I am new to AF on this forum. The forum looks good and I am impressed by the quality of the posts and answers. I have been on Healthunblocked site in the section for MPN (Polycythaemia) and Thyroid for many years and I am pretty knowledgeable medically as I have Polycythaemia Vera and Hypogonadism although I consult the experts I make my own decisions on treatment etc. But I know very little about the heart as I never expected issues with it. I am 66 male , slim, fit healthy, do all the right things such as exercise, diet, vits etc, I realise now what I thought was reasonable wine consumption has according to my cardiologist not been optimal. I have many questions I would like to ask but wanted to start with the basics. I am seeing my cardiologist again on Thursday so hoping to learn bit more before then. I am in Edinburgh Scotland.
A brief history of hear issues, for maybe 10-15 years I often had fast heart rate after certain exercises to do with the chest eg push ups or bench press or using dumbells. Cardiologist put me on an exercise ECG machine back say 12 yrs ago and he explained it as me tearing small muscles round the ribs and this could set off vibrations in the chest, seemed plausible. This went on and off over the years and didn’t concern me or him.
Last year my hear beats became irregular sometimes and I noticed if very stressed heart would speed up a fair bit sometimes for a few hours, I didnt seek help as I thought it was the muscles on ribs etc. My normal heart rate on rest is around 60 and BP 120/80.
However, when on holiday Europe for 7 weeks this Dec I was feeling a bit off and decided to check BP and pulse using one of those finger pulseometers and a BP machine. I noticed my hear rate was 35, went for a ECG in Spain and diag with PVC premature ventricular beats of 42% extra. Cardiologist in Spain said likely due to me drinking about 50 units a week of wine on holiday. For the year before that I would drink 25 units per week wine. Came home late Jan and my Edinburgh cardiologist did Echocardiogram ultrasound and heart is all good at that point. He said stick to 14 units alcohol a week and PVC’ will likely go. No probs.
So stuck to 14 units over Friday/sat/sun and one Sunday night about a month ago I put the finger monitor on to see how the PVC’s were going and it was down to 35 again and then rose to 150 and stayed there for 3-4 hours until I took 2.5mg Bisoprolol, that sorted it , I saw the cardiologist again and he said no more than 2 units wine a day , so tried that after another Sunday having had say 8 units over the 3 days my hear went to 150 again , I noticed that I was peeing every 5 mins, took a beta blocker and beats went back to 58 in 45 mins. Cardiologist gave me a 24 hr holster but no AF indicated just PVC’s.
Sorry long story , my first question is how does one get diagnosed properly if my heart only goes in to what might be AF say every few weeks or month. I have now reduced wine to ½ to one glass frid/sat/sun, also cutting coffee so maybe not have another attack for ages. Although I have wedding in few weeks.
My second question is what is the best way to monitor it in terms of fit bit or watch or whatever, my short term plan is to do pill in pocket and only take when needed , I use a finger pulsometer thing but not handy if travelling or at a social event etc
My last question for today is what is the best way to learn about AF, I know my other health conditions to expert level by reading everything and seeing experts in various countries, it took a while so hoping to fast track on the heart education. Can anyone recommend other forums or websites in any country that are good.
If anyone is still reading or has any other beginners tips thank you!
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ainslie
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"my first question is how does one get diagnosed properly if my heart only goes in to what might be AF say every few weeks or month. "
Get a Kardia 6L or an Apple Watch.
Either will let you take an EKG anytime you want. You can then either trust the machine interpretation and/or email the EKG to your cardiologist for their interpretation. After some experience, you probably will be able to interpret it yourself.
Correct diagnosis is everything so this is an excellent first step. You want to know what you are treating before you treat it.
it seems I need something to track the beats and if I see what looks like AF to then do the Kardia and record it to show Cardiologist. It seems Apple watch or fit bit to track, I dont like to have wifi or phone signals strapped to my wrist (if posssible) but maybe that element can be turned off and just track beats, any idea which phone of fitbit etc is best to do the job , I note some of them do a Zillion different things I probably wont need. Im not so tecky.
yes I thought as much get the diagnosis right first, I have no idea why my cardiologist just did a 24hr ECG, I am going to ask him on thursday.
