Hi vtackett, How high is your Heart Rate? Are you taking any meds. to control your afib?

No, your Heart is not going to stop.

When first diagnosed is scares the heck out of most all of us!!! In time, you will have an understanding of what is happening, and you will learn to live your life with it.

I'm taking Cardizem, and my heart rate isn't that high right now, it's just skipping beats making my chest feel funny.

Hi, sorry you had to be here, if you know what I mean. Know how you feel, my heart has been doing that for 2 days, not too fast, just lots of skips. I take an extra beta blocker and sometimes it's better. I've only been diagnosed a short time too and it really scared me awfully at first. Now that I've weathered some episodes and know I will live, I've gotten a little better. Still need sedatives for sleep at night, tho.
Hang in there, get a doc you can trust (I've seen at least 3) and things
will be better..
June

Remember that it can be managed. Understanding how you feel. There are ways to cope with it so don't get too stressed.

I really appreciate all the support, i think the worst part was thinking i was all alone with this. I'm really thankful i found this site, and knowing i'm not alone, and there's someone out there who's been through this, and they have the answers to my questions is such a boost.
Thank you.

Welcome ytackett. You are not going to die from afib. Read this:

http://www.drjohnm.org/2014/02/13-things-to-know-about-atrial-fibrillation-treatment/

Just take your meds. We can help much more if you answer the following:

Did you see an electrophysiologist?
How old are you?
What meds are you on?
What other health issues do you have?
What other heart issues do you have?
Have you been tested for sleep apnea, thyroid issues, or anything else that could be contributing to your afib?
Do you take an anticoagulant?
What is your CHA2DS2Vasc score?
What symptoms do you have besides awareness of your heart?
Have you educated yourself about afib?
What is your blood pressure?
Do you drink or smoke?
Were you diagnosed in a routine physical or did you have severe symptoms and go to a doctor?
What were you doing when you first noticed symptoms?
What is your fitness level? Weight?
Do you do extreme sports or exercise a lot?
Does anyone else in your family have afib?
Are you the nervous type?
Panic attacks?
were you diagnosed with any other heart rhythm issues (there's quite a few types of irregular heart rhythms)
What other things do you think are relevant to mention?

BTW, everyone's heart stops in between beats. In afib, the heart beat is irregularly irregular (and usually faster on average). So your heart rate looks something like this in beats per minute: 50-100-90-167-49-175-110-67-89-50-120. Do you get the idea? It's the slower ones that freak you out, but your heart won't stop from afib.

petey

You are not alone!!!! The numbers are high on how many folks have this condition. It seems like we are alone, cuz most folks don't know who has it in their 'world'. When I stopped doing aerobics cuz my HR went too high, I told my gym friends, and so many of them said a relative had it, or when I didn't go drinking with friends cuz of the afib, again more folks knew someone with it. I know a lot of people in my 'world' that have it....but not to talk to all the time. It really feels good to relate to others when there is fear or you need info to base decisions on...or you just wonder about something. Glad you are here to share with us!!

It has only been three months for me so I am still over whelmed. Have had two trips to ER, one I was transported to ER from my Dr. at a routine office appointment. I have found out I am not alone and it is even some of my friends living with it, it is common but still scary.

I am not completely managed but I have weathered a few episodes and found out I lived. I do know when to call 911 or get DH to take in but hope to avoid that ever again.

I appreciate this site and connecting with others who have been through the same thing. Everyone is different but similar and their stories help me.

Hang in there
laurab

Pacyetep,
I haven't had my first cardiologist appt. yet, so I can answer some of the questions.
I'm 49
I'm taking Cardizem prescribed by the ER Doc
I had a kidney removed 4 yrs ago do to cancer
I haven't been tested for sleep apnea
I don't drink or smoke
I was diagnosed in the ER
I suffer from depression and anxiety

vtackett: OK. See the cardiologist, but electrophysiologists (type of cardiologist) specialize in heart rhythm issues like afib (the most common one). Read some old threads. You can do word searches and titles with that word will pop up. Ask the cardiologist your CHA2DS2Vasc score (they might call it CHADS2 score). You might not need an anticoagulant. I presume you are in normal sinus rhythm now? petey

Welcome vtackett! This site has definitely helped me to be less afraid of Afib. Just knowing others are going though the same things can be a comfort and make is all less scary. Having Afib makes you so aware of your own heart and your mortality. After all, up until I was diagnosed with Afib, I never even noticed my heartbeat. My heart was always just doing it job in the background every day. Once you have afib, you feel your heartbeat and worry when it doesnt beat quietly in the background anymore. This is a great place for support, knowledge and experience of others. Take care, Carrie

vhackett: I think that stress is an important contributing factor. Wondering if doctors focused more on managing patient stress ... could it be better controlled? I do know that there can be many causes, but in my case I can definitely feel the connection - stress precendes the afib.

Welocme to the forum. Great info here. take care and all the best in 2015.

Vtette, welcome. Gosh I just hate hearing about people your age joining the Fibber crowd, tho I was only 6 yrs older with my first. Lets hope youre one of the lucky ones who are one and done, rare, but it happens. With that said, this condition does require action and doing nothing is not a good option. I fixed my gut, stopped all the triggers, food and drink, caffeine, gluten etc, and still had AF. However my vagus nerve issue was not related to my gut, but a whiplash accident years ago. Finding the right spine adjuster was a challenge and one I thought was good, once threw me out of NSR after a visit. I believe I have finally found someone knowledgeable about my condition and will continue with that treatment. For me and Meds/Doctors, I did not do well with them and their treatment did not keep me out of AF. However, were all different so you may be fine for a time with meds, but at your age unless you get to the root of the cause, a life time on meds is most likely not in your plans. You do have time to seek out the remedy and do know there are several options besides conventional medicine.

And yes Ive added back in all those so called "triggers" like alcohol in moderation, caffeine , some gluten, chocolate, etc with no issues after months of supplements and spine alignment, and without eating dirt.