coping with persistent atrial fibrillation

[wbekim]

sorry if you think I am on again about the same thing but I am really struggling with being acutely symptomatic since becoming persistent since mid June I am 65 and have had paf for 15 years only a few isolated incidents until this year although many issues over this time with ectopics having a cv October but the constant fluttering skips pulls thuds are taking their toll don’t know if any connection but any movement or eating seems to make them even worse and during night and morning in particular stomach rumbles like a set of drums I try to excercise cycling and gym and seem to get slight respite during and shortly after but then get worse and especially the day after I take 3.75 bisoprolol edoxaban ramipril and atorvastatin resting hr 90ish bp pretty normal the stress and anxiety are killing me will all these symptoms damage my heart before I get to the cv and then hopefully ablation any advice would be appreciated

[Buffafly]

In answer to your question, not unless you regularly send your heart rate too high while exercising. Hopefully you are keeping a close eye on your max rate? If not, you will not be getting fitter, just straining your heart. Maybe try Tai Chi or Yoga for now, both very calming.

[wbekim in reply to Buffafly]

Thanks for replying very occasionally gets to 135-145 but only for seconds at highest excercise intensity

[Desanthony in reply to wbekim]

Try and keep your heart rate lower than 130 when exercising. I wore a Polar device - chest strap with wrist worn read out when I went back to the gym after doing my Phase III cardio rehab course at the local hospital supervised by cardio nurse and physiotherapist. as soon as the read out showed I was at 130 I slowed down and took a sip of water. After a few months of wearing the Polar I got to know when this was and could regulate my exercise accordingly, slowed down and took, my sip of water when I felt my heart going faster and went back to just wearing the fit bit and checking the readout afterwards. Showed a few peaks at 130 and then back down into lower hundreds.

Maybe you should consider taking it easier during exercise for the time being. I would also cut down on caffeinated coffee and tea if you still drink caffeinated drinks and eat smaller meals maybe 4 or 5 smaller meals instead of 2 or 3 large meals and don't eat close to bedtime - I think you should leave at least 4 hours between eating and bed - also do something that relaxes your mind and body for 30 mins or an hour before bedtime. Cut down on alcohol consumption too - if you do drink. Try yoga breathing and do something that relaxes you whether it be gentle yoga exercises or just sitting down comfortably with your legs slightly elevated and reading a book for an hour a day. Watch your posture when sitting watching TV for any length of time too. I am sure you are aware of most of these things.

All the best.

[jeanjeannie50]

As long as your heart rate stays within the normal 60-100bpm rates at rest you should be fine.

Have you tried cutting out all food containing artificial additives. Increasing your water intake, avoiding caffeine and not wearing tight clothing. Artificial sweeteners were a sure trigger for my AF.

Jean

[wbekim in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks jean prepared to try anything to stop or reduce horrific symptoms

[jeanjeannie50]

It's certainly a hateful condition. My sister was diagnosed with it last week and after drinking coffee this morning it triggered an attack. Only decaf for her from now on.

Jean

[Thomas45 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

When I had paroxysmal I couldn't drink coffee at all without it worsening symptoms. I now have permanent, though asymptomatic, AF, and gave up all coffee 17 years ago.

[dmjtanner in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Sorry to hear that Jeannie, about your sister. It does seem to run in families. I have a sister and a brother that also have paf.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to dmjtanner]

Yes, another sister of mine has it too, but she denies it. I'm not allowed to talk about it with her.

[dmjtanner in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Goodness!!

[Cavalierrubie]

What is your heart rate during excercise? I would be looking at this personally. How often do you excercise and is it vigorous? Everything in moderation as you probably know. The stress and anxiety will make it all worse and it sounds as if it is already affecting your digestion, as anxiety always does. I think you need to slow down and relax more if you can. Deep breathing exercises would be better for you right now. Hope it soon settles.

