Has anyone on this lovely site read of or know anyone who has afib whether paroxysmal or otherwise and lived for for decades.? I would be interested to know if someone who gets diagnosed with afib at say 50 still lived to be maybe 80, and departed this life un related to afib.? I ask this question because AFIB is generally considered an older person’s condition but as we know alot of younger people have it too, and younger people must still have had afib before all the modern day awareness and detection of the condition was around.?
Best wishes.
Ron.x
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Jetcat
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I was diagnosed with afib in my forties and told then that it would not affect my life expectancy. I'm not that far from 80 now so I guess they were right!
That said, your afib heart rate should be controlled, or your heart can weaken over time. My HR in afib rarely stays over 110 for more than a few hours. I either convert, or have the HR lowered with rate control drugs.
My mother. Diagnosed at 50ish (though probably had AF for longer). She died aged 80 of breast cancer. My father is now 83, diagnosed with AF in early 60s (likely excessive alcohol which he still indulges in though to a lesser extent). Both hardly acknowlege(d) their AF though my father now feeling it more. He was a farmer & very active. The fact he’s still going & that my mother’s AF largely went unnoticed by her gives me hope as I was diagnosed at 34!
I am now since shortly after turning 47 in early 2021. I had 14 years of roughly yearly episodes for which I took PIP Flecainide. I had a nasty experience once with Flecainide in 2017 when It caused severe tachycardia & that made me become nervous of taking it so when I had 2 episodes a week apart in 2021, I just decided to leave myself in AF & see how things went. TBH I had become fed up with my self-imposed restrictive lifestyle trying to ensure I stayed in sinus rhythm. My kitchen was starting to look like a branch of Holland & Barrett (with all the supplements) & I was becoming unsociable to avoid late night eating & alcohol. Sometimes the fight just isn’t worth it & it’s better to accept the inevitable. Although I’m sure I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t find permanent AF relatively easy to live with. My heart goes out to anyone who has a really miserable time with it.
Mine is very weird, so annoying 😁 I don't have episodes that revert. I never had paroxysmal. It comes totally randomly and it doesn't go if not cardioverted. Also I never had the lifestyle dilemma because I have a very modest lifestyle as I suffer since decades of migraines, colitis and other minor annoying things that made me embrace a very healthy lifestyle (which I honestly enjoy). The worst I've done is the odd sigarette here and there.
I decided I will try to push it back as much as I can, and I'm preparing to have an ablation abroad.
First time 3.5 months, second cardioversion done 2 weeks ago and I hope it gives me enough time to plan the ablation because having a cardioversion in UK it's so difficult. First one took over 4 months and second one I ran abroad to have it 😔
I forgot to ask if they tried you on an anti-arrhythmic like Flecainide? Many people who suffer regular episodes are prescribed a small twice-daily dose & it works well at keeping them in sinus rhythm. Also I think it’s commonly prescribed for a week or so after cardioversion (at least it was for me).
I went to 3 different cardiologists and the first one only prescribed it, I did suspect it wasn't doing anything and I went for a second opinion (and after a third one). Both the other two confirmed the flecainide was useless in my case. Only one suggested it as PIP, which I tried with no success. The Italian one, as it's their way of seeing it too, said to not touch it, at my age first line of action is cardioversion+ablation and avoid medications at all cost (which I share considering the decades to come..).
I wonder whether your colitis may be a contributing factor with you’re AF? I think the influence of the stomach on the heart is not acknowledged nearly as much as it should be, although some cardiologists like Sanjay Gupta do talk about the link. All the best with your ablation. Please do post on this site to let us know how you’re doing.
AF does not generally affect life expectancy so long as rate is controlled and the patient anticoagulated where appropriate. I was probably late forties when first reported problems which were not correctly diagnosed till late fifties. Now late seventies. NO AF since third ablation in 2008 but several other arrhythmias have come and gone since then and I now have a pacemaker. I also have a new potentially unhelpful cardio-pulmonary issue yet to be explained to me so get the feeling that something will get me one day but heh we are all going to die one day.
