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Atrial Fibrillation Support

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Permanent or not

Maggi79 profile image
18 Replies

I'm so sorry to bother everyone again..but I'm new to thisMy fitbit shows me in af from approximately 5.30 pm to 8am..during the day no...I can manage my work etc so much better..in the evenings/night time I'm aware of my heart rate

This has been every day since 20 Oct..when I first became aware but looking back realise it had been happening for a while

Is my AF permanent or not ..waiting for appointment at cardiologist and arrhythmia clinic

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Maggi79 profile image
Maggi79
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18 Replies
Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce

Hi Maggi.

Your Afib is not permanent if it comes and goes. Its called PAF (Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation). If it happens everyday at the same time (5.30 pm) I wonder if there's a trigger? What time do you eat your evening meal? Regarding the fact you are in Afib until 8 am while you are sleeping - try changing your sleeping position. It likely won't make any difference but you never know!

Paul

Bagrat profile image
Bagrat

If you are not in AF all the time, then your AF is paroxysmal even if it happens very regularly. If your AF is there all the time but needs some sort of intervention, pills, cardio version ( that can be medication or electrical cardioversion) to get you back in normal rhythm, that is persistent AF.

If no intervention gets you back in normal rhythm that is permanent. Some EPs (electrophysiologists, cardio consultants that specialise in the "electrics " of the heart) will do an ablation if your symptoms bother you, even if your AF is categorised as permanent.Yours doesn't sound permanent from your description.

Cavalierrubie profile image
Cavalierrubie

My AF comes when it feels like it, but l know some are more prone to episodes when lying down. Do you have any digestive issues? It’s best not to eat anything 3hrs before bed because meals make the heart work harder. Perhaps prop yourself up in bed if you already don’t. Lying on your left side restricts the heart l am told, so l try and keep to the right. Are your electrolytes in sync.? Keep well hydrated. Hope you get some answers from your appointments.

Omniscient1 profile image
Omniscient1

It's permanent if it never stops (IE 24/7). If it comes and goes it's persistent.

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toOmniscient1

If each episode lasts for less than a week, its paroxysmal. Its only persistent if it lasts more than a week. This lady has it a few hours each day so it's paroxysmal.😊

Maggi79 profile image
Maggi79 in reply toDucky2003

It has been happening since 20 October

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toMaggi79

As I said, it relates to each episode not how many episodes. You said yours last a few hours at a time, not over a week at a time. 😊

Omniscient1 profile image
Omniscient1 in reply toDucky2003

Thank you, yes agreed.

Leilani63 profile image
Leilani63 in reply toDucky2003

I am in your few hours a day club. Do you worry about heart failure. Seeing my Dr in Feb as the best ones are so very busy but I am filled with anxiety which makes everything worse. My heart rate is all over the place but generally under 110 with occasional pops—

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toLeilani63

It's the poster who is in AF a few hours per day, not me 😊. I'm in nsr following a cardioversion a couple of weeks ago.

RF260 profile image
RF260 in reply toDucky2003

Hi Ducky2003, I did see your comment on the day of your most recent CV about hubby potential COVID meaning cancellation.. glad that you were able to go ahead. I was diagnosed with AFIB 3 months ago and referred to cardiology, I've since had 24 hour holter and echo and am back in to discuss results in a couple of weeks. My main symptom is complete exhaustion so asking for your experience if they offer a CV and assuming that gets me back in NSR can I expect a good increase in energy level ? I accept we are all different but I cannot function with this level of fatigue, thanks for any feedback x

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toRF260

Hi. Yes, he tested negative thankfully. It was quite odd as he felt rough for about 36 hours then, poof! he was normal as if nothing had happened.Well, this cardioversion has been a little different to usual. Back in nsr, great but 2nd day after, I didn't feel well and was quite tired and breathless and shaking in the evenings (still in nsr and no fever) I stupidly carried on, regardless, for 12 days then got in touch with the arrhythmia nurses who told me to get to hospital immediately as it may be a clot on my lung.

Long story short, it turned out to be fluid on the lungs. I have a mitral valve issue, awaiting surgery so it may have been that or a bug.

Now the fluid is clearing, I'm feeling the benefit of the cardioversion.

I've had about 9 and would leap at one, if needed, as being back in nsr makes such a difference to your QOL.

Are you on Bisoprolol by any chance as that sucked the life out of me.

Definitely consider a cardioversion if your offered. I'd be surprised if you didn't feel instantly better if they get you back into nsr.

RF260 profile image
RF260 in reply toDucky2003

Thanks for reply, yes I'm on 2.5mg bisoprolol and have been since April when I had a "small" heart attack. Towards the end of July I was actually just about to come off them due to fatigue and low RHR (into the 30's at times). Then during August I started feeling even more fatigued so saw GP in September who identified the AF (which I'm convinced started in August) and insisted I stay on the bisoprolol and added edoxaban. So I think bisoprolol was causing fatigue pre AF and now with AF thrown into the mix I'm completely knackered.. I'm hoping cardioversion will be offered and maybe in time to get off the bisoprolol. My echo results are on my NHS APP and look ok with EF of 61%. Best wishes for any further work you have done..

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toRF260

Thanks. Been on the list some time so it's frustrating.Sorry to hear about the heart attack.

I was put on Bisoprolol as a first medication. I could barely get up the stairs or to the gate.

My pharmacist explained that it attaches to receptors in the lungs as well has the heart, which is what causes the breathlessness.

He recommended that I ask about Diltiazem, which I did when I next saw a cardiologist....... well, I actually demanded to come off Bisoprolol I'd had 3 months of misery on it.

Been on Diltiazem since (8 years). May be worth asking your cardio team about that.

Maggi79 profile image
Maggi79

Great thank you for clarification..I'm sorry just learning atm ..so I'm paroxysmal

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman

Do you mean that every evening and night your heart has persistently been in AF, Maggie? If so, that is called a "heavy AF burden" but the need for treatment will depend, very much, on what symptoms it causes and how these make you feel.

The atrium, that is the two chambers at the top of the heart, is where the AF is happening. This is the "safe" part of the heart and it can get up to all sorts of antics without causing problems - at least much of the time. The lower two ventricles can be affected by these antics up above - but varyingly so. How much they are create the feelings we all have when in AF (i.e the AF itself cannot be felt). The ventricles supply the blood to the body and, especially the brain, and any interruptions or changes to this are what we feel as symptoms.

Steve

Maggi79 profile image
Maggi79 in reply toPpiman

Hi Steve Yes I'm in af every evening and night ..I take diltiazem 120mg in morning and since Monday increased to 120mg in evening as well...which has brought my heart rate down but not taken me out of af during the night ..but I'm more comfortable. Last night didn't wake due to symptoms..a first for last 5 weeks or so ...but my fitbit has recorded I'm in af through out the night ..I'm usually symptom free during the day thankfully..but I have started coq10..taurine and l argine ..that I think has lead to me being symptom free during the day..as I wasn't before starting them

I have tried different sleeping positions from advice been given on this forum ..but doesn't help

Maggi

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toMaggi79

I slept through my AF last week for the first time, with the help of a small dose (2.5mg) of a sleeping tablet called zolpidem. My AF is less regular than yours, maybe occurring fortnightly, although I do get short bursts much more often of maybe a minute or so - most add feeling.

How do you feel when the AF is on? I wouldn't be able to do any long walking, but otherwise I am coping better than I used to!

Steve

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