Good morning, I keep almost posting and then deleting my post because I worry that I will get bad news and make my anxiety worse, but my anxiety is driving me crazy.
Has anyone else here had AF since early 30's (I had first bout at 32 during pregnancy, and now 39 had a second bout which has resolved but very long wait for tests etc) and doing well? I'm so scared! My GP has been no help reassuring me at all. I had an illness when I was a child that left me with an innocent heart murmur- and then Afib struck for first time ever age 32 at 39 weeks pregnant with my second and last baby. Giving birth in that state was horrendous, and it started my journey with health anxiety. I thought Af was done and it was just a pregnancy thing, but it came back out of the blue in January this year and has really frightened me. Please can I hear some advice?
I don't smoke, i am reasonably fit, but I do enjoy a few glasses of wine at the weekend, and I am over weight- which I am working on and have already lost half a stone since this happened, it really scared me into taking my weight more seriously. I have cut out all caffeine. Has anyone else made lifestyle changes and managed to keep AF away?
Sorry- long and rambling post, kind of reflects my mental state at the moment to be honest!
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Moonbeam101
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hi, I was diagnosed with AF at age 45 but had been having symptoms for few years prior. I understand health anxiety as I went into persistent AF right before lockdown and got my diagnosis then everything shut down and never saw a specialist or GP. I was left in AF for over 3 months before I was finally prescribed Flecainide after talking on phone to a cardiologist and it helped revert me but anxiety has stayed since. The next 2 years I battled through good days and bad days until I had an ablation but then I was left with horrendous ectopics which became just as debilitating due to fatigue and anxiety. I took time off work for 3 months after failed ectopic ablation early last year and focused fully on myself losing weight, meditation, yoga etc and felt really well. So I went back to work which is stressful and 7 months later I walked away again as I’d reverted back to where I was with episodes and anxiety. I’m 49 now and been off work again for 3 months and back to focussing on my health and wellbeing. I’ve lost 15kg which was about 18% body weight and I’m walking 3 miles every day and although I still feel ectopics sometimes and have had infrequent short AF episodes, I’m feeling so much better. Not the way my working life was meant to be but I’m happy and my family is happy which is the most important thing.
You’re younger than me but I’d say if you can really focus on lifestyle changes like losing weight and increasing exercise. I cut out refined sugars, caffeine, alcohol and artificial sweeteners /preservatives and with removing stress also I believe this has all had huge impact on my symptoms. Hope you find your way with this journey, I’m still finding mine but feel I’m on the right track now. Take care x
Thank you for your reply, the anxiety has been far worse than the actual symptoms for me. I guess the worry that my life won't feel normal, will I always be wondering will it happen again today? I definitely need to do some more work on my mental health. Just feel like I can't move on until I've had all the checks, which could be many many months from now. I can't wait around feeling like this for all that time, got to do something and losing weight has at least given me something else to focus on. I have cut out almost all of the sweet treats as well as completely cut out caffeine, I'm hoping that combined with weight loss will help to keep this horrible condition at bay. Glad to hear you're feeling a lot better now x
Have you not considered consulting a psychologist over your Anxiety.?I have been an anxious person since childhood and counselling has really helped. But choose one experienced in the field
I have had a lot of anxiety recently (due to family challenges). Anxiety makes you worry about everything, the recent cause of anxiety and then everything else that is causing you stress. I have started doing daily meditations (lots on YouTube) that helps.
Aim to get a little better each day. There are no magic bullets. In all probability because of your make up (like me) you have had other periods of anxiety in your life, you got through them and you will get through this. There will be brighter days ahead.
With regards to weight, don’t go on mad diets, if you could lose on average 1 pound a week that would be fantastic!
Whilst AF is often considered a problem of old age there are plenty of people much younger who have it. Remember that provided rate is well controlled and the patient anticoagulated where appropriate (you are propbably too young to worry but do speak with your doctor for guidance) then it just becomes an inconvenience rather than a problem.
