Had AF and A flutter for many years, no reasons! Hardly any alcohol now, no caffeine but I know I should do more exercise! Been on propranonol for about 40 years, edodxoban for a few months and pill in pocket flecanide since 2014 when I also had a cardioversion. I am not overweight. I take statins as my cholesterol was high and fluoxetine for anxiety and depression. Chicken or egg??I no longer sleep well and still get AF or flutters randomly and also panic attacks or both , especially at night, which wake me up.
I take D3, folic acid and B12.
I find these attacks very scary but as yet have no pain or dizziness luckily but I feel very weak afterwards. I am now 64. Thank you xxx
Written by
MotherJohn
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Perhaps you need to take the Flecainide twice daily as I know it's helped with my missing heart beats, palpitations and heart flutters .
Plus I take Amitriptyline for nerve pain .But in higher dose than I take it's an antidepressant. I have friends who have fibromyalgia and they take 20mg of Amitriptyline hour before bed and they sleep all night. I have been taking it since 1992 to help with the pain in my limbs and only increased the dose from 10mg twice a day to 10mg three times a day last year and it's helped with my pain . But it's never made me feel drowsy.
All I can suggest is reviewing with your GP +/- the cardiologist, telling them exactly as you have related here. There should be some variation in your medication that can help control your symptoms. In the meanwhile, exercise certainly can be helpful, especially if it is outside and/or with friends.
yes, I find the unpredictability of AF difficult. I avoided exercise waiting for AF to settle. I decided to restart exercising. I found helpful advice on St Bart’s AF Centre. I warm up and cool down for 10 mins rather than 5 mins. Great to be outside and moving more. I also down strength work 2 x per week. The amount my AF has reduced. I have been advised not to exercise when I have AF so my plans need to be flexible but I have found it great to be back to exercising.
Thank you for posting about the advice on the St Barts AF Centre. I hadn't heard of this before and unfortunately I'm at the opposite end of the country to be part of their trials, but the information there was so helpful. Thank you.
High time you saw an Electrophysiologist, a Cardiologist with extra training for arrythmia .You need proper advice on controlling the AF and AFL. Probably need a daily maintenance dose of flecanide or to get assessed if suitable for an ablation procedure.
Ablation success for AFl is extremely high ,95%+ . Af responds better to drugs but again successful in many cases .
I have had no flutter since mine 2022,very pleased as that was the worst for me. AF is far far better,few breakthroughs of minor length since.
Head over to Health Unlocked Arrythmia forum for good support from members .
I was diagnosed with AF 8 weeks ago but had had several episodes for several months prior to diagnosis. As you have described how you feel is exactly the way I feel too. I’m just living from day to day in fear of having another AF episode and constant panic attacks during the night. I have never experienced feeling anything like this before. I am 76 female-fit and perviously very active.
I feel so sorry for how you are feeling as I know exactly what you are going through. Feel free to contact me it might help.
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