I know of many, who are now in their 80’s, in fact I’d go so far as to say most of my neighbours would fall into that category, AF is very common for anyone over 65, whether they are aware of it or not. My father had AF from early sixties, died in mid 80’s from a genetic kidney disease. I’m in my 70’s, diagnosed in mid 50’s, husband is 90 in a few weeks - he’s had AF for about 25 years. Once you are over 80 it’s really just a race to see what gets you first. TBH - AF is not my most concerning health issue, as it isn’t for many on this forum.
I think the saying goes - it’s the company AF keeps you need to watch out for!
Oh CDreamer - that did make me sit up about being over 80! I really need to stop thinking of myself as ageing and start enjoying my life more. Am 67 now.
Your comment about a race to see what gets you first really made me chuckle CD. Hubby and I are around 80 and were grousing last evening about the ailments piling up. I shall now think of them racing each other and gasping for air. 😀
Not sure it answers your question but hey, here goes. I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AF in Jan 2010, aged 65, but I suspect I had issues for at least 3 years before that ... certainly very high BP for some years before that back in the days when a BP reading of 145/90 for a mature adult male was considered okay.
I have never had a Cardioversion or an Ablation. I have relied purely on finding accurately my AF trigger and also going down the drug route for HR control. I'm now 79 ( 80 next September). I still work part time driving buses 30 hours a week driving college services. This means of course that I have to pass a DVLA medical annually to retain my bus driving licence.
😱AF is now no problem at all .... replaced by massive shoulder pain from osteoarthritis. Dealing with pain I have to say is a massive challenge. 😱
Are you sure your shoulder pain, does not need manipulation!
Mine did. But I fell and my shoulder to elbow ended up into my dog's NUTRO bicky strong plastic oval tall container. Almost immediately the pain left me especially the 5 times night painful wakeups.
Also freeing my arm somewhat. Black top of arm.
On 30 Oct my surgeon finally did his bit..
I had almost full thickness tear which got made a FTT. Reconstructed. Other partially tears trimmed, a spur burled down and another ?
At 15 days. arm felt very freed up, told I could have arm out of sling some of the time! Yippee.
See the surgeon tomorrow at 4.1/2 weeks.
But yesterday stabbed Left Hand with point of secateurs !!! Blood everywhere on PRADAXA 110mg. Hadn't taken 10am one. Survived but I had to have tetanus injection within 24 hrs. Done last tetanus 8.1/2 years but prioritirised because tool was dirty with soil.
Hope that I have you thinking as manipulation required did not show on 2 MRIs.
cheers JOY. 74. (NZ)
1st surgeon left me with "have a steroid injection". No I said. Never cures and plays havoc with muscles and tendons. Interferes with Thyroid pills and stays in your body forever.
Thank you for your comments. Had an assessment from Physio yesterday (5/12) getting referred to specialist Physio Unit at a local hospital to get an ultrasound scan done and to decide on treatment options - which will include guided steroid injection. Both shoulders have been confirmed as riddled with osteoarthritis for some years. The right has had its steroid injection over 18 months ago and is good. The left ( my problem at the moment) has worsened and now I tripped over the cat is worse. Waiting to hear from GP later today if she will give me much stronger pain relief (Butec patches) .... I am now seriously sleep deprived. Yeah, I understand about 5 times a night painful wakeups.
In 2006 in S America I damaged my left shoulder. Couldn't swim using my arms.
I fell in the train 10 days before operation which showed a full thickness tear.
In 2006 the Orthopaedic Surgeon made 2 slashes on top of my shoulder.
The Surgeon cut the joint to check it out (rotator cuff) and at some point manipulated the whole shoulder under anaesthetic. I got a stainless steel plate and screws. It works wonderfully as good as new.
Probably almost a year I developed a pinched nerve at the scapula. Physiotherapist didn't do a thing like 6 sessions.
