Morning everyone I was just wondering if when you’re experiencing an episode do you try to just carry on with your daily routines?
anxiety : Morning everyone I was just... - Atrial Fibrillati...
anxiety
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exmouth
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BobDVolunteer
Depends whether or not you want AF to define you. I used to carry one mainly because other people relied on me. I can remember many times I worked on race or rally cars whilst in AF as there was no alternative. My rate seldom if ever went much higher that 180 bpm so I just took my meds and carried on. Of course if you have chest pain or feel faint or dizzy then you should seek medical attention . Many of us never suffered that side and we are all different. As I've said many times before we all have different levels of acceptance and coping but a very early member of the forum gave me a quote I feel worth repeating. "AF may be in my life but it is not all of my life. "
Thank you Bob for replying. At the moment I’m very anxious and just waiting for the next episode.Ive made an appointment for next week privately hoping to sort myself out .
Bob, there are so many ways that AF can disable people. One time I had to wait for about 5 weeks for a cardioversion. At that time I could hardly put one foot in front of the other and walking from the lounge to dining room was an effort. I would drive to the supermarket and use the shopping trolley as a walking aid. Because you could carry on as normal you were very lucky, it was impossible for me and I'm sure for many others on this forum. My AF suffering was nothing to do with levels of acceptance and coping because in general I'm a fighter. Having a really bad AF attack can really sap energy leaving us unable to do much.
We all judge AF by how it affected us physically. If you could carry on your normal life you were very lucky.
Jean
Very good advice . I wanted to say thank you for all your wisdom. I have waited over 9 months for DCCV which happened on Tuesday and feel like I’ve been given my life back. Truly like a switch being flicked . I’m following your advice and taking it gently for a couple of weeks and not lifting things. Thank you❤️
It's such a wonderful feeling to be back in normal sinus rhythm. I'm a little bit envious as I'll probably never have that again.
Best wishes.
Jean
BobDVolunteer
As I said, we are all different . There is no definitive answer because of how we are mentally. I remember at one of our conferences how an EP who was presenting confided that he had AF had on one occasion went into AF whilst carrying out an ablation on a patient. He carried on of course.
Your opening sentence was:
Depends whether or not you want AF to define you.
It's not a case of that at all, people who don't get the bad effects others have, can carry on with their normal life and you are one of them from the sounds of it. Just be aware other AF suffers are not making a fuss over nothing and can feel absolutely dreadful. You make yourself out to be a hero by carrying on working when in AF, some people are severely depleted of energy and feel dreadful.
We all know that we shouldn't sit and dwell on an AF attack, but sometimes when they are so awful we have no choice.
Jean
Well said Jean. Carrying on as normal with a heart rate 180bpm is asking for trouble and not to be advised. Many years ago when i had my first ever AF episode, my rate was 160 and the cardiologist wanted me admitted immediately.
Your right Jean ,especially at the begining those out of the blue racing heart flip flopping episodes used to scare me so much.Eventually I tried to distract myself with things people had posted to help so I would be sucking on ice cubes or deep breathing or going for a walk etc.
Just know that it will pass, you will return to sinus rhythm,you will survive .
know that it will pass, you will return to sinus rhythm,you will survive
Well said fairgo.
Paul
I would always do my best to carry on as normal but it was not always possible because some AF attacks left me unable to do very much at all.
I sometimes wonder if the rhythmic thud of our foot on the ground could put our hearts back into normal rhythm. Just do what your body allows you to do and don't overdo any activity. Gentle pottering is sometimes a good idea if you feel up to it.
AF is only as bad as what we are experiencing and we all vary so much in how it makes us feel.
Please don't push yourself too much if it is making you feel unwell.
Take care.
Jean
I would say for myself I try to carry on as normal - but however determined I am to do that, the high heart rate prevents me doing normal activities for long.
When in PAF, my heart rate averages 140-180 when sitting or lying still (eg doing breathing exercises or trying to sleep it away), but rockets higher if I move to go to the loo or get a drink, and stays that until I’m sitting/lying still again. That’s on the max rate control medication I’m allowed. So for me, normal activities aren’t possible in PAF. But I do try to distract myself and not think about it, and occupy my mind with other things, rather than dwell on it. (Trick it into thinking I’m not bothered and it might just give up and go away?!)
I don’t know how I’d manage if it lasted longer than my current max of 3 days like that. High rates are unsustainable for long periods of time, of course.
However, other people I know live a totally normal life with PAF or persistent AF, as their rate is controlled. No affect on their activities at all except (for some) more tiredness or breathlessness.