Anxiety is one of the worst aspects of the condition so finding coping strategies is important. A good BMI has been shown to greatly reduce AF burden so keep up the weight loss and please work on getting alcohol out of your life as that will really not help.
So yes, life style changess are well know to reduce AF burden.
Thank you for your reply. Its so hard, there's so much information out there, the doom and gloom of Dr. Google. My head is all over the place! It's really scared me and such a long time to wait to have tests and speak to a cardiologist about it. I had all the tests done after this happened the first time, 8 years ago, and they found nothing wrong with my heart so I'm really really hoping that is still the case, but the not knowing- it's hard not to worry.
Focusing on what I can control, get the extra weight off and healthy changes to hopefully keep this away for as long as possible. But it's my understanding that you can never get rid permanently, that's also something I'm trying to get my head around.
Hello Moonbeam. I’ve had ‘innocent! arrhythmia since my teens and only latterly had a bout of AFib now in my fifties. Like you, I was absolutely petrified. AFib is a wily beast, but it is perfectly possible that for you it will resolve again with a very long gap. I’ve had nothing for 15 months now. It is impossible to worry at that high state for too long - you will get used to the idea and, as the weeks between episodes gradually extend, it will not feel so all-consuming. My friend who’s a nurse told me that one day something will kill me, but it won’t be AFib. You are doing a great job doing what you can to prevent a recurrence - that’s all you can do, along with following medical advice. If your anxiety is getting on top of you and you are in the UK, Healthy Minds are a free counselling service to provide support - again just another string to your bow in doing all you can to look after yourself. I hope you will find the support on this forum positive, but please try not to get too bogged down in ‘too much information’. All the best.
That's really helpful advice, thank you very much for your reply. Yes too much information on DrGoogle has really put me into a spin! Thank you for the Healthy Minds recommendation, I will definitely look into that, I am also in the UK.
Your nurse friends advice is very helpful, thank you. Trying to get that through to my anxiety, hopefully it will calm down soon. All the best to you too 🙂
My nurse friend I mentioned, we just had coffee (yes coffee!) together. She has just returned from a three week trip to India with her father to revisit his family roots. He had an absolute ball. Hes 84 and has been in permanent AFib for decades. All is not lost Moonbeam, I promise. It’s time for Dr Google to hang up his stethoscope!
I've only this week found out about the progressive nature of AF since this latest episode- no doctor or cardiologist mentioned it when I had this the first time! So hearing about people living long and well once it's permanent, is really reassuring- I guess that's the crux of the anxiety- the fear of the impact on your life.
My friend is lucky enough to have both sets of parents alive - hers and her in-laws. All 4 are in their eighties. 3 of the 4 have had Afib for many years. Life is for living right now. None of us know what might happen next - and what gets us in the end almost certainly won’t be AFib! Keep looking after yourself and enjoy every moment with your family.
Hi Moonbeam. I've just seen Silky's very wise post. I can only add that my Dad lived with AF for 50 years. Sadly he passed 3 years ago at the ripe old age of 100 (from covid!)
This forum has been a godsend to me. Always constructive advice, always measured, always calming. It’s my go to place when I start to worry about my AF.
Like you, I had my first AFIB when pregnant aged 37. I had tests and have had a couple of scary episodes over the years. I am now 67 and just live with it. I go to the gym and do everything I want to do. Don't drink or smoke, no caffeine. It can be scary, but can also be managed. I've been on Bisoprolol for many years and am now on blood thinners. It's an annoying condition but don't let it ruin your life. Stress can make it worse, so it's good to try and stay calm if you can. Also try and eat healthily and go walking. I understand your anxiety but it can be managed and you can still have a good life with AF.
