Severe anxiety and depression

[REBECCAJS1990]

I've always had anxiety but recently I am really struggling to even function day to day activities work and family.

My heart is constantly fluttering since a bad episode at Easter and I'm just terrified I'm going to die all the time

I'm on flecanaide twice a day and came off citalopram for anxiety last year as they ate a contraindication with flecanaide heart medication

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Rebecca

I can remember way back, there were times when I felt I was going to die when I had AF. Those attacks usually happened in the night and felt like a strong fish was flip flopping and trying to get out of my chest. I would text my youngest daughter so that she could check on me when she got up for work and switched her mobile phone on.

I've had AF for 19 years and am still here and doing fine now. Don't go thinking that this is how you are going to be for ever, because with medical procedures and the right medication the heart can be helped to calm.

Do you take a beta blocker alongside your Flecainide, that's what many people do? The Flec calms the rhythm and the beta blocker the rate.

It sounds to me as though you need to let your GP know what is happening. Have you been to see a Cardiologist (heart expert) or an Electrophysiologist (specialises in abnormal heart rhythms)?

When I think back now to all the unnecessary worrying I did, I feel a bit of a fool. Worry will only increase the strength of AF, it took me years to realise that. I totally ignore any flutters in my chest now and because of that they are very brief, like just for seconds.

Are you sleeping well?

Jean

[Vonnegut]

Poor you getting this affliction while so young. Have you tried yoga, meditation and breathing exercises which I found very helpful when younger (well before this heart condition struck)? I’m sure gentle things like that - simple gentle breathing meditation or mindfulness would help more than drugs - with no side effects! But keep taking the Flecainide, of course, as it does seem to work and perhaps you should be taking a low dose beta blocker like Bisoprolol with it as I understand is usually recommended to be taken with Flecainide.

[needlestone in reply to Vonnegut]

I have been where you are. It took some time but I no longer get too worried about my heart. I had an ablation in 2016, and changed my eating to anti-inflammatory. I still have a mild blip here and there but otherwise don’t let it bother me. I know when you are in the midst of full on panic over the heart, it feels like it will never end. I also am on thyroid meds. You may want to have that looked at, if you haven’t already. I blame some of my heart stuff on hypothyroid that took a while to identify with a functional med doctor.

[Vonnegut in reply to needlestone]

I think this reply was supposed to be to the person I was replying to rather than me!

[TracyAdmin Partner ArrhythmiaAlliance]

I am sorry to read about your recent experiences Rebecca, it is natural to feel anxious, please feel free to contact our Patient Services Team if you would like any support, we are here to help; heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Kind regards

TracyAdmin