I'm surprised that when you were in the hospital you didn't see a cardiologist who would have arranged a follow up appointment with you. I was just diagnosed 1/15, and while they tell you A-fib won't kill you (the risk for stroke is the problem), that doesn't change the fact that A-fib is one of the most emotionally and mentally distressing things you can experience, at least that's how I see it.
Since I work in the health field, I only waited 1 hour after my palp/rapid heart rate started. Was in an ER room within 20 minutes and the great ER doc (@@) announced that they had saved my life (and there started my anxiety journey with A-Fib). I was admitted and see by a Cardiologist whom I adore and he's been very responsive to my calls and needs. I was placed on Flecainide on 2/26 and had my stress test on 3/16 (passed with flying colors) and I'm hoping to remain A-Fib free on my medical regimen
That doesn't mean my anxiety has gone away, just reduced. I did get my PCP to prescribe Xanax while I plan to take only if I have an A-Fib episode to help me sleep.
You ask if you should just not worry about the palps, I say no. If you heart rate is rapid with the palps, you need to call you doctor and follow his/her directions, My cardiologist gave me cardizem 30mg to take with palps, and take another 30 minutes later if the palps are still going on and if that doesn't work, call him because it's his goal to keep me out of the hospital. I wish you the best

@Cindy1750... It also surprises me that the Drs act kind of "oh well" about this. No discussion whatsoever of a cardiac referral except to pick up the monitor, which is now 2 weeks away. I agree that this is very stressful and leaves one wondering which path is best to take. My GP has been so kind and responsive but doesn't seem to have control over getting the monitor quickly...at this point I would love to get that going to know what is actually triggering all these palpitations. Thanks for your comments!

twincheryl: I wouldn't count on your PCP to know what he is talking about. First of all, if you were diagnosed with paroxysmal afib, that means you come in and out of afib. So you might not have been in afib when you saw him. Second of all, you could have other arrhythmias too. Aflutter is one that is often seen with afib. But that arrhythmia, like afib, is simple to diagnose. I'm not sure what "interesting EKG" means as far as a diagnosis is concerned. There are many arrhythmias too numerous to mention. They aren't diagnosed as "interesting arrhythmia syndrome", unless you invented a new one. Many afibbers have PCPs and PVCs along with afib, so that's a possibility too. But they aren't interesting. I think "interesting" means "I don't know what it is" so I'll have to look it up later. As far as the emergency visit is concerned, they must have a copy of your EKG strip. That needs to go with your doctor. Really, you need to have an electrophysiologist (EP) that can do a whole workup on you. After that, you get a treatment strategy. Then it all becomes boring. Pretty much the only things they can do are: rhythm drugs or rate control drugs or both, anticoagulation if your stroke risk warrants it, tell you all the typical stuff about healthy eating exercise and weight control, see if something is contributing to the arrhythmia like valve problems high blood pressure sleep apnea thyroid issues etc., or do an ablation or other medical procedure. I should also mention that the people in the ER may have misdiagnosed you, though I doubt it. Afib is so common and one of the most frequent reasons for heart related emergency room visits.

So the bottom line is to not freak out, learn about ""triggers", and get a workup from an EP, not your PCP, who should refer you to an EP if he knows what he is doing. In the interim, eat properly, lay off alcohol caffeine and other stimulants, and get enough rest. You can make notes on when you have symptoms and what you were doing.

If you are a twin, you might want to let your twin know if you get a diagnosis.

Hope this helps.

petey

Thanks, Petey... Any words of advice and calming definitely help. Since the cardiology folks will be involved if I can ever get an appt for the monitor, I will definitely speak to them about an EP referral. May have to go out of pocket for that since Kaiser Permanente kind of holds you hostage to their way of thinking. I'm certainly open to anything and it's nice to know there are options. I may not be as early in this process as I think, since it seems now that I look back, that I've had short episodes of palpitations for over a year. No telling if it was afib or not.

I'm not a person to get overly concerned about most medical things and always joke that I'll die at home waiting to decide whether to go to the emergency room. But this is a little nerve-wracking. I've read enough times now that people rarely die from afib alone. I have no other contributing factors. Yes, an electronic copy of my 6+ hours of monitoring went to the other hospital when I was transferred. I was paying great attention to all of those details... at least those that I knew might be important.

Again, thanks for the support. I am an identical twin and my sister is a huge part of my life, so she's making notes... haha

You said: "Yes, an electronic copy of my 6+ hours of monitoring went to the other hospital when I was transferred."

So I guess you don't need a monitor. They make "marks" next to anything that is noteworthy on your EKG strip. If it is afib, then you are in the club and it is likely to return again... there's just no way to predict how often or whether or not you are having asymptomatic afib. Now that I know you were monitored for 6 hours, it is highly unlikely that it wasn't afib. You own that strip and all your information. You are allowed to have a copy. Be your own advocate (and your twin sister's). :-)

Do you know about CHA2DS2Vasc scores for stroke risk. If not, read the Wikipedia coverage on it. Skip the section on CHADS2. Go right to the bottom. Score yourself. If you are 65 or older (you are female too so that gives you a "risk" point for that and age another point) you should be on an anticoagulant. Other things like high blood pressure count also.