Hello! Apologies for delay in replying, really appreciated your advice, thank you. And as horrible as AF is, it's also reassuring to hear about other people's experiences, especially as I don't seem to be alone with experiencing this at a younger than average age. Thank you x
hi i was 35 when i first had an AF episode, i am 66 now and only experienced AF once every 4 or 5 years. Mine were caused by my actions... too many red wines then went training in the morning and bang in AF i went! Same if i had a few coffees then ran up a flight of stairs if i was in a hurry, bang in AF again! Sometimes over eating when stressed or eating too quickly can give me ectopics which can send me into AF I always self reverted with exercise maybe short sprints on slow and fast on a stationary bike, sometime a jump in a cold pool. All that worked until 2022 when i couldnt get that high intensity to revert so they tried Flecanide and Metoprolol which to date have not converted me. I've had a few Cardioversions to get back into normal rhythm since 2022. So about 9 or 10 times in 31 years, my average was skewed as i've had 3 since 2022!
Interestingly at rest my heart rate in AF has not been super high, maybe 80-90, could be the regular exercise, i don't know. Anyway don't panic relax, breath, that helps. I've had it on off for 31 years now and still live a normal life. I have made lifestyle changes like less sugar only zero beers and an occasional sip of wine when we go out for dinner. I read a great book by James Nestor called Breath and i feel way more relaxed. I started early 2023 on Magnesium taurate and glycinate, CoQ10 and Vitd3. Of course get your bloods checked for these 3 as i was deficient in all especially CoQ10. My drugs to help suppress an adrenalin spike is Metropolol low dose about 10mg morning and night. Thats equivalent to about 1mg of Bisoprolol
Interesting that your heart rate is only in the 90's in AF! I have always been quite fit and my resting heart rate is still only around 50 now but when I had my worst bout of paroxysmal AF and had to go to A and E it was in the high 200's and I felt terrible!!
Your experiences sound similar to mine, I have a year or more between episodes which normally self resolve without anything but I am assuming based on Dr's information that at some point I will be in AF permanently, I am 45 soon and my last episode was in 2021, I had multiple episodes that year and I put this down to lifestyle, lack of sleep and stress. I had a new job, my mum was dying and I was also a bit overweight and drinking more regularly.
Paul yes some people go longer and have fewer episodes also remember to stay hydrated I forgot to mention that as it can contribute to going into AF especially when matched with some of the other triggers. Who knows you might be 85 before AF sits with you permanently and even then you can live a normal life as so many have said on the forum
Anxiety on diagnosis is perfectly normal, use it as a driver to improve your lifestyle on all fronts and learn from this Forum until you go squinty eyed!
I have not reduced my anxiety levels sufficiently even after 11 years but I have moderated them and Lone PAF has been virtually eliminated over that period thanks to a 'hybrid cure' of one drug and many lifestyle changes...and a lot of luck no doubt!
You have to have faith in your medics, also that you have done all you can and then I add to the mix spiritual beliefs, which have worked well for me latterly, once I got over the initial hiatus....which you will!
hi I think mine started in my 30 s but didn’t realise what I had , I cut out caffeine in my forty’s but did drink a lot of red wine , just after lockdown when I was 60 I had a real bad attack thought I was having a stroke I was then diagnosed with AF , I’ve had four attacks in 3 years and it still frightens me , I don’t drink anymore and I try and watch what I eat , but I am overweight, but still trying to loose it , try and stay calm and good luck x
please watch the York cardiologist on YouTube. He’s so reassuring…dr Sanjay Gupta..has a calming voice too. AF isn’t the end of the world….you can live long and prosper lol. Know your triggers. They say avoid alcohol and caffeine which I do but it doesn’t make a lot of difference..think AF just likes to remind you at the most inconvenient times that’s it’s alive and thumping.
Please watch the videos…it will help get rid of the anxiety…..that won’t help for sure.
