stressed and fed up

[Shelly7151]

having a really bad day heart has been been beating irregularly all day lying in bed but cant relax dreading every day i get so tense at work im sure it doesnt help my heart all this stress is overwhelming how do people cope? id dearly like to know if anyone has advice or tips id be very grateful , thanks to anyone who is reading this

[Bailey2004]

Hi Shelly, I feel your pain and anxiety as I was diagnosed with persistent AF 3 weeks before lockdown in 2020 and ended up like that for 3 months. Went back to work 6 weeks in to a stressful job managing a team of 8 (I’m 48 yr old female). I carried on for 2 years in this stressful situation with good days and bad days like you ( most of time medication managed it) probably having about 20-30 days sick leave until March this year I was more or less in persistent AF again so after further 3 weeks off sick I opted to go private for an ablation. Nearly 9 weeks post ablation I’m still not back full time and I’ve had to take step back as manager with full support of occupational health and boss taking over my team temporarily so I can concentrate on getting better. I wish I’d spoken up honestly about how I was feeling at work rather than getting myself more stressed which made me worse. Looking after number one at the minute but a supportive work environment has now been key to that. So I’d say try get support from work now before you make yourself more ill like I did. At least I’ve seen sense now but I guess not all employers are as supportive. Look after yourself.

[Shelly7151 in reply to Bailey2004]

thanks so much for the reply ive only been at my job for four months and as i havent gotten a proper diagnosis yet i try to keep it to myself for the most part i thought the beta blockers were helping but the last couple of weeks have been bad with daily issues glad you have support at work you need to get better and look after number one

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Shelly

Here are tips I've written that may help you:

Having had AF for 17 years, three ablations and numerous cardioversions my advice to people who have just been diagnosed with AF is the following:

1. You are most unlikely to die from AF. I used to think that the way my heart bounced around I would surely be found dead next day. Still here though!

2. Changing your diet to a more plant based one, avoiding any foods containing artificial additives, not allowing yourself to become dehydrated, cutting back on sugar, alcohol and caffeine, also losing weight (if it's needed) will all have a beneficial effect on your AF.

Artificial sweeteners were a sure trigger for my attacks. How I wish I'd known all of this before having any of my ablations. Would I have listened if anyone had told me? Probably not, because I believed ablations would cure me - three didn't! They have helped some people though and my AF now is not so severe.

3. This is a hard one, but looking at gadgets that show your pulse and AF will make you anxious and anxiety feeds AF. I was obsessed with what my heart was doing for about the first ten+ years of my AF journey and my attacks were so debilitating I'd end up in a hospital ward, it has taken me a long time to take my mind off this subject and get on with living. The less I think about it, the better I feel. Now I used to feel cross with people who suggested I stop looking at my pulse rate machines, I thought that their AF couldn't be as bad as mine and they didn't understand how poorly attacks made some of us feel. I would get cross with anyone who said they could still go on holiday and carry on life as normal. They made me feel evil, by not understanding how ill I felt! In our minds AF is only as bad as we have experienced, for some attacks are mild for others they're more severe.

4. Make sure you don't slouch, or unwittingly do shallow breathing. If you do your heart will protest. If you get out of bed in the night, sit for a minute before standing up and take a few slow deep breaths. Getting back into bed do the deep breathing again until you fall back to sleep. In fact every time you feel your heart start to play up do slow deep breathing

5. Try supplementing with magnesium (I use glycinate from YourSupplements and also take vitamins B12, D3, C and zinc). I feel really well and there's nothing I can't do now, despite being in constant low rate AF. Or at least I think I am, I don't check these days.

Jean

[Shelly7151 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

thanks so much Jean, i will read and re read your tips i take vitamin d was thinking about b12 and i got magnesium but im not sure its the right one im sure anxiety at this point is playing a part i live alone and have becoming really afraid of dying i really dont want this controlling me as im already afraid of going anywhere in case i get a bad attack and youre right about gadgets ive had several heart monitor apps on my phone and i had to delete them they were making me panicky and anxious once again immensely grateful for your time and advice nice not to feel alone

[TracyAdmin Partner ArrhythmiaAlliance]

I am so sorry to read your post Shelly, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Patient Services Team at [e-mail] or call 01789 867501 if you would like support or guidance. It is not uncommon to feel anxiety and concern, perhaps you may be interested in downloading our 'Mindfulness and Healthy Living' booklet that offers tips and advice on finding ways to relax and de-stress. Please download from the webpage: heartrhythmalliance.org/aa/...

booklet

[Shelly7151 in reply to TracyAdmin]

ill do that thanks