I am feeling very low at the moment, I am on holiday in Cornwall with my husband and today took a train to Penzance (one hour train journey) Got there and went to a pub for lunch, half way through lunch I started to get flutters and an eratic heartbeat.
So needed to get back to holiday cottage. Choice was to get a taxi from pub to station, wait an hour for the next train then another hour back.
I certainly couldn’t walk anywhere so the thought of waiting for the train filled me with horror especially as I was feeling awful. So we decided to get a taxi back at a cost of £150, OMG! I had no choice
The eratic beats have stopped but I have had tachycardia now for ten hours and can’t seem to stop it. Has anyone else ever had tachycardia for that length of time.
I know it seems slightly pathetic but this really gets me down and I feel depressed at the moment. I know there are so many people who have this horrible condition but would appreciate any advice. Thank you 😟😟
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Presume you have tried slow deep breathing? Do you know what your rate is and are you in steady tachy or fast AF? If you have any chest pain or difficulty breathing please seek medical attention.
Hi BobD I’ve done some deep breathing but maybe need to do it for longer. My heart rate is about 120 and steady, I’ve no chest pain or breathing difficulty just the annoying thumping of the heart rate, if there’s no change in the morning I will ring 111. I appreciate your comments and advice, thank you
Sorry what happened. You definitely made the right choice with the Taxi. Your health and well being is more than worth it.
How high is your heart rate? Do you have any rate drugs with you and a doctor to contact about taking them?
As Bob stated, if you have any chest pain, difficulty breathing, or if you just feel overwhelmed, seek medical attention by either calling emergency services or going to the A&E.
Hope you feel better soon, These things happen to all of us, but doesn't make them any easier when they do happen.
It's not pathetic at all. Everytime I have an episode I am down for days after and I'm sure others on this forum are too. It doesn't seem to get any easier for me which is why I come to this forum to get some feedback from the wise ones on here whom have many years experience of living/coping with arrhythmias both physically and emotionally.
I can remember a cardiologist telling me that the vast majority of these arrhythmias are harmless. It was easy for him to say, but it is only natural to find them frightening and debilitating. However, I do try to keep his words in my mind during an episode which does help a little.
Hi trevs7, yeah sorry for the rant! but I guess sometimes we all have to get things off our chest, yeah I agree with you about what your cardiologist says but for all of us it’s just a nightmare when it happens, thank you 😟
Sorry to read of your drama. TBH, I live near Hayle ( you would have passed through it en route to Penzance on the train ) .... I guess you must be in a coastal area heading toward the Newquay/Bodmin area, if thats the case, and if your condition has not improved by breakfast I would head off to Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Treliske Hospital on the outskirts of Truro. On the other hand if it worsens phone 111 and let the experts make the decisions.
However, to be fair, Treliske is the only major NHS hospital in Cornwall with a decent cardiac unit. If you have private health cover you could always try The Duchy Hospital, located next to Treliske NHS on the outskirts of Truro but I really don't know how their system works.
I am feeling much better this morning, thank you, I live in Bristol but am Cornish by birth, I am staying in Lostwithiel as it’s close to where I was born, so I know Truro very well. I just want to say a big thank you to you for your information regarding getting medical help, and where the hospital is. It’s so helpful for all of us to share this information for reference in case we need help.
Just plugged into this and totally understand how you must've been feeling. Try to regard it as a spike and maybe take things more gently for the rest of the holiday. I agree it's odd that the tachycardia lasted that long but sometimes we panic and prolong the event. I speak from experience. However, if it starts to happen more often maybe something to report to your GP at least. You're in a lovely part of the world - may the rest of your time be calm.
Firstly I must say I apologise if this post upsets you or others.I am the most caring understanding person and have at times been through all the feelings you are experiencing.Being anxious doesn't help. Try to get through it. paroxysmal 2017 to 2021.Persistent 2021 to 2023.
When I had attacks I would just sit it out & rest.Often for days .No pill in the pocket just rest & not panic. being alone and not at home was the worst .Out shopping & 10 mins from bus stop ,20mins bus journey & 10 mins from bus to home.
I staggered to bus hanging on to bus stops, railings, and across a main city road.Told bus driver not to worry if I looked ill , and laughed at his "well I'm not giving you CPR".Got home & rest.
I have attended A& E for something other than AF & told them I have come for my head not my heart when my HR was 180.it was 140 when I left.
Unless you are passing out or having chest pains don't panic .Deep breathing,relaxing should help.