You don't wear the Kardia 6L. It's a very small device that can fit in your pocket or wallet. When you feel like your heart is out of rhythm, you take it out, put your fingers on it and Kardia takes an EKG. You do not need Wi-Fi. Go to their website and you can see it in action.
Apple Watch can also do similar, but also has the ability to look for afib in the background. It can also look for a high heart rate. Again you do not need Wi-Fi for this. Function.
It seems like either of these might meet your needs.
Kardia 6L needs to be connected via Bluetooth to app running on a phone or tablet. The Kardia 6L is operated via the connected device and that's also where the ECGs are recorded and stored.
Hi, I don’t find the need for any other forums as this one has been so good, here is a link to all the patient resources on the main AFA website, you can also navigate the site from the menu button once in there.
Read as much as you can and ask anything on here, members will respond with experience and reassurance. I would start with the AF Factfile and the FAQs booklets.
In three years I recorded 40+ episodes of AF with my Apple Watch and only once has this been officially captured on an ECG at my GP surgery and then only to confirm what the watch was telling me. Devices are not good for everyone as they can cause more anxiety which feeds the AF. I have found my watch invaluable but it helps if you understand it’s limitations and anomalies especially when in AF.
thats what I suspected AF is hard to catch , hence puzzled by why they just gave me a 24 hour ECG when thye knew I only had 2 poss episodes this year. Thanks for tip re watch can you recommend a model of Apple, I just need the one that does enough heart stuff only, any idea if you can switch off the WIFI and Phone signal as in aeroplane mode so I just get the heart tracking, I am not keen on EMF etc IF avoidable but we have to do what we have to do. I note you wrote " have found my watch invaluable but it helps if you understand it’s limitations and anomalies especially when in AF" Can I ask you what are the limitations and anomalies you found please.
You’ll find a few posts on the Apple Watch if you search “Apple Watch” in the search bar above, I’ve replied to a few.
They can give false highs and lows in some circumstances, depending what you’re doing with your arms. There are two ways it detects your heart beats, background checks via the optical sensors on the back and electrical sensors on back and crown wheel for taking ECG measurements with a finger touch from your other hand. I’ll attach an Apple support link which explains but basically the optical sensors are less reliable than the electrical sensors especially when in AF. Having said that it’s good to indicate your rhythm is out and then you can get a more accurate measurement using the ECG which is very good.
Good answers - second vote for the Kardia to capture good ECG but I watch is good at continuous monitoring of HR. Every Fitbit I ever had fell apart within months, the build was terrible.
I would recommend reading Cure AFib by Dr John Day Cardiologist as he goes into detail which blood test to look for and takes you through the various treatment options and exercises - he is an Electrophysiologist in US, also keen sportsperson.
Ditch the alcohol altogether if I were you as it has been shown that even very small amounts can cause scarring on the heart. Coffee on the other hand if good quality does not affect everyone and has been shown to be beneficial to heart however some people find caffeine is a trigger for AF for them. Ensure you get an appointment with an Electrophysiologist rather than general cardiologist. Avoid artificial sweeteners or any food that constains then as an ingredient.
Read as much as you can on the AFA website as Buzby suggests but maybe also sign up to the online programmes, knowledge is potential power.
Remember that we all respond very differently to everything so you are wise to make your own decisions but ensure they are informed decisions but you sound like the sort of person who does that!
Ive ordered the book , got good reviews. I had look the other day at AF website but didnt see the online programmes, ive saved all the youtube vids on there and will watch. Didnt know alcohol scarred the heart, have you seen that written somewhere I can read, my cardiologist reckoned 2 units a day was okay but I suspect not for me, down to 5 a week and falling 😏
I note you say dont hesitate to ask any questions , careful saying that to me , when I went to see a expert haematologist at MD Anderson in Houston re starting a new drug , I had a list with 92 questions , credit to him he answered them all
Just to give you an outline. I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AF in Jan 2010, aged 65. I joined this forum a bit later in the days when it was hosted by Yahoo. Given the passing of these years, and having read many, many posts from newbies and other AF'ers I can only conclude that AF is a hydra - headed monster, and very much all things to all people. That said, in many folk there can be some common features.
