I’m getting worse

[Doggiemomma]

Lately I’m having increased episodes of PVCs ? or PACs ? that often turn into hours of tachycardia—regular-looking rhythm but fast (Kardia), usually under 120 bpm. I’ve done all the intervention strategies and more often than not, they don’t make a bit of difference to get me back into normal rhythm. It seems like I can feel every beat. Sometimes I get afib, like squirrels playing in my chest., and that lands me in Emergency where I am monitored & usually get a drip of a BB or of a CCB (that’s up to the ER doctor)

Mostly the tachycardia occurs in the evenings or the wee hours of the morning. I don’t know if it’s related to the times I take my medicines or not, but I’ve tried adjusting that with no success relative to my tachycardia.

I don’t drink or smoke or use artificial sweeteners or salt or MSG, I don’t even drink coffee or tea or soda or carbonated anything. I have been diagnosed with obesity, a disease.

For the past 7 years, my afib has been controlled by flecainide (maximum dose) and metoprolol (extended release)—& I take a blood thinner.

Pill In Pocket: I have Diltiazem or quick-release Metoprolol, but I’m never quite sure which one to use when I am in tachycardia. Sometimes I convert after a couple hours, and other times I convert after 6+ hours.

Ablation is out of the question for me at this point (personal & private reasons) and I feel totally doomed.

In a few weeks, I have an appointment with a new EP for a second opinion.

Please share your thoughts & experiences.

I just feel so afraid and so alone…and doomed. Sorry for writing so much, but I wanted to give us clearer picture as possible about what’s going on and how I think things are worsening.

[Teresa156]

Hi Doggiemomma,

I’m sorry you feel all this and that your episodes are getting more frequent. There is sadly sometimes no possible triggers for AF that we can pinpoint and it sounds like you are avoiding all the right things with food and drink, that we all tend to think are culprit.

Its good that you have an appointment with an EP soon and you can ask him which is best for you as a PIP in the circumstances you find yourself in. Why do you end up in emergency if you convert each time? Does it cause you pain?

Please can I ask why ablation isn’t an option? You mention that you have been diagnosed with obesity and this sadly can contribute to AF for some people. Losing weight has, I’m sure you know, been shown to improve symptoms for AF sufferers, but I know it’s easier said than done to lose it. Are you able to get any help or support with that?

[JaneFinn]

I’m so sorry to hear you’re struggling so much with these arrhythmia. And feeling alone and hopeless about it only makes everything a million times harder, I know. I don’t think I’ve got any wisdom to give (and I’m not feeling well enough to think very clearly atm, so if I do have any helpful thoughts, I’ll add them another time) but I wanted to send you a long distance hug and sympathy ❤️

We’ve all felt hopeless and doomed at times, maybe after an arrhythmia diagnosis or when things seem to be spiralling out of control with no answers. You’re among a whole bunch of people on here who understand. And take heart that your new EP should make a difference. Hopefully s/he will be able to clarify things, and guide you into good treatment options that don’t involve an ablation. (I’m sure you have this in hand, but just a reminder to take Kardia readings of all the types of arrhythmia you experience, and maybe some kind of diary of arrhythmia events and symptoms, so s/he can get a sense of the severity and frequency?)

Take care, J x

[Doggiemomma in reply to JaneFinn]

Thank you both for your kind and understanding words.

[mjames1]

I have been diagnosed with obesity, a disease.

Hopefully they are treating it like a disease and not as a lifestyle issue. New drugs like Semaglutide (Wegovy) have shown remarkable results, where lifestyle interventions alone have failed.

Obesity is the single most important modifiable risk factor for atrial fibrillation.

Jim

[TechGuy62]

You are not alone. Many of us have been in your shoes. The fear and uncertainty can be consuming, but this site is a great start. The people here are amazing and their experiences and support helped me on my journey.I was put on Flecanide, Diltiazem, Metoprolol, and Digoxin after rushing to the hospital with Afib. It took a couple of years to figure out my weight and my diet was the problem. I was diagnosed with Roemheld syndrome or gastrocardia. After getting this diagnosis, I went on a serious diet losing over 60 pounds. I am off all meds and the AFib has not returned. My CHAD score is 0.

I'm not suggesting you do what I did. I knew something was "off" with my body while on those drugs, so I documented what I ate, when I ate, and experimented on myself - eating foods that aggrivated my stomach causing AFib to identify a pattern to the EP. I could also trigger AFib by sitting down in a chair in tight pants. Standing up caused the AFib to go away. I recorded this many times on my Kardia to show him.

I worked with my EP, who was very patient with me as I took this journey. In the end it was the right decision.

If you are overweight, I would recommend tracking when the episodes occur. See if there is a pattern to what you eat and the palps, PVCs, and Afib episodes. Also, track where you were when the symptom occured. Were you sitting? Are your clothes tight around your stomach?

Lastly, losing weight was a game changer for me. I dropped 6 inches around my waist and haven't felt this good in years.

I wish you much success with your AFib challenges.

[Doggiemomma]

Thank you, Jim and TechGuy for ringing in here. Everyone is much appreciated.

[Geeps527]

sorry I’m late to reply. I can empathize with your plight. Afib can be quite terrifying as you know. I was terrified when first diagnosed 3yrs ago at first it was paroxysmal and I lived in fear of the next attack. 2 yrs ago I had a terrible attack that led to hospitalization where they had trouble controlling it. I then had a cryoablation which was successful for a month and a half when it returned. I was on amiodorone the and still not controlled. My EP recommended cardioversion which I had heard only works briefly and I didn’t hold out much hope but to my amazement it put me back into NSR which has continued for the last 18 months! I am still on amiodorone 200mg/day. The proceedure was a relatively simple outpatient proceedure. Get put to sleep, zapped, watched for a couple of hours and go home.

So it would be good to talk to your EP about it.

Good luck!