I wonder if anxiety accompanied with a meal and maybe a drink brought on the attack.We do 3 trips to Europe in winter.
I would always get arrythmias particularly tachycardia the day before.But have gone ahead & flew no probs.
Even now in Nsr I worry about flights & get high HR.
Af gets to your mind as well as your body.Try to get a way of getting through attacks.Dont let it ruin your life.
Your reply to my post last night certainly didn’t upset me, I found it quite re-assuring and amusing re: bus driver!! 🚐 I am quite sure my anxiety is the catalyst to these episodes. I went back into NSR after about 13 hours and am taking things easy today. I am considering discussing , with my GP, some sort of medication to help with my anxiety as I recognise that this may be a factor. Thank you 😊😊
I spent from ages 13 to about 21 on medication uppers & downers so I absolutely hate medication for anxiety or depression.I have only took antidepressants for 1 week since then.We all get anxious sometimes and AFib is such a draining illness at times. I would rather get anxious sometimes than feel nothing .
Don't let it spoil your life and enjoy the rest of your holiday.
Think twice if you are offered an SSRI drug for anxiety. I reacted badly to them. I prefer a short term use of 5mg. diazepam to help, just one tablet taken maybe twice. I have read in the US some people with AF use similar. British GPs frown at the use of diazepam as it carries some risk of dependency if used other than very short term, but many American sufferers reported success on a FB AF forum I was on a while back with judicious and sensible use.
Best of all is a non-drug way, of course, using meditation rather than medication. I don't find it helps me much, sadly, but some claim success. Learning to recognise and reverse the negative internal chatter that precipitates anxiety and even panic can also help. This is a form of CBT or "neurolinguistic programming" but these are grand terms for a simple thing really. A book on it from Waterstones or Amazon can be as effective (and much cheaper, if private) than a therapist in my experience.
I have found magnesium supplements very helpful for anxiety. They have not stopped my afib episodes but I don't worry about them when they strike. Not being anxious has made the symptoms much less bothersome and the main pest is the frequent peeing at the beginning of an episode. Taking anti depressants would be a very bad idea. These can actually increase anxiety in some people and even cause them to commit suicide. It is normal to feel down about having a chronic physical condition and you need to work to come to terms with this not take a drug which has side effects and which can be difficult to withdraw from. My sister has been on an SSRI for donkey's years. She has tried at least twice to come off with no success.
Interesting your comments on bus driver ...... I've driven buses on two continents for pretty much 30 years and do y'know, at no time as part of my training, either technical/bus handling etc or customer service, either by my employer or a requirement laid down by legislation via the government licencing authority ... I have never ever been required to demonstrate any CPR knowledge. Never. Even today, I wouldn't know how/where to start CPR.
How are you this morning have things settled. Being away from home makes things worse in our heads I know only too well from many such experiences. If in doubt get checked medically if only for peace of mind. Let us know how you get on. I feel for you.
Yes I am better this morning, thank you. It’s bad enough at home but, as you say, being away is much worse. I went back to NSR after about 13 hours. I thoroughly appreciate everyone’s comments and support, it really does help! 🥰🥰
in the past I have had tachycardia for 5 weeks before a cardioversion
Since my pacemaker I have felt good since last September, but a couple of so weeks ago my cousin who was like my sister (we were brought up together) died and her funeral was last Tuesday. Since then I have had permanent major flutters or fibrillation and ectopics.
Not easy, but do try to relax and I hope you feel better soon
I am so sorry to hear the news about your cousin, you were obviously very close. I can see that your stress and grief seem to have brought on your episodes again. Thank you for your comments regarding your pacemaker. I wish you well and hope you feel better soon. 😊😊
I am sorry to read of your recent experiences, of which many of the members will relate to. If you feel that you are unable to control or manage the pain, please seek immediate medical help. If you find these episodes are happening more and more, contact your doctor for advice such as introducing a PIP (pill in the pocket) to help.
I just want to chime in here that being from the US and reading these posts later than most, I hope that by this time your a-fib is resolved and you're back to NSR. Being away from home, and in a-fib (or tachycardia), is an added stress that will no doubt prolong an episode. Wishing you well!
Try Dr Hilary Jones Relaxation CD from about 30 years ago you can pick it up for couple of quid on eBay music magpie. He talks you though breathing and getting you to relax with his words and a relaxing story and music.It the best i have come across as i used it over 30 years ago for panic attacks and was so pleased to be able to get a vintage copy.
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