I try to be very quiet and rest or sleep if I can. I also take an ativan as soon as I can for anxiety and I think that helps me convert faster.

i to take a "little helper" half of a blue bomber..lol...you my age (late fifties) know what that is...just to calm MYSELF down...and just carry on with what im doing knowing this too shall pass and that im NOT gonna let afib get the better of me..my heart doc said i could drop a 40 mg sotalol if i felt like it to stop the afib..so far i havent...btw i've never had the very fast heart rates that most speak of...mine just beats funny about every 20 beats or so...is this unusual or do others not have the heart rate increase?

My episodes mostly happen while I'm in bed, ususally after returning from the bathroom. I get up and do some light exercise in another room, also dip my face and/or hands in ice water. I then get back in bed and prop myself into an upright position and just wait. Sometimes the AF goes within a half hour and sometimes I just fall asleep and wake up in NSR. There also have been times when it takes hours and I just watch the clock. AF is unpredictable.
Mitch

I do my usual stuff. I just finished a 14 hr episode and I went to meetings, went to the office - I don't like just sitting and checking my HR - I try to take my mind off of it. I try to do some deep breathing also because I tend to shallow breathe during my episodes.

I also have learned to just keep living my life. I have noticed that my afib always stops when I am up and moving around. it never stops while I am laying around or sleeping.

I usually just hang out on the couch. I try not to focus on it. But that's tough.

So are you all on blood thinners? Just wondering as I have not yet been put on them and it seems that those who are on blood thinners seem be more comfortable with waiting out an AFib episode. I have gone to the ER each time I have had Afib (3 times) as my cardio said that if my heart rate is above 110-125 and doesn't start coming down within 30 minutes, that I need to head to the ER. I also have called the "on call" cardio and been told the same thing. Is this unusual?

I think it depends if your HR is fast or near normal while in Afib. My doctors told me a high HR is not dangerous by itself ,but if I experience chest pains, shortness of breath and fainting, I should head to the ER.
Since my initial diagnosis in the ER in 2009, I went to the ER 3 times since. I did a lot of research and checking of my notes these past months in preparation for my second ablation and realized that each time I went to the ER, the diagnosis was Flutter. I seems I can tolerate a HR of 160 plus in Afib but not when I'm in Flutter.
My EP also told me to take an additional 40mg of Sotalol at the onset of an episode. It works for me, but don't recommend this without your doctor's approval.

I am on max drugs so I just get worried when i feel af.....what else can i do really,,,,,except rest.....

When I start afib or I think I'm going into afib, via flutters, I first take a teaspoon of potassium in warm water,
if that doesn't help I take 1/2 a 25mg beta blocker. In an hour if that
hasn't helped I take another. I also take a xanax, I've only had one afib event this year
and it lasted maybe 4 hours. I think I'm just lucky with the afib.

My torn rotator cuff and bicep muscles bother me more . Because
they were done 5-6 years ago I'm not a good canidate for surgery.

I take 25mg Metoprolol right away. I usually get mine at night, so I read or whatever and go back to bed.

My Episodes last ave. 11 hrs. I don't feel really well in afib, and usually lightheaded.
Since I am retired, I do whatever I feel like doing....sometimes more, sometimes less. But, I am always up and about doing something while in afib.

Hi Cuz...My cardiologist told me to take an extra pill. I am on metoprolol 50mg. twice daily. I take it and try to relax and not panic, which is difficult.

I usually go into AF after going to sleep. When I wake up during the night with AF I just go back to sleep after a bathroom visit. I'm dehydrated and down 1-2# by morning when I weigh myself. My irregular HB lasts from 8-20 hours then I self convert. Aside from feeling fatigued I experience no other symptoms since discontinuing BP and Statin meds.
During the day I continue on with my normal activities. I'll avoid walking to meetings and take Muni. I drive to other appointments and grocery shopping. I have asymptomatic bradycardia. My normal HR is in the range of 40's and 50's. In AF I'm in the normal range of 60-90's. I have a prescribed PIP but hesitate to take it with my low HR.
I'm comfortable just taking Warfarin. Avoiding my triggers I can usually avoid AF.
Off Topic - Currently experiencing mobility problems. I had Left and Right hip replacements 5 & 6 years ago. This scares me! I have an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon 1/23 or sooner if there is a cancellation.

Hi Bergeram - hope the orthopod visit goes well and your hips improve.

Good question!

Interesting and helpful to all to see some here have success with additional doses of metoprolol as well. It's amazing how med.s effect each of us differently.

My personal experiences (unfortunately) have compelled me to seek medical attention when in AF as they were severely debilitating. However, that said, I do have a PIP 'scrip for 300mg of flecainide. - Thomas