Hello All - thank goodness I have found this group. Hope you are all well. I am joining because my partner Dimitris has been diagnosed with AF - after having dizzy spells and low energy....thankful that he got himself to the doctor's who got him straight to hospital. I'd like to follow up with more info etc - in the hope of some support and good advice - but for now just wanted to say hello and introduce myself to you. Thank you!
*we are in Manchester UK.
Go tou Atrial Fibrillation Association main website and read till you drop. Knowledge is power.
Mine was a massive electrolyte deficiency - normal electrolyte mixes couldn't touch it - see my post for what has been working for me 11 months - no afib - below and article
My Post on reddit afib:
reddit.com/r/AFIB/comments/...
Electrolyte’s imbalance role in atrial fibrillation: Pharmacological management
arrhythmia.biomedcentral.co...
Serum electrolyte concentrations and risk of atrial fibrillation: an observational and mendelian randomization study
bmcgenomics.biomedcentral.c...
Good luck
Many thanks for your reply. I will be taking a look at all this as will Dimitris.
Welcome to the crazy heart club Dimitris would rather not be in!First..don't Panic D!
Second ,don't waste your time looking for a) triggers for AF b) The Permanent Cure,there isn't one.
Thirdly,realise AF itself is not fatal, but needs rate control. No one's heart likes to be belting along at flight risk rate! Stroke risk assessment is vital,in case D needs anticoagulants . In which case,no brainer.
Fourthly, you will have many questions, most of which will be found in.the resource Bob mentioned. Members here are also an absolute godsend of support ,you are not alone.
Sending a hug to both, it's a scary initial time xxx
Reading on the official website (as BobD suggests) and contributions here is a powerful tool to deal with AF and most related issues. So well done, you are in the right place. You now need to be persistent and open minded.
I have found lifestyle changes and occasional private appointments with medics expensive but helpful.
All good advice here, welcome to the club. Once you've got over the shock of OMG having something wrong with your heart, the next stage is learning how to live with it.
Thank you!!!!
Hi David and welcome to the group. Of those AF groups online, I have found this to be the most helpful and friendly.
Keep in mind that your partner's AF is affecting by far the lesser important chamber of his heart, the atrium. This will also to some degree affect the important part, the lower pumping chambers, the two ventricles. It can cause them, not always, to beat too quickly and less regularly, perhaps an average rate of 85-180+bpm, depending on the individual; the faster rate the more symptomatic the AF, usually, as this reduces the heart's overall efficiency. It also makes it palpitate and feel weird, yet, despite all, it is, still, relatively well protected from harm by the AF.
The real area of concern is that the ventricles can respond to the AF happening "up top" by beating too quickly and this, if it continues unchecked for a long time, maybe weeks, can weaken the ventricles, sometimes, it seems, even permanently (not often, I gather, but it can happen and is called heart failure or HF). Also, the atria that suffer AF are more likely to create tiny clots or thrombi in a little sac in the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAD); this means, if other criteria are, met, that there's an increased risk of stroke. To counter this, a calculation called an CHA2DS2-VASc score is done and your partner might then need to take an anticoagulant medicine such as apixaban.
This is why the first form of treatment, after the anticoagulant, is to stop the heart racing (i.e. prevent tachycardia). This is done, most often, with a beta blocker, and usually one called bisoprolol. The rhythm itself, if deemed necessary and safe, can sometimes be returned to normal (called "NSR" - normal sinus rhythm) with anti-arrhythmic drugs. The most common two are flecainide and sotalol. A procedure called an ablation can try to stop the AF, too.
What can be done to help AF? The key aspect is for weight to be brought to a healthy normal along with high blood pressure the same, and any sleep apnoea treated.
Steve
Hi David. I was so shocked when I got a diagnosis of AF and this forum has been so helpful and supportive - so welcome to you and Dimitris. I had persistent AF and used to feel it worst at night and when walking upstairs or uphill. I was quite symptomatic and hated it and found a wonderful EP (Electrophysiologist) and booked a private consultation with him. This was great because I had time to have all my questions answered and consider options for treatment. I quickly got on a waiting list for cardioversion then cardio ablation (on NHS with the same EP). I don’t have AF any more, but like several here who’ve had successful treatment I’ve stayed around - partly because I know the AF could return but mostly because it’s a bit of a second home to me 😂
Thankyou Rainfern for your reply! We are looking into options for Dimitris to see a cardiologist here in Manchester - and pay privately at least for a consultation - to get some info and answers. I am so glad to hear that you don't have AF anymore! and thank you for sticking around!!!
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