I decided to try a $40 spinal manipulation bloke. In 5 seconds manipulated my scapula level and went up to my neck 5 seconds. Done. Took frozen peas with me. Also had my ifubrofen before and after 100mg (before my stroke and anti-co.agulant). Never looked back.
He is worth every penny. But not funded by our ACC.
Thanks for all your comments. Well here is my update. Saw my Physio (NHS) on Tuesday .... she was quite amazed at the bad state of my left shoulder and how it had deteriorated since I saw her 3 weeks earlier when I'd tripped over the cat. She wrote a referral to our (here in UK ) MSK Interface Service (its a sort of Specialist/Consultancy grade Physio service) requesting an Ultrasound to see what is going on inside the shoulder. And suggesting one option for treatment would be an injection, but, nevertheless is going to leave it to them to make the final decision.
So, the following day my GP kept her appointment with me and we discussed pain relief, I raised the thought of Butec Patches. She felt that given my over all medical background and the range of medication I'm on she felt it was not appropriate. She then suggested 10 mg Amitriptyline. I had tried this once before in 2020 and developed diahorrea and discontinued it. She wants me to try it initially as 5 mg doses for a few days then go to the full tablet - 10 mg. If I still get the same issue then we'll work down the list ( her list ) of pain killers to the next most suitable.
Meanwhile still in pain, I am a novice to all this but what amazes me is how the pain subsides at one moment and I can be pain free for an hour or so, then I can physically feel it kick start and like, drill into my bone and create unbelievable pain in the process like to give me nausea. Like pain has a mind of its own.
I did try amytriptiline at the beginning of last year, for back pain. It’s good for ‘nerve pain’ and it did take the edge off it. However, the week the dose was increased from 10 to 20, was followed by the bout of AFib that got me finally diagnosed. Correlation or causation, who knows - but there are warnings in the pack about heart rhythm disturbances.
I just weaned straight off it. If you try it, then you might need to keep an eye out for AFib worsening. (It’s blinking unfair, as the anticoagulants rule out NSAIDs.)
Thanks for your comments about the possibility of Amitriptyline causing an hit of AF. Thats an interesting thing you talk about ..... I can't remember my last AF event, at least 18 months, maybe 4 years. The mindset of my consultant back in the day ( January 2010 ) was the meds he prescribed were for life. He fully advised me of my options, as at that date in time, and I rejected Cardioversion and Ablation. In those days there were no PIP's etc.
I was fortunate enough to accurately identify my trigger for AF - diet - that I just took my meds and sorted my diet and carried on. As I say now I haven't a clue about the AF. Hopefully with this background in mind maybe thanks to my treatment for AF my heart may have remodelled itself and not be vulnerable. Either way, the pain I now have is crazy to the point that I really don't care what it does - so long as it doesn't increase my pain.
Nevertheless I am equipped to monitor things, i.e. Kardia and a blood pressure monitor that detects AF, and of course my trusty Coaguchek Device to monitor my INR. The other problem I have is that I am labelled as asymptomatic 😱😱😱, so if I feel unwell I can only, and will just have to use my kit to check things.
i asked him about the pain feeling I get at the side top of my arm and tired dull at the top.
he explained he shaved off 1/2 inch bone (spur) developed because couldn't exercise it. he said he had to reconstruct the thick and thin attachment movement. he said very delicate operation because he said through two holes.
he had to glamp it all down to construct and anchor everything in place.
also he continued to cut the almost full thickness tear to repair it and trim off the small tangling tears.
he said it was long and very intricate.
his experiment on the repair proved healing was great.
he has sent me to hospital physiotherapist. i lost confidence in the 2 physios i used leading up to the operation. they gave me exercises which hurt and should have been used when i had been operated on.
it shows how orthopaedics label the operation/diagnosis as 'ROUTINE'.
