Just been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Worried!

[Joeyy06]

Hi. I’ve just been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and am so worried. The cardiologist has recommended blood thinners and a pill in the pocket for when episodes occur but now I’m fretting about having a stroke or having a brain bleed from the pills! I am going to make some major lifestyle changes and hope that reduces episodes but everything I read is doom and gloom! Help please!

[Barny12]

The Health Unlocked afib forum is really very helpful and will make you feel welcome:

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

It's a serious condition but there really isn't anything to panic about. Most people can live for decades with afib and there are medications (like your pill in the pocket) which can help and medical procedures which can stop it in its tracks, often for several years.

The "blood thinners" are anti coagulants which actually prevent strokes, and only very, very rarely do they cause bleeding.

[Joeyy06 in reply to Barny12]

Thanks so much for replying. It is very reassuring to hear. It’s been such a shock!

[Barny12 in reply to Joeyy06]

No problem. There are plenty of lifestyle changes you can make which may help, too for instance: losing weight, stopping smoking, cutting out alcohol, getting blood pressure down, sorting any sleeping problems out etc etc.

It's honestly not all doom and gloom. There's plenty of hope out there, too.

[Joeyy06]

That’s good to hear! I’ve just read Jay Clarke’s How I Cured My Afib and I am definitely going to focus on lifestyle changes but appreciate this doesn’t ‘cure’ everyone!

[Driver11]

No it's not gloom and doom but it does feel that way at times. I've had CA ,5 cardio versions and 2 ablation. On blood thinners and now trying sotatol. Yes you probably need to make some life changes but in my case it was stopping drinking and weight loss. It all helpsGood luck

[KathleenV]

Hello Joey,I can still remember how shocked and upset I was when I received the same news so I well understand. Several things helped me, firstly it explained why I was often so exhausted and/or breathless. Some people had said I didn't exercise enough and I had thought that I might be just as lazy as they said. Now finally things became clearer and I realised it was not my fault. Don't blame yourself or think that you should have done this or that. My understanding is that though it will not go away, it's all right. It's very common, look after yourself, rest when you need to, your life will go on just the same. Keep in touch.

[Dogsareangels in reply to KathleenV]

morning Kathleen was just reading your reply to joey being recently diagnosed with af

I like you was told stop being so lazy I slept a lot wake up eat breakfast sleep again

I saw a consultant for another medical matter he checked my vitals and found me to be in af

He prescribed Atenolol which I’ve taken for two years now I’m so thankful to him for finding af I was at a loss why I felt so worn out all the time I’ve not been referred to a cardiologist yet though

Should this be done now as I read different posts of advice seems all have a cardiologist

Hope you can reply Kathleen

Take care

Lee

[KathleenV in reply to Dogsareangels]

Hello Lee,

Yes most definitely try to see a cardiologist. The waiting list to see someone can be very high, depending on where you live in the country so do it as soon as you can. Yes I understand AF can be difficult to diagnose and sometimes/often goes undetected. I am not an expert but learning as I go along.

It is good to have the diagnosis though and if necessary we can help others understand that no I am not lazy/it isn't old age/I do the best I can BUT I have a serious heart condition.

Kathleen

[sandandkev]

I was diagnosed with af last year, was on endoxaban and bisoprolol, have been in normal rhythm since November,blood thinners help as with AF the blood isn't being pumped efficiently enough so could clot hence blood thinners, you just have to be aware that you may bleed a bit more if cut oneself etc,I've had several other procedures,with no problems,you get told to stop for day if needed and you carry the card so if anything happened helpers would be aware,it's not that scary

[Charliewoo]

my friend was diagnosed with AF and worried like you but was told by the consultant that by taking the medication her chances of stroke are now less than they would be if she did not have it. I don’t know if that helps.

[Joeyy06 in reply to Charliewoo]

Yes it does, thank you!

[FindingCaradoc]

As mentioned in another comment, make a point of joining the A F Association forum which is also on Health Unlocked, as the experiences there will be wider than the general BHF one. I’ve had (diagnosed) AF since 2005 and was fine for many years on PIP Flecanide, before taking it daily (only had a couple of episodes). I then had an ablation in 2022 (went into persistent AF after a heart attack) which was a success. As others have said it is a condition that many live with and something you will come to terms with in time I hope. With regards to being on anticoagulants check what your CHADS-Vasc score is if you don’t know already, as you may be borderline in terms of risks vs benefits.

[Joeyy06]

Thank you all for taking the time to comment. All wise words! I do go from utter panic to trying to focus on what I can do to get healthier overall. Thanks again.

[Simcoxh]

Hi there.. its is very daunting I know ..when forts diagnosed ..but you learn to adapt and the secret is to pace yourself and just get on with your lifexl..and make sure you do take your pills ..try to do some exercises which help you relaxe...

[lindainglis]

I have AF for the past ten years on bisoprolol 2.5 had a few episodes at the beginning but ,now lucky if i have 1 episodes a year .i put it down to healthy diet and light exercise , do not over do it though

[Joeyy06 in reply to lindainglis]

Thank you! Glad they have reduced for you.

[KIMMY60]

Keeping to a low fat, low salt diet has helped me have less episodes and not such a severe episode no idea why but if it works 🤔

[DonnaA]

Hiya, If it’s any consolation my dad is 93 and has had A-Fib most of his life, he’s on blood thinners, the only tablet he takes given he’s 93, so not all doom and gloom

[Joeyy06 in reply to DonnaA]

Thank you. That’s great!