I like it)
With A-Fib---you just never know-----
getting on my wits end
Pacemaker and end of life.
All's well that ends well.
I want put an end to this action , horror and drama movies , will there be a happy end 
