Totally stressed about Av blocks

[Songbirdd]

Hi,

I am 32 and was recently diagnosed with a type 1 av block and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I just wanted to ask whether anyone else diagnosed with this about their experience, did you require treatment? Did it worsen?

My doctor was unsure whether I require treatment or not, but was leaning towards the not. I do experience palpitations with it (I feel my heart stop for a beat before an irregular beat and then it returns to normal rhythm) which is a really scary feeling. Does anyone else with a type one experience palpitations like this?

Thanks

[Songbirdd]

Thank you for your reply. It's all a bit of a mind field isn't it!? It's nice to know their are others going through this too. This is reassuring to know especially about the ectopics. There's always a second where I panic and feel like my heart has stopped permanently, but I don't feel faint or loose consciousness. I struggle with health anxiety so this currently feels all-consuming, I appreciate your response!

[Qualipop in reply to Songbirdd]

Ectopics/palpitations are when one beat happens a bit late. YOu feel the thump when it then comes close to the next beat. You don't actually miss a beat- it's just a bit late happening. I don't know anything about AV block but I had palpitations for years until |I was told they were harmless in my case. Once I stopped worrying so much about them they gradually decreased and I now haven't had any for around 7 years. Worry and anxiety certainly makes them much worse. You do need to report them and have tests to make sure they are harmless. It depends on which part of the heart they come from.

[Songbirdd in reply to Qualipop]

It good to know the difference thank you. Sometimes having a better understanding about what's actually helps to relieve the anxiety and it does seems to get worse when I'm stressed or sleep deprived. I'm keeping a log and will definitely get back in touch with doctors.

[Qualipop in reply to Songbirdd]

There are so many kinds of arrhythmia, doctors need to identify which part of the heart is causing them> Mine were very irregular. I could never know when they we re going to start up. I could go days or weeks without any then I 'd get hundreds a day which made it very difficult for anyone to record them. I had umpteen ECGs and a holter monitor for a week and for two weeks- nothing happened. Finally I was sent for a stress test and yet again nothing happened during the test. I sat down to rest and they'd left the electrodes attached and suddenly the ectopics started up and were recorded so at long last they could see where they were coming from and could tell for sure that they were harmless. Someone told me to think of it as a bout of hiccups. It took me a long time to accept that they were harmless but as time went on they became fewer and fewer and stopped. I had just 2 "hiccups" last year.

[peterjones105]

I have 1st degree AV heart block which is asymptomatic, at night when going to sleep I can feel my heart beat and occasionally it takes a bit longer to get going, sometimes I can feel an ensuing vague flutter, I also have ectopic heart beats, neither need any treatment.

[Diddy97]

Hi

I so understand how you are feeling. I was diagnosed with AFib two months ago. It is so scary and I live in constant fear of the next episode of the heart palpitations that can happen anytime and last between 10 and 30 hours to date.

I have been prescribed Beta Blockers and Blood Thinners.

As far as I understand the Blood Thinners are very important with any heart rhythm condition. I think perhaps it would be a good idea for you to discuss this with your doctor.

I do hope you can learn to cope with the condition and the terrible anxiety it brings. I haven’t got there yet but hopefully I will.

Take care x

[Songbirdd in reply to Diddy97]

Thank you for your message. I'm sorry to hear your struggling with anxiety too, it's the worse. It's such a stressful situation especially because it's so unpredictable. Yes, I think I need to book back in with my doctor and discuss everything and work out the best action plan. Thank you for your message and I hope you do find some peace with your condition too