Atrial Fibrillation

[hywell]

Recently I have found running harder and harder , becoming breathless and feeling very tired I have now been diagnosed with A fib . Any advice anyone

[KimLoulou Graduate]

No idea what this is but doesn't sound good. I assume you are getting doctors afvicd before running again?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

My advice is to consult a qualified medical professional, rather than a random bunch of well meaning people who happen to coalesce around this forum.

[Saratamsin Graduate]

Hi, definitely get advice from either your GP or consultant about running. AF means your heart has periods of struggling to circulate the oxygen around your body due to beating irregularly and the top chambers quivering. With best wishes.

[damienair Graduate]

Exactly as has been said above, don't run. Have you got an appointment with a Consultant Cardiologist yet? There are 3 types of Atrial Fibrillation, Occasional AF or Paroxysmal AF may be treated with optimal drug therapy. And once you have it under control you should be able to get back to running again.

There are also treatments available for Persistent and Permanent AF. Very important to go to a good Consultant Cardiologist who specializes in Electrophysiology.

I work for a Medical Company and one of the products I look after treats AF.

Damien

[hywell in reply to damienair]

Thank you for your encouraging reply , I shall remain optomistic

[hywell]

Thank you all for your good advice ,I am currently under the guidance of my gp having had an ECG and blood tests , trying an beta blocker , if that fails will insist on seeing a cardiologist but its not easy these days to get appointments. thanks all will keep you posted

[Alessandra66 in reply to hywell]

Please do insist on a referral, as it can take time to get the correct diagnosis

[Alibi23]

Hi Hywell I have atrial fibrillation diagnosed 6 years ago now. They thought it was asthma at first. Went on beta blockers and I was very tired and out of breath. Since then I have had two ablations and a cardioversion. I'm still on bb and warfarin but coping so much better. You kind of get used to it. Despite the last ablation triggering another arrhythmia so my resting heart rate is nearly always close to 100 I started couch to 5k and am on week 4. I never thought I could do this exercise with AF but I have found I can. It's given me a lot of energy I didn't know I had. I'm hoping it will stave off the third ablation my consultant wants to do. My advice though is to take on board what others say here, see an electrophysiologist rather than a standard cardiologist if you can as AF is a kind of electric malfunction. Listen to your body. My triggers are dehydration and overdoing it and alcohol (though I still have a glass of wine or 3!) Others find a heavy meal is a trigger. Sounds like you are quite fit to start with but reading back your posts you may have had it for a longer time with previous high heart rate. I was dismayed when I was diagnosed but now I have accepted it as part of my life. Good luck!

[hywell in reply to Alibi23]

Hi Alibi , thank you so much for your wonderful and informative reply . I am beginning to understand my triggers and exercise and overdoing it is one of them so after an ECG and then review I will get back to running though slowly and monitoring myself as I proceed . As you say I may have had it for a long time , I believe this to be the case but only recently has it started to affect my life . Its good to know from people like yourself its not all doom and gloom , cheers !

[7164]

Hywell

As a matter of interest how are you now?

I hope no Af

Rod