We truly are all different, aren’t we! I found a peace of mind in asking my EP what was best for me personally to do, in my situation, with my own heart health etc. Jx
l think it important not to put extra strain on the heart when in AF., such as over excercising or doing anything too strenuous. I have at times carried on, but at a slower pace. If you are out when it strikes then you have to carry on, or if you are placed in a position of responsibility, like caring for another then you have to struggle through and rest when you can. I think it’s a case of being sensible and listen to your body. There have been times when l have had to rest as my HR has gone too high. Just keep a check on yourself. Only you know how you feel.
It's such a variable condition. I have flutter and have gone to A&E twice, once sent by my GP after she did an ECG, she wouldn't let me get off the couch and sent for an ambulance and I was blue lighted into hospital. The second time I woke up in the early hours of the morning, realised my heart rhythm was all over the place and rapid so got OH to take me into A&E. Again, after a quick ECG I was straight into resus , not allowed out of bed and had a defib machine parked next to me. I'm not sure what it is about my ECG that caused such a reaction but absolutely no way could I have carried on as normal. I think you have to listen to what your body is telling you and on both occasions I thought mine was telling me I had an issue that needed looking at, sometimes it tells me to sit down and relax with my feet up and quite often it tells me "live your life" so I do.
I think what Bob is saying is ‘don’t limit yourself by being afraid’. If your body makes you feel awful when you try to carry on (slowly) then it is telling you to stop. If you try to carry on (slowly) and feel okish then you can if you want or need to. I would never recommend what some fit people have advocated, which is to go for a run to get the heart back into rhythm - it might work for them but could end badly for someone else.
When I used to have an episode I was unable to do anything as I felt so bad, completely wiped out, so I just resigned myself to having a 'duvet day' (more often than not more than one!) and waiting it out until back in NSR. I think if you feel okay to carry on as normal then that's great, as long as you don't overdo it I guess, but otherwise if you feel completely drained and ill then just rest up and allow yourself to take it easy.
As advised previously in other replies, I consider my episodes to be low burden. I normally continue on with whatever I was doing or planning to do. My episodes don't cause any breathlessness so not really limiting my activities. However, to date that hasn't involved vigorous exercise i.e. at a struggle to talk level, only because i haven't had an episode during vigourous exercise or before I was about to undertake vigorous exercise. We're all different though. I exercise with AF because I can. Others may not be able to and some may not want to.
Over 10yrs on Flecainide I had just 2 short episodes but they through me completely possibly made worse by the concurrent anxiety.
However, now I have much more AF probably in and out 10% of the time and I carry on and do most things but not excessive exercise.
From information readily available, activity, possibly gentle exercise, walking etc, is thought in some instances to help Afib revert. My understanding is that symptoms during an episode will determine how much one can “carry on”, and the severity of symptoms and episode duration experienced will likely vary. It’s worth remembering that you will likely see many people, day to day, that are unaware that they’re even in Afib!
Before I was diagnosed with AF I would walk our hilly coastline. Going up hills would cause my heart to thump madly in my chest and I'd feel really tired. I thought everyone's heart did that. After my first ablation that thumping stopped, how wonderful that was but I still had AF attacks that would often put me into a hospital ward.
So people could have AF symptoms like I did and not be aware that it wasn't normal.
Jean
"So people could have AF symptoms like I did and not be aware that it wasn't normal".
Absolutely Jean, I think this statement is "key" in summarising Afib (or arrythmia(s) per se) within the general population. I believe the membership of this forum make up only a very small percentage of those "affected" by an arrythmia, however where the symptoms remain short in epsode duration or insignificant in it's physical effect, they remain ignored & more importantly unreported. I remember someone on here once quoted their EP as saying "an episode that lasts 30 seconds or less doesn't have a name" and I think remains the case for the vast majority. In addition, given the general state of things within the NHS, difficuly obtaining appointments, wait times for consultations / treatment etc, I think there'll be ever more sufferers who simply ignore symptoms.
Hi Exmouth, I find my body generally tells me when to stop and with AF I found the pattern to be quite erratic and unpredictable. My actual heart rate in persistent AF rarely went above 140 and was normally at around 80 to 90. However, as a walker I noticed huge swings in what I was capable of, some days walking a few miles and other days breathless and barely able to make it around the park. Some days I could manage a cooking day standing and other times I’d go feint after 2 minutes and have to sit. It was hard to plan days out as I’d never know how I was going to be. I often think about how I’d have managed at work in this state. There is a big danger in thinking these things are psychological, especially in work situations where the philosophy is work til you drop. Look how horrendously tough that has been on people with long covid and ME. And a lot of people have AF because they pushed themselves too hard in the first place. My answer to your question would be - be kind to yourself. If you need to slow up do that, without judgement.
Hi Exmouth.
You have started an interesting debate here. My take would be this: As stated above, Afib affects us all in different ways. Some are able to carry on with their daily lives and others are practically unable to function.
