I'm so sorry you are having such a time. Hopefully, someone here can give you some comfort. I don't have a recorder in, but I always feel like I am 1 heartbeat away from another AFib event. It's a tough road but there are so many positive people on this message board surely you will find some peace. I will keep you in my prayers.

Charlene in Oklahoma

Sorry to hear you are having a bad time right now. It will get better, the anxiety will ease up and you will be able to move along. Do your best to try not to worry about the next episode, I know it is easier said than done and many of us have worn your shoes with the high anxiety, hopelessness and depression, I have for sure. Ask your PCP for something to help ease the anxiety until you can get a handle on the beast, many of us have done that in the beginning and no longer need it, Deep breathing always helps to calm you down some or try some Natural Calm it works well to relax you too and is not a pharma, Hang in there, you will be fine, make sure you are on an anticoagulant, stroke risk is our biggest concern as the afib will not kill you even tho it feels like it is going to, The people on this board helped me to keep my sanity, lots of knowledge and support in this group. You are not alone! Take care and keep posting and read as many threads as you can here, you will find lots of support here.

STOP!!! AFIB most probably will not kill you! It is uncomfortable at times, but certainly not life threatening. The worst that can happen is you have a stroke. I know, I had one ... after having AFIB for 40 years and before my ablation last year I was in AFIB about 50% of the time and highly symptomatic, yet I still went to the gym 3 days a week You need to focus on other things:.

1: Get some exercise, many of us with AFIB are exercise tolerant, it certainly helps with the anxiety;

2; See if you can get your doc to give you something for anxiety like Xanax (don't get addicted) or find yourself some Natural Calm;

3: Talk to your doc about an anticoagulant, aspirin is not effective enough;

4: HCTZ is a diuretic. This can easily dehydrate you, dehydration can easily effect you heart. Make sure you drink plenty of water (2-3 quarts daily) ;

5: If you are not seeing a cardiologist, go find one. If he/she doesn't help you, go find a cardio electro physiologist;

6: Read the threads, they are full of positive responses to AFIB;

There are many treatments for AFIB that are highly effective, so there's no reason to suffer, or think AFIB will kill you. You probably have a higher chance of being struck by lightening.

One more day and seeing EP will bring some clarity in your situation. I suffered from terrible anxiety after experiencing TIA. And being diagnosed with AFIB did not make things easier. But it will pass. Your doctors can treat you, you are not going to die and you learn to live with the condition. Maybe ablation will cut the beast once of all. Learn relaxation techniques and get good sleep. This group will give you support. Good luck and hugs. Marya

Good advice Paul.

petey

Good advice from everyone.
I just wanted to add that if all your afib episodes are only 5 minutes or less your stroke risk is hardly any. Take some deep breaths and get as much information on afib as you can. Knowledge is power. You will want to make informed decisions.
As far as your anxiety.....no sleep, no hope is not good. Treating your anxiety and depression is important, and likely will help lessen the afib. Make an appointment with your PCP to address it. (I doubt if the EP will want to prescribe for that).
Don't lose hope, you can enjoy life with afib.
Please l let us know what the EP says.

Saw EP, loop monitor picked up PVC's, PAC's and a short burst of afib (20 seconds), wants more data, 325mg aspirin, 500mg mag, keep hhydrated, feels warfarin not needed now, hope he's right sustained afib more risky, anybody else w/afib doing aspirin only? Seems like he's playing Russian roulette w/his gun but my head!

Shae, I am surprised he only has you on aspirin, my first afib was 9/30/14 and it was a long one. I was put on Eliquis in the hospital and both EP and PCP said to stay on it.

The fear of the next episode is almost as bad as an episode. I was so overwhelmed until I came here, even if I don't post I read every day. Like Paul said you won't die from afib is something I tell myself every day.

Thank you Paul so well said I should copy that and put it somewhere to read every morning.

laurab

As Marikay said, a few second or minutes is not long enough for them to think about anticoagulants (yet). How many episodes do you have a day?

So for me it was because I stayed in afib so long? It was several hours before they controlled in ER, twice in 10 days ar ER. Maybe soon it wil all make sense.

Sorry for all the errors, I swear I will quit posting if I do not become a better proof reader and speller.

Shae,
When talking about stroke and afib you have to be in afib long enough for a clot to form before a stroke will happen. If all your episodes are such short bursts your stroke risk is really not a factor. Your EP is doing well by you. The treatment of afib can be worse than the afib itself. Don't let fear and anxiety control your decisions and rush into anything. It will really help to get your anxiety and depression about this under control. I talked to my PCP and he gave me a prescription for anxiety that really helped me cope in the early days. Antidepressants can help a lot too...for anxiety as well as depression.
Please trust that your EP knows what he is doing.

Forgot to add....I am taking aspirin. I am 62 and have hypertension. So my risk factors really indicate taking an anticoagulant. However because my episodes have all been a few hours or less and I have not had an episode in over 2 years ( take flecainide every day) my EP and I have reached the decision that for now the risk from the anticoagulant is greater than the benefit. If/when things change and I have more frequent episodes we will reevaluate. For now I feel this is the best decision for me and I am comfortable with it.

lalab: Prescribing the anticoagulant for you was probably ER thinking as they don't know your history, if you were in afib (possibly silent) for an extended time, or how much you would be in afib going forward. So they play it safe. petey

Not many, usually under 5 mins, seconds really, doc suggested mag that's easily absorbed and Vitamin E...wants 2 be sure that I'm not going into it in my sleep too. If aspirin doesn't help, why does he have me taking 325mg a day?Any recommendations on the type of mag that is best?