can one still work with permanent afib.?

[Jetcat]

hi guys and girls. Iv noticed my afib is becoming more regular. It’s always evening or early hours and at very most for 2 hours maximum but usually under an hour(at the moment anyway)?

Iv had 3 PVI ablations in the past but my cardiologist doesn’t think a fourth ablation would benefit me. I haven’t asked for a second opinion yet but I am going to for the simple reason he isn’t an electrophysiologist so I’d like his/ her advice as well.?

Im nearly 57 still working full time and in a none heavy lifting or strenuous job as such. But my lifelong none positive attitude is telling me that I’ll be in permanent AFIB soon and stop me from working.!! I don’t plan on working all my life anyway and hope to go part time at 60 and just be happy to put food on the table and pay the bills and just have spare time to relax and enjoy my spare days.👍

Any thoughts or replies will be greatly received.

Thanks

Ron.x👍

[10gingercats]

Iwould think it would depend upon how incompacitated you are with the perm afib. I used to suffer badly with such violent thumping in my chest I had to go to bed with the symptoms.I also went to A and E a few times with it and even called an ambulance a couple of times because it felt as though I may be having a heart attack.I had retired by that time so it did not interfer with my life too much ...just very upsetting and esp. when it lasted for a few hours.I retired from teaching at 60 and felt it was the right time for me. I found other work...2 jobs... that was quite flexible and continued for a few years on 3 days a week.If you can manage financially i would go for the easier option and enjoy your life .

[Jetcat in reply to 10gingercats]

That is great advice gingercats.👍 unlike my work colleagues I don’t need the flash cars and house extensions and plans on living with a massive pension to 100 years old and to be able to do with it exactly what they think I don’t know? I’ll be happy to pay my food bills etc and keep the lights on and just live peacefully and basic because that’s my nature and that’s who I am thankfully. 👍

[bluemoon572]

I play golf with 3 people who have permanent A Fib and they walk the course with no problems. The key is that their ventricular rate is under control with meds like beta blockers,certain calcium channel blockers or digoxin. They also must take anticoagulants to prevent blood clots in their atria. I don't think controlled A Fib will limit your lifestyle much.

[Jetcat in reply to bluemoon572]

Thanks moon. That’s reassuring.👍

[Murderfan58]

My brother worked full time for well over 10 years with permanent AF and 2 stents in his heart. It was very physical as he was a HGV driver who went on to farms to recover broken down and burned out farm vehicles. And had to get the vehicles on the low loader and then climb over them to tie than down plus he slept in his lorry 4 nights out of 5 due to travelling the country. He always said he was an old man doing a young man's job .

But he retired at 60 with a small private pension as his wifes MS was getting worse and needed full time carer . He's 65 now and still leads a busy life but doing the things he wants and they moved to a different county 4 years ago as my sister in law needed a bungalow and her dad lives with them he's in his early 90's.

My brother is very glad he gave up work . Money is tight but they live a full life he no longer has the worry off being away . Plus he is fitter and healthier than he has ever been. He hasn't regretted giving up work one bit.

[Jetcat in reply to Murderfan58]

That’s a great story.👍 thankyou my friend.

[Alphakiwi]

Im 82 and retired. Ive also been a very active cyclis athlete but gradually over the years the afib developed into permanent. Sometimes it will butt9n off a bit . I have been on almost ever drug there is. I havent been able to go fpr reasonable group walks let alone ride a bike now for 4 years and i have told my cardio ive had enogh. I see him next thursday so going to really press him to get me onto A V node ablation. Ypu seem to be satisfied with your situation. What im saying is that if your QOL becomes nasty yu could get your cardiologist to consider AV node ablation. At 82 i dont mind the permanence of it.COLIN. NZ

[Jetcat in reply to Alphakiwi]

Thanks Colin,really appreciate it👍

[scentedgardener]

I don't know if my experience can help as my issues are not clear cut, but here goes.I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AF in 2021. I was very symptomatic, and over time the episodes got longer and more severe, although my HR was controlled by medication so never in fast AF.

I ended up with all the red flag symptoms for a heart attack every time I went into AF, it was very unpleasant and scary. Episodes were at least weekly and a minimum of 13 hours and if following medical advice I would have been in A&E every time, which was a financial burden (getting home again), and left me feelibg like a parasitic drain on the NHS.

I then started medication for another issue which tipped me into persistent AF. It was quite a relief as I didn't get all the unpleasant symptoms.

I had to come off that medication for various reasons, and after one week was back in NSR. Lovely!

Fast forward 2 months, back in persistent AF again, again not a lot of symptoms and none of the red flags, but I am very tired and pretty breathless.

I cannot be sure it's AF causing my woes, and it is a relief not to have all the really nasty symptoms, but I do wish I could find my energy again.

[Jetcat in reply to scentedgardener]

I hope you get your energy back. Sometimes Im also so tired and lethargic because of the AFIB and it can get me down.!

[scentedgardener in reply to Jetcat]

Thank you. I need to try to work out what causes what so I can look into resolving it, but I think I'll have to do the detective work.

[Jetcat in reply to scentedgardener]

We will get there👍

[Fullofheart]

I was in my mid 30s when my afib (present since late 20s) went persistent. It was that way until 2023. I'm now in NSR after 3 ablations. I'm told AF will be back.For me the flip to persistent made life easier. Didn't affect work or exercise levels etc until much later. Years of untreated AF led to mild heart failure (now out of) which made life more difficult but still was working full time. I have a demanding job, but not physical. I think you'll have to use your own judgement based on your health, your work context etc. Wishing you well with it.

[Jetcat in reply to Fullofheart]

Thankyou. I think I’ll be able to manage until I’m 60 then just look forward to going part time. 👍

[Murderfan58]

🤗😊

[RoyM]

I am a 77 year old male who in 2016 went into permanent AF. After years of suffering bouts of AF almost on a weekly basis going into permanent AF was a relief, I had no symptoms, rode my bike, swam and could chase my Granddaughters about and walked miles a day. If I'm honest the top 10% of my exercise ability did go. After consultation with my EP we jointly decided no further intervention was necessary or desirable and it's that agreement with your EP that makes the condition permanent AF. Do I regret that decision after 8 years.....NO would I rather be in NSR...certainly. I still live a full life, travel the world, and do all the things I want to do. My medication consists of Apixiban and 2.5 mg of Bisoporol. My resting heart rate is steady at 63 BMP and on exercise my heart rate can reach 110/120. I won't let AF define me and I have to say there are much worse conditions that we could suffer, so I am grateful. Cheers Roy

[Jetcat in reply to RoyM]

That’s brilliant Roy and I’m really glad for you. I think I’ll be ok I just tend to over stress and worry about certain things in life sometimes.! It’s an annoying part of my mind set up unfortunately.?😝 and thankyou for your reply.👍

[Deejay62]

Hi I have heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy and persistent afib. I was working up until I fell dislocated and damaged my shoulder. At 60 I packed it all in and I’m now 63. If I didn’t damage my shoulder I would probably still be working. My heart function went down to 10% and I was working but part time. I enjoyed being at work and my bosses knew my situation and even when I had my device fitted. They just did a risk assessment on me. I was fortunate I felt well looked after by them.

I forgot to mention I was on warfarin at the time so I had to let them know because of bleeding risks if I got injured.

[Jetcat in reply to Deejay62]

Thanks Deejay, I really appreciate it mate.👍