Newly diagnosed AFib 40 year old

[Harrgem]

Hello everyone, last week I was diagnosed with persistent afib with lbbb and I'm terrified. I've been discharged with a bag of meds (bisoprolol, flecanide and rivaroxaban) and on the list for an ablation. I haven't been given much info and investigated everything myself. I just feel utterly depressed, anxious and hopeless about everything and feel my life is over. I know that sounds dramatic but I've only just turned 40 with a young son and I need to lift my spirits. Any links or sites to help would be most grateful. Thank you everyone x

[BobD Volunteer]

As my Consultant once told me. Three things to know about AF. It won't kill you. It won't kill you and it won't kill you. ( Might feel like it sometimes though (my words.)).

Knowledge is power so go to our main website at Atrial Fibrillation Association and read till you drop and then come and ask as many questions as you like

[Popepaul]

It is often the case that the worry and fear of might go wrong in the future is far worse than the actuality.BobD has given you some good advice. As you learn more about this condition your fears should subside.

Regards and good luck with your journey.

[CDreamer]

Welcome - lots and help and support from knowledgeable people here so ask anything - no such thing as a silly question.

Although it is natural to worry - you’ve just been told you have a heart condition and you’ve only one heart - know that AF is a problem with the electrics of the heart and treatable. Ablation is not open heart surgery, takes a while to recover from but if you are young and fit you will find you will recover relatively quickly.

Your heart is a bit like your house - if your structure is sound and the plumbing good then fixing the electrics of the heart is similar to a rewiring job.

Focus on preparing and getting yourself as fit as possible with Lifestyle adaptations so that you give yourself the best possible chance of a good recovery and long lasting NSR.

Many people live a long life with AF, I was diagnosed in 2007 but had it for some years prior to diagnosis. I rarely have AF these days after treatments.

[bassets]

Hi, welcome to the club. believe me we are all terrified about having AF at first but worrying will only make this harder to cope with. It took me ages to calm down when I was first diagnosed, but I learned to cope and had an ablation which helped to calm the attacks down, and now, although I am still taking flecainide and dilitiazem, I am most ly in sinus rhythm and life is fairly normal.

When I knew it was a good idea I dieted and lost 2 stones and kept a careful track of my diet - no caffeine, and hardly any sugar. this helped me and I began to practice mindfulness to get over the fright and panic.

As Bob says it won't kill you but you can make things easier with some changes. Read up and find out as much as you can and we are all here if you need advice.

Good luck and best wishes x

[Beta44]

I started AF at about your age, long before ablation was invented. Now 77 fit and healthy with only occasional episodes following ablation 8 years ago. Try not to worry too much there is light on the other side. Whilst you wait for treatment you can work on any lifestyle issues like weight, alcohol and anxiety which will really help.

Peter

[Maisiemay13]

I understand how you are feeling,I was diagnosed back in 2019 this site was a great comfort and full of good advice and knowledge. I had an Ablation in 2021 so far so good.

My husband has just started to get AF according to his Apple Watch awaiting ECG he has watched me go through it,he is very anxious,I have told him using Bob D it will not kill you

[secondtry]

The patient takes a key role in AF.

It is not like leaving it to the doctor to mend a broken leg. Make some time to learn as much as you can from the outset, then play an active role in discussing what the medics propose and be aware there are always options, no one correct route,follow your gut feel, don't be pushed into something you are unhappy with and know that change (although many doubt it) when embraced can be beneficial.

I owe a lot to AF for the changes and action I have taken in life since diagnosis 10 years ago.

[RG72]

Yes - we have all felt like this but it is temporary and does get better, it can take some time though, so you may be battling with these thoughts for a few weeks or months. I will add that it may stay tough for you for a while. The cocktail of medicine you have been given will make a difference - positive and negative. It may relieve or reduce the heart issues but cause others (dizziness, lethargy, tiredness, etc) so be ready for this but knowing there is still away through. Sometimes you might need a different dose, sometimes you might need to change meds, sometimes you might just adapt to it after a few weeks. I’m not saying this as a doom monger, but this is usually another road block that we’ve faced and being prepped in advance may help.

In the height of the issue, people saying don’t worry and it’s not dangerous doesn’t always help, but it’s true and the anxiety will pass over time.

This all happened to me and many others. I thought that was it for life but over the course of a few months I dramatically changed my diet (I thought I was healthy in the first place, but the things you eat and drink can make a big difference), learnt a lot about stress and managing it, took my meds religiously and managed to get off most of them and reduced the heart issues. I thought I’d be chained to multiple meds for life and have to reduce my physical activity, I’m now on 1 pill every other day and just finished a bike ride from Lands End to John ‘O Groats.

