New Member

[Peebles1]

Hi everyone. Just joined the group and am hoping to pick up a few tips from other members who also have atrial fibrillation. I am still working and don't really notice I have the condition for the most part and wonder how others are affected and what symptoms they have ?

[Paulbounce]

Hi Peebles.

Welcome to the forum.

Afib affects different people in different ways. Some don't even know they have it while others are knocked for six. I would take a guess you are in persistent afib as you don't have symptoms rather than PAF (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation). I could be wrong of course.

My suggestion? Make some lifestyle changes (diet/moderate exercise etc) and go with the flow. Afib is not a life sentence but rather just a nuisance.

You'll find the members here very friendly so fire away if you have any questions.

Paul

[Peebles1 in reply to Paulbounce]

Yes I believe it is Persistent AF. Thanks for your reply I think as you say belonging to the group will be so helpful.

[Murdy1 in reply to Peebles1]

Helpful, yes, and so much more 😊 some find it keeps fear and anxiety at bay. I look in every day... Keeps me sane😊Best wishes to all members for 2023, Tom

[Camelia23 in reply to Murdy1]

Best wishes for 2023 back to you!

[sassy59]

Welcome Peebles, I must say I’m relatively new to the AF forum but have learned so much. I was diagnosed with AF nearly 18 months ago and was put on Rivaroxaban as an anti coagulant and also take Bisoprolol. I have Losartan for high blood pressure and haven’t had an AF episode since November 2022.

We’re all different of course but my symptoms would be peeing a lot, feeling hot, increased pulse rate and my heart having a disco in my chest for around 4-6 hours. I have a Kardia single lead and an Apple Watch to monitor things which I find very useful. Xx

[Peebles1 in reply to sassy59]

Thanks for your reply sassy59 I'm also on rivaroxaban and bisoprol. I don't have any really troublesome symptoms but have found I've put on weight since being diagnosed which I'm desperately trying to lose. I think this may because of the unsocial hours I work in a job I started just after being diagnosed eating late etc and think this is not helping my breathlessness!! I will have to look into getting an apple watch sounds good! xxx

[Tommyboy21]

My paf is very symptomatic. Breathless. , full headed dizzy, flipflops in chest. Im starting to think persistent would be a god send. I'm 52 and still working as best as I can.

[Peebles1 in reply to Tommyboy21]

Hi Tommyboy21. Thanks for your reply. Goodness that sounds awful I know some people are badly affected. I honestly feel I may have been like this long before I was diagnosed as I had no symptoms so would never have e known.

[Hidden]

Hello Peebles1 and welcome to the forum. I hope you find the forum helpful and supportive. If you ever feel that you would like to speak to one of our Patient Services Team about AF, if you have any questions, or would like some advice or support, please feel free to contact us on 01789 867 502 or email : [e-mail] 🙂

[Peebles1 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Katrina. Thats great thank you.

[1Golf]

Hi, When I feel my pulse increasing I go to a quiet place, use an ice pack on my chest, drink ice water and work on controlled breathing. Seems to calm the heart although it takes a few hours but worth it.

[Peebles1 in reply to 1Golf]

Hi 1Golf. Yes have heard drinking ice water calms things. Well worth trying for anyone struggling with symptoms.

[Jetcat in reply to Peebles1]

Iv knocked myself back into sinus rhythm by drinking ice cold water a few times in the past. It hasn’t worked every time though. So Iv tried again and ended up with brain freeze 🥶

[Paulbounce in reply to Peebles1]

Learn the breathing technic's Peebles. Very good and they really can help with afib and anxiety.

Paul

[Peebles1 in reply to Paulbounce]

I will try them I'm sure they will help thank you!

[Peebles1]

Thank you for all the replies. When I was diagnosed in 2019 I'd been take to hospital with pneumonia and the Doctors thought my fast heartbeat would go back to normal when I recovered. It didn't so that's when I got the AF diagnosis and put on medication. I remember coming home not having any idea what or why I'd got this and was afraid to go to bed as I thought I was going to die in the night, made worse as I live alone! I still have never really been told much about the condition and most of my knowledge comes from the Internet. Have others had a better explanation from GP's or other health professionals?