#Bob. If I had a HR of 180 bpm I wouldn't carry on working (personally). In fact, if it didn't return to a more acceptable rate within 2 or 3 hours, I would head off to A&E.
I think listening to your body is key here - it will soon tell you if you need to seek medical help. Suppose you have passed out or have chest pain - dial 999 on the spot. I always have my mobile in my pocket in case of such an event - I even take it to bed with me. This gives me some reassurance that I can summon help if required. I also have a keysafe on my front door so emergency services can enter if needs be. There was one time I fell and was unable to get up (not Afib-related) and I didn't have my phone with me. I was on the floor for hours until a neighbour heard me calling for help and called 999. This was before I had a keysafe fitted and the police were called to break in to allow the ambulance crew to gain entry.
Take away from this? Carry a mobile with you at all times if you live alone, and get a keysafe fitted. I use a memberable from a date in history for the code so it's easy to remember. My neighbours and emergency services have it - any problems and they can get in.
#Exmouth. Yes, I do carry on but don't push my luck too far. Skydiving would be a no-no but a slow walk around the block would get a tick. If it's PAF then I suggest you take it very easy and engage in LSD (long/slow/breathing). When I was in sinus after a CV the anxiety hit me for about a week when Afib came knocking again but it passed. I'm in Afib as I type but my HR is around 70 bpm and controlled by meds. Do what your body tells you to do - she is the boss in your case.
Enjoy your weekend. I have to go to London tomorrow and can function OK. Afib won't stop me. No chance.
Paul
Thank you It’s the anxiety that floors me.
My episodes involve a heart rate of 200bpm. I don’t carry on as strenuously as usual, but am fine carrying on slowly if, for example, I’m out cycling. Gentle activity isn’t a problem. The heart rate doesn’t worry me because, thus far at least, it will revert to NSR within half an hour.
Yes, and these days cope much better than in the past. If the rate is quite high, say 130bpm, I avoid stereos work or walking as it will then for to 180+ and defeat me forcing me to rest.
Steve
Thanks
Wherever or whenever AF struck, if out, I would have to carry on, get home when convenient and rest up. If at work, I would carry on with my day but head straight home. For the simple reason that my AF will not stop whilst being active and only at rest will there be any chance of it self-converting.
As far as anxiety goes, I still get anxious, even after suffering with PAF for 29 years. I ask myself why? because you would think I would be used to it and know all the answers, but no. I'm convinced there is some hormone (like the natriuretic peptides for example) that are released that naturally triggers anxiety and worry.
Not sure Bob was making himself out to be a hero.I once went to A& E by bus with a heart rate of 180 on arrival & when asked if I was ok I said (I have come for my head not my heart) of course they treated the elevated HR At other times I have been completely incapacitated with HR of 100.
I needed to get to hospital & I did not a hero.
Listen to your body and do what you can.Be careful with what you do.Dont sit & take a reading every 15 mins.Believe me I have done this in the early days.
Actually doing things can help the anxiety.
Like the others say everyone's experiences differ.Listen to your body and if you feel breathless or dizzy stop and rest.
I had an ablation last March and have had no episodes since but previously would have felt tired when having an episode particularly climbing steps. I could go and do my normal bits and pieces though but no gym work or anything that put the heart under extra pressure.
Be kind to yourself and listen to your body.
All the best
I try to carry on as normal but can't always - my biggest problem is that when in AF I'm can't get enough oxygen and any exertion leaves me very short of breath which can be quite scary - even going g upstairs can be a challenge and I have to take it very slowly!
My Afib episodes are always symptomatic with elevated heart rates (180) which thankfully revert to sinus rhythm after between 12 - 48 hrs without medical intervention. No dizziness etc with them. Initially when I experienced them I would focus on Afib completely. As time as gone on I am less anxious and in more recent episodes I have carried on with daily life as much as possible but avoiding anything that might be stressful. So one happened before a workshop I was due to facilitate and I had to get a colleague to step in for me, another when I was heading for a days hiking and I had to abandon that. But in other cases when I've been working in the office I can drive in and do that and indeed to my mild surprise no one notices anything different.
Can I ask please, when you said "revert to sinus rhythm ... without medical intervention", does that mean "no medications"?
Hi Exmouth. Do you mean an episode of anxiety or AF? Everyone seems to have read it as AF but as the title of your post is "Anxiety", I wondered if your were referring to episodes of that.
Hi I think it’s anxiety caused by AF I try to tell myself to be calm but unfortunately it doesn’t always work It’s like viscous circle.
Hi.I have just come back from a two week cruise knowing that while on board I would have a few episodes. In the event I had three, each of which lasted about 24 hours.I relaxed on the ship as best i could and waited for them to go, only missing one port.
(Luckily i am retired as I'm not sure I could work through an episode)
I have a second ablation due in February next year and hope I can just carry on until then.