I started my journey feeling as if I was going down with flu. Then my blood pressure dropped very rapidly from 136/80 ish down to 76/50 ish in about four to six hours. Managed to see my GP straight away and he sent me to A & E and the rest is history. As the months went on and on I noticed that each AF event followed a meal. My main meal was around 18.00 hrs and so it was usually in the wee small hours of the morning when it all kicked off.
I developed daytime symptoms .... burping, intestinal gurgling, diahorrea and massive, massive and painful bloating. . Back in the Yahoo days I read on here about the Vagal Nerve ( read it as part of your education into AF ). My GP had tests done for IBS and Coeliac Disease - all clear. I then consulted a Nutritionist who got me going Gluten free, wheat free, oats free and taught me how to keep a food diary and assess others foods I might consume. It was always the bloating that would trip me into AF.
Slowly, I changed my diet and even slower over many years using diet I tamed the AF monster. To the best of my knowledge I haven't had a AF hit for around 4 years. I say that because many can be( like me ) asymptomatic. Let me say though, I have been with my current GP ( not the one who I originally saw in 2010) for 12 years or so and she has never treated me for any cardiac/AF issue, just written repeat prescriptions. She has treated me for other stuff like osteoarthritis but nothing ever sinister.
It may also be worth you considering that genetics can also play a role in AF there are many of us on my fathers paternal side of the family who have a history of cardiac/ stroke and AF issues since the early 1960's. Equally, from my readings there have been/are many on this forum who have this genetic influence.
Hope this gives some help and encourages you to embrace a wider view of AF, its cause and effect. Incidently, I never ever opted for Cardioversion and/or Ablation. I preferred to go the drug route. So now I can say that while my heart is 'old', it has never been tampered with by outsiders and every 2 years I have an Echocardiogram to keep a check on it.
that sounds like quite journey , yes I am surprised how poor the diagnostic techniques and treatments are in 2024, your heart is about the same as Mick Jaggers , that cant be old can it
Over 65 you should be on an anti-co.agulant to prevent a clot formed by AF to travel. Stroke etc.
First identify what type of AF.
I have been diagnosed with stroke as Rapid and Persistent AF.
Then Thyroid Cancer Papillary type showed on Carotid Arteries scan.
Ideally the move was to CONTROL Heart Rate and BP. But I was left as I was prepared for a Thyroidectomy. Argument wait 6 mths which neither the Surgeon or Anaesthetist agreed. ASAP they said and won. 4 months and it was done.
At 2 years before a private cardiologist introduced Diltiazem a CCB Calcium Channel Blocker. Bisoprolol 2.5mg controlled my BP.
2 years later on CCB 120mg AM and low dose of BB Bisoprolol my vitals are
123/69. and 60s Pulse. 47avg at Night Pulse.
By controlling Pulse and BP the AF is bearable. No symptoms of flutters, palpatations, or pain.
Exercise or exertions needs a stop now and then or complete rest. I'll nap when necessary.
AF has changed my life. I used to be an ardent athletic coming 1st in 100 yds. Also Discuss thrower. Even at 40 years. Showing my children the excitement of winning or trying your best. Both adopted, my son with his asthma also succeeded. A puff before of Ventolin gave him the confidence he needed.
I just read that we are the CEO of our Heath. Drs Nurses and Specialists and Surgeons are our Workers.
I am considering the blood thinners , trying to weigh up the risk benefit, I am already on aspirin for polycythaemia so have to be careful re the bleed verses stroke/clots risks
Research is still out considering taking both. Each has it's own way of stroke prevention.
