I was diagnosed 12 years ago. I had bouts of short bursts of palpitations since I was about 34, but first afib episode when I was 50. Had loads of echo monitoring short and 24 hr, nothing odd (palpitations did show up sometimes). Scans all normal. In the past I have gone over two years without an episode, however since Xmas 24 I've had two episodes. They go after about two hours when I take extra 50mg flecanide. I did write a post here a few years ago to talk about how they have affected my life. I still really struggle with it. Every time I have the slightest palpitation I think I'm going into AFIB and I am terrified. I just don't know what to do. Have talked about ablation but am scared something will happen to me. I care for two autistic sons and I need to be there for them. I'm all they've got. I'm desperate x
Struggling with my anxiety over Afib - Atrial Fibrillati...
Struggling with my anxiety over Afib
Unfortunately I think we become sensitive to the way our hearts are beating , I am like you just anticipating the next afib episode when there is the slightest missed beat! I just accept that it’s going to happen and live my life the best I can, it does upset me for a few days after an episode then I just try and forget it, you have flecanide to help you, I don’t have that and my episodes can go on for 12 hours. I turned down an ablation as I am not keen on the idea of it so you are not alone.
I can’t really help with your anxiety but remember you are not alone!
Bless you vivijane. I think anyone who says that AF doesn’t make them anxious is telling fibbers! I always say anxiety is a symptom of AF. It’s ok to say relax, but it is easier said than done. However we have to try with breathing excercises or doing something to take our mind off things. I have found that it f l relax it lessens the episode.
The first thing a cardiologist told me, 7 years ago when l was diagnosed, was that AF is not life threatening. There are members on here that have lived with it for years and some going into their nineties.
From what you have said, your AF burden is light, and you have it well controlled, and you are being well looked after. There is no other heart issue and your heart is healthy. When l have an episode, l talk to myself and tell myself that it has happened before, it won’t kill me and will go away. It’s a mind thing and the mind is very powerful and plays tricks.
Maybe you could talk to your GP and tell them how you feel. Perhaps he could refer you for counselling if you are desperate. With two children to care for he/she should understand your situation and give you priority.
You are not alone in your feelings. AF is a difficult thing to live with at times and because we are only human, it can get us down, but it could be a worse condition, so stay strong. X ❤️
Chris.
Thank you everyone. Sometimes it's just knowing other people feel like me that helps a lot. Afib is a lonely place sometimes x
Afib can be very frightening, I certainly found if so, and anxiety difficult to manage. Have you thought about thinking of treating your anxiety as a separate issue? There are a lot of approaches to help with anxiety. Grounding techniques, breathing techniques, as already mentioned. Safe place work, meditation etc. often not easy to do initially, may take practice but the practice it’s self will start to refocus your mind onto a calmer place. It is likely you already have a way to calm your mind, just difficult to find that way just now. If you want to look up more about it check up terminology like benefits of accessing your parasympathetic side of your autonomic nervous system , or maybe just relaxation techniques. You have the power to do this, be kind to your self and go looking for it. Best of luck.
I'm so pleased to hear others get anxious over this. I thought I was just being cowardly x
I would worry if you didn’t get anxious, it is totally understandable . I agree with the reply saying prioritise sleep too, very restorative.
Reducing anxiety is a very individual pursuit but if I was to rank suggestions on my experience I would put trying all ways to improve sleep pattern near the top.
hi I’m so sorry to hear you are struggling. I’m a single mum and every time I have an episode it sends me reeling mentally. I’m the same I can go a year and a half with nothing then a big afib attack. Just when you think you have come to terms with having this condition, then it sends you into anxiety. It’s very frightening because it’s your heart and you have no control. And of course your kids are your everything. The only comfort I get is that my cardiologist says it’s not life threatening, which doesn’t help at the time of a episode and the weeks of recovery after ….. but I hang on to that so I can get through each day with my son. Mindful meditation helps me, I don’t practise all the time but only when the anxiety takes over. I’m not a fan personally of ablation due to a friend having had it and had many side effects after but I know another person who had it done and they say it’s the best thing ever. For me I can’t have it as my cardiologist says it requires 4 weeks almost bed rest and well I can’t do that with my child but maybe it’s something I think about when he is a teenager and not as energetic maybe lol
I still reach for my Kardia mobile when I’m having a few palpitations but when the reading says normal sinus then I’m fine, these machines definitely help so not sure if you have one?
