How do you deal with it?

I can go several days but no episodes like nothing's wrong then all of a sudden everything goes Haywire.

It's very scary.

My question is how do you live your life with the constant reminder always that...something bad could happen?

I mean I understand that all of us are going to pass away at some point.

I just don't see how you can live with the constant reminder of it. It makes me just feel like giving up. By giving up i mean forgeting about what i need to eat or not eat..forget exercise..and being healthy..and just eat drink and be merry.

It affects every part of my life especially my social life.

Makes it hard for me to work.

I get tired easily.

I wore a Holter monitor for the second time in two years for 30 days it showed a couple of episodes of atrial tachycardia and some ectopic Beats.

The doctor gave me metoprolol.

I haven't started taking it yet because of the side effects.

I already have a low heart rate my monitor showed 46 at sleep and running in the fifties a lot of the time in the evenings I'm afraid of it dropping my blood pressure and my heart rate even lower. The highest heart rate that I experience on the monitor in 30 days was 138 Beats another time or two it was a 133. That's during the tachycardia. One or two of those times I believe it's when I was push mowing. The doctor I have didn't tell me to keep a journal I did a little bit but he didn't talk to me about anything i was doing during the 30 days i told him about mowing. He just gave me the script.

When I went two years ago I had basically the same type of stuff on my monitor and he said he didn't want to put me on any medication because of my low heart rate.

I just don't know how to cope anymore with this. Maybe some of you brave souls can give me some insight and Hope.

[Bonnie58]

Hi Autumn, my name is Elaine.

I am sorry you are having a tough time with your unpredictable ticker. It can be hard to get your head around it all.

I am 62 and was in my mid fifties when I began to have arrhythmias similar to yours. I have had various meds and treatments and things are getting sorted. Do you have a good cardiologist, family, friend support ?

[Hidden in reply to Bonnie58]

Hello and thank you for your reply I'm not too crazy about my cardiologist.

He seems rushed.

I do not have a support family friend network unfortunately.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

Hi. My first reaction to your post is.....perhaps look at your anxiety. Some of us get terribly anxious, with our bad hearts. Of course. But it doesn’t always help us.. What do you think? Is it a real issue for you?

Secondly, I find it much better to work with my Cardiologist, they do know so much more about hearts than I do! Did you discuss it at the time, that you were reluctant to take the ones he prescribed, or did you make your decision later?

[Hidden in reply to Kristin1812]

Hello thank you for your reply I did speak with him regarding my concerns and he said try it anyway.

Anxiety definitely makes it worse.

[Grayjay]

Try to assess if there is a cause for the episodes. Push mowing should be put for starters. Maybe it's something in your diet that you don't have regularly. I can't advise you on medication but since I was prescribed Entresco my AF has been much better. Hope you get sorted soon.

[Hidden in reply to Grayjay]

Thank you for your reply funny thing is it seems like my episodes occur when I'm at rest when I'm busy up doing things whether mowing or other chores I don't seem to have it, it seems to be when I stop to rest or when I'm lying down. I have recently cut out some Dairy such as milk and cheese that does seem to have helped but I still have bad palpitations

[Loveswimmimg]

Hi, I have many of the same symptoms as you, mine is paroxysmal AF and I never know when the next episode will be. It’s horrible, but my cardiologist has put me on Bisoprolol which does calm you down a bit. It’s made my heart rate even lower, and does have some side effects but I am persevering at least until the next appointment. Tempting as it is to ignore food and drink and be merry, this isn’t a great idea. Alcohol is a stimulant which will make your episodes worse and could even set one off. Ditto caffeine. Sadly I have had to give up both, and chocolate too. Getting out for a walk every day has massively improved my mental and physical health, even a half hour walk is better than nothing. It will exercise your heart and boost your heart rate, hence getting more oxygen round your body. Finally, don’t forget to stay well hydrated, this will stop your blood pressure going too low. I do sympathise hugely that following all this is difficult some days. Don’t beat yourself up for having a day in bed, just make sure it’s not too often. Be kind to yourself, find things that calm your anxiety and keep posting here as there is huge support available from those in the same boat. Good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Loveswimmimg]

Thank you very much for your reply.

My diagnosis was paroxysmal Atrial tachycardia. Ectopic beats and bradycardia. I don't drink alcohol anymore I have given up chocolate way back I do try to exercise and I have laid off a lot of dairy products I don't drink soda i have made many dietary changes and given up so much but it doesn't seem like anything's really helping I do try to keep my anxiety under control and I take a really good magnesium and multivitamin supplement. The Magnesium has done wonders for helping me rest at night but I'm still having eptopics and palpitations.

[Britishgas]

Hi I have ectopics which I find distressing when they start happening yet again, also have low pulse so Bisoprolol took my pulse too low. I’m waiting to have 72 hr holter monitor fitted but cardiologist said the good news my heart is fine but this Condition is hard to treat. I’ve started going to Reflexologist who practices vaxuflex , which is like acupuncture without the needles and I’m taking 2 Neuralactin at night which helps with the nervous system. I’ve also found taking 5 slow deep breaths in and 5 out for 5 mins is really helpful. Watch you tube Dr Sanjay Gupta who is very reassuring regarding problems with heart rhythm. All the best

[Hidden in reply to Britishgas]

Thank you for your reply I love Sanjay Gupta I watch him all the time!!

[Pammy124prms]

aww so sorry to hear youre feeling like this , believe me youre not alone. i had a heart attack 3 months ago and then a massive haemmorage iffel much better now apart from 2 things diarrheoa and anxiety caused by the runs and tablets.i have chronic kidney failure and diabetes now the bad ticker the thing is i have no quality of life due to the sh....ts 7 times at least everyday and starts 2 to 4 hours after the tabs if im tired ive got to stay upstairs near the loo. ive stockpiled 127 bog rolls and 20 bottles of handwash not because of lockdown because of arse down sorry to be so crude trying to cheer you up, anyway ive had a fit test waiting for the result hopefully tomorrow but the cardiologist has changed me to ticagrolor which causes breathlessness not good terrifies me but i may not get it and hallucinations so ive been on every website form here to eternity nothing on them to cheer me up only depress me clopidogrel make the kidneys worse ticagrel dont, as long s the tros sorry gallops get better i ll try them even worse reading kidneys give you heart attacks heart meds affct kidneys, think im doomed im sure youll feel better soon hope this helps probably made you worse lots can be done for your condition my neighbour had it for 30 years

[Hidden in reply to Pammy124prms]

Hello thank you so much for your reply.

You are an extraordinary Brave person.

I appreciate you sharing your experience with me. You are in my hopes and prayers to feel much better soon and your quality of life to improve significantly thank you so much again for sharing.

[Grayjay in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for replying. It's very strange. Before my bypass I used to suffer with Unstable Angina which happened just the same, at rest etc. Have you got a GTN spray? I don't know if that would help but maybe try it. I hope you get sorted out soon.

[Hidden in reply to Grayjay]

Hi no i dont have chest pain so i dont use it

[Grayjay in reply to Hidden]

If you have one try it, you don't have to have pain. It's worth a try, It may be worthless but personally I' m always willing to try anything, who knows.