I remember being given baby aspirin with BB Betablocker in 2010.
Try the google search by putting your brain to intelligence questioning. Then having done this information as it knows that you are questioning will flow in.
My daughter 50 is an overnight for her thyroidectomy. In the public hospital. I learnt that research want 'guinea pigs' for their survey. They just said she had no complications and was a suitable candidate. She is very anxious though. Being adopted makes her unrelated to my medical history.
I didn't send her 'things that can go wrong' just 2 major issues, vomiting and haemorhaging.
The new DOACs anticoagulants are much safer.My brother didn't take them and didn't realise he had AF as he episodes were infrequent. Rewind to last January (2023) and he drove into 2 stationary cars when he lost his left periferal vision through a stroke.
Hello Ainslie.I can't offer you any advice but just thought I would reach out to you because your back story resonates with mine in several ways. I have just started on my 'cardiac problem' path. I had been habitually overdoing the alcohol - and I think I have probably self inflicted some degree of damage due to that - something I am very ashamed of. Hopefully I can reverse some of the damage. No more alcohol/caffeine/added salt for me. I already eat clean food.
(The other thing you mention is the PV - I don't have that but my mum did, also my sister, and I believe my mat g'ma but she died aged 68 in 1951 undiagnosed in those days. It's not meant to be hereditary but quite a co-incidence 3 generations)
My mantra is - show me what you eat and I will tell you who you are. (French wisdom)
I am seeing specialist privately tomorrow about my supposed AF.
dont be ashamed, we all might think if only we did something different, it MIGHT have changed something , MIGHT not, we cant change the past only the future and the present, I hope your visit to the spesialist goes well. I am also currently going private as the NHS help where I am is almost no existent.
I don't like coffee anyway! I only ever had 1 cup a day just to keep my husband company! So I don't miss it and I don't miss my lunchtime g n t either!
It is always hard to work out what triggers AF as difficult as isolating an attack while in the GP's office! So far as I can find I had no actual trigger it was just something I got. I was very active all my life as a Physical training Instructor - a lot of athletes get AF. By the time I was diagnosed I had cut alcohol down to about the occasional half a glass a couple of times a week - though had hardly ever over indulged. Healthy diet, not over weight and exercising at least 4 days a week at the gym if not every day, and had cut out caffeine due to bladder problems. When attending the heart clinic I found a couple of men who had no problem whatever in finding their triggers one found it was usually white wine - he could drink red wine, beer and spirits (though again didn't drink a lot) with no problems and another who realised that he usually got his AF every Friday after he had treated himself to a strong coffee with an extra shot from a well known coffee shop for his morning coffee.
I would recommend the Kardia 6L as it is so useful to be able to send the read outs to my electrophysiologist (EP) and Cardio nurses before attending appointments - indeed through the various lockdowns it was invaluable. I wear a fitbit which I generally use to just look at resting heart rate and look at my peak whilst exercising, and when I went back to the gym after diagnosis I wore a Polar heart monitor with chest strap and wrist worn read out so that I could see exactly what was happening whilst exercising and keep my heart rate down. It was hard for me because I had been trained in the time of "no pain, no gain" exercising so had to throttle back a little bit (no a lot). In the end I got used to the rate of exercise and no longer use the chest strap - I think I probably used it for a little under a year. Now I just look at my Fit bit read out afterwards and usually find that there is the occasional minute peak at over 120 but usually managing to keep at or below 120 during exercise. Personally I can't use an apple watch purely because I have found I would be unable to read it - I have tried with my son's apple watch but just couldn't read it well enough. Indeed now my son is of an age where we either need longer arms or stronger reading glasses and I notice he has given up with it as well - I have enough trouble with my fit bit which is why I rarely look at it but look at the read out on my iphone or ipad.
You are doing the right thing by educating yourself and joining this forum. Keep asking questions and asking them of patients who have first hand knowledge.
I think training at anything near 120 is more than enough from a fitness point of view , I wondered if I have been exercising too much over the years but Cardiologist reckons heart is very good apart from the electrics. Thanks for tip re hard to read watch, I better check that before buying one as my eyes arnt as good as they once were.