[Jetcat]

hi peebles, welcome aboard. 👍

[Peebles1]

Thank You

[WhitstableWanderer]

Hello Peebles, welcome to the best source of sensible info about AF that you will find. Certainly, the good people on here are much better informed than the vast majority of health professionals and you'll always find support and good advice. It sounds as though you, like me, are one of the more fortunate people with AF in that you don't really notice it and don't suffer 'attacks' as such. I have lived with this for about 5 years now and, apart from a little breathlessness walking up steep hills on hot days, live life completely normally. I did lose weight, avoided alcohol and caffeine for a while and exercise regularly (golf twice a week, walk most days). My only other advice is to be sure to take the Rivaroxiban with a proper meal, not alone or just with a biscuit etc. And if you notice that you're having nightmares or losing some memory, the Bisoprolol may be the culprit so talk to your cardio consultant about reducing or eliminating this. Good luck, and ask the forum any questions that you may have, someone knowledgeable will soon be along to help.

[Peebles1]

Thank you so much for your advice WhitstableWanderer everything you said is so reassuring!

[Rainfern]

Hi Peebles, welcome to the forum. I'm also fairly new to AF and have found the forum and AF Association my main source of support and information. They're wonderful. Part of the process for me has been facing the fear - its our heart, after all. Through knowledge, a good relaxation/meditation app (I use "Balance") and listening to the experts-by-experience here I reckon I'm beginning to crack it! Wishing you a positive healing journey.

[Peebles1]

Hi Rainfern. Yes you're right I know this forum will be a big help with any worries I have I'm glad I found it. Thanks so much for your reply.

[ozziebob]

Peebles,

I wanted to share how important Vitamin D has been to my so-far short AF journey. If you read my Bio you will see a Vitamin D deficiency was revealed at the same time that my AF was officially recognised.

Consequently I always recommend to others the importance of getting a Vitamin D blood serum test, especially as age and our sun deprived climate decreases the absorption of Vitamin D through the skin, You will need to ask your GP for this test.

I feel my current raised level of Vitamin D, after supplementation, has definitely settled my heart, making it less jumpy, and with a more solid rhythm.

And I hope you will read this vital research article about Vitamin D and Mortality rates I posted recently. You might have to join Medscape to read it, but it's free, and I've had no follow on issues after joining ...

medscape.com/viewarticle/98...

Good luck.

[Peebles1 in reply to ozziebob]

Thank you yes I've been taking vitamin D for a while and feel they are helping. Good advice!

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi and Welcome

AF commonly referred to has several differing types. Also it is felt or not.

In 2019 I had stroke (Embollic) Left Frontal Lobe. With AF rapid and persistent.

4 days later in having a Carotid Neck Scan I was found to have a shadow on my Thyroid later diagnosed as Papillary Cancer. 4 mths later all removed with low risk. Declined RAI Radio Active Iodine and being in Suppression with my TSH level.

I have changed meds 3 times from Metropolol (skipped beats at night, sweating, fatigue and Heart Rate avge day 187. Then Bisoprolol but still uncontrolled at 156.

Now on CCB (Calcium Channel Blocker) not a BB Beta Blocker (Adrenaline) as two above are,

Diltiazem controls H/R Day to under 100. So I can be passed for any operation.

Stops the calcium from entering the heart. Relaxes the heart. I no longer SWEAT uncontrollable, no skipping beats and fatigue is way down. I manage walking up hill altho stop quite often.

I cant feel my heart pumping except up hills. Also carrying stuff is worse.

Heart rate at night is 47 average. Had the stroke at 2am. Always look in the mirror for signs - face drop, speech impediment, difficulty swallowing, swollen finger and dropsy.

I hope this gives you insight for rapid persistent H/R.

It takes patience and varioyus tests to assess It swas a private heart specialist who changed me to CCB 120mg and listened to my history and controlled me.

Cheri JOY. 74. (NZ). On PRADAXA an anti-coagulant)