[wbekim in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Thanks for comments try to excercise for about 4 hours a week keeping hr below 130 at peak generally around 110-120 I am cardio phobic so stress and anxiety certainly contribute but hard not to be nervous with heart bucking and kicking and fluttering incessantly

[Cavalierrubie in reply to wbekim]

That sounds ok. I know the feelings very well. I have just had a relapse of AF, which began after a gastric endoscopy. AF returned after 18 months and l became incredibly nervous and my anxiety went through the roof. I find the ectopics are worse than the AF, and much more noticeable and scary. They can make you feel quite ill but they are not damaging. I hope you soon get some relief and treatment. Take care.

[Swimsyroke]

Just wondering what time of day you take your drugs. Maybe one or two of them aren't agreeing with you. You could try splitting the Bisopropol between morning and evening. Do you get the symptoms during the night as well?Your resting heart rate seems high for 3.75 Bisopropol.

Try not to tune into your heart also try relaxing music, yoga, breathing. Look at what you are eating and go back to your GP for help.

Good luck. I have been where you are but things have generally settled down for me now. I too am in persistent AFib since 2022 having been paroxysmal for 14 years.

[wbekim in reply to Swimsyroke]

Do you have any symptoms it is these that are killing me

[Swimsyroke in reply to wbekim]

I have minor symptoms now but 2 years ago I was like you and ready to walk into the sea The best thing for me was when I had a few days break which took my mind off things and after that I stopped stressing out and tuning into everything and gradually things improved.

I have never had a CV or ablation.

[Swimsyroke in reply to wbekim]

My EP told me that Bisopropol has a 17hr timescale so for me it works taking it in the morning as if I take it at night say 10pm the effects would decrease after 3pm the following afternoon.

[wbekim in reply to Swimsyroke]

I take first thing in morning too how come you didn’t have a cv or ablation I would have both tomorrow with the flutters and flip flops in my chest/stomach

[Swimsyroke in reply to wbekim]

I was never offered them and now feel I am managing fine

[wbekim in reply to Swimsyroke]

When did your symptoms which I especially mean constant fluttering feeling like going over a hill in a car etc subside because I have now had them morning noon and night for 3 months the actual afib itself does not affect me sufficiently to consider cv or ablation but the thought either may stop the symptoms does

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Stains interfere with digestion.

They are offered but not a necessity.

Make sure you take BBs and other types meds separately. BBs best at night to carry you through early morning rise of BP.

Am I take Diltiazem

Pm I take Bisoprolol

Some meds just don't go together especially if they are blockers! NZ Heart Foundation Nurse told me.

Cherio JOY. 75 (NZ)

[OldTown]

I hope you get a CV soon. I was in persistent AF for 6 months and highly symptomatic. Could hardly even walk up a small hill. Was on 15mg Bisoprolol plus anticoagulant and digoxin ....had a CV last December and still in sinus rhythm! Now on 5mg Bisoprolol plus Flecainide 100mg and anticoagulant which is another story ! Best of luck 🤞

[wbekim in reply to OldTown]

Would like to hear another story as I am shortly to follow your path

[OldTown in reply to wbekim]

I was on Rivaroxaban , and fell and cut my head ..... in hospital for 3 days and lost lots of blood. It was affecting my kidney function so not being efficiently excreted. After lots of tests I am now on Apixaban. Hopefully gentler on the kidneys.....

[wbekim in reply to OldTown]

So it was this incident and not the cv itself which was bad

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi again

I just looked up ramipril.

You keep down Potassium type foods like banana and no salt.

It is An Ace Inhibitor. I was taken off Inhibace as it made me cough and cough.

Bisoprolol can make you tired. I take 2.5mg.

You are taking two for BP control and if you have heart failure.

Are you diabetic?

For the first time two days after COVID jab but I had undiagnosed UTI I had 2 heart flips on that day and 1 the next with mild vertigo. It stopped after starting the Augmentin.

I would say that They gave me a fright!

If you get them off and on um I would be scared. But your heart is a muscle, needs mild exercise.

Cherio JOY

[Vonnegut]

Calm down with slow breathing and meditation and remember the wise slogan from The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, “Don’t panic!”