AF rears it’s ugly head again

[Nanaeli]

hi. I’ve been fine for sometime with regards to AF and flutters. However, since being at ED on Sunday with chest pain, nausea, headache and a wheeze I was diagnosed with acute bronchitis. Bp was through the roof also (which always is when I’m unwell). I was given a course of steroids and antibiotics. The Dr who examined me also said I had a heart murmur? This was news to me? Or is it the same thing as eptopics? I didn’t even ask questions as I’d been there for so long and I was tired and weary and just couldn’t wait to get home and allow the meds to take their course. But since then, my heart will not stop doing somersaults and I’ve had AF twice after having it literally three times since July? I’m back to worrying and being upset that there’s more to it. I know I need to rationalise it again as I have done in the past but for whatever reason, it just won’t stop 😭 Since being discharged on Sunday I’ve received two messages from my GP to make appts. One for a dodgy ecg and the other for the high BP. If I was seen at the hospital and discharged saying my ecg was ok, why would my GP want to see me about it? I’m once again so confused by how things work in the system and it’s left me worrying that they’ve missed something. I am now feeling much better and the wheeze has stopped but my heart is now going crazy after such a long time of contentment and very few episodes. I am on edoxaban and no other medication. Please can someone help me understand what is going on I’m beside myself with worrying. Thank you 😊

[ArgoJason]

Hi Nanaeli

As far as I'm aware, a murmur is not the same as an ectopic (which is form of heart beat). Murmurs are quite common and may not be associated with heart conditions, though they can be. My GP described mine as turbulence in the heart - that is, some of the pumping action in the heart creates little whirlpools of blood that don't get ejected properly. The swirling sound of this blood is the murmur.

If your GP wants to see you, it could well be to help you understand a confusing or complex picture of tests, so it would be good to go along and find out what she/he has to say.

Good luck!

[Nanaeli in reply to ArgoJason]

thank you. That is very helpful and interesting. I have an appointment with her in December 2nd. I was just taken aback by the comment but didn’t think on my feet to question it. I was more interested in getting my wheeze sorted out. Wish I was more assertive and thought to ask more at the time. 😊

[ArgoJason in reply to Nanaeli]

I have some friends who are doctors and I think I'm right in saying that they're always happy to answer questions, even if it means the appointment gets stretched a little (often this won't be the case). If you're worried about being a bother, I suspect even if you badgered them they've seen far worse!

[Threecats]

Hi Nanaeli

I’m sorry to hear about your recent experiences. I have paroxysmal AF, too and know that, if I have an infection it can very easily trigger it off. I imagine that’s what may have happened in your case, too. Your blood pressure rise due to being unwell can also be a trigger. I do wonder if you may be a little dehydrated as well. It might be worth trying a drink containing potassium, such as coconut water or tomato juice, as the potassium I find, does help to calm things down.

Please try to stay as calm as you can, I know how challenging that is when your heart feels like it’s jumping out of your chest, believe me! If anxiety was an Olympic sport I’d definitely be up there getting a medal😀As I have been told many times, whilst it might feel like it, AF doesn’t kill you. You are protected by your anticoagulant against the stroke risk that goes with AF so, if you can, try some slow, deep breathing just to try and calm your nervous system down a little.

As for your GP contacting you, if your BP was high in hospital that would be flagged up to the GP to follow up and similarly, if your ecg showed AF episodes, the hospital would flag it up to the GP too.

Finally, yes really😊 the heart murmur isn’t the same as an ectopic beat. As Argo Jason says, they are very common , as it’s where the blood forms little eddies and back flows as it goes through the heart. I’ve got a murmur due to a slight leak on a heart valve but I’m still upright and breathing😀

Anyway, I’m sorry for the essay! I do hope you feel better soon and your GP is able to allay your fears. TC

[Nanaeli in reply to Threecats]

this is super reassuring and it’s like you’ve delved into my mind. I had actually learnt to live with AF even though I still feel very lucky as it’s not been 💯 proved yet. My watch says yes and the electrophysiologist cannot say it is but at the same time he can’t say it isn’t so I’m having a 14 day patch fitted in January to try to catch it. So yes the anticoagulants definitely give me that little bit of reassurance. I had calmed down so much and was just beginning to get on with my life, back to exercising and living without fear of my heart giving up and then this last week, I began to get a little scared again. It just seemed to appear from nowhere and perhaps this will be the future me, every time I’m under the weather, it will show with my heart and BP. Most other times it is all perfectly normal 😊 so I’ll take that as a positive. Thank you so much for your reply it really has helped me to rationalise it all 🤩

[Threecats in reply to Nanaeli]

I’m glad I could help.😊 I must say having AF really “ did my head in” to start with, as part of my way of managing my anxiety is to try and control things - ridiculous I know! Of course my AF had a good laugh at that idea and took great delight in sneaking up on me unawares and catching me out when I least expected it! However, it sounds rather bizarre to say it but having AF has been a good thing for me really, in that it has taught me that practicing flexibility and adapting to change, rather than rigid control, is a much more relaxing way to live!

All the best to you, TC

[Nanaeli in reply to Threecats]

you sure you’re not my conscience? You sound just like how I feel. I don’t think I need to chill out more I KNOW I do! Every so often I’ll just take a breath and relax my shoulders and it’s only then that I realise how tense I was. I just need to practice it more. Since the menopause, I worry about worrying 🤷‍♀️ And it’s bloody hard work. So yeah I know exactly what you mean. It’s always good to know I’m not alone though and listening to others perspectives is always a positive to me. Thank you again 😊

[Threecats in reply to Nanaeli]

”worry about worrying” - I’m glad I’m not alone on that one either😀 This menopause lark has a lot to answer for!!

[BabsJ]

I have had a heart murmur all my life and it doesn't bother me that much, but I think the heart flips and palpitations could be due to the steroids. I was on them for quite a while and they caused me all sorts of problems and I have AT too. My AT is much more stable now I'm not on them any more

[Nanaeli in reply to BabsJ]

thank you 😊

[honeybubs]

hi so sorry to hear this I’ve just been diagnosed with heart failure due to weakness and weak function of the pumping action of the heart. I think it’s very difficult for women to be diagnosed sooner as some symptoms are automatically put down as menopause for example. This has been going on for over 10 years for me now but because it has shown up on the echocardiogram they are now listening to me and have told me I am ill and need medication for the rest of my life. LBBB showed up on the ECG at A&E but was sent home saying it was just anxiety! I kept on at my GP because you know your own body and know when something is wrong. I’m so glad I didn’t give up and it’s finally going to be sorted. Keep asking doctors questions and don’t give up. Good luck x

[Nanaeli in reply to honeybubs]

yes the menopause certainly does have a lot to answer for. And probably a lot more to do with our hearts and BP than we think 😊

[Doublef]

Hi, Your GP is overhaul responsible for your and the ED don't always follow up on existing conditions. Your angsiety will not help. I would see your GP who may even refer you back to ED.