Its also worth looking at operating it effectively as my fingers are quite large and I find even operating my i phone can be challenging at times - making calls and answering it is easy if I get a call or whatsapp but sometimes when you have to go further into an app and things get smaller I can't always touch just the one option
Always a good idea. Sometimes when travelling to the US my finger prints don't come out - now I use hand cream whilst in the queue! It seems to help but not fool proof - I obviously have very dry finger tips and have been sent to the naughty room for further investigation a few times because of this
I enjoy a glass of wine. In fact, of all places, Tesco have been selling an unusual red, an exquisite 2015 Graves for just £15.00 or so, a drink that I wouldn't want to have to give up, albeit if only as a modest sized glass every day or two. I also get regular ectopics and palpitations (PACs and PVCs, mostly the latter). I cannot link my drinking with my heart activity at all, and abstaining does nothing whatsoever to the frequency and severity of the symptoms. I strongly doubt there is a link, although I know that there are some cardiologists who would point a wagging finger at any alcoholic beverage.
For quite some time, I was able to control my errant heartbeats and occasional bouts of AF with a single dose of 1.25mg bisoprolol. That took about an hour to begin to work, but it worked well. As time passed, this stopped working and, as of now, I suffer much more frequent palpitations and take daily bisoprolol (since last consultation, now 2.5mg).
If your ectopics are sporadic, you might consider using a home ECG to observe them. An Apple Watch is my favoured device as it is useful in so many non-heart-related ways. Both that and the Kardia are fine but run (in terms of detection) for only 30 seconds so can easily miss what is happening. Also, both are limited in what they can detect and report. It's because of that that I also use a Wellue AI ECG device which can be used for up to 24 hours and produces the most marvellously clever summary of all heart activity during that time. It uses noise-free ECG electrode patches rather than relying on an algorithm to smooth out the electrically noisy finger contact used by the other two devices and, although it can be used during both activity and sleep, I have found it works best when I am keeping perfectly still and in a prone position - no surprise as this allows good and continuous electrode contact and thus, high quality ECG recording.
interesting re the Wellue AI ECG device, which model do you have I se there are various models inc the 12 lead one, are you in the UK like me. I note as usual they are cheaper in the US. I plan to buy a Apple watch or fitbit or similar, do you happen to know which model has the features we need, I jsut need the essentials, I am not keen on EMF etc so strapping a watch to my wrist with WIFI and phone signal is not ideal , any idea if it can be put in aeroplane mode or something without affecting the heart readings.
Hi, yes, all models of Apple Watch from Series 4, except the SE, have the ECG and heart irregularity apps. Second hand Apple watches will be completely fine, too, but check the state of the battery as it can't be changed.
The Wellue hand held monitor is called "Pulsebit" and that uses finger contact with the option of a 5-minute scan using electrodes (sticky patches that are supplied). This is the cheapest at about £70.00 and still gives a very useful AI analysis. It requires an app on the phone.
I also have their 24-hour ECG Monitor with AI Analysis which can use a chest strap (supplied) or ECG patches (supplied) which stick on the chest wall. The actual monitor is like a slim 4" strip of flexible rubber that has press studs which clip onto the gel electrodes. Once attached the ECG starts recording until it's removed. This needs a laptop program to download the data using an included USB connector, and this is then send off for free AI analysis.
If you buy direct from their website, which several people here have, there's often a 20% discount, and, if you search the internet for "Wellue discount code" you can often find an extra 10% off. I see on the site now it is £214.45 with an extra 20% off using the code ECG20 on the final checkout page making it £170 or so including delivery (which is from China but very fast indeed by DHL tracked courier). For the price, it's an amazing piece of kit.
Thanks for posting those results Steve , very interesting, I take it it was done from the 24hr machine you have as opposed to the Pulsebit which I note you say was 5 mins?
