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.

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DebJg 10/17/2015

I was in hospital last weekend with A-fib.......haven't had this since 2010. I had a skin cancer removed last Thurs. and I had been eating M & M's and had a coke for dinner. Every now and then my heart will go out of rhythum but not for long..... I woke up at 1:00 AM and my heart was not beating right. I took an atenolol but I could tell that wasn't going to do the trick. Got to hospital and they start giving me all kinds of medicine-Amidiarone and Cardizem and I don't know what else. Nothing was working so they were going to do a TEE and shock me Sat. morning. They took me down to do the procedure and had me all ready and the anesthesiologist was right outside the door. My heart felt like it stopped and then it kind of fluttered. Then a nurse came running in and said you just converted on your own. Thank you Jesus!! I got to go home after that but now I am scared it will do it again. Went back to my cardiologists and told him I just feel like I can't get a deep breath which I have done off and on for years. He changed my atenolol to the cardizem and I read you should not just stop taking the atenolol. Started the cardizem today and I have not felt good at all! Breathing seems worse-don't know if it's the meds or anxiety. Anyone have the breathing problem or have taken this drug before? Sorry this is so long. Thanks

tomorrowsdream 10/18/2015

I'm not taking anything new, and I have SOB....after 3 years afib free. It's what gave me the first clue it might be back.

linsa 10/21/2015

I was first put on metoprolol and had extreme breathing problems.
This was changed to Diltiazem and the dosage I was put on also gave me breathing problems (and also some congestion). It was then changed to a lower dose twice daily which helped a little.
I've been taking D-Ribose powder (Doctors Best brand) for months now and my breathing and energy levels improved dramatically!
Studies have shown that d-ribose supplementation can enhance cardiac energy levels and support cardiovascular metabolism. It gives more oxygen to the blood and out to the tissues. This is a very safe supplement to take. Ribose is a penthouse (5-carbon) sugar utilised by the body to synthesise DNA, RNA and produce energy. It's a fundamental building block of adenosine triphosphate- ATP - the substance in which the body stores intracellular energy, the preferential source of energy for skeletal muscle and heart tissue. I would absolutely recommend you try it.

Using Ribose, along with some other natural supplements, I have been able to completely eliminate the anti-arrhythmia drug I was given that I could not tolerate. I still seem to need the low dose Diltiazem but at least it's tolerable. The ribose is the key to the breathing (and energy) problems I had. I wish you well. Sandra

Hwkmn 10/22/2015

Sandra, thats awesome. Speaking of Diltiazem, that was used for my first episode via IV drip in a Mexican city. I remember it working so well with little side effects, I can imagine its easy to handle. There are so many natural things we can reach for before taking what Pharma suggests. Or at least, If youre going to take a med, take supplements with it , or better yet, exercise, the best medicine of all.

linsa 10/22/2015

Yes, exercise is a must Hwkmn. Before taking the Ribose (when I was on more of the drugs), I was hardly able to do any exercise. Since then it's all good! I do a gym circuit class and also Pilates, and have an exercise bike etc at home. I also do deep diaphragm breathing when I need to relax, especially when I go to bed. (No AFib for months now, only the occasional palpitation.)

DebJg 10/24/2015

Thanks Sandra! I will have to try that. I had to stop the cardizem and go back on my atenolol. Still feel like I can't get a deep breath to save my life! I am going back to my doctors at Emory to see if anything new is going on with my heart. I washed my car today and thought I was gonna pass out. This is a miserable feeling and it is so hard to function like this. I hope I can come off the meds if this is doing this to me. I've been to lung doctors and they always try to put me on more medication. I have been told it's anxiety also and I know it's not-It is causing me to be anxious though.

linsa 10/25/2015

Do let us know how you get on with the Ribose DebJg.
I would be very surprised if it didn't work for you. Like you, I was in a really bad way with breathing problems and had to find a way to get away from the harmful drugs side effects. The Ribose began working within days (and it wasn't my imagination, as some people like to think)! Sandra

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