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.
So I found this site last night while laying in bed. I have read many many posts already and have really found some solace in reading other people's stories.
I have had heart issues since I was 21 but was told they were benign palpitations. The weekend before my 32nd birthday, in May 2014, I went into the ER thinking that I was having a bad run of my "Benign Palpitations". I was immediately hooked up to an ECG and the technician asked if I 'd ever been told I have A-fib. I said "no" and honestly didn't even know what it was other than hearing the term on tv. I was quickly put into a wheel chair and taken to a room where about 15 people converged on me and before I knew what was going on had o2, IV's and metoprolol going. I had been taking metoprolol already because my cardiologist said it would help with the random arrhythmia. The next morning I finally converted back to NSR and was released that afternoon with a new drug regimen (diltiazem and eliquiss) and felt pretty good. While I was laid up I had time to reflect on the years of symptoms I have had and am sure that I have had A-Fib for many years.
All was well for a couple weeks until after a family gathering I started to feel bad. Hard to describe to someone who has never experienced a-fib but I'm sure most of you will relate. I felt like I had all the symptoms of A-fib but yet still had what felt like NSR. My wife couldn't hear anything abnormal by listening to my chest and my HR was normal(in the 50's). Usually she can pick it up right away. I was very, very tired, had flushing moments where I thought I could pass out, sudden feelings of nausea and diarrhea and many other symptoms. I managed to get some sleep and the next day felt better overall but still very tired. In fact I didn't hardly get out of bed until Monday for work. Saw my Primary and he said it was a stomach bug............I didn't think so. 2 weeks later it happened again. Got into my cardiologist and I had to tell him I felt like the meds were causing it. So he put me back on Metoprolol but this time the ER. I have felt better but still will have brief moments of not feeling right. Saturday I was feeling ok but all of a sudden I became quite sad. I had friends and family over and I just wanted to crawl in bed and shut the door. I powered through and about 30 min later I was better.
I have an appointment with a new EP next week and am anxious to hear what he has to say about my situation. I really want these side effects to go away. They are worse than the A-Fib!
Does any one else have these type of side effects?
Thank you all for reading such a long post but I don't get to talk to anyone who understands my condition. I have no one in my family that deals with it. My wife listens and has been so incredibly awesome through this and I couldn't begin to deal with this and learn about it without her but to hear from others that have A-Fib is very comforting.
-Phillip
I have had heart issues since I was 21 but was told they were benign palpitations. The weekend before my 32nd birthday, in May 2014, I went into the ER thinking that I was having a bad run of my "Benign Palpitations". I was immediately hooked up to an ECG and the technician asked if I 'd ever been told I have A-fib. I said "no" and honestly didn't even know what it was other than hearing the term on tv. I was quickly put into a wheel chair and taken to a room where about 15 people converged on me and before I knew what was going on had o2, IV's and metoprolol going. I had been taking metoprolol already because my cardiologist said it would help with the random arrhythmia. The next morning I finally converted back to NSR and was released that afternoon with a new drug regimen (diltiazem and eliquiss) and felt pretty good. While I was laid up I had time to reflect on the years of symptoms I have had and am sure that I have had A-Fib for many years.
All was well for a couple weeks until after a family gathering I started to feel bad. Hard to describe to someone who has never experienced a-fib but I'm sure most of you will relate. I felt like I had all the symptoms of A-fib but yet still had what felt like NSR. My wife couldn't hear anything abnormal by listening to my chest and my HR was normal(in the 50's). Usually she can pick it up right away. I was very, very tired, had flushing moments where I thought I could pass out, sudden feelings of nausea and diarrhea and many other symptoms. I managed to get some sleep and the next day felt better overall but still very tired. In fact I didn't hardly get out of bed until Monday for work. Saw my Primary and he said it was a stomach bug............I didn't think so. 2 weeks later it happened again. Got into my cardiologist and I had to tell him I felt like the meds were causing it. So he put me back on Metoprolol but this time the ER. I have felt better but still will have brief moments of not feeling right. Saturday I was feeling ok but all of a sudden I became quite sad. I had friends and family over and I just wanted to crawl in bed and shut the door. I powered through and about 30 min later I was better.
I have an appointment with a new EP next week and am anxious to hear what he has to say about my situation. I really want these side effects to go away. They are worse than the A-Fib!
Does any one else have these type of side effects?
Thank you all for reading such a long post but I don't get to talk to anyone who understands my condition. I have no one in my family that deals with it. My wife listens and has been so incredibly awesome through this and I couldn't begin to deal with this and learn about it without her but to hear from others that have A-Fib is very comforting.
-Phillip
I describe my afib episodes as "no feeling right".....I also get light headed, but the Not Right feeling is very real for me.
You are not alone~ Carol
You probably already know that A Fib not only causes the physical problems but the mental distress tags along, too. It takes awhile to learn to deal with that.
D.
DeeMR11, I'm a very happy person. Not much gets to me usually. But dealing with the constant fear is definitely taxing. I'm adjusting. What I experienced over the weekend seemed different. It was sudden and consuming. And then it passed. I'm unfamiliar with this sudden emotional shift and hope that it never happens again.
I'm sure that the ability to voice my feelings and concerns, to people on this forum that truly understand and are compassionate to the newly diagnosed, will help and soon I will wake up with a new outlook.
Thank you to all who read and answer posts on this forum. Once you were in my shoes and to see where you all are now is comforting.
Phillip
As far as myself, I don't think it is the meds because I experienced the same thing before I took daily meds. I would almost describe it as a neurological episode. Maybe it is anxiety I don't know. It is kind of a shakiness inside along with some palps. Just overall yuckiness. At this very moment I am laying down because that's how I feel right now. It does make you want to hide in your bed
My ultimate fears have always that I will pass out somewhere and not be found for many, many hours. It's a messed up feeling when you're about to black out as so many here know.
For some reason early this week I also experienced my body heating up to extremities actually producing sweat. this went on for several hours. As I mentioned in an earlier comment, when i took a PIP it did eventually work, but it took much longer than I thought.
Best of luck and hang in there,......