My AF Journey so far.......

[Jason1971]

After an ankle injury last August I decided at 41 it was time I retired from playing football. Something I have done from being the age of 8 and I still played Saturday and Sundays. The ankle was taking longer to heal, so after numerous warnings from my wife I decided to quit. I have always been active and knew I had to do something or I would go spare! I carried on with my cardio and weight training and things were good. I had a friend who just started up as a personal trainer / boxing coach so decided I would get the physical rush I needed from that.

It was in the October that I started getting dizzy whilst training. I put it down to a bug, so carried on. At first it was only during the boxing training, but as the weeks went on it got worse. I decided to go to my Doctor who on checking my pulse sent me for an ECG. It was there I discovered I was in AF. A trip to the specialist followed a while later and after another ECG it was determined I had persistent AF. I was placed on Warfarin and Amiodarone (200MG). The plan was to see how the drugs worked firstly and if no luck I was to have a Cardio Version (Hence the Warfarin). I went back a week later for an Echo-Cardiogram and whilst having the scan the nurse informed me I was no longer in AF. I then saw my doctor a week after that and after another ECG showed I was still out of AF he suggested I reduce my Amiodarone and took me off Warfarin. Unfortunately this was short lived, as the very next day I went back into AF. I’d had a coffee that morning and grabbed another going into a meeting. Whilst drinking the second one I came over feint and on checking my pulse I was back in AF. I called the Doc’s who suggested I increase my Amiodarone to 400MG for three days, then back to 200MG until I saw him a week later. Approx 6 days later I was back out of AF and have been now for the past 3 weeks. I’m reducing my meds (Currently on 100MG for a month) and hopefully I can stay out for a while. I think it’s a case of finding my triggers at the moment, but in the meantime I’m pretty much exercising as much as before, so I guess at this present time I am one of the lucky ones.

[elmbury]

The original dizziness may be unrelated to your AF - it is rare for someone to be in AF for weeks then come out of it. I suggest you wear an heart rate monitor regularly (is good for exercising anyway) as that gives you a good sign of when you are in AF even if you are asymptomatic, and also record what you eat and drink. Then you can check if there seems anything that may be triggering your AF, and you can tell the doctor more accurately how regularly the AF attacks are taking place.

[Jason1971]

Thanks for the comment Elmbury. After writing my blog, only hours later I went back into AF. I don't get severe warnings, just slight palpitations. I have abstained from Alcohol, caffeine and just about anything else that I thought would send me into AF, but after a steady session in the gym I noticed I was out of normal sinus rhythm. I followed my Doctors’ previous advice and upped my Amiodarone to 400MG and come Sunday morning I was out again. I'll try to reduce the meds again, as I'm not too happy taking them long term. As for the heart rate monitor I do wear one when doing any CV work.

[tk11]

Can you suggest a heart rate monitor for me please?

[Jason1971 in reply to tk11]

I got a polar fitness HR monitor watch and strap. There are plenty of options out there depending on what price you would like to pay. I opted for one with a Chest Strap, as it tends to be compatible with most Gym Cardio equipment