I see him again at 10.1/2 weeks.
cheers JOY
When I first came here, some 10+ years ago (the times of Maitha, Koll, Beancounter,...), one of my first posts was named "A tip of an iceberg", where I was spreading "conspiracy theory" that people diagnosed with AF are only a minority with severe symptoms and that the majority of "sufferers" remains undiagnosed because of mild symptoms. Couple of years ago, Dr Angelo Aurrichio, from Lugano (Suisse) has given the information that the screening in Denmark (10,000 people sample), with 2 week monitors, has shown that about 40% of the people have AF. This percentage may go as high as 70%, according to some signs (mostly comorbidities). Sooo, we are not alone or rare in this world. Very many suffer, not having the idea about it.
It is such a lucky thing that our hearts can accustom to new way of working (without the help of damned atria, lol), that so many people even never notice any problem (hence, no symptoms - no diagnose).
If we understand in time that our small ticker has some problems functioning (mostly not being able to give very high output) and adjust our physical load accordingly, we can have a long and problem free life! Hope it helps somehow!
Hiya........I was diagnosed with P/A/F when I was in my early 50's, had a stroke at 56 as a consequence and will be 80 next April, I don't intend going anywhere soon!!!
I was diagnosed with PAF at 35 I’m now 66 so 31 years so far, Initially it was once every 4-5 years until last year when I had a couple of cardioversions to revert to sinus and once this year end of September. Otherwise all healthy and if I stay healthy I’d like to go for another 31 years! 😃
My mum said she was in her 50s when she first became aware of “palpitations” that caused her to become dizzy at times.. She took no notice, other than being frustrated she couldn’t do as much as she used to but assumed that was due to aging. Eventually she was hospitalised in her late 70s with heart failure due to many years of uncontrolled AF. She was put on meds and is happily still going at 88. The only thing she complains about is that the morning dose of Bisoprolol knocks her out for half an hour or so!
I had my first episode in my mid-40s, now at 58 in persistent AF but still ticking😀
I had PAF in my early 50s controlled by meds then 2 cardioversions and 3 years ago Pacemaker plus a/v node ablation still ticking over gently at 85yrs👍🏻
Thank you Jetcat for this post. I feel for the thousands of afib sufferers who have not discovered the AF forum to read these inspiring and life-affirming responses!
Thankyou Rainfern. And yes this is truly a great site with fantastic people. I don’t know where I’d be without everyone on here. Especially mentally.? 👍
I must have been in my late 30s or 40s when I first started having symptoms of Aflutter, but after seeing doctors snd cardiologists it was decided I had syndrome X.
This went on for years, then eventually early in 2000 it was decided that I had atrial flutter then developed to atrial fibrillation
I had cardioversions, an ablation but it kept creeping back so flecainide was added to the heart med mix. This worked brilliantly, but I then kept getting bradycardia so pacemaker last September
So in answer to your question yes I have had afib for about 40 years as I’m now 80 next birthday as still plodding on
Yes that would be me. Diagnosed at 48 and just had 79th birthday. 4th ablation in 2021 and 25th dc cardioversion in June 2023. I haven't departed yet.😄
I was early fifties when first had AF i am now 83with permanent AF,and leading a good life for my age,just got home from a morning out with the girls(8 girls all in their eightys,life is good.
Hi Ron, Both my mother and my father were diagnosed with afib; dad took a blood thinner & lived healthily for 30 more years and sadly, died from bleeding out at age 82--so, not from afib itself. Mom has clocked about 24 years on metoprolol, never had another AF episode and has never been on a blood thinner. I'm about year 15 with paroxysmal afib... take metoprolol and use flecainide to stop episodes in 1-4 hrs, and life is good! All of the statistics seem to say, atrial fib, IF UNTREATED, can shorten life expectancy by 2 years. IF TREATED, that number goes down or disappears. We actually get more medical care with our more frequent check-ups, and can deal with other threats to a long life. Also, if we eat well, exercise, live life peacefully... we are probably ahead of the game!
Thankyou healingharpist.👍 I never thought of it like that but you are spot on correct in the ahead of the game scenario. I’m glad you’re parents made a good age too bless them.👍x
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