[jeanjeannie50]

When you first hear that your heart is not beating quite right, it's a shock - we never thought we'd have anything like this. I remember when I was first diagnosed I went into headless chicken mode and paid to have an ultrasound scan of my heart as the NHS appointment to have this was about 2 months away. My heart was physically perfect and it was just the electrics that were misbehaving. Absolutely no one at the hospital explained what AF was other than it was to do with the heart. The following is routine information that I've discovered can help:

Having had AF for 18 years, three ablations (where they go up through your groin to burn or freeze the inside of the heart where the rogue pulses often come from) and numerous cardioversions (electric shock to put the heart back into it's correct rhythm) my advice to everyone diagnosed with AF is the following:

1. Be Aware you are most unlikely to die from Atrial Fibrillation (AF). I used to think that the way my heart bounced around I would surely be found dead next day. Still here though!

2. Changing your diet to a more plant based one, avoiding any foods containing artificial additives, not allowing yourself to become dehydrated, cutting back on sugar, alcohol and caffeine, also losing weight (if it's needed) will all have a beneficial effect on your AF. Artificial sweeteners were a sure trigger for my attacks. How I wish I'd known all of this before having any of my ablations. Would I have listened if anyone had told me? Probably not, because I believed ablations would cure me - three didn't! They have helped some people though and my AF now is not so severe.

3. This is a hard one, but looking at gadgets that show your pulse and AF will make you anxious and anxiety feeds AF. I was obsessed with what my heart was doing for about the first ten+ years of my AF journey and my attacks were so debilitating I'd end up in a hospital ward, it has taken me a long time to take my mind off this subject and get on with living. The less I think about it, the better I feel. Now I used to feel cross with people who suggested I stop looking at my pulse rate machines, I thought that their AF couldn't be as bad as mine and they didn't understand how poorly attacks made some of us feel. I would get cross with anyone who said they could still go on holiday and carry on life as normal. They made me feel evil, by not understanding how ill I felt! In our minds AF is only as bad as we have experienced, for some attacks are mild for others they're more severe.

4. Make sure you don't slouch, or unwittingly do shallow breathing while watching tv or if you're online. If you do your heart will protest. Also avoid tight clothing around your waist.

5. Try supplementing with magnesium, any type except oxide (I use glycinate from YourSupplements and also take taurine, zinc, vitamin B complex, D3, K2 & C). I feel fine and there's little I can't do now, despite being in constant low rate AF. Or at least I think I am, I don't check these days.

6. If over 60 I would make sure that you’re taking an anticoagulant to prevent blood clots forming and causing a stroke. Note that they do not thin the blood in any way, just stop it from clotting so quickly. You should not notice any major difference in the way you bleed.

Hope this info will help you.

Jean

[DouglasE in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I found your reply useful. I am new to AF March this year but I’ve got permanent AF whatever that means. I’m thinking about taking magnesium taurate but understand I need to speak with my GP but that’s not always easy. I have been troubled with anxiety and now struggling with depression. It’s all very difficult but your words have given me hope. Thank you

[CDreamer in reply to DouglasE]

The definitions of AF:-

Paroxysmal or PAF = AF episodes come & go as people tend to ‘self convert’.

Persistent = AF lasts for more than 24hours and you may or may not convert with electrical or chemical cardioversion.

Permanent = when both you and your doctors agree you will stay in AF - many people in permanent AF have a good quality of life, that’s obviously not you so seeking treatments for your anxiety/depression and learning coping mechanisms will also help your AF.

Being proactive is important in coping and I would suggest you put the suggestions Jean gave you into practice as a starter.

We are here to support and lots of people on this forum have anxiety/depression and still have a reasonable quality of life.

Best wishes

[DouglasE in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you for explaining the difference in AF. I’ve been prescribed antidepressants which is a last resort for me as I’ve tried to control my anxiety with CBT talking therapy which I didn’t find helpful. I’m also doing meditation and mindfulness on a daily basis through an app which is helping. I would have preferred one to one counselling but the NHS waiting list is horrendous. I’m hoping the antidepressants will give a me kick start to coping with everything. I’ve recently retired and that hasn’t helped with the depression. Onwards and upwards

[CDreamer in reply to DouglasE]

I was never a fan of CBT, it helps some who have persistent ‘worry’ thoughts but tends to be short lived relief.

May I suggest that you look at this site and perhaps read the free ‘e’ book? It’s the only therapy I know that arose from hard research and has excellent results but you won’t get it on the NHS but there are a lot of psychotherapists trained in it and few people need more than a few sessions so it’s not expensive long term.

humangivens.com/human-given...

hgi.org.uk/resources/delve-...

The website is primarily for professionals (I am retired psychotherapist) but lots of good information to be gleaned and pay particular attention to the 7/11 breathing technique - in all my years of practice this one technique seemed most helpful.

