Newly diagnosed Atrial Fibrillation or flutter

[Gumbie_Cat]

I’m new here!

I’ve always worried a little that I could be due some heart problems. Being the ‘baby of the family’ can prepare you for that. Both sisters had strokes in their mid sixties, and my older brother has had some problems with rapid heart rate too.

I got thoroughly checked out when my sisters had strokes, but everything seemed fine. Then at the Biobank, four years ago, they reckoned I was in A Fib, but a visit to the doctor showed a steady, slow hearbeat.

I’m now 67, and my Apple Watch started sending me Atrial Fibrillation alerts on Monday. (Valentine’s Day, what a daft coincidence.) I’ve now been diagnosed and am on Apixaban and Dronedarone. With a visit back next week.

I really didn’t feel very different, just a little wobbly, and some palpitations at night.

I think it explains some dizzy spells over the years, and some occasions where I’ve felt dreadful when waking at night. I blamed prawns - maybe I can eat them again!

But of course my heart just behaved itself on each check. Not so much this time - bouncing up to 170 in the hospital.

Right now I am feeling relieved at catching it before a stroke.

[jeanjeannie50]

There's a forum on here just for atrial fibrillation :

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

Jean

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you

[Bingofox007]

Welcome. It’s a great site for support and learning. I was recently diagnosed with same and this site can be a life saver in the middle of the night when there’s no one to talk to and your hearts pounding away. The AF forum jeanjeannie50 mentioned is very good. Take care. X

[Yellow26]

I’ve had AF for years’ it took me about 2yrs before it settled’ it’s always down to medication when you get that fixed it’s controllable. I wouldn’t take much notice on you Apple Watch’ my cardiologist told me to ignore it’ there is a forum on here for AF’ try it. Good luck with AF and you can lead a normal life’ I have for the last 15 years

[Gumbie_Cat]

Thank you! It turned out the watch was right this time, so it did me a favour. My GP said that a lot of the time they’re a false alarm. Turned out the ECG readings were even higher than on my watch. It stopped sending the alerts yesterday, when I noticed my pulse had calmed down.You’ve cheered me up with the 15 years!

[Blondie12345]

How are things now?

Can i ask if you had any other symptoms over the years prior to your diagnosis?

You mention dizziness

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to Blondie12345]

Thanks for asking.Yes, I had some dizziness back in 2016, but the GP didn’t think it was anything. Then it got better. Also, the odd occasion of feeling shaky at night if I got up. As I sometimes get low blood pressure, I put it down to standing too quickly etc.

I also had a retinal vein occlusion in 2019, but an ECG just showed a slow heart rate.

I had an ECG then an echocardiogram in 2012, yet I can’t remember what triggered that, so I am going to ask the GP. It was all fine.

I’ve still not experienced my heart racing, or any serious breathlessness. I didn’t even feel it racing when the monitor was bouncing up to 170. So, I think I’ve been one of those people that didn’t really feel the AF, and glad that my watch alerted me!

I’m relieved to be on the anticoagulants now, but do feel a bit slowed down with the Dronedarone. My resting heart rate, and also average walking heart rate are lower - and they weren’t high before. Regularly down in the low 40s now, and I’m certainly no athlete.

I had a Holter monitor, and have had a letter to say that I’m back in sinus rhythm, and that I have been passed for review (to an electrophysiologist I believe.) Then I got another letter for a phone appt. in July, with the original consultant.

So no other tests so far. Feeling fine apart from some lack of energy, but wish I knew if I am getting more tests, and who to contact if it happens again. (I wasn’t that quick off the mark in February!)

Seeing my GP tomorrow, so lots of questions.

I hope you are doing fine, I think I am pretty lucky, especially when I read of other people’s experiences. Though I would like to know which further tests I will get, if any.