Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
Oh the sleepless nights abound. Since my aborted ablation (Nov 6), I've called the paramedics 3 times for chest pain. 2 of those calls resulted in trips to the E.R., and one overnight stay in the medical observation unit. They've ruled out a lot of heart problems, an my E.P. tells me I am not having complications from the E.P. Study. He tells me that as a 36-year-old with CHADS score of zero, I do not need to be on anti-coagulants, and that a-fib is not dangerous, it's just uncomfortable.
So I'm slowly accepting that, and I'm left to sort out the possibility that I'm having severe anxiety and panic attacks from all the pre- and post-procedural worry. As little as 0.5 mg Klonopin helps, and I have begun therapy and mindfulness training to combat my fear of fear.
But as recently as a week and a half after the procedure, I started having massive dystension, GI distress, belching/bloating. H pylori test was negative. 20 mg once a day omeprazole for 3 weeks has not helped, so I discontinued today. Rolaids provide relief on an empty stomach, but there's no stopping the post-meal barrage of pressure and burping. Gas-X sometimes helps. And as expected, it sends my heart in to palpitations and likely a-fib at times, especially when I'm laid down to bed.
So now I'm left to wonder whether my worry has caused an ulcer down there somewhere.
Do Rythmol (325 twice a day) or Metoprolol (12.5 mg twice a day) cause tummy problems for any of you?
Time to pop a Klonopin and call another specialist tomorrow. The GI guy.
-Sean
So I'm slowly accepting that, and I'm left to sort out the possibility that I'm having severe anxiety and panic attacks from all the pre- and post-procedural worry. As little as 0.5 mg Klonopin helps, and I have begun therapy and mindfulness training to combat my fear of fear.
But as recently as a week and a half after the procedure, I started having massive dystension, GI distress, belching/bloating. H pylori test was negative. 20 mg once a day omeprazole for 3 weeks has not helped, so I discontinued today. Rolaids provide relief on an empty stomach, but there's no stopping the post-meal barrage of pressure and burping. Gas-X sometimes helps. And as expected, it sends my heart in to palpitations and likely a-fib at times, especially when I'm laid down to bed.
So now I'm left to wonder whether my worry has caused an ulcer down there somewhere.
Do Rythmol (325 twice a day) or Metoprolol (12.5 mg twice a day) cause tummy problems for any of you?
Time to pop a Klonopin and call another specialist tomorrow. The GI guy.
-Sean
I am so sorry you are going through this...you are now a full fledged member of what I like to refer to as the "Psycho Club." Until afib, I was one of those "Just relax, don't let it worry you!" guys. Once I got afib, a totally different story. Had my very first and hopefully last, full blown anxiety attack in June of last year. Those of you who have had one, know what I am talking about..woke up at 2AM, drenched in sweat, and KNEW I was going to die that night. I hope you haven't reached that point yet, and hope that you don't. But it sounds like you are doing all the right things to fight it...therapy, and mindfulness training (haven't heard about that one before). As for the stomach issues. I am going back in a few weeks for my one year post ablation appointment and am going to ask the EP about this one. I have the same issue, sometimes a LOT of discomfort after eating a meal. I have read about others who also suffered this after an ablation (at least one on the stopafib.org website)...however, my EP nurse said that she hasn't run across it before. I have done some research that suggests it could either be stress, or the body's prolonged exposure to high blood sugar (elevated blood sugar can also be caused by stress). I don't have it after EVERY meal, which I find interesting, and quite often after a treatment (massage, acupuncture, myotherapy) I don't have it, which sort of suggests the stress aspect. I would be interested in hearing any follow-up you have with the GI guy. All I can say is hopefully it gives you some peace knowing that you are NOT alone in this...there are many on this site who have suffered anxiety related to this darned afib thing. If Petey, who has access to a Jacuzzi on a daily basis, has known stress, then it is a shoe in that the rest of us will also suffer though this! Take care, and don't let the anxiety monster win! (Now THERE is some worthless advice!)
Bill, fellow member of the club