Any info on atrial fibrillation???

[Matthewmills1]

Just been diagnosed with it need to talk to people that have it or have been cleared from it thanks .

[Matthewmills1]

Thank you very much !

I really appreciate it.

[Helen_BHF]

Hi Matthewmills1 , a few links from the BHF which might be helpful....

bhf.org.uk/heart-health/con...

There's also a booklet free to download which covers what atrial fibrillation is, diagnosis, complications, and different types of treatment: bhf.org.uk/publications/hea...

There's also a few threads on the community already you might want to check out...

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

healthunlocked.com/bhf/post...

Hope this helps!

[Matthewmills1]

Thanks Helen I will take a look thanks 🙂

[BigT2013]

PM me I have been diagnosed with paroxysmal AF.

[tunybgur]

Hi Matthewmills1,

I was diagnosed with AF in April 2016.

My symptoms were an irregular and slightly fast pulse and lack of energy. I had a heart attack in 2012 and have suffered some arrhythmias since then, probably due to the scar tissue that forms on the heart and causes problems with the electrical pathways driving the muscles.

After the diagnoses I was put on warfarin and a few months later after various investigations it was confirmed as persistent AF.

Various meds were tried, I won't list my experience as we all react differently, but AF can be caused by different issues with the heart, and these meds affect different areas.

In November I had a cardioversion carried out which immediately put me back into normal sinus rhythm. This is a procedure which has a high success rate but is often not a permanent fix as I found out when I went back into AF in January after a brief period of personal stress. Stress for me is the big trigger, all my arrhythmia issues seem to be linked with episodes of stress.

This is where my luck changed. I had a brilliant AF nurse who I contacted and told her I was back in AF. She arranged for me to come in, ECG confirmed AF and she booked me in for another cardioversion.

We also has a chat about AF in general and she suggested I try Flecainide. The consultant was contacted and confirmed it was ok, and within 12 hrs I was back in sinus rhythm where I have remained to this day.

Now lessons learned - the NHS have their processes but everything seems to take a long time, months between appointments and investigations, and it's generally agreed that the longer you are in AF the more likely it is to become permanent, so shouldn't there be more urgency with these treatments?

I was lucky as I know when I'm in AF (check your pulse and you'll know), and my AF nurse responded quickly after my cardioversion, and she recommended the change in meds.

If your meds don't seem to be working don't wait for the next appointment, which could be months away.

Good luck

Derek

[HarryBell]

I had an episode 2 years ago, after overdoing it at the Gym in a big way. I stopped drinking alcohol and caffeine and take 2.5mg of bisoprolol a day. Since then I have not had another episode. I exercise regularly at the Gym but keep my heart rate below 100 (as the beta blocker effectively reduces the normal rate by about 20 beats per minute this is quite a good workout). I monitor myself whenever exercising - most of the time my heart rate is 65-85 beats per minute. So I say take care, get rid of alcohol and caffeine and be lucky.

[HarryBell]

ps try meditation too

[Hidden]

I to have just been diagnosed with AF

And put on drugs .

Just joined this forum and it has already been a great help with some of my questions .

Thankyou all

After having echocardiogram a month ago

My doc said I have an enlargement on the left side of my heart .and I would receive appointment from cardiologist who will explain everything. It's a bit worring as no idea what they mean .and doesn't look like appointment will be to soon either.

Life goes a bit on hold ..