anxiety

[Lovefrance]

Hi there,

It’s me again. Could it be my anxiety that sets them off. How high are the chances of anxiety causing them?

so sorry to be a bother.x

[mjames1]

Sure, anything is possible, but at some point in the journey you have to stop looking at triggers like anxiety, diet, etc, -- stop beating ourselves up about what we're doing wrong -- and face the reality that afib is an electrical problem with the heart that in many cases is resistant to lifestyle/behavior changes.

In the beginning lifestyle intervention may make sense, but after a certain period of time and effort, focusing on lifestyle alone can be a distraction from focusing on eliminating or reducing our afib burden either with medications and/or ablation.

Jim

[Lovefrance in reply to mjames1]

Thank you for replying. I understand what you are saying but these have only happened recently on moving house. Maybe I’ve overdone it a bit. I am now living in France so this doesn’t help. Probably the worst decision I’ve ever made. Although the health service here is much better.

[mjames1 in reply to Lovefrance]

Not saying to dismiss triggers, just saying at some point many of us find that this approach isn't enough. Once you reach that point, best to focus on other interventions. France has some great ep's, for example, Professor Jais at Bordeaux has a great international reputation.

Jim

[Lovefrance in reply to mjames1]

Thank you . I will look into this chap. Do you have any experience with him?

[mjames1 in reply to Lovefrance]

Just spoke to his office and they were very nice and helpful, but my plans changed so never spoke to Jais, himself. I believe some here have seen him, so maybe they will chime in. He does have an excellent international reputation.

Jim

[Lovefrance in reply to mjames1]

Thank you James. Could you send me contact details please.

[mjames1]

Sorry, I no longer have his direct contact, but I'd just call the University of Bordeaux and either ask for him by name (Professor Pierre Jais) or to be connected to the electrophysiogy department. When I called last year, they offered me a phone consult within a week. Had I been more local, I would have wanted to see him in person.

Jim

[Lovefrance in reply to mjames1]

Thank you Jim. I am very grateful for your help and will follow this up.So grateful.

[mjames1 in reply to Lovefrance]

Glad to help. If you do see Professor Jais, please let us know how things went. Like I said, he was on my short list for ablation, as he was already doing Pulse Field Ablation, pretty much before anyone else.

Jim

[Lovefrance in reply to mjames1]

Thank you Jim. Will do.

[secondtry]

Now you are in France wind down the stress levels asap and meditate everyday on the advantages of being in the country including the Bordeaux world class centre of excellence for AF. In my early AF days, I chose my holiday destination to be near Bordeaux, just in case!

My personal theory and I stress is IMHO, that for many, AF is caused by a build up of a variety of factors, including genetic reasons, which then takes only one extra unusual factor (eg a move to France) to tip you into AF. As Jim says, of course, you can't reverse any genetic reasons but you may reduce the AF risk by improving other lifestyle choices and therefore avoid reaching that dreaded tipping point.

Bon chance, au revoir - that covers my entire French vocabulary!

[Lovefrance in reply to secondtry]

Hi there. Thank you so much for your reply. Yes I do need to relax . When I lived in England I meditated . But since being here that has gone out the window. Now I need to start again. Now is a good time to start. New resolutions and all that!

[actionteddy]

Hello yes stress has often triggered an afib attack,I am a very nervy person and don't sleep very well so these things have often triggered it of.x

[Lovefrance in reply to actionteddy]

Yes, the stress has a lot to answer for. But I think living a healthy lifestyle is also a priority. We are all different and suffer with this in many ways. I don’t understand how people with a high heart rate when in af, continue to carry on. When I have it I have to sit down and relax. As I say, we are all different.

Many thanks for your reply.x

[Auriculaire]

Generally people who move here from the UK cite a more laid back lifestyle as one of the reasons for moving! So you need to work out what is causing you stress and anxiety in your new life here and see if you can mitigate them. You say moving to France is possibly the worst decision you have ever made. If this is really the case you might have to think about moving back to the UK . I have known several people over the 21 years we have lived here who have gone back even after many years of living here.