I note you were in AF 95.67% of the time with a low of 66bpm and av of 88bpm, does that imply you can be in AF with normalish bpm , hence can people be at risk of a stroke with AF during normalish bpm , so the watch needs to detect afib not just bpm?
I assumed I wasnt in AF until I was at around 150bpm, I currently keep an eye on bpm using a finger pulse device but now it seems I could be in AF with normal heart rate.?
During an episode of AF, it's a matter of the important downstairs coping as well as it can with the much less important upstairs' chaos. In that sense, there is no direct correlation between the AF and the heart rate (which is the ventricular rate). With the rate being so irregular, too, I don't think it's possible to measure it effectively. However, the ventricular rate often is fast, at up to 180bpm and even more, from reports here. I have ECG strips of my own AF at all kinds of heart rate. I'll attach a couple that show very different heart rates both with AF (these are from my Apple Watch).
I gather that the risk of stroke comes from the atria vibrating rapidly and not from the ventricles beating too quickly. The fast vibration allows the blood in a small part of the atrium, called the left atrial appendage (the "LAA"), to pool and stagnate and be more likely to form tiny clots. It also seems possible that it's the shape and size of this appendage that determines the chances of clots forming.
While all this upstairs' activity is happening, the ventricles are pretty much protected and safe. They don't like to beat overly fast (>100bpm) for too long, though, or they can weaken and enlarge. How long they can beat quickly for, I don't know and I suppose it varies. The fast rate can also affect the valves, causing weakening and regurgitation. Also, the faster ventricles pump much less efficiently bringing on a kind of temporary heart failure (i.e. a reduced output) and variable symptoms - some feeling nothing at all, with others feeling faint and unsteady, and very stressed. The need to look after the ventricles is why "rate control", using, say a beta-blocker is the first line of treatment, rather than rhythm control. It's also far safer to control the rate than to try to control the rhythm.
thanks for that explanation, its very interesting, ive printed it out and going to read it again tomorrow morning , I couldnt quite get my head round it as my brain is fried for today but I feel there is important info in there.
Determining whether you have paroxysmal AF can be a challenge unless you are proactive i.e. obtain a device that will capture your arrythmia on an ECG so it can be evaluated by a medical professional. As advised by others, the KardiaMobile 6L is great for this purpose and there are several other devices available.
My AF escaped detection until one of the times I went to ED and it was finally captured on ECG. Previous episodes weren't captured despite other visits to ED, my GP, referral to cardiologist and wearing 24 Hour Holter monitor. As a consequence, I was initially diagnosed with just ectopic beats and at that stage, hadn't heard about devices like the Kardia 6L - and probably wouldn't have got one just for ectopic beats.
Anyway, first things first - capture ECG's of your arrythmia episodes and get diagnosed. You need to be diagnosed before you can be appropriately treated.
You can overcome the biggest problem with getting diagnosed by capturing episode on ECG and providing to medics. Diagnosis is easy if they have the evidence and some devices will give provisional diagnosis. However you will need doctor to confirm so you get treated.My apologies if you have already explained but why are you on bisoprolol?
I have bisop but only take when HB is say 150 when I suspect it might be AF as opposed to PVC , I was given them by the doc in Spain when I was diag with premature ventricular beats, my Scottish GP also offered them to me, so pill in pocket is the current treatment
I also recommend the Kardia 6L for obtaining a pdf recording of AF events that occur outside a medical setting, and which you can then show your GP for diagnosis and onward referral.
I didn't have any device before diagnosis, so my eventual initial diagnosis was by walking to my GP Surgery during an AF event. The quick emergency appt I was given allowed a GP to feel my wrist pulse and make an AF diagnosis and a referral for echocardiogram and Cardiology appointment.
Fortunately this same GP also ordered emergency blood tests the same day, and this resulted in a long standing Vitamin D deficiency to be discovered (22 nmol/L). As Vitamin D deficiency (or excess) is a well researched cause of various arrhythmias, it is a poor reflection of the NHS that it is not standard practice to test the Vitamin D level in all patients. And it's even a struggle for me (with pAF) to get the yearly monitoring of my Vitamin D level I obviously require to check the effectiveness or not of my ongoing supplementation regime.
