Variations in persistent Afib

[Rainfern]

My resting heartbeat has remained fairly constant (85 - 90) since I went into persistent Afib around 6 months ago. My symptoms, however, are very variable. I get the chest full of frogs sensation from time to time, just like those with PAfib. And some days I have good energy at least half the day without grinding to a halt. Other days I'm flopped out from the start. Do others with persistent AF experience wide differences from day to day?

I go for a cardioversion on Tuesday and wonder if and when symptoms return (though fingers crossed they won't!) if they'll return in paroxysmal form?

Thank you for reading, and no I'm not nervous at all ha ha!

[BobD Volunteer]

I'm like that WITHOUT AF! lol 😁

[Rainfern in reply to BobD]

Yeah but you keep up a job with those car engines and travel and I can't trust how I'll be day to day! Did your Afib go when you had P & A Bob?

[mav7]

You don't mention medications you are taking to control your heart rate. These can have side effects like fatigue.

I have persistent afib and sometimes can feel fluctuations, but not often.

Is this your first cardioversion ? The doctor may prescribe an antiarrythmic drug to keep you in NSR.

Don't have an answer if persistent may come back as paroxysmal.

Best to you and good luck with the cardioversion.

[Rainfern in reply to mav7]

Hi Mav, thank you for your thoughts. Yes my first cardioversion. We'll be looking at antiarrythmic meds next, if necessary, but my EP wasn't keen on these for me yet.

I take a beta blocker at night only. I was taking it in the morning but it increased the fatigue.

Hope you find a good route to recovery!

[Buffafly]

Good luck 🍀 I’m with Bob, very variable energy but when I had a monitor for a week I was surprised to be told that I had had frequent episodes of AF that I hadn’t noticed. I suspect I have AF at night sometimes which is when I wake up feeling as though I’ve done a little run (won’t say marathon because I am very unfit!) I hope it’s successful and it lasts ❤️‍🩹

[Rainfern in reply to Buffafly]

The waking from a little run sounds very familiar Buffafly! I just thought if one had persistent the Afib would stay kind of level, but clearly not!

[En85]

Hi,

I have afib all the time, and I find the same. Some days I’m full of energies and some other days I struggle to leave the bed and I pass the day in agony until I can lay down again. I had a look at the data collected from my Apple watch and it looks like I feel better when the HRV is lower, so the range of random pulses values is smaller. Especially in the night, I think when the afib is going wild in the night I don’t sleep well and I wake up exhausted. Good luck for your cardioversion, big hug 🤗

[Rainfern in reply to En85]

Thank you Enrica. Night time can be the worst because there's nothing to distract our thoughts from the afib sensations. My sleep has become very erratic which is bad for the Afib - a vicious circle. I do find my relaxation apps help. Thanks for the thoughts and hope you find a positive route to your own recovery 🤗

[DawnTX]

I cannot really say much, but yes to the chest full of frogs that used to be my flutter and I can still get that sometimes. Sometimes it’s just what I’m thinking of can set me off. All I can say when it comes to a fib is expect the unexpected and don’t panic. It just has its way when it feels like it. It does what it wants most of the time it’s not that big a deal I have never gone to the ER are usually rode it out Otherwise they would’ve been times. I would’ve had to rent a room in the ER. I have permanent now I have my pacemaker, thank heavens.