The premise of this way of working is that poor psychological wellbeing causes ill health, not the other way around and for most people, depression and anxiety can be treated without using drugs.

The other thing that may help is attending AFA Patient Day in Birmingham - I learned more in one day about AF and how to treat and met people like BobD and many others who have lived well whilst living with AF which was a huge lift.

heartrhythmcongress.org/pro...

[DouglasE in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you for your help. I have downloaded the ebook so will have a read. I didn’t appreciate there was a patient day for AF. Unfortunately Birmingham is too far but thank you for the heads up.

[CDreamer in reply to DouglasE]

It will be available online after the event.

[DouglasE in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for letting me know. Will check it out

[Karendeena in reply to CDreamer]

I was told paroxysmal afib comes and goes and usually reverts within 48 hours. Persistent afib lasts for 7 days before converting?

[CDreamer in reply to Karendeena]

If AF lasts 7 days it’s unlikely to convert to NSR without treatment - chemical or electrical cardioversion - if that doesn’t work then mostly considered permanent unless you go for more complex treatments such as hybrid mini maze surgical procedure.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to DouglasE]

Hi Douglas

It may be an idea to speak to your pharmacist, they are better at knowing the effect of taking different tablets.

I take magnesium glycinate and taurine separately, along with vitamin B, C, D, K2 and also zinc. Plan to drop the zinc as I have pumpkin and sunflower seeds (in my homemade buckwheat based muesli), they provide a natural source of zinc.

Jean

[DouglasE in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you. I spoke to the pharmacist today and I can take magnesium taurate but she advised to take them a few hours after my normal meds and only one a day. I’ve been prescribed some antidepressants so going to let them settle down before I go on the magnesium as not sure whether the new meds will suit me. Thank you again for your input.

[MummyLuv]

hello and welcome to the club. I too was diagnosed with persistent afib in my 40s (well late 40s). I’d had it years before being diagnosed. I went on to have a mini maze which is worth adding to your research, it has a higher success rate than catheter ablation and can also be done with a catheter ablation if your afib is particularly tricky. I suspect with BBB the it would be done with a catheter ablation.

It’s not offered in every hospital but hybrids (both together) are becoming more available

[Hidden]

Good morning Harrgem,

It is perfectly normal to feel worried and to have many questions following diagnosis. On our website you will find information, resources and videos that may be helpful for you: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Although AF is not considering life-threatening it can bring anxiety, discomfort and inconvenience to many. There are various medications and treatment options, as well as lifestyle changes that may help you.

Our Patient Services Team are available to contact by email: [e-mail] or phone : [phone] to answer questions as well as offer advice and support.

The community here will also be able to offer advice and support from their own perspectives living with the condition themselves.

[Harrgem]

Thank you all so much for the support and advice. It's put my mind at ease about everything x

[Deejay62]

Ahh bless, I’m sorry you’re feeling so down. I don’t think your life’s over at 40 it’s just beginning. I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure at around your age I’m now 62. You have many years left hopefully.

I have Afib and so does everyone on here. I don’t know anything about the lbbb but I’ve heard many people mention having it.

Once you have breath in your body keep fighting on. My experience with cardiologists is they never give up. You’re still very young. It is natural to feel scared, anxious and to worry, even stressed about the future having a young child, but it seems like you’re already being well looked after. All the best for the future.

[En85]

Hi, I'm 38 and I'm in permanent too. I was diagnosed in March this year but I suspect it was going on since a long time. I was very worried at the beginning because I couldn't access any care of any kind, I had to wait 3 months just to rule out heart defect for example. Now after having my echo done and after speaking to an actual cardiologist it's better, what bothers me is that very little is known about this condition and the prognosis for a case like mine (young, no comorbidities, persistent). I will have a cardioversion this Friday and I'm taking it one day at the time. The fight for medical care, really put my life on hold, the afib on the other side never caused me a single problem or a symptom. I'm currently taking flecainide and Edoxaban to prepare for cardioversion. The cardiologist wants me to take flecainide long term but I won't, it makes me feel dead and it doesn't have any apparent benefit on the arrhythmia. It had been so far an occasion to reconsider my life and what is good for me. I wish you all the best in the acceptance journey and with the ablation.

[Harrgem in reply to En85]

I wish you all the best for your cardioversion. Let me know how you get on x

[Hylda2]

I am 79 and have had AF for last15 years. Son has it too and had an ablation and cycled round the IOW to raise money for charity in May!

[Harrgem in reply to Hylda2]

Wow, that's an amazing thing he did!! Thank you for sharing x

[Hylda2 in reply to Harrgem]

I know your mind is in overdrive at the moment but you will be ok. He has a very successful business and travels all over the world and he’s still on the wine although I’ve have shouted at him as a mother does.