I was diagnosed with AFib in February this year as well as with mild leaky valve with thickened artery- I have been prescribed edoxaban and a low dose of bisoptolol- it tends to drop my HR so taken at night 1.25 I also take meds for hypertension and cholesterol- I’m having issues with coping with health related anxiety - I get concerned about my breathing and it’s so hard knowing if it’s my AFib or my anxiety- I’ve been discharged from the clinic back to my GP and all I want is how to cope with this all on a daily basis- I feel so overwhelmed at times! I’ve tried talking therapy on- line but it didn’t seem to help too much - any suggestions please
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Janjay61
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Hi the most difficult part of what we are all going through is the mental sideIt can be overwhelming especially at night but therapy can help but you need to talk to someone. I've been with my therapist for ages and she has brought me back from the edge. I was also lucky enough to have really good friends who I could talk to, family were useless
When you are low everything appears gloomy but it will get better
Thanks Driver11 I have made an appointment to try some meditation sessions - my GP suggested CBT - I will self refer- living alone it can all be so overwhelming and I’ve recently had to give up my employment; which funnily enough was supporting people on a ward for mental health!
I had Af last year but the bisoprolol put me back into sinus,I took mine at night as it made me dizzy,1 25mg is a low dose, af made me feel sick and tired,you'll stay on edoxaban for life now to keep blood thinGood luck
I would say your anxiety is due to your health. Have you had all the questions about what is going on with your heart answered fully . If not then I would ask . Only by understanding what is happening will get your anxiety levels down.
I have PAF and get breathless at times especially if it's very hot or cold. And have a small hole in the side of my heart which I was born with but have been told it's safer to leave it alone . If I get chest pains then they will decide what to do. Didn't get diagnosed with PAF until 2021 and the hole was found in 2020/2021. MRI confirmed it was in the connections between the chambers of my heart .
I was finally diagnosed with my disability I was born with in 2022 after my whole genome genetically tested. I have hereditary Hyperekplexia gene mutation SLC6A5 type 3. And talking to others with this rare condition realised how I am in certain situations I suffer for anxiety. I just thought I was weird. But knowing what triggers my anxiety has helped me cope.
Find out about your condition and get all the answers you need. As only by understanding you can learn to cope what you body does. I came to realised physical health can effect your mental health and vise versa. I am 66 now but at least I know what's been wrong with me my whole life and I am not alone anymore. Unfortunately it was my fit healthy husband who got Cancer and died in 2004 aged 47.
Life isn't fair but we have to live the best life with can. We owe it to ourselves and those that love and care for us.
Thanks Murderfan 58 - it’s very overwhelming finding a way through and GP’s aren’t specialists so suggest you speak to cardiology nurses- again they are bogged down and very busy! I need to distract myself from overthinking everything- it’s worse now as I’m not working and live alone- I just need some guidance for managing everything!
Have you got any interests and groups you could join. I go to a sit fit class Monday afternoons for 60-70 mins it's great fun . Our instructor works us hard but I love it. She gave us 7 morning wake up exercises which I do every morning .
I also go to a mixed media craft group on Thursday afternoons for 2 hours it's free in our local library . It's not run by the library but 2 women who wanted to meet other crafters . I joined in 2019 when I moved to the north west of England. It had been running for few years . We have a big box with our tea etc and biscuits supplies in. We just take things in as needed. Just happens we have various health conditions but we are true friends and help eachother in any way we can . We have own what's app group.
My local council ran Active ageing sit fit group it was GP referral and it was free for 12 weeks tea and biscuits afterwards.
Have a look at your local library for things than might interest you plus see what your local council can offer. Lot of churches have actives but you don't have to be a Christian to join. Plus colleges run courses that you might like.
If you stay at home it will make you feel worse but you need to socialise and it will make you feel better. Being widowed for 20 years and disabled if I didn't make the effort to do things I wouldn't be true to my husband he made me promise to live the best life I can but couldn't until I moved here nearly 5 years ago. As after he died had both my parents and mother in law to look after. I didn't live just existed until I moved now I have a life. A big part of that is having my 2 diagnosis and getting treatment.
See what would interest you and get out of the house we only have one life. No what ifs or if onlies . Good luck and hope you can find something you enjoy and meeting new people will help.
Hi thanks for all the ideas- I did look up my local library and they do have activities available and coffee mornings so will see about joining in- I do need company and to find new hobbies
Glad to help. I cross stitch which is a slow craft but I find it very relaxing . Wool and craft shops run classes but can be expensive. But they are a good way to try new things . The social aspect of life is very important to your physical and mental health. And I have met so many wonderful people. Even on the bus I have want I call bus friends we only see eachother on the bus but I am a chatterbox . My brother tells me I have verbal diarrhoea but his cheeky.
I think it's fairly normal to have anxiety when given a diagnosis like this. In my case I was told in a very light hearted manner, "Oh by the way did you know you have AF?" and absolutely no guidance on helping myself, I didn't even know I could.From my perspective, keep, or get, as fit and active as you can, look at your diet to see if it can be improved. Try to find thibgs to do that interest you. You don't say if you are very symptomatic, I started with very symptomatic paroxysmal AF, and it took some time before anyone suggested a "pill in the pocket" to take at the onset of an episode.
One suggestion re breathlessness, sit quietly and do measured breathing, breathe in to a slow count of four, hold fof a second, breathe out to a count of four. Try for a few minutes to see if it helps.
You may find the British Heart Foundation's website useful, and you can always ring their cardiac nurses and ask questions you may have, they are brilliant. Tel no 0300 330 3311.
Thanks for the information- my AFib is present throughout the day and night for several short episodes each time lasting for a few minutes- some days I feel just not great- can’t put a finger on specifics- the recently diagnosed leaky valve supposedly doesn’t have symptoms as yet but will increase AFib and extra heart beats here and there .
It would be very worthwhile to chat to the BHF cardiac nurses, they can tell you a lit more than I can.You might find Anxiety UK a helpful resource too, I found their number online, they could give you tips on how to manage your health anxiety. Sorry, I don't have their number to hand.
I self referred to NHS Talking Therapies and did a mindfulness course which has helped me deal with anxiety around having SVT. You can find mindfulness videos online.
Hi choccie55 I have completed a teams a NHS online 6 week course for talking therapies but there wasn’t any interaction and it was quite generic so I’m going to try and find a CBT course
Hi Janjay, I did the mindfulness based cognitive therapy 8 week in person course and found it extremely useful. Wishing you all the best, health anxiety is not fun.
Janjay, Hi, I too suffer from anxiety, and have found suggestions in other posts helpful, the thing I have found over the years for many emotional things, are the flowers essences, originally Dr Bach, and more recently Crystal Herbs, and others, the Dr Bach remedies I use for anxiety are Aspen and Mimulous, available from Holland & Barrett, other health shops, and I think Boots. All the best.
Hi readyabout I’ve brought the 2 flower essence remedies you suggested- tried to research how they may impact on other medication I take and all it said was not enough research done- I take felodapine, edoxaban,atorvastatin and a low dose of bisoprolol- I’ve talked to a couple of people who swear by using them - is your own doctor happy that you take them?
Thanks,I hope these help you as much as they help me, (and from time to time I do use other essences). As a lay person I do not think they would interfere/impact on drug medications.
Generally (and sadly) Drs & GPs etc are not aware of complementary medicines.
But my Cardiologist was quite on board with the herbal remedies I was taking.
Interestingly the Naturopath (herbalist, iridologist, homoeopathy etc) we were seeing, was more aware if interactions of herbs and drugs, than Drs.
There are some more sources of information you could refer to:
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