Ray,
What medication are you on? Have you had any recent changes?
Moy...

"have no idea what is wrong with me"


Ray:

Maybe no-one told you this before, but... you have atrial fibrillation. That is what is wrong. :-) Seriously, it can make you tired. Also the beta blockers (metoprolol?) can make you tired... so can even mild cases of sleep apnea. So can less hours of light as we approach winter... so can worry... so can weight gain...so can not going to the gym and working out like you did before afib...

Now do you understand what is wrong, Ray? :-)

Just havin' fun with ya, Ray.

Petey

Hello Ray,

Sure, all the stuff that Petey mentioned can cause lack of energy and being tired. However, another important one is lack of IRON in the blood. You should ask your doctor for Iron Serum and Ferritin (stored iron) blood tests. If your ferritin is low, then your thyroid will not work corrcetly (hypothyroid, slow thyroid), which results in lack of energy and fatigue. Also, if you are low in Iron, your muscles can not get enough oxygen since you need iron so the oxygen can be transported around the body.

So, you got to do some detective work to find the underlying reason for your lack of energy. Please let us know of the results. Thanks.

Scott

I'm with Moy. The first and second round of drugs did the same thing to me but now I just take a small dose of Flecainide and I now feel great. The doc's had me on way to many drugs to control the afib and I worked with them to get it down to a manageable level. Any beta blocker and digoxin were the main bad ones for me. Petey is spot on with some of his suggestions. Experiment a little to see what works best for your system. Just stay with a blood thinner at all times. Rick

Ray,
I refused to take the tykosin and a beta blocker and in a note to my cardiologist my EP said that I had refused to take them My cardiologist understood because I had had tried to take beta blockers before but could not tolerate them. Now I am going on PIP with my cardiologist blessing. Not had to take one yet. :) LOL.
Moy...

Hi Ray. Lack of sleep nails me to the floor. Do you have any type of infection, inflammation? I'm going through a rough patch due to an abcessed tooth.

Hi there Ray

I think me and you should start our own forum! I feel much the same as you - absolutely no energy, tired, sleepy and postural symptoms. This has been my life for quite a few years now although only diagnosed 3 years back with permanent afib (actually one Cardio called it chronic afib)

It really digs at me that most Afib sufferers only have very mild symptoms and often a beta blocker relieves them of all symptoms.
This isn't the same for some of us - I have recently spent 10 days in Hospital while the cardiologists tried lessening my symptoms by altering medications and dosage. I was released very highly medicated (6 separate types) but still feeling much the same. I go back next week but don't hold out many hopes of much improvement.

I have already had failed ablation and cardiversions so really don't know whats left, apart from buckling down and making the best what life has offered me, but sometimes this is very difficult.

Retyred: What is left is getting an ablation from a center that specializes in persistent or longstanding persintent (call it "chronic" or "permanent" respectively) afib. Some that come to mind:

U Penn (Dr Marchlinski)

Mt Sinai (Dr Dukkipati)

Cleveland Clinic

Dr. Sanjiv Narayan (FIRM Ablation technique)

petey

Dr. Natale at the Texas Cardiac Arrhythmia Institute in Austin is also recommended for people who have had prior failed ablations. My Cardiologist advised me if I wanted to try a 3rd ablation, he suggested I see Dr. Natale for a consultation and advised he would contact him and help get me set up with an appointment. (I believe Dr. Natale is also in San Francisco, CA too). While I am not interested in seeking a 3rd ablation at this time because my symptoms are manageable, if I were symptomatic enough that it was affecting my life, I would not hesitate to proceed.

Dear Retyred,
I feel so sorry for you. I just can't imagine what you have been through. I hope you can find some relief. Best wishes. I will be thinking of you.
Moy...

Retyred, I have a different suggestion. Go to the website Stopafib.org this is Melanie True Hill's site and sign up to submit a question for the October 30th question and answer session with doctors from the Cleveland Clinic.
This seems to be an annual event and you find transcripts from previous years on this website. I found them very informative.
The Cleveland Clinic is highly respected . I myself have an appointment there in early December and the doctor I have my appointment with will participate in the talk.
Just another suggestion, maybe this will help. :-)

I added the E-nergy drink sold at Walmart and loaded with Vit. C to my regime. It contains no caffeine...just natural ingredients. Not only does it protect from colds, but it slowly builds up your energy. I also am taking Vit. B-12 and it's made a huge difference. I'm going to talk to my Dr. about getting off metoprolol and onto something else, but if you are on it, take it before you go to bed.

I have more energy then I've had in two years, and I just pray it lasts.

BTW, I'm not talking about energy drinks that are loaded with caffeine like Red Bull, etc. This is just a vitamin drink, and a lot of older people are giving it a try. It's simply loaded with some vitamins. The orange is horrible, but the fruit flavor isn't bad. It is a powder.