Hi shefland, When I go into afib my rate averages 140. I take Metoprolol, as a Pill in Pocket remedy. It usually brings my rate down to 100 within 15-20 mins. I don't take any afib meds (except Pradaxa) on a daily basis.

I start most of my episodes at 2-4 AM. I generally convert around noon.

My recent Holter showed longest afib episode was 8 hrs with HR ranging from 39 to 142. Never felt a thing.

I was more concerend about the39 than the 142 but EP says 39 is fine since I am a runner (pre afib HR 51) and dilitiazem lowers it

opsyn

Hi shefland When I go into a fib it usually lasts from 6 to12 hours then it self converts, it always starts in the afternoon or early evening my heart rate goes to 140 i am taking Xeralto and Tiazac but I am still having episodes. I am more anxious about the medication i am taking. Went to ER one time and was told, don't let it go more then 48 hours get in here before, because of high risk of stroke
All the best to you from a fellow sufferer

hi my afib usually starts in the early hours of the morning..heart rate anywhere from 100 to 198 very uncomfortable and anxiety provoking I can tell u...usually self revert after 6-12 hours...

Hi Shetland. I know how you feel with h.r.that high and erratic beats- mine does same. Been in hospital twice (had 2 attacks) each one lasted 3 days. Trying not to go to e.r.I get scared. I am on sotalol and Warfarin. Dr. won't agree to P.I.P. approach. Do u take any medicine? When I get a- fib I get high b.p. Anyone else? GOD BLESS AND HUGS. Christine.

120 mg of sotalol a day,warfarin, loristan and a water pill,

My maximum has been 10 hrs and I slept during most of it. So. I do not actually know if I was in a-fib all the time. I have always converted without any medication or treatment. I take Sotalol, aspirin and Warfarin daily. Xarelto had to be discontinued because of a bad hematoma. This morning I felt a-fib for less than 5 minutes. Worst part is aftermath with pressure and pain in the chest. 0.25 mg of Lorazepam helps and so does taking a walk, and doing puzzles to ease anxiety. I was diagnosed 2 years ago and it has been relatively easy this far. I hope your heart calms down

Hi shefland, mine last anywhere from 8 hours to 36, in the beginning of this I went to er no matter what, was scared to death now I am at the point I only go if it is higher than 120. They really don't do anything other than try and get your heart rate down which is good. For me getting the rate down helps me convert, Have gone as high as 180 and it is scary, I take Tikosyn, cartia and xeralto. Last bad episode I waited it out for a few hours and then took a Xanax, self converted about 45 minutes later. No rhyme or reason as to times for me, sometimes I wake up with it, or it will start right after I wake up like this morning and sometimes it will just hit when I am sitting watching tv or reading. Praying for NSR for all of us!

Sheflin I see you say you are taking a water pill, every doc I have been to says a diuretic is very bad for afib. Mine took me off them. Anyone else hear that about a diuretic?

Hi and Welcome shefland,

I convert on my own. My AF episodes usually start between 2-4 AM and last between 8 - 24hrs. Triggers alcohol and eating late after ushering. My HR rate ranges between 65-95. My normal rate is in the 40's and 50's. Maybe age has something to do with it. I'm definitely not athletic. Diagnosis - asymptomatic bradycardia. I take Warfarin and Vitamin D. That's it! I consider myself as one of the more fortunate with AF.

Annette

I am in chronic afib, I don't go in and out. Yet surprisingly, other than occasional shortness of breath, I have no symptoms. This has been going on for 6+ years (I had an ablation but it wore off after a few years). I feel kinda fine.

NYNM: I am in the same boat. Always in afib. Never feel it. I have my wife use my OMRON HCG 801 portable ECG every so often, just to make sure it can show normal sinus rhythm... it does. - petey

I'm a 36 year old, relatively new a-fibber. I routinely strike in to a-fib after every other meal or so and every other time I lay down to bed, and the bout usually lasts for 1-2 hours. I'm finding that vagal maneuvers, e.g., bearing down, help pop me out of a-fib.

A-fib used to only happen during exercise, so now I only walk for exercise. I suspect my a-fib will progress. Currently on Rythmol SR (2x225mg) and use both metoprolol (12.5mg) and/or Klonopin (0.5mg) as needed. I will likely ask to have Rythmol dose increased; it is clearly not helping me get back to jogging or preventing postprandial bouts of a-fib.

Sleep well!
Sean

Shefland, My longest AFIB bout was 2 weeks and I self converted. All other AFIB bouts before my ABLATION self converted. After my ablation, I had 2 aflutter episodes, the second which had to be cardioverted since I had gone three weeks and was tired of it and my EP wanted to do it. My EP also advised flutter is typically much harder to self convert than AFIB. When in AFIB, I would take a thinner (xarelto) as a preventative measure. Rhythm control meds never worked on me. Note that my AFIB would never be that last - only double digits so it was tolerable.

Sheflin,
Some water pills (loop and thiazide kind) may present afib danger if they lead to a low level of blood potassium. If you take a water pill and your potassium level is ok, then you should not worry about interaction of water pills and afib.