Sorry to hear you are having such a bad time. Anxiety is an enemy for us Afib patients and little wonder as it badly affects our condition. Such a vicious circle, afib causes us anxiety and anxiety exacerbates afib.
I wonder if medics can take this into account and begin to treat it along side our physical heart issues. It is not to be underestimated as a trigger and response mechanism.
Sometimes we can be so ill with our afib that we cant ever see a way out of it. I have been in that position on many occasions and yet we do come out of it and start to live well again.
Hold on to the fact that you have survived episodes and procedures and here is another one to contend with but you will come through it. Far from easy and seems impossible when in the midst of it but experience will have shown you it is so even though right now it feels so wearing and beyond dealing with. Dig in. Sending cyber hugs. They will sort it for you. Best wishes.
Thank you for such a lovely reply. I think anxiety meds will help, I've had them before and they did help to think clearer about the whole situation.Best wishes
I feel that treating the anxiety is vital. I have been on medication for anxiety for 17 years - AF was diagnosed 6 years ago (it's familial). Fortunately I do not have many episodes - largely asymptomatic, if I feel that awful anxious feeling, (increased heart rate, butterfly tummy etc) I take 0.25mg of Alprazolam, within15 minutes the HR has started to lower, I am calm and an AF episode averted. I am prescribed a maximum of 3 x 0.5mg per day if need, I seldom need that many, have never exceeded the dose, and my cardiologist is perfectly happy. I do not sleep in a door way, but have a very nice house with a swimming pool on a secure gated estate😆
That's really interesting, are you in the UK? I only ask because I'd like to find out about that medication, anxiety is just awful but with AF you're just not sure what's what and then trying to feel well although I don't feel well....its a problem. Thank you
I'm a British ex-pat living in South Africa. The medication has the brand name Xanax in the USA and is widely abused and has a bad name and is addictive. However, I think in low prescribed doses it is wonderful because unless someone has experienced it, that awful feeling of anxiety (usually over nothing) and an impending panic attack is something bobody anyone should have to endure. BTW, I feel that all drugs given for chronic conditions and taken daily are addictive - your body objects if you try to withdraw from them. I hope you can get help with your anxiety. as you have mu sympathy.
Thank you for the info, I have heard of Xanax, I don't think it's in the UK but I totally agree with you, most meds are safe as long as they're used as prescribed and not abused. Best wishes
l really feel for you and send lots of well wishes. I know the feelings we have when we have a relapse and they really knock you for six. You are in the best place and safe. They will look after you and get you back on track again. The anxiety is the worst symptom of AF. You are in no way to blame as AF is notorious for coming back and that’s why it’s a “rogue”, “mongrel” condition. Think of all the positives, if you can, as it will help. You are not alone, it’s not terminal and it’s treatable. You will be ok again. This too will pass. Sending you hugs. 🥰
Sending all good wishes. I too am very anxious and have a little insight into your struggles. Platitudes are very irritating when you feel awful, but " this too shall pass". I find that reminding myself nothing stays the same can be a help and as others have said, things dip then improve.
Thank you, I'm sure I'll get there, I'm just obsessed with my HR and what they'll do for me. Not sure if I'll ever have my quality of life back but I'll have to give it time.
I've had all the blood tests but I don't think I have thyroid problems. I don't take HRT.Just can't seem to sleep so of course that's making things so much worse.
Slow deep breathing makes my heart rate go really high, I've tried so many times because I know mindfulness is wonderful for anxiety. Think I'll try CBT next buy I may still need anxiety meds.
Anxiety is the worst .. and can seemingly spring up out of nowhere, not easy to control
You say in your experience slow deep breathing makes your heart rate go up.
Try taking a short but deep breaths in and at the end of the short deep breath hold your breath for a second and then start letting that deep full breath go out very slowly. Extend the outbreath twice as long as the inbreath and keep breathing in this way for a few minutes. Then breathe normally for a bit and do it again.
You're right the in breath can seem to make the heart go faster - but the outbreath does the opposite and calms the heart and mind. So I find the thing is to focus on a very long controlled outbreath. I hope this helps you.
If I do it right at the beginning of an AF episode it sometimes returns me to NSR.
You're in a safe place in hospital, sending good wishes,
Thank you Cat, that's very interesting, I'll give it a go, and like you say it could help me return to normal nsr....that would be wonderful. Best wishes
I find it helps return to NSR if I do it immediately the AF starts, once it's set in it's harder to nudge back in to NSR .. so don't be disappointed if it doesn't do that, but it should at least reduce anxiety and heart rate somewhat.
One thing I forgot to mention is to breathe in through the nose, and breath out slowly through the mouth, I think you can empty the lungs more completely through the mouth for some reason ...
The inbreath does make the heart beat faster - this is a normal part of our physiology and something we just donx't notice unless concentrating on the breath.(
Yes thank you - and the inbreath is a key part of the fight or flight response, when faced with stress we breathe in sharply and hold with tension, ready to act and then conversely when we de-stress we give a long sigh outwards without realising that this is a natural way of calming the body down ... I'm no medic but I understand the outbreath connects with the vagus nerve. So the breath and particularly the long slow outbreath is one of the few ways we can directly affect the vagus nerve and slow the heart rate ... of course this is about rate, not rhythm ..