Regarding blood tests, please ensure you receive all tests that might reveal any deficiencies in vitamins, hormones, electrolytes, or minerals, as all such can be implicated in arrhythmias.
PS. Coffee seems OK for many, me included, so don't despair about that.
interesting re vits etc, I agree re Vit D , we should likely all be on it , I take 4000iu a day and it keeps me in upper quartile. Thanks for tip re coffee, giving up wine is one thing but wine and coffee!
As part of your ongoing education in all matters AF, can I recommend you also study the minimaze procedure offered and invented by Dr Wolf in Houston. Similar procedures are now offered around the world, including in UK, both by the NHS and privately. This procedure appeals to me mainly because it scars the outside of the heart, which is different to a catheter ablation which requires access to the inside of the heart via catheters inside blood vessels.
And Dr Wolf's library of live AF videos is available on the Houston Methodist DeBakey YouTube channel. In fact his next live AF presentation is due on YouTube today (first Tuesday of each month (9 out of 12)).
Oh, I forgot 🤔... I usually recommend, re the minimaze experience, to examine the illustrated Posts and Replies of saulger . Very informative. He travelled from his home in Greece to Tokyo to undergo a similar minimaze procedure with Dr Ohtsuka (a colleague of Dr Wolf).
I had paroxysmal AFib.Difficult to get it diagnosed unless you have it all the time. I bought an EMay ECG monitor to catch it. You can get your heart reading on the ECG and put it your phone to show the Doctor. I found it very useful and the Dr said how helpful it was. Bit cheaper than a Kardia, but perfectly ok for the job.
I had an ablation, in September, which hopefully will prevent the awful AFib from returning. Something to think about for you in the future. Bit daunting being diagnosed with AFib. I found reading everything I could about it, very helpful and also this Health Unlocked site is really good. You can ask a question and get reassuring advice and information from people who experience this condition. Which makes you feel you’re not on your own. Hope you get on OK.
thank you for info, very interesting, can I ask you if you got your Ablation on the NHS or privately, if on the NHS how do you qualify to get one, its hard to get anything on the NHS in Scotland
I had it done on the NHS. I was referred to the Consultant, after several years of paroxysmal AFib. I as on the waiting list for 18 months for the ablation. I expect if you go private, you get things done much quicker. Great if you’re well off.!!
my Apple Watch notifies me of AF. Of you have only one episode say of 1 minute then maybe not. What it does is look for sustained AF. If it picks up AF a few times over say a few hours then you get a notification. I then do an ECG on my watch and send to doctor for verification
Hi there, it can often be very difficult to 'catch' AF if you have the paroxysmal afib (comes and goes, reverts itself and episodes are few and far between). This is how mine started several years ago and if I hadn't gone to the hospital to pick up a heart monitor whilst my heart was racing it probably wouldn't have been discovered then. My episodes used to be around 4 per year but as my EP said "AF is like a jack-in-the-box, the more it pops out the more it wants to pop out" making episodes more frequent as the disease progresses. My episodes did exactly that became more frequent and more debilitating, hence my decision to have the ablation whilst I had a better chance of putting the beast into remission (note there is no cure) and as BobD says any treatment is for quality of life.
I also have a structurally sound heart and my diagnosis was 'lone AF', I was told though that my excessive use of alcohol is probably what triggered/caused it in the first place. To that end I stopped drinking over 4 years ago now. I don't take caffeinated drinks either.
You probably won't ever find the trigger but I would advise you try to really moderate the alcohol or give it up. The beast won't go away and it will grab you by surprise when you really don't expect it.
I didn't buy any 'gadgets' fitbits, watches etc as along with afib comes the anxiety and the constant checking just feeds the anxiety.
By the way peeing a lot when heart is misbehaving is a classic symptom of Afib, BobD is good at explaining that one.
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