Most of us just browsed this site in the beginning until we feel comfortable to post something or reply to something. In the beginning I only looked on here when I was having an episode and otherwise would avoid reading anything about AF. The more you learn about AF and your unique version of it the better you will be able to manage it, as they say, knowledge is power to manage the condition and the vicious circle of anxiety which is normal. AF can and does happen at the most inconvenient times and I find anticipating it happening instead of hoping it doesn’t and having a plan to carry on helps if that makes sense. Having an episode kicking off in the departure lounge before a 5 hour flight and carrying on to enjoy the holiday last summer was something I never thought I would do when first diagnosed.
Stick to the information on the AFA main website and give Dr Google a wide berth.
Thank you, great advice and much appreciated. I'm glad you went on to enjoy your holiday despite AF. I'm definitely keeping away from Dr. Google from now on. Thank you 😊
I use Headspace when my anxiety threatens to overwhelm me. I found it when I was having Af twice a week before my ablation and it helped to calm me down. You will be ok in the end x
I'm glad you've plucked up courage to post here- far better than spending time with Dr Google!You've identified something really important- the anxiety is worse than the AF. Hang on to that for now, because you'll look back one day when you've learned how to manage your AF and realise that for you this is true - AF doesn't have to ruin your life.
I'm thinking you have 2 things to deal with, and it'll help you separate them out.
1. You have AF and need reliable information about your condition, treatment options and management.
2. You need strategies to deal with the anxiety. And these exist, as well as medication, which you might discuss with your GP as a short term measure.
GETTING RELIABLE INFORMATION
1. Read a book called The AFib Cure, which tells you about the 10 body systems than can impact on the heart and might lead to AF. (In my case it was a digestive issue due to surgery, hypothyroidism and being a stress bunny who drank too much alcohol to damp down the stress.)
2. If you want to browse the Web head to York Cardiologist YouTube channel and cherry pick from the videos there to gather information about AF. He's a bona fide Cardiologist and his info for UK residents is helpful.
3. Ask your GP for a referral to Cardiologist and preferably an electrophysiologist (special type of Cardiologist) so you can get your heart morphology checked (echocardiogram) and get some reassurancd as well as suggestions for treatment options.
This is just a thought re you having a 2nd episode but worth asking about. Pregnancy is a huge hormonal event - endocrine changes can trigger heart events. Your now 39 - might you be perimenopausal? Talk to your GP about this in case it's a factor. I don't want to give you more to worry about but you'll learn that often we AFibbers need to be our own best detectives.
ANXIETY STRATEGIES
Anxiety is a bastard - I'd rather have an AF episode than anxiety any day. And I know I'm not alone here on this.
1. A forum member recommended this book, which has self help strategies and also explains how the brain and body create a pattern of anxiety.
2. Tell your GP about this. You may want to try meds short term to calm it all down, or you may get a referral for therapy. Typically a combined approach of CBT and somatic work are known to help.
3. I use a combination of slow breathing and humming to help calm me down and if I have palpitations. I can send you more details if you DM me.
4. Try to go for a 20-30 minute walk every day. Don't think of it as exercise- think of it as YOU time. It'll be good for your blood pressure and mental health.
Not in schools. The stress was running our own voice education business. Which we still do, but I've had to learn to manage my.stress better. Can't afford to not work at present.
I really can empathise. I second the suggestion of cherry picking videos on YouTube by Dr Sanjay Gupta, York Cardiology - they’ve been a calming and reassuring tool when I’ve been panicking.
