Worried about my heart

[Prosecco1997]

hello ,me again , im getting realy worried as I get times my heart will beat normally , but give off lots of extra or missed beats for about 1 hour , my anxiety and worry is through the roof , realy want to restart my flecinide, but so worried because they made me feel very un well was on 50 twice per day , alongside bisop which I think mixing did not help , been told I can reduce or pill in pocket , but pip I realy can not do as I’m a nervous wreck , any advice would be realy grateful ☺️ on anxiety meds , but when this happens I keep going backwards

[Cavalierrubie]

Really can’t advise as not medically trained, but you could speak to Arythmia Nurse on here. I don’t have the number but perhaps someone will help you with that in Admin if you ask. There is also the BHF forum you could ask. You really need some direction as to what to do and if you are unsure or that unwell phone 111 or go to AE. Wishing you well.

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Thankyou do I just put a post up asking for number

[Buzby62 in reply to Prosecco1997]

You can contact patient services team on AF Association here

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Via website form or via phone number

HELPLINE 01789 867 502

Best wishes

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Buzby62]

Thankyou

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Prosecco1997]

You can try that or message Admin. Busby’s reply has given you a link.

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Thankyou

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Prosecco1997]

Let us know how you get on. Take care and hope you soon get some good help.

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Thankyou

[Rainfern]

Hi Prosecco. You really need to take all the advice you can get on keeping the anxiety under control. I know when anxiety is out of control the “try breathing” advice can seem pathetically useless and we end up hoping a pill will sort it. But anxiolytics can actually increase anxiety in the first few weeks and in the long term do nothing without a very patient, gentle and kind approach to our own self healing. My advice would be to get a well tested and rated app like Balance because the lessons in meditation and relaxation embrace beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Take Bob’s seasoned advice on diaphragmatic breathing and focus on getting on with life. Don’t expect miracles or instant results and stop if it makes you feel worse. In my experience when anxiety goes bonkers there is often an underlying issue or two that need addressing and a good counsellor should be able to help. Hope you soon feel lots better - anxious is a horrible place to be but it’s a big cloud that will pass. Take care and be kind to yourself!

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Rainfern]

Thankyou

[secondtry]

I have a similar heart in 2024 and have managed anxiety for 11 years prior to that. I appreciate not relevant to all but I can only pass on what has worked quite well for me: learn a lot about AF (principally here), try to have new interesting work & hobbies but not stressful and on the spiritual side a lot more prayer and get closer to Nature, wherever and when ever the opportunity presents. Best wishes, hope something there helps.

[Prosecco1997]

my heart said possible af yesterday on Kardia mobile rate 82 , realy don’t know what I should do , not had af for yrs

[Tellingfibs in reply to Prosecco1997]

I was diagnosed with Afib in 2017. I am anxious about it when I notice it but get on with life as normal otherwise. I too am an anxious person and this cant help. As other people say, get well informed and you will be less anxious. It’s often said on this forum ‘Afib begets Afib’ and this I’m sure is true of people like us - or perhaps it makes us notice it more when it is only mild. The last year I have had LOTS of ectopics, but don’t feel bad with them normally - just tired. My doc says no worries unless I become breathless, feel faint of have chest pains. During this last week my Kardia has NOT picked up one run of NSR, just SVEs or Afib. I too am not sure how concerned to be, but I’m telling you so you don’t feel so alone with your symptoms. Apart from advice from the links you have been given here, you might benefit from watching Dr Gupta on YouTube. He explains things well and his air of calm does help with the anxiety ! All the best.

Annie

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Prosecco1997]

I think that is what is worrying you the most. That it has come back. Unfortunately that’s what this beast does. Once you have AF, always have AF. Speak to a professional who will put your mind at rest. Remember it is not life threatening. Lots on here have permanent AF and have gone through what you are going through, 82 pulse is a bit high but not that high. I have had pulse of 150 when in AF. Anything up to 90 is not bad. Take your medication as directed. If you were seriously ill the GP would have sent you straight to the hospital. It will be trial and error with the drugs as it’s such a long time since you have needed them. You will be ok and it will eventually settle down.

[Qualipop in reply to Prosecco1997]

That heart rate is my normal; perfectly fine. If the episode only lasted an hour, report it to your doctor then forget it. I think Kardia tends to label any ectopics that it can't diagnose properly as "Possible AF" .

[pusillanimous]

I have been on the 'despised' Alprazolam for 17years, long before my Afib was diagnosed (the diagnosis of which was just a matter of time - it's familial - all my sisters have it and is virtually symptomless). My dose has not increased, I am probably addicted to it as I am with my other chronic meds. My Cardiologist is quite happy with my taking it (I have 0.5mg tabs. and am prescribed 3 per day if needed - I usually take 2). My annual echo (last one six months ago) shows my heart is normal) I'm 81 and will carry on taking it as long as it is prescribed, as it makes so much difference to my anxiety!

