Hello, I awoke with my heart going berserk, causing me to breathe fast as my heart was ranging from 140-167 bpm.The longest it has lasted the last 12 yrs was for 1 hour once, it usually lasts for seconds several times a day but today it lasted 8hrs before returning to normal rhythm. I was just about to go to A&E when it settled down, should you go when it lasts so long? Interested to see what you guys have done when this happens.
Thank you
Any chest pain fainting or difficulty breathing then go. Otherwise take medication and ride it out . A and E is generally bad for your health.
My AF episodes have generally lasted for at least 6-10 hours and are highly symptomatic. I have no breathlessness and ride them out at home, taking an extra Bisoprolol if necessary.
I just go to bed and try to sleep through it. Usually 12 to 15 hours. I agree with Bob's comment that A & E isn't good for your health! After 5 or 6 visits there I decided the stress wasn't helping and was virtually ignored anyway, I decided it was better to stay at home.
Do you not have any medication to take? Flecainide is very good at stopping episodes in a few hours taken as a pill in the pocket (pip) and Bisoprolol would bring your heart rate down. Don’t you get anything on prescription?
I take Bisoprolol and apixaban
The Bisoprolol lowers your heart rate and perhaps you need a higher dose to take when you have episodes ( or just add a few yourself). It won’t stop the irregularity but will reduce your heart rate.
My episodes used to last for 36 hours and I never went to A & E. Told by my EP to sit it out as I was medicated and all they would do in hospital is monitor me which is more stressful. I had an ablation in March so hoping I don't have to do this so often!
A&E won't likely do anything much but give 5mg bisorolol, I believe. The issue is with the atrium not the ventricles, so your heart and health are safe (unless you have other issues than just AF). A very few with AF can suffer a kind of reparatory collapse, and, of course need emergency treatment but I think most can "ride it out", as uncomfortable and as fearful as that sometimes is. That's what I have done since my first really bad attack in 2019.
As always - a doctor's advice is needed since as our health backgrounds all vary.
Steve
The issue with AF is in the atrium not the ventricles, and this mean that the health of your heart is safe (unless you have other issues than just AF). Of course, it doesn't feel that way - quite the revers, sadly. I have read that a very few with AF can suffer a kind of reparatory collapse, and, of course need emergency treatment but I think most are safe to stay at home, perhaps taking an extra dose of medication. That's what I have done since my first really bad episode in 2019.
Your doctor's advice is what you need to decide what to do.
Steve
Hi
It depends how you feel and your symptoms.
Mine is persistent from the start after stroke, AF and thyroid cancer all diagnosed within the first 4 days.
Even now and again AF comes to stay permanently.
An appointment with a heart Specialist or your Dr needs to organise an ECG, ECHO, 24 Hr Heart monitor to start.
I was told if Systolic Rate was over 150,- 200, Diastollic over 100 or Heart Beat at Rest over 200 I should call 111 here in NZ. Also heart pain, fainting, difficulty breathing go.
I have a home alarm and I fell confident if I get the above. In 4.5 years never had to use it.
Cherio JOY. 75. (NZ)
Hi there, I like you used to 'sit it out.' 12 hours or so but they were becoming more and more regular and uncomfortable so decided when I had the next one I'd call for help. They administered all the doses of Adenosine that I could have but I didn't convert back to NSR so after another 7 or so hours in resus I was given a Cardioversion which helped but I will still tachycardic and remained like that for months [given Bisoprolol] it wasn't controlling it so switched to Sotalol then it all got out of hand when I stopped taking it before ablation. Once again Adenosine doses given and didn't work. Unsuccessful ablation and 10 day stay in hospital and initially given IV dose of Amiodarone and discharged still tachycardic. Now taking Apixaban 5mg twice daily and Amiodarone 100mg. I do also have underactive thyroid but most days it flips into AFib and it is now getting very uncomfortable to 'sit it out' but I am lucky to have a great Cardiologist and after my last check up I have been told that there are no other medications they can try me with and my only option now is Pace/Ablate procedure but I'm still reluctant to go and get this procedure, but it is now 'wearing me down' and starting to affect me daily. What I would say is that everyone's heart deals/copes differently and yes there are other factors like 'fear' possibly being in our heads when it kicks off but please if you feel that you cannot cope get in touch with your Surgery and if they have any doubts about your condition they will actually do an ECG for you and this can put your mind at rest when they do happen. Take care.
