I had atrial fibrillation in October 2019. Then cardio version to put my heart back in rhyme 9 months later in may 2020. This corrected the AF but left me having hypertension. I haven’t been well for over 10 months unstable hypertension has now left me back in AF. My gp confirmed today. They are checking for thyroid overtreated blood test tomorrow to make sure hyperthyroid symptoms are not causing the AF. I just wanted to know if you can live with AF. my main symptom is extreme anxiety my gp has changed one of my blood pressure tablets to beta blockers propranolol 40mg 3 times a day. Any advice I would be most grateful. Thank you x
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Karen-Dempster
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Hi! As you probably know, there is NHS Atrial Fibrillation forum, so this is the place where you can get a lot of information. I have AF bouts at night, almost every night, for about 15 years now. I am lucky, as I have no symptoms when in AF and I easily revert back to NSR, as soon as I get up and get active. This condition is the most frequent of all arhythmia, and is the least dangerous. People live up to 90 yo with AF, so no need to worry very much. Hyperthyroid is not causing AF, but they go hand in hand, for they have the same cause.
You did not mention your age, but people mostly start having problems with arrhythmia at 55 and it is for the rest of the life, MDs do not know what causes the arrhythmia and have no clear picture about how to cure them. High BP is kinda normal for elderly, so no need to worry here too. Just read this BP-forum. I am 70, my BP is often 150/100, I feel perfectly well with it and take no medication.
thank you so much for replying. I was 58 when I developed AF I’m 61 now. I was over treated on my thyroid medication due to a bad endocrinologist at the time putting me on armour thyroid. So my t3 was too high. I’m on combination of t4/t3 now very stricter monitoring so my t3 stays safe. I have good days and bad day with AF mostly anxiety but only when my blood pressure goes too high. I am trying to change my life style and walk an hour everyday even if raining. 😍
Karen, whenever your anxiety goes through the roof (often hand in hand with depression, and feeling tired and exhausted) try to treat it with the coffee. Do not laugh at me, coffee is not the cure but makes the symptoms far less expressed.
If you are overweight, what is kinda normal in the USA and UK, reduce the weight at any cost. People make the mistake, trying to reduce weight through strenuous exercise. After the exercise, they are tired and hungry, able to eat the world, lol! Reduce food intake to lowest possible level. You would be surprised if you would see the smal car in the street, puling a big gasoline reservoar behind, which is enough for couple of the years. The same with being overweight. Some people carry with themselves the ammount of fat, enough for couple of the years. And, never dream about loosing the weight quickly - it took to you years to collect the fat - loose it also throughout the years, slowly, so that the skin can get back, to normal condition.
I totally agree with you. Our body deteriorates as we get older. I get flutters mostly at night since I've been on meds for high bp since 2020.I feel relieved after your comments. My heart rate is not fast at all except when I exert myself then drops down to about 53. They did holster Che ck but found nothing except low sinus rhythm sometimes.I am 72 and was diagnosed with high bp in 2020 so all new to me.I think it is when we lay down. I've got hernia as well which can cause flutters as our stomach vagus nerve and heart are all in close proximity and can have knock on effect. I've noticed when my stomach / getd or hernia is playing up my bp.goes up and also get more flutters then. I then get even more anxious and scared. Catch22.
Good for you. I am 73 diagnosed with high bp in 2020. Been on meds.for 4 yrs. now.With meds numbers about 122/70.Without meds about 145/78. Wish I had the guts to just quit meds.but too scared now of high spikes.Quality of life is important too not just longevity.No point if meds. make you feel bad.
thank you Nesto, I’m lucky I’m not really overweight. And now trying to be active by committing myself an hour walk daily. By making these little changed will hopefully help with AF management and keep the anxiety away. When my blood pressure is high, it seems to make the anxiety worse. I love coffee, so happy to wake up and have my 2 coffees each day to get my day started 😍
It's what comes first the anxiety or no.My GP seems to think anxiety causes the high bp. Don't think so. I can be calm and relaxed as anything and then boom ...I spike .Then I get anxious about the high bp.They tried to put me on anxiety meds. But it's bad enough on bp meds and simvastatin without mote meds as well. It's all the side effects that make me feel ill.Had my gall bladder out last year and my bp went right down for 3 months. Great.Loweted my meds and felt great. Then my bp crept up again so back on the higher dose.Side effects get worse as dose goes up. So much for GP saying they are not caused by the meds..They are! Also the meds do cause anxiety.I was great after op.
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