[mcpacs in reply to pusillanimous]

The Xanax (Alprazolam) has also helped me tremendously as I am also prone to anxiety, and anxiety could trigger my AFib episodes, especially when I used to be in frequent AFib, prior to my ablation. But many doctors will not prescribe it as it has a reputation for abuse and addiction.

[Alphakiwi]

Hi Prosseco, Hang in there, i know how you feel having had similar with af. I cant hack these tabs either especially as with the so called side effects there doesnt seem to be any permanent fix for excersise intolerance as well as meds intolerance.For me PIP seems to be the best option for now.

Maybe AV node ablation ?

All the best . Colin

[Marymara]

Hi prosecco, is there a clue in your name? I can't tell you how worried I was when first diagnosed, still worry but no where near as much, you really do get use to it once on the write meds, let's face it, you have no choice, anxiety is a curse makes everything worst, try to sort that and your perception won't be half as bad.

[bassets]

When I was very anxious about my AF it exacerbated my symptoms and made me feel awful. I tried mindfulness with Headspace (an online site) which really helped me. Try any way you can to stay calm. I hope this helps. Best wishes.

[ozziebob]

You can speak to a cardiac nurse at the BHF for free, as follows ...

Call 0808 802 1234 (freephone). Our Helpline is open weekdays 9am to 5pm*.

* excluding bank holidays

[Ppiman]

How did they initially diagnose your AF those many years ago?

Do you have a recent Kardia reading you could post to show the arrhythmia you now get, with tachycardia?

Do you think your tachycardia might be your anxious mind reacting to the ectopic beats that form when you move about or exercise? Or has your doctor said it is from some other cause? It will, I guess, be atrial in origin, from the top of you heart, and so “safe”. That’s why your cardiologist shows less concern over it than you think it deserves and suggests you do some walking exercise.

I often get these days a kind of “pre-AF” heart bouncing around if I do anything at all and I’m currently awaiting the results of yesterday’s MRI to see if flecainide will be safe for me.

Finally, I would highly recommend you to buy the book by the late Dr Claire Weekes called “Self Help for the Nerves”. No one has written better and no one has helped more people find a way to overcome the most disabling reduces of anxiety. You can often find second hand copies in Amazon at a very good. It will help you more than you could ever realise.

Steve

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Ppiman]

latest Kardia reading

Dusk

[Ppiman in reply to Prosecco1997]

That's hard to read and looks "noisy" but on one of the leads, there seems to be a "P" wave to most beats, suggesting it's NSR. Taking a 6-lead on a Kardia, it can be difficult to keep still. I would try to do a 2-lead Kardia sitting at a table, carefully hold the two side electrodes between thumb and finger. Does that make a clearer trace? Try it now, maybe, if you can, and post that.

Here's a trace from my Apple Watch from this morning that shows a pretty common sight these days. I have an intermittent "wide QRS" caused by a bundle block, hence the wider peaks. When that starts up, I can feel pretty rough at times and struggle to simply press on with things if they are at all energetic.

Steve

Apple Watch ECG showing multiple ectopic beats.

[Prosecco1997 in reply to Ppiman]

I was diagnosed , in hospital after ambulance caught it , my pulse was dancing around and my heart rate was 250 I think or there abouts , Thankyou for your reply

[Singwell]

Hi. I totally relate to the anxiety- which doesn't help our heart either! It sounds like you need some.stability. This is what regular meds can do for us, IF we can find a regime that works for us. PiP I think might sometimes be more of a worry when you're new to AF. Although I think it depends on the individual. This situation is affecting your quality of life at present and you should let medical professionals know and ask if a good solution can.be found.That said, most meds take getting used to - no way around that.

[mcpacs]

I had ectopic beats, Premature Atrial Contractions (PAC's) and Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC's), continuously for a year. My Kardia EKG device would say "Possible Atrial Fibrillation". My Kardia allows me to send the EKG into a staff cardiologist to read the EKG in more detail. When they would read it, it would usually be read by the staff cardiologist as "Sinus Rhythm with Premature Ventricular Contractions (PVC's)". If you have a Kardia EKG monitor, you should have availability to their staff cardiologist to perform these EKG readings you have taken in greater detail. It might set your mind at ease that you are not in actual AFib.

I know the ectopics can be very uncomfortable. I am very symptomatic and aware of almost every heartbeat. My personal cardiologist told me not to worry about the ectopics. He said they were "benign" and not serious. However, they made me feel bad and so he put me on Flecainide. That has had a major benefit in stopping the ectopics. I also take the beta blocker Carvedilol, which helps keep my blood pressure under control, and I think it probably is also keeping my heart rate lower, usually about 60 beats per minute.

It seems on this forum, many cannot take Flecainide because it makes them feel, as you said "very unwell". But maybe your cardiologist could prescribe something different. My understanding is that beta blockers can have a calming affect and perhaps help you feel less anxious. So, you might talk to your cardiologist about this also.