I believe I have had AF since my teens / I was also born with an innocent heart murmur. Throughout my 20s/30s/50s had bouts every ten years or so but finally diagnosed in my 60s and been happily anticoagulanted ever since. Stress is key, if I can keep that at bay and stick to my eating regimen (no caffeine, sugars or bread) it helps me a lot and I rarely have episodes. Unfortunately if I fall off this regimen I suffer, as I am at the moment due to a huge amount of stress in under at the moment but I know if I revert back to my usual pattern I’ll be ok. For me it’s vital not to eat after 6pm and never to eat bread because I can’t digest it well and indigestion seems for me to affect AF. But knowledge is everything so please do try to understand your triggers and learn as much as you can. I wish you well, the panic is worse than the AF. X
Thank you very much for your advice, managing the stress and anxiety going forward is definitely part of my plan following all the great advice on here. X
Hi. I can’t help noticing that the vast majority of AF sufferers on here also have anxiety and I am included. Make what you will of that. With regards to AF triggers, I have 2, coffee and chocolate. Prior to my recent successful ablation, consuming either would trigger AF within minutes. I am also completely Alcohol free now and go on a long steady walk everyday without fail. I have also been on a low fat diet for 9 weeks and have lost a stone in weight. To be honest, all my life style changes have been enjoyable and not a hinderance at all, I feel so much better and I am enjoying life. I think all the changes I have made have lowered my anxiety levels immensely.
I got Afib at 35 and the anxiety it caused has been far worse than the Afib, 9 years later the best advice I can give you is to read or listen to these 3 books, Dare - Barry mcdonagh, the Afib cure - dr John day - how to stop worrying and start living - Dale Carnegie. One about Afib, one about anxiety and one about worrying. They’ve really help me to understand my issues and helped me to fight back to get my life and happiness back. The last thing I would advise is to take your health serious - you must get your self to a good level of fitness to fight this - sitting on your arse comfort eating and not daring to exercise will always make things worse. If you exercise it reinforces your mental strength - if I can walk 5k I can’t be that bad ! If I can run 2k I’m a lot fitter than most ! Health anxiety is a battle and I’m my opinion the best way to win that battle is to educate yourself by reading these books then mon-Fri live a healthy lifestyle but remember to treat yourself and do things you enjoy on a weekend. get mad - get active - get it done, and in 6 months time you’ll look back and be in a much better place. Remember - if nothing changes - nothing changes.
Hi Moonbeam101 . You will get good advice here, and we're not scary at all. Remember though, that there are very few here with any medical qualifications, and we just try to pass on our (hopefully informed) opinions, and valuable experiences.
One thing to remember is that lots of people with AF live long lives and die of something else. Statistically, AF is unlikely to kill you. I found it scary, and BobD is right - anxiety is one of the worst experiences and also one of the worst aggregators of AF, it really can make it happen! My approach is to learn as much as I can about AF, and try to understand what is going on. When it happens, I try to just take things as easy as possible, and absorb myself in some other interest that doesn't put too much demand on my circulation. I watch a movie or read a book, or pick up my knitting.
Good luck with your journey, and long may you live life.
Hi Moonbeam101 Personally I think you are headed in the right direction with eating right you will lose weight. Exercise and fresh air does wonders for mental and physical health. And a verse I hold onto Philippians 4:6-7 All the best...
Hi there! I had my first experience with AF when I was 29 years old. I lived with anxiety after that but eventually underwent an ablation after the episodes increased in frequency from once or twice a year to multiple times a week. About a month after the procedure, I haven't had too many episodes and they're mild and short-lived when they occur. Now I'm 47 and live a great life. I exercise, eat/drink healthy, socialize, and try to get adequate sleep. I also make sure to get regular check ups. Hope this helps. Good luck to you!
Hi, I had my first bout at 27, I also have a heart murmur and experienced strange heart palpitations since my late teens, usually as I was falling asleep, I am 45 this year.
I think based on estimates I have gone into AF maybe 15 times, I think every time was after waking and it is scary. On all but one occasion in 2012 they have resolved on their own, in 2012 I had to go to A and E and had a fleccanide drip.
It is just something you learn to live with and there are things that make it more likely for me to happen, these are dehydration, lack of sleep, exercising too hard, alcohol, sleeping on my left side, stress and being overweight. All of these are manageable.