petey

Welcome Cheryl, I married an identical, quite a ride. All great advice here. Its a journey for sure. I would be concerned with Palps, or PVCs possibly, Premature Ventricular Contractions. Feels like a skipped beat? Most are benign, however with affibbers I believe to be the precursor to AF episodes. Once you conquer those as I believe I have, the battle may become easier.
As for Cardiologists, my experience has been as with PCPs, they are all different in method and treatments. I had 7 in 5 years and none were the same. Some were good, some were clueless. The last Cardio listened to me because he has Afib and came to a dead end with Meds himself. IMO I believe all Meds fail at some point. Sure youll hear about those who are on them for decades, but for every story like that, there are 10 other failures. Tis why they continually switch you to different ones. I wish I was armed with more questions with my first few years of this condition. Heres a few you may ask respectfully. If you dont get an answer, or you get an eye roll with a downplay attitude, find a new Cardio, theres plenty of them.
1. "What significance does Tricarballyate have to my heart symptoms? All disease begins in the gut and if your body is making excess organic acid, it will deplete minerals like Magnesium which is vital to heart health.
2. Should I have a RCB test for Magnesium and Potassium levels? Dont plan on getting better with or without Meds until this is checked. Its actually in the PDR, (Physicians Desk Reference) for Afib, most just ignore it.
3. Did you check my EPA and DHA levels? Wrong fats in our nerve and muscle membranes of heart can affect AF.
4. Are there alternatives to Meds that I should be taking? That may send him over the edge, but its your body and your life
There are many that may disagree with some or all of this, however again, you need to take control of this condition and you owe it to yourself to explore ALL treatments. As far as Im concerned if they are still telling us there is no cure, Im open to all options. Regards

Hwkmn... I agree with you totally. Not a huge proponent of mainstream medicine. I feel like they just want to mask the symptoms without trying to find the root cause. Will play their game for a few weeks and see where it goes... will then likely pay out of pocket for an integrative med consult to look into some of the things you mentioned. I'm already a big fan of Magnesium and Potassium and take a good size dose of them daily for many years. Thanks for your comments!

You probably had afib when in the ER...and perhaps not at you PCP's office. There are many arrhythmias!

Do you have an at home HR monitor? Are you able to feel your pulse at your carotid artery or wrist? The thing about afib is to keep your HR from being too high for too long. So, if in afib, taking your choice of anitarrhythic or rate control to convert or bring your rate down.

My thinking is, you were diagnosed at ER...so you are one of us. The Metoprolol will keep your rate down. I went into afib while taking the Metoprolol, but some folks convert when they take an extra one...if their HR is high ....way over 100. I am not taking Metoprolol daily, but I do take 25mg. when I get an episode. It brings my hr down from 140ish to 100 and lower within half hr. I used to stay in afib with a lowered hr for up to 12 hrs. and then self convert.
I can also take Rhythmol, an antiarrhythic med. and it will usually convert me within 2 hrs.

I have parasysmol afib, was diagnosed in july of '11. The first months were the most difficult for me....understanding it....then came the adjustments to my life to see how best for me to cope with it.

This past yr and half I have been doing really well. I am in week 16+ in NSR. I used to get them pretty regularly....from 2-3x mo to every 3 weeks for the first 1yr and half.

Keep your Faith strong that you will be guided to do what is best for you~

yogacat... Yes, I have a home BP monitor and check it occasionally. I can easily tell when my BP/pulse increases... my heart pounds and I feel palpitations. When this happens, my monitor goes into error mode so I need to take it manually. Whether I'm in afib at that point, not sure. How do you know?

The metoprolol seems to be working well at keeping my heart rate consistently below 100. For the first time in a week, I've had over 24 hrs without feeling palpitations. It is very nice, although from what I have read the afib is likely to return at some point. Hopefully later... ha ha

Nice to know there are others who are finding ways to deal with this... everyone is different and willing to accept different levels of risk. I appreciate your input!

Cheryl, Only the lucky ones know when we are out of NSR, so I was told. Some show up for a physical and are told they are in Afib. That is the danger for this condition because no matter what treatment, we must be proactive with this. Metop will keep your rate low, and that may keep you in NSR hopefully. It kept my rate low and out of Afib for a couple of years until I went back in and had a nice, slow but irregular HR. Hoping for you with your knowledge healthy adds you stay NSR for good.

I thought everyone could feel their pulse and tune into the rhythm of their heart beat.
Sometimes when I have had a Metoprolol I have to use a bit more pressure and 'feel' my pulse for several seconds, rather then usual...just a little pressure, and the irregular heartbeat is very evident right away.

.http://www.strokeheart.org/CYPA/difference.html

This is also excellent for how to check your pulse:
http://www.strokeheart.org/CYPA/check.html

Yogacat, thanks the neuropathy makes it a little hard butI actually feel. Just needed some help with method!

twincheryl, loved the analogy of a journey because that is what it has been. After six months I feel for now it is under more control.

laurab

If you have an i-phone you can get a free app named Cardiio. It can measure your heart rate with index finger tip touch or with the camera that will check your face (???). I use the fingertip method and get reliable HR reading. When in a-fib one can clearly see the crazy pattern. My cardiologist thought it is a really cool gadget. I do not know if similar apps are available for other smart phones. However I think that wearing a monitor will give your doctors accurate and necessary data. Good luck, Marya

Good advice from all here. I would echo Petey's advice about getting in with a good EP (electrophysiologist). It is definitely possible to be misdiagnosed in the emergency room. It happened to me. I was told I had harmless PACs, but advised to follow up with a cardiologist (which I did). ER docs are more concerned about dealing with immediate threats like massive head wounds than they are accurately diagnosing heart rhythm maladies which aren't life-threatening.

Personally I think it's best to see both a cardiologist and an electrophysiologist for a complete understanding of what's going on with your heart. Cardiologists are like plumbers - they can tell you if something is structurally wrong with your heart (bad valves, clogged up pipes, etc). Electrophysiologists are like electricians - they specialize in the electrical activity of the heart that causes arrhythmias like afib.