[Lovefrance in reply to Auriculaire]

We had a holiday home for six years and last year decided to move here permanently. Now I have a beautiful house and garden and friends who live nearby. But still not content because of this anxiety. I need to sort this and decide if it’s just the move that’s causing the problem . Perhaps I need to sort out medication.

Many thanks for your help and reply.

[Morzine]

oh dear poor you. Try not to worry.

I think maybe you are thinking it could be the worst decision you made because you are out of your comfort zone with being I’ll and not on common ground of knowing the health system , talking in French etc…but please relax you are ten times better off here health wise than in the uk. The teams for Afib are spot on .

My afib I’m sure happened initially because I was very stressed, and of course when the afib starts it makes you even more stressed.

You say this has onky strted recently so have you seen the doc, and been referred to a cardiologue? That’s what needs to be done firstly.

Then the cardiologue will check u out and start tablets. Whrn you see cardiologue ask if you can have an ablation or see the guy that does the ablation. The cardiologue will happily refer you as they are keen on ablations as a remedy. I was able yo gsve my first ablation quick. Had four free years it came back and could have had a mother ablation very quick agsin, but I’m sticking on tablets for now as it suits me fine.

There’s no need to suffer here, Id get an ordinance from doc yo see a cardiologue quickly .

I think once you feel secure in your body and have more confidence with your heart which trust me will come you will see the move to France as the best thing your have done. You are in a nice region near Bordeaux. I’m in the frenvh alps, Morzine.

Try not to overthink this afib lark, we all make it a huge thing to start as we r blown away by having something go wrong with our heart, but as time goes in and talking on this forum you will get a better feel about it, it’s not goung to be the big elephant in the room it feels at the moment,

Chin up eh…..

Best wishes

Sue

[Lovefrance in reply to Morzine]

What a lovely reply Sue. I have had af for a good few years. Have seen cardiologist and electrologist. My af was only a few times a year. But over the last two or three weeks I have had three . I do wonder if it’s all the stress of moving and worry. But I think I should get it checked again. I know France is excellent for af but as you say, I am out of my comfort zone and not speaking much French doesn’t help. My husband has bent over backwards to ensure I am happy her, so I owe it to him to sort this. What a sorry state of affairs. We all know af won’t kill us but my goodness, when it happens I am really scared. It is now midday and I am still in bed, frightened to get up in case it happens again.

It’s been lovely chatting to you. Thank you so much. Keep well.x

,

,

[Morzine in reply to Lovefrance]

yes of course it is darn scary isn’t it, the heart leaps out of our chests almost. Maybe you need your tablets tweecked up a bit? It would give you more confidence with it stopping. But yes stress it’s a funny viscious cycle isn’t it as the afib makes us stress more…we lie there waiting for it to stop, hoping it will stop eh.

The medical,profession especially the younger ones all tend to speak English so don’t worry too much. When my afib started my cardiologue was Czech and he had a diferent accent speaking French so I often came out not knowing what was going on!! Now I’ve a lovely French lady!

Get yourself an appointment and get reassurance I think you need it and then life will seem much brighter. It’s all very much about being out of our comfort zones I think. I was the exactly same but in the eleven years living here I seem to have had so many things wrong with me im used to doctors and hospitals now. Medical terms though are generally the same words roughly with a few odd letters but easily worked out. Befire you go you could always write it out and give it to doc, I’m sure they’d appreciate that as it’s more specific, I did thst years ago…

Anyway if you need to private message me do message me I’m happy to chat and help with the frenvh. This forum is great support

Best wishes

Sue

[Lovefrance in reply to Morzine]

Thank you so much sue. It means so much from you. I am truly grateful . X

[Morzine in reply to Lovefrance]

auriculaire and I have become chums on this site we both have lived here a long time…what she says is of value. I didn’t know about banana I will use that too!