Yes, Moonbeam. I am 74 and I have had irregular heart beat and AFib since I had my first baby when I was 24. It really kicked in right after giving birth, as we all know that takes a lot of energy. My belief at this point of my life, anytime we are under any kind of stress, episodes will strike. Some episodes that I have had have been minor some have knocked the wind out of me. For me, it is diet and lifestyle. Our bodies are a finely tuned machine. I also was trying to loose weight just that last 5 pounds. I have said I over and over that when our bodies don't have enough fuel to keep us running we start to create our own stress hormones. We produce cortisol and adrenaline to name a few. It is in that state when the slightest little stress comes along we end up in AFIB. I do anyway. I listen to many podcasts from healthcare professionals and I take what I need and I experiment with it. EX: too much water drinking throws off our electrolytes. For me it does. This forum suggested drinking coconut water so I tried it and it helps. do some research on minerals and the balance we need on them. I was having weekly episodes, when I was trying to loose weight, I stopped all the stupid crazy diets and over exercising and I have not had an episode. I have learned that is another misinformation of calories in calories out. It is false. Less bad oils and carbs but we need our fruits and veggies. Most people here in the US, use the acronym SAD, which stand for Sad American Diet.
It is far better to exercise in smaller increments than too much at one time.
A peron has to keep digging and learning and finding out what works for them.
Thank you for replying. Oh gosh! Yes labour is enough of a stress without AF sneaking in for a visit too, what a stressful experience! For me it happened before labour they induced me so they could treat it, and I had to give birth with my heart going at almost 200 beats per minute. It was horrendous, but went away almost as soon as my son was born.
I'm not really counting calories, just focusing on putting good food into my body, packing in as many portions of vegetables and some fruit as I can. I have started reading a book called The doctors kitchen which is written by a GP who says he cured himself of AF with diet. It's mostly plant based but not vegan, focusing on boosting the gut microbiome. The biggest change for me is I have removed all biscuits, chocolate, white flour/processed carbs and caffeine from my diet. Hopefully this will be what my body needs to keep AF in check and get the weight off.
That sounds like a good plan to me. I do about the same thing I still do drink a little caffeine. Managing stress is the big one, still working on that. I love my quiet time.
Hi Moonbeam 101 👋, I have permanent AF at age 63 ( diagnosed dec 23). When 32 years old I had my first episode of "anxiety" and was treated for 30 years for "anxiety". I now know it was AF! (It was never caught at the time so was told it was anxiety) So I've lived well with unteated AF for 30 years! Please try not to worry, easier said than done! You can be asked to be referred to mental health services for talking therapy which may help with your anxiety. Hopefully they will find a treatment plan that can control your AF. I wish you good health and positive outcomes. 😊
This is what all the doctors kept telling me too, when I was at the hospital the ecg was only showing ectopics so they missed it. Only me showing my GP the ECGs from my watch got them to accept it was AF and refer me to cardiology. I do think the anxiety has played a role, but it's AF too!
I do definitely have anxiety but I think it was AF that started it! I wish you really good health Moonbeam, be your own advocate, I just accepted what the "experts" said and dismissed my intuition. Xx
Thank you all so much for such fantastic advice, I couldn't keep up with replies, so apologies for the replies I haven't commented on. Really, really appreciate each response. It's so nice not to feel alone with this condition. I think I'm finally getting to a place of acceptance. I'm 100% focused on getting the weight off so really hope that will help- and I have some great resources to check out now too thanks to your recommendations. I wish the doctors would tell you all this stuff! Anxiety is a beast that will probably always be with me, so trying to keep it in check is also xx
Been afib free for two years now following cardioversion (electric shock to get rythm back on track). Have completely changed lifestyle: daily fast walks, 2-3 miles most days and light weights, but don't do very strenuous exercises. Diet is veg cooked from raw and fish, no processed foods. No alcohol (strong link between arrythmia and alcohol in some people). No nicotine. Proven health strategies may help, may not, but if you do them you're at least giving your heart every chance to mend itself.
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Greetings from an AF sufferer.
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