I was in the Dr’s surgery a few weeks ago and l sat next to a lady who had recently had the pace and ablate. Her AF, like yourself, got progressively worse so she had no other option. She is, however, very much better after the procedure. I know several people who have had a PM and they all say that they are so much better for it. It’s good that you have a Cardiologist that you trust and who has your best interests at heart. It’s a big decision, but the right decision l think for you. Go with your Cardiologist’s advice and get some quality of life back. All the best.
Thank you so much for your reply. It's the 'fear factor' to be honest that's holding me back. Once it is implanted and the short ablation done afterwards there's no turning back, but I am weighing it up against the constant AF and the discomfort I get which is far more uncomfortable than 6 months ago. I only have to call he said and he will get it all arranged.
I would be frightened as well and l don’t know who wouldn’t be. This condition never ceases to give you anxiety, but l am sure you will be in safe hands. Lots of people say they wish they had it done sooner. Keep us posted and l am sure you will get lots of support on here.
I have been in similar position as you. Been on Amiodar100mg for just over a year & it has definitely helped with the af. Cardiologist said it is a toxic drug but none of his patients had serious side effects. I have to have regular blood tests- check thyroid liver etc. Like you if it stops working at any time or I develop side effects then I will have to decide whether to have a pacemaker. friends have said they have never regretted having it as it has been life changing for them. Like you say there is a fear factor
Like you I'm on Amiodarone but, 200mg. Tried cutting down to 100mg but it didn't work at that dose. Been told I could have a pacemaker, still considering it. - Amiodarone has a lot of side effects including thyroid problems.
Hi after hospital discharge I to was on 200mg along with Bisoprolol but they tried increasing the dose of Bisoprolol up to 7.5mg but that made arrhythmia even worse so it was reduced again in stages back down to 2.5mg. The Amiodarone was reduced after cardioversion last August to 100mg and stopped taking Bisoprolol, but only had 3 month break from AFib/arrhythmias. In my discharge notes it states that 'mapping' would be difficult due to multiple arrhythmias so probably this is part of the reason I am reluctant for pace/ablate procedure. I already had thyroid problems which started in my late 40's but do get blood tests to determine if there are any problems with liver, etc. It's one of those 'no turning back' procedures and a bit of a dilemma for me, but one which I will ultimately have to decide. Take care.
Same here
l think if your heart rate doesn’t come down and you feel ill in other respects then you need to go to AE. A fast AF needs to be dealt with if it goes on. I recently had to go because l was not happy with how l felt, faint and choking feeling, which l had never experienced before. They did, as already said, gave me Bisoprolol and waited. It did go back to NSR after a few hours. The thing is,it all depends on how you feel and what your intuition tells you. I did not feel safe, so to be in the hospital with a heart monitor was reassuring. I would not have wanted to be anywhere else! I usually sit it out, so it is a decision only you can make. It is always better to be at home, if you can.
Slow breathing, moderate exercise, read a pleasant book, watch a funny movie?
I have only (confirmed only) had 1-2 A-fib events altogether.
Suspect more before I confirmed it last year via Kardia6-L device.
I was in A-Fib for about 8 hours. Didn’t feel any difficulty in breathing but it was an unpleasant feeling in my chest. I suddenly recalled watching Dr.Sunjay Gupta (from York Cardiology in the UK) on youtube explaining how to do vagal maneuver to try stop an a-fib attack.
I tried it and lo and behold, it stopped my a-fib immediately. Saved me alot of stress,time and money by not having to go to the emergency room. Ask your cardiologist or healthcare worker about this, may be worth trying.
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