Should you stay on a normal schedule with A fib ?

[Jances13]

I have paroxysmal a fib . Just went into a fib at 4 am . Usually if am scheduled to work I call out to be able to take it easy till it passes. It can last from 10 to 14 hours . Sometimes I feel that if I were to stay on my normal schedule maybe it would go away quicker . Today I have a dentist appt to have a crown put on. Debating whether I should go . Am in a time frame where this crown is concerned . I feel like my life gets put on hold because of this a fib . It frustrates me . Do you all find that's it's better to stay on your normal routine and go to work etc. or just stay relaxing ? Any tips greatly appreciated . Thanks .

[jeanjeannie50]

It depends what sort of job you have. I worked in the office of a nursing home, so always went in so that the nurses there could keep an eye on me. If you have a desk job and work alongside friends, who could look out for you, then I think I would go in.

If feeling really bad and been going on for a long time over 120bpm I'd dial 999. Paramedics would then arrive, check you over and say if you needed to go to hospital.

Jean

[BobD Volunteer]

We all have different levels of acceptance and coping ability so only you can really answer that. I never understood people who said they couldn't work because in motorsport you had to perform whether you felt good or not. I can remember standing in the pits at Monza in AF or changing a gearbox on a rally car in the middle of Wales but having to carry on. I never let AF control my life but we are all different. Mind you I do look back and wonder how I survived .lol 😁

[CDreamer]

Unlike Bob, my AF could be very symptomatic so no way could I even walk, never mind do any physical activity but I have been caught out in all sorts of peculiar places including at work and carried on.

It really does depend upon how symptomatic you are and that can be variable from episode to episode so my best advice - tune into and listen to your body - it is far more intelligent than any of us. If activity makes you breathless, dizzy or you have pain - you need to stop and rest. If you feel relatively ok, carry on with your plans.

Wherever I’ve been I’ve always managed to find somewhere to put my legs up and rest until my HR comes down. High HR doesn’t freak me out as there is nothing anyone could give me to lower it anyway as I can’t have any rate or rhythm control drugs.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to CDreamer]

Never underestimate the drug that is motorsport CD! I was far from asymptomatic I assure you and always had to rest afterwards but when others' lives depend on you, you can't stop.

[CDreamer in reply to BobD]

What stopped me was collapsing on the floor from my BP bottoming out! You may have been symptomatic but you could obviously stand and walk. I’m no wimp - as I think you know - but I couldn’t do anything active.

Unfortunately my 3 year remission from AF seems to be ending and it’s becoming symptomatic again, not as severe as though.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to CDreamer]

Sorry to hear that, maybe time for the AV node?

Strangely enough my BP always went UP when in AF. I always reasoned that it went up to compensate for the lower flow rate.

[CDreamer in reply to BobD]

Illustrates just how differently we respond.

[50568789]

Yes, it's all about your individual condition. Personally it's self-limiting when I have an episode. My heart rate doesn't get too high but slightest exertion leaves me gasping for breath and I just have to stop everything and rest. Very frustrating for someone who has always been relatively fit and active. Bring on my ablation!

[Fullofheart]

I have always carried on, though not always easily. Easier, and just necessary, when it became persistent.But we are all different.

It depends how it effects you and what you do for work.

[Jajarunner]

I can barely breathe when in afib so always have to go to A&E for cardioversions 🙄, so not an option for me, sadly.

[lizzieloo2]

I used to find that moving about, having a shower, doing some exercises etc usually put me back in NSR. This was after laying in bed, putting up with it for ages first

[Ppiman]

I was told to take an extra dose (up to 5mg) of bisoprolol and press on. As it happens, I am (fingers crossed) not having AF much at all these days. Taking 1.25mg bisoprolol seems to be doing the trick since last March.

Steve

[Snowgirl65]

I personally found that keeping busy -- and going to work before I retired -- kept my mind off my episodes, and I think made them stop faster. That's not to say that I wouldn't dare go to work if it was a violent episode that left me weak. Everyone's situation is different, Jances13. I hope this helps.

[fibnum]

I would recommend "pampering" yourself until you get past the initial physical and emotional distress and generally avoiding doing things that are physically and emotionally stressful while in Afib. I do not like to sit like an invalid and wait for it to be over, however.

I can still drive, talk to people, eat lightly, walk around casually and be pretty normal, but I am trying not to stress or exert my heart very much so it can have some "quiet time" to work through it. I actually think that doing enjoyable and engaging, but not stressful, things to get your mind off of the Afib can help shorten the duration.

[Buzby62]

I learnt a new abbreviation this week from this forum

YMMV :- written abbreviation for your mileage may vary: used, for example on social media and in text messages and emails, to mean that you understand people may have a different opinion or experience to yours:

I am usually able to sit my episodes out but on the few occasions when I’ve had to carry on with things then they have tended to end sooner. Distraction is definitely helpful but then you have to be able to cope with the symptoms and not everyone can. YMMV!!!

[Sixtyslidogirl]

Now that I know what they are, I rest, but my first one, I just carried on. I just thought my pulse was a bit fast. Not a manual job. I had a presentation to do, meetings to go to etc. I was thinking I should get it checked out once my working day was over, then it stopped. Also, I have PAF and the episodes are not that frequent but I dare say if they increase in length and frequency then I would probably carry on, if I could.