Chin up

Sue

[Lovefrance in reply to Morzine]

I love bananas too!

[Auriculaire in reply to Lovefrance]

4I think your first task is to try and tackle the anxiety that comes along with going into afib and try to separate out the symptoms that the actual arrythmia is causing and the magnification of the symptoms that your anxiety is provoking. Do you have a pill in pocket strategy like taking an extra beta blocker to lower heart rate? When I go into afib I immediately take extra Nebivolol as instructed by my cardiologue though I have to confess I take a bit more! I also take some magnesium biglycinate and if I have not already had one that day I eat a banana. Normally I take 400mg of magnesium a day and I have found that this has helped enormously with anxiety. I am lucky- as my afib has progressed and become more frequent I have become less symptomatic. I do not know if this is a physical thing or because I have become less anxious about the attacks because the more I have had the better I know that I can cope with them. Ask yourself what exactly is it that is scaring you? Are you more frightened than when you lived in the UK? If so try to analyse why. Sue's advice is very good especially about writing it out. Most consultants will be able to read English better than they speak it as most medical research is published in English now. If you don't already have a cardiologue here you need to get your GP to refer you asap. If you live near Bordeaux you are very lucky as this is the centre of excellence for ablations.

You are welcome to PM as well .

[Lovefrance in reply to Auriculaire]

Hi there, yes, I do have a pip. Flecainide. I have had a couple of ablations and they didn’t work for me. I do worry more living in France. Out of my comfort zone. I have been told that Bordeaux is the place to go for af. It’s a four hour trip from here. But not impossible. I think having anxiety from an early age, makes it really difficult to overcome. I am going to have counselling and hope this will help. Hope the weather gets better soon. The sunshine always makes us feel better doesn’t it?

[Ablation7 in reply to Lovefrance]

Interesting - I had anxiety young also. My cardiologist said it was probably in fact undiagnosed afib back then.

[Lovefrance in reply to Ablation7]

yes. I think you are right

[Auriculaire in reply to Lovefrance]

Did you get the PIP Flecainide here? I thought they didn't prescribe it here as PIP but only as a daily treatment. Four hours is a long trip. We are about 2 hours from Bordeaux and that puts me off as travelling in the car gives me backache! How long does the Flec take to work?

[Lovefrance in reply to Auriculaire]

No, I brought mine over from England. Yes, it is fair distance to Bordeaux. I did see someone in Limoges and they were very good. I have had good reports about Bordeaux though and am considering this. The Flecainide can sometimes work quickly and other times it takes a bit longer.

[Auriculaire in reply to Lovefrance]

Who did you see in Limoges? We live quite close to Limoges. Were they an EP or hust an ordinary cardiologist?

[Lovefrance in reply to Auriculaire]

yes, he was an EP. I will find out for you. I can’t remember his name.

[Morzine in reply to Auriculaire]

Hi Madge what make of magnesium tabs do u take I think I could do with that and the banana is a great tip…suexx

[Auriculaire in reply to Morzine]

Hi Sue - I take ESN brand magnesium biglycinate. I get it on German Amazon as they are much cheaper than French Amazon. They come in 150 mg capsules. I take one with breakfast and one late at night To make it up to 400mg a day I take an expensive brand from French Amazon as it's the only one I could find in 100mg capsules. I take that with lunch. I like to spread it out so as not to take too much at once as that can affect your bowels - magnesium is a laxative. You should start low and build up to find your tolerance. The recommended amount for women is 300- 350mg a day but it is hard to calculate how much you get from diet. It hasn't done anything to stop afib attacks happening but it has improved my anxiety. I used to get panic attacks for no reason and they have stopped.

[Lovefrance in reply to Auriculaire]

Hi there. I seem to be getting posts from you to Sue and vice versa,!

[Auriculaire in reply to Lovefrance]

That is because you started the thread so you get notified of all the posts on it.

[Lovefrance in reply to Auriculaire]

Oh, I see. thank you.