Bad luck. Is the high rate and associated symptoms anxiety related, do the doctors think? My rate is lower since an MRI showed my heart was healthy despite the arrhythmia - which calmed me down a great deal.
My son’s colleague is much like you - five ablations and now a return of Afib and Aflutter. After initial struggles, he’s now coping well. Given his experience, I suspect you will, too!
The conditions associated with AF are: being overweight, underactive, having sleep apnoea, diabetes or high BP. Have you had these checked (I see you have blood sugar issues)?
Yes, he’s coping well. He’s 77, I think and might even have had six ablations.
These things almost always do settle. It’s the peaks of discomfort and symptoms that seem insurmountable when we are in tje midst of them. At least, that’s my experience. The top of the heart gives us more grief than it really should, with the anxiety it is capable of causing. Much of the time, the bottom - important - part (the ventricles) copes well enough.
Thanks for your comments. What is your diet and spiritual life like? Have you written down and spoken out loud many times your goal to be free of Afib? Thanks again.
Diet not so good really, spiritual life more in the past, I could actually consider taking it up again, my sister goes for healing and finds it helpful, she has kidney and liver problems. Thank you
About a year ago, after having had to go to the Emergency Room, I immediately changed radically my diet. The most important part of which was giving up totally gluten and eliminating sugar wherever possible. I lost 79 pounds, which was 30 percent of my body weight. I also wrote down and put on the wall my intention of putting Afib completely in the past. And I also began taking 50 mg of Metoprol once a day and 100 mg of Flecainide twice a day. The Afib and the racing heart began to go away and hasn't made an appearance in over five months. I think one of the most important things to do is not believe in "managing" any illness, but in ELIMINATING it. Make it your life's goal, or at least one of them. Thanks again for your comments.
Yes I agree ... positive intention is good whatever the outcome.
People say AF is 'progressive', and sadly for many people it is ... but when I asked my Cardiologist he said out of 100 people who are diagnosed with AF about, 60 are likely to be progressive ...
like most of us I stared at the ceiling all night the day I was diagnosed, so many questions, fear and anxiety about the future. I soon learned, for me, that anxiety was fuel to keep this monster strong and getting it under some form of control was most important. I came across a book that has changed the equation for me. Nothing is a miracle in the world of afib but this helped me a lot to keep on top. The book is DARE by Barry McDonagh. Wish you the best … George
I understand your condition but i don't have all those other probs. Just the afib with all the medication side effects is enough because I have the afib 100% that's enough. Like it's 3.42 am here in nz and I haven't been asleep yet. That's why I'm working on having an AV node ablation. I don't care that it's irreversible. At 82 what does it matter. Heart thump palpitations all night and body itchiness is the flavour of the night at the mo. Anyone have any remedy immediately as im supposed to be going to a grandsons birthday today but I don't think it's going to happen. I'd be to much of a wet blanket . Yes I know I need to keep positive. Colin.
Hi Colin, oh dear, I can only think of some vaseline rubbed in and then removed with a soft dry cloth, that's worked for me before with itching.I hope you get to the party and manage to enjoy yourself.
My experience was surprisingly similar to what Pommerania78 wrote above.
Think about food while you're in hospital, and afterward, your life ahead where you politely turn down sugar and most processed foods. Think about all the delicious healthy food you can eat in future, and your hope of no more afib. Think whether or not you can really do it.
I found that sugar was addictive for me, and giving it up was like giving up any addiction, really hard for a couple of days, then easier. Its been over 3 years, and my heart is calm and steady, and all my various health problems are either gone or vastly improved.
It's funny you should say that, I had a small tub of ice-cream and my HR went up quite a bit. I had no idea that sugar could cause af to start, I will read upon this.Thank you for the tip.
Too much sugar can be a trigger for some people. I cannot eat mincemeat so my husband gets the mince pies at Christmas if I make any! The last 3 times I've had even a tiny bit it's triggered my afib. Do you take a magnesium supplement? I have found magnesium very helpful for calming my anxiety and take a small amount 3 times a day. Since taking it I have not had any anxiety attacks though I still get afib. But it is much less symptomatic.
Hi Kimmie I know exactly how you feel it's so hard when you are desperately wanting your heart rate to slow down and it's still having a fluttering party. When I was in hospital because I am particularly anxious like you I asked for the doctors to turn the monitor away from me so I couldn't see the numbers and also turn the volume down so I couldn't hear it aswell and it really helped. My Mum too had afib and lived a long time to her 80s and when she was in hospital her atrial fibulation reverted after they turned the monitor down and away from her and she was more relaxed. I am sending you big hugs and wishing that you will be home soon with a calmer heart.
Hi Emma, thank you for your kind words, it means such a lot when people take the time to pass on advice and tips to help overcome anxiety with the AF, I will definitely try that, I'm sure it'll help. Kind regards
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