Good luck and all the best.
When I have an AFib episode,I get a very symptomatic one and my blood pressure and heart rate soar and I was told by the Doctors, that I had to go to A&E whenever I get an episode, so they can keep an eye on me and try and stop it. Luckily, I’ve only had 9 episodes since 2014, when I first got it, during a nasty coughing virus. I had an ablation in September last year, for AFib and also for SVT, which I’d had since 1974. Hopefully the nasty AFib won’t return, or the SVT. 🤞🤞🤞
I try to carry on, but sometimes i feel so bad i just cant, its usually fatigue and feeling completely of kilter, over the years i have even backed away from certain people because i tried carrying on as normal just to please them , and not have them saying , oh here we go again, or the ,think positive comment, unless you have afib its impossible to grasp its effects, so now i go by me and how i feel at any given time, i wont just carry on for the sake of pleasing others.
Depends on the individual. I get very tired when it kicks off, have to empty bladder every 10 minutes. Gradually I’m able to function but slowly.
An afiib episode is not the time to be macho. It's the time to be smart.
When I go into fast afib. I basically stay in bed until I get my resting and walking rste to about 100.
This is not letting atrial fibrillation, control your life, this is an intelligent way to control your atrial fibrillation.
Too much activity at two high a heart rate can have consequences overtime, including heart failure.
Jim
Hi, I’m in permanent AF, which was agreed between my EP and myself. I was so anxious when I first AF. Read all the literature I could find on AF. It’s a nuisance however I try to carry on as normal, I’m no hero but I try not to let it interfere with my life. If I have a bad day I take it very easy, if it decides to affect me and I’m out shopping I go and sit somewhere with a cuppa and watch the world go by. I’ve had a cardioversion but it only worked for a couple of months. I’m on medication and I just carry on. AF affects everyone differently, nobody is the same. I’ve put my anxiety to one side as it causes my AF to kick off in a big way, I use breathing exercises and distraction to get any anxiety lowered. As I was told in A&E loads of folks have AF and live as normal lives as possible but everyone is different. Hope all goes well for you 🤗
Thank you for replying I’m in a vicious circle at the moment and sure which one is causing what. Im trying to take it in my stride. Take care
Yes, I carry on. In fact sometimes when I do a bout of gardening it takes my mind off my thumping erratic heart, and I realize the episode has stopped. I've gone to work a few times while in a-fib (in my working days) and it usually self-reverted. However, I've had a couple really strong episodes from medication problems, where no, I couldn't just get on with life.
This post sure sparked a discussion. Thanks. My key takeaway is that anxiety during an episode is key to control. I find that to be the most difficult and wish medics would add anxiety control meds for people in Afib. After six ablations, dozens of cardioversions, and trials of every rate and rhythm control meds in the pharmacopoeia, I’m convinced that anxiolytics need to be an adjunct in controlling Afib/flutter. My approach, along with sotolol and riveroxaban, is daily yoga, gentle walks, and small chores around my farm — along with home-grown cannabis. But then I’m in a location where it’s legal and my doctor approves … he even prescribed a medical card for me! However, be aware that it’s unfortunately illegal (and stupidly so) in other places.
Hi thanks for replying I know my AF was triggered by stress I’ve had two really stressful periods in my life and both seemed to start AF off I hadn’t had an episode for a really long time and about a month ago it stated again. I think my medication needs to be adjusted , but not getting very far with GPs Keep safe and thanks once again.
Hi, I think for me it's wondering how long this episode is going to last. Mine often starts at 4am, wakes me up and can go one till 10/12pm next day or just 3/4 hours Being on cancer treatment I want to get the most out of every day when I'm well and this just knocks me back somewhat. But today is a good day no AF. Best wishes. I like listening to audio mysteries when AF strikes, television doesn't help at all.
when hit with af symptoms it’s almost no impossible to avoid being anxious the organ that keeps you alive behaving unnaturally whatever that is for you is enough to cause panic and irrational thoughts and fears
At 150 bpm with atrial flutter lasting for hours, I'm left gasping for breath, and my heart pounds so hard my legs bounce when I sit down. I'm very symptomatic, and responses to this condition vary widely from person to person, so there's no one-size-fits-all solution. However, I focus on what I can control: staying calm (anxiety worsens symptoms), educating myself about the condition, seeking medical help when necessary, and having a plan for when it happens.
definitely Afib provokes massive anxiety which feeds that beast. I try to stay calm , distract myself…and sometimes a walk( more like a stroll) often resets everything. Antidepressants…tried but side effects intolerable. Very little alcohol…a glass of champagne once a month helps too😎
I would be more than happy to carry on as normal but being in AF makes me very breathless; and I have to take extra beta blockers which result in weakness, dizziness and more breathlessness.
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