K,
Back...so thanks to all who recommended that I go...the initial reaction at the clinic was "K, so you had a chest pain severe enough to wake you in the middle of the night on Saturday, and you waited until TODAY to come in?" The "Are you an idiot?" was implied. The doc said that the EKG showed NOTHING. Then he started to explain, which is why I say we should all have a Petey or a Jan to be with us, so that we have at least a TINY chance of understanding....Doc "blah blah blah...electrical currents, which could be thrown off by some kind of movement...blah blah blah." So I said "It happened right as I was turning on my side in the middle of the night!" But really, still not sure I understood correctly..I know we should NEVER sleep on our left side, but is it possible that turning a certain way can cause a brief electrical misfire? Petey? Jan? He was an Air Force Reserve Captain, so I think there is a good chance he went to medical school, unlike some Army docs I have encountered (don't get me started...). He did say one funny thing..."There are two kinds of chest paid that occur in the middle of the night that we generally don't worry about...firstly, the kind that pass in a matter of seconds, as your did, and secondly, the kind that kill you." Yeah, no need to worry about that one! He said the REAL worrisome event is the pain that lasts 15 or 20 minutes, then passes...that can be a precursor of something bad. But he said the EKG was completely clean...no afib, no "event." And he ended by saying "Next time, CALL YOUR CARDIOLGIST FIRST THING!" Message received. I just hope there is no "next time." I will take that one that kills you quickly in the middle of the night...IN THIRTY YEARS!

Much Relieved

hey Bill, I came back to check on you. I have always said I dont know what people do who dont have a medical family member or friend to interpret for them.....its really a rough road when you have to catch it all on your own. Seems to me, that whatever this was, is going to remain in the *unknown* category forever more, we can speculate about misfirings or heartburn or we can just chalk it up to *&%^ happens and if we werent a fibbers we likely would have not jumped with concern. Even the healthiest of hearts, and the folks without a fib have electrical misfirings , I used to buy into the not sleeping on the Left side but havent really paid much attention to that for a couple of years now and am none the worse for the wear. Cause I LOVE my left side :) Gotta hope this never ever happens again and gotta act on it if it does not much else to do ......I did laugh at your words though about the look they gave you , event happened Saturday and you are coming today ????? haha I have given that look to more than one person in my lifetime........Put it behind you and move forrward, you are always pretty good at doing that :) Best.......jan

Thanks Jan,
And have a WONDERFUL time in Europe. I was telling the doc about my trip..funny, I cannot stop telling EVERYONE about it! I can only hope you have even more fun than I did, although I don't see how that would be possible!

Bill

Bill: That explanation about position affecting electrical properties of the heart seems to be a stretch. I always thought you just feel more if you are lying on your left side> Here is what Cleveland Clinic had to say:

scottie: In paroxysmal AF, are there any common triggers and is it generally more common at night (mine is) ? Can bradycardia or low BP trigger an episode? Does body position act as a trigger? Any particular ways of avoiding it?

Dr_Walid_Saliba: Some forms of afib are more common at night and occur during sleep. You tend to feel them more if you are sleeping on the left side - the treatment is the same - ie. medications and/or ablation.

Petey,
The only thing I am sure of is that he was discussing wayward electrical impulses...I do believe he said something about body position, but I just was a bit lost once he pulled out the EKG and said "::Let me explain quickly how to read an EKG" The rest I was shaky on...but it did hit me the very second I turned over in bed, which seems like it might be a bit more than a coincidence. I am just glad that this one is behind me. Just amazing to me how, even after 2.5 years of no afib, that the first twinge (well, it actually did hurt for a second or two, so a bit more than a twinge) of the heart your mind goes RIGHT THERE! I guess it is just the curse of afib. Hoping the building stress of my forthcoming retirement doesn't cause any issues...and I know I am worried about nothing, as EVERYONE tells me how wonderful retirement is!

Bill

Thank goodness you are OK. I've been watching for your report the last few days..

Bill:

Good to hear you're o.k. Do you have a smartphone? If so, you need to invest in the AliveCor heart monitor. It's a must have for all afibbers! They are $75. That way if something like this happens again you can do an EKG instantly and see what's up.

By the way, I would have handled it the same way you did...sleep it off:)

Travis

Travis,
I barely have a cellphone..I have one of the very old flip phones, that belonged to my 80 year old Mom. My wife insisted I keep it, so when I am out and the afib comes back or I get my first stroke, I can call someone. Jitterbug with the big numbers...as close to this century as I can get, unless you count the DVR I got a few months ago...

Bill

http://www.imedicalapps.com/2013/03/physician-review-iphone-alivecor-ecg-heart-monitor/

Here is a doctor review of the AliveCor. Worth reading Pros and Cons.

Hi all: Single channel ECG monitors would be helpful in recognizing rate and rhythm issues but do not produce enough data for diagnosing ischemia and injury. In my line of work, our monitors are 3 lead or 5 lead monitor. 3 to 5 lead monitors do not provide enough data to diagnose ischemia or injury. If we see ST depression or elevation on a 3 or 5 lead monitor it raises suspicion that the patient needs a 12 lead ECG. 12 lead ECGs can produce more data for recognition of ischemia or injury to the heart and can suggest which area of the heart and coronary artery may be affected.

Bill, will occasionally feel a blip or thump when I go from laying on my right side to my back or go from my back to my LEFT side (which I try NOT to do since that always used to set off my Afib. So now when it happens, it FREAKS ME OUT. I sit up in bed, take a deep breath, cough, the typical anxious AFIB type reactions. Feel the pulse and it feels fine. I KNOW when I am in AFIB. And I get the wobbly leg thing and attribute to anxiety. I got the the heart squeeze thing once when a girl broke my heart and I got it again when I was on flecainide. Great to hear you are OK! Hang in there.