hello, and welcome!
i was only 28 the first time i experienced an afib episode, and i just turnt 50 in november. at the time i had 3 small children, and my life was full of stress!! i was first diagnosed with panic disorder, and was on several different meds for that. i have went several years without episodes, and have realized that stress has been my biggest drigger of afib. you surely are not alone with how you feel, the anxiety and stress of having this condition is more than i can bare most days. i have started to really try to relax, when possible, and my cardiologist has decided that i am in a zero risk factor for stroke, so what they call "pill in pocket approach" has been our choice of treatment. i take 50mg of toprol when needed, if i am in afib. thankfully i have been in normal rythmn since october. i know it's hard, but try to hang there, this is a great forum and support system. there is always someone who can try to give advise. i will keep you in my thaughts and prayers, and best to you! robin

I got a-fib at 33. I am trying to reduce stress, because I believe that it is a major cause of my problem, because i am otherwise healthy.
It sucks, but i just try not to think about it. Going on about my life as usual.

I have had episodes since my twenties, that resolved on their own, and through the years it got worse, I'm scheduled for an ablation, because those of us who are younger can't sustain taking medications for the next 40 years. You should check out Afib Ablation. The trick to success is to have a surgeon who does them all the time. You'll have to go to a major teaching hospital, though.

Mine's next week. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks for the replies. They've given me a pill-in-pocket as well but I've yet to use it. Hopefully won't need it for a while.

Aronia, I fully believe my episodes are stress related as well. I've always had anxiety issues and I've always had palpitations and every doctor always said, don't worry about them, everyone gets them. Then, one night, boom. Ever since, every time I get really stressed I start getting palpitations that, if I let them go, turn into afib.

afibandfifty, I've been looking into an ablation but I'm not quite there yet. since the waiting list around here is about 2-3 years and the US hospitals are too expensive I was looking at Bordeaux in Frnace. I've heard they're one of the top rated in the world. Please let me know how it goes.

My first was @ 32. This in fact is my 10 year "anniversary" if you can call it that.

It takes a lot to get used to depending on how severe your flutters are. Mine were horrific and and daily/nightly all consuming. I've had 2 ablations with the final diagnosis that I have some odd scar tissue in my upper atria which is setting off the rhythm disturbances. So now exact cure for me specifically.

All I can say is that I hope you handle this better than I did. I didn't think I would make it to 40, and sort of lived like that too. In the world but not of it. Almost Buddhist in that I didn't attach to anything or anyone new when this occurred. I didn't want to be a burden, didn't want to be see as less than, and basically defective and fragile.

10 years out, I am strangely feeling better than I have in some time and am off all my meds (at my doing, not the Drs. Their meds made me fat and miserable) So now @ 42, I am basically off the meds other than an aspirin, I am back to my pre-fib weight and am back to golfing again which means whenever weather and time permitting, I walk the course.

So buck up Montos, I know it is a rough condition to have because it is so often not in the background but it is also just takes time and getting comfortable with your 'alien' heart. The best I can say for me is that I do best when I don't focus on it. If you have energy and since you have kids, whenever possible, get lost with playing with them, or doing something for your wife to make her happy. Sitting feeling your own heartbeats, especially when they are beating like a conga drum, doesn't do you any favors. Trust me, I've spent far too much time doing that. Now I am playing some catch up in my own life.

I was 30 when I had my first episode. I have had 3 in total that required me to go to hospital. It is happening more and more often even on medication.

I understand your fears associated with this condition. I think for me the fact that I am a "worrier" makes it even worse. Every time I feel the slightest pain, off beat or anything near my heart I start stressing out. I also have small children (3) and I get so worried something is going to happen to me.

Currently I am taking medication to help keep me out of a-fib but my cardiologist wants me to have the ablation done. He says that it will only get worse over time and that it has a 85% success rate. So I am really considering it.

Sorry KImkburk, you have had 3 episodes in total or just 3 that sent you to the hospital? How often do you get them and what meds are you on, if you don't mind my asking?

For me, the worst is the fear of it you know? Like tonight I ate pizza and I'm having heartburn and palpitations as a result. The problem with trigger avoidance is that I avoid a lot of fun in my life as well and it leads to sleepless nights when the palpitations start.

Sucks. I wonder if a person still has to practice trigger avoidance after a successful ablation? I mean, I'm pretty sure I'd maintain a much healthier lifestyle but a, worry-free, beer and a slice of pizza every now and then them might be nice too...

Hello and welcome! I always feel strange saying that; probably because I wldn't wish afib on my worst enemy. The feeling down is normal as is feeling alone, but you are not alone....every. Smile, all the time, take your aspirin or whatever anticoagulant your on and just LIVE! I truly believe the worry is the biggest culprit with afib! We are all here if you need us!

hello there, i was 27 wen i had my first afib bout .... when i was first diagnosed i was devastated ..... i thought why is my heart doing, was it somthing ive done , somthing ive been born with somthing ive taken ?? ..... up until about 2 months in .... when my cardioligist sent me for more in depth tests ...... as they suspected somthing much much worse called avrd ... this is very rare and only say 1 in 5000 get it (my heart was enlarged on the right side also)

now as i had the bigger fright of having a bigger problem , and getting told that i dont have it...
i have not though about my afib and it seems to have cleared up ''fingers crossed''

what im trying to say is theres things out there much worse than afib ...... a few lifestyle changes can have a big impact on afib and if you have a fit body and mind it wont be half as bad

if you read my journal the story is in there more depth in regards to diet life style changes, what i blamed for triggering the afib
diet changes etc


i know this wont help everyone as there are different types of af ... and i hope no one is offended by me saying there is worse things

best of luck, mark :)

p.s if you have any questions feel free to ask ... and ill try and help in anyway i can