And these groups definitely help so keep talking and asking and reaching out for help. We are all in the same position with our anxiety over AFIB and everything you are feeling is perfectly normal, everyone’s balance is different but I hope I helped in some way
Hugs x
My problems come at night , I wake up sweating and a bit of anxiety and chest pressure or heaviness. When I get up to pee and lay back down, I really get a bunch of palpitations, coukd I be having some afib in the night, and my bpm is down to 30 some nights. I started tadalafil 6mg for my prostrate enlargement, and I'm sure it has caused me more heart issues as it dilated heart and lung vessels . My electrophysioligist didn't seem to mind but I'm doing a holtar for 48hrs. Does anyone have the same problem? I'm on bisoprolol 10mg
That is a very large dose of Bisoprolol! I had to stop taking the lowest dose of 1.25mg after three days as it brought my heart rate down too low. I found a Kardia very helpful to check heart rate and irregularity and was introduced to having one ( and a smart phone to use it) by the EP I saw privately after the surgery failed to come up with anything else following having to stop the Bisoprolol. He prescribed Flecainide to use as a PIP at first but now that I take it regularly, I have managed to reduce the first dose of the day to 50mg and take 100mg at night and haven’t had an episode for ages- the last one ended in an hour with an extra 100mg of the Flec. Good luck finding what works for you.
Flecainide has virtually put an end to episodes for me and I’ve been able to reduce the first dose of the day to 50mg and have 100mg at night. How about meditation, mindfulness or gentle breathing practices to calm your anxiety and surely there is some way of getting some support with your sons? I’d advice not to go down the medication route for anxiety but to go gently and don’t panic.
Hello,
Thank you for your post. It is completely understandable to be experiencing anxieties. Managing AF symptoms can cause a variety of emotions to arise so it is important to be kind to yourself.
If you would like any support, advice or information, please do reach out to our Patient Services Team who are available via Patient Helpline or via email, please visit: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
We are always here if you need us.
I would also like to mention our AF and You booklet which contains supportive information that I do hope you find helpful. In particular, the booklet discusses ways/techniques that may help to manage AF symptoms: api.heartrhythmalliance.org...
Please do also reach out to your Doctor if you have any concerns regarding an ablation as they have full access to your medical records and will be able to advise you personally.
I do hope you feel better soon.
Kind regards,
HollieAdmin
Thank you for this information, I will have a look at what you recommend
I was 35 when I was diagnosed withAF. I am now 67 I only got episodes once every 4 or 5 years on average. That changed 3 years ago and now get them once or twice a year. I maintained a normal life and yes I get ectopics and used to panic that they may flip in AF. The key to me was learning how to breath properly that is through nose not mouth. Correct breathing can lower your HR. Maybe look up the good book
breathing properly gave me the confidence to deal with anxiety l. Maybe read James Nestor’s book ‘breath’
There are a lot of tips and tricks on what to do like breathing, drinking water, cold water and so on, also PIP if you’re lucky enough to be prescribed them. It helps me to have a checklist of things to try as possible remedies but I also don’t hang on a firm belief that they will stop an episode, they give me something to do and concentrate on. I also like to do something pre-planned. Could be a walk listening to music, could be watching a film, going to the cinema. For me sitting and waiting for things to pass just makes you focus more on it and get more worried. Doing something more involved helps you focus on something else and forget it for a while. It’s very individual, but for me doing something really helps, even when the temptation is to sit and ‘relax’. It doesn’t necessarily make you forget, it just takes your mind somewhere else.
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