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.
Hello everyone, I was surfing the net looking for information on Lone AFIB and found this site. So far so good. I will start by giving a brief history of what happened with me and follow up with some concerns/question. My goal of course is to get some answers and to develop a positive view of what I am going through. That's pretty hard to do sometimes but I remain optimistic!
I am a 32 year old male who lives in Oklahoma and am getting married in Sept 2009. I was recently diagnosed with Lone AFIB and have had two separate episodes in the last year. I am currently on 25mg atenolol and .25 mg of digoxin. Since then I experience PVCs daily, some better than others, but am in Sinus Rhythm.
O.k. I'll try to keep it short.
I had my first confirmed AFIB episode in Oct. 2008. I went to my parents house in Indiana 800 miles away to watch over my 96 yo grandpa who lived with my patents. They went on vacation for a week and I was there to keep an eye on him. That week was very stressful to me because at the time he was rapidly getting worse with dementia and his overall since of time and reality. I didn't get much sleep that week and as the week came to end I was exhausted both mentally and physically. The next day after their return I helped my dad with a tree that had been struck by lightning in their back yard. We spend the day with chainsaws removing broken limbs and moving heavy stumps. I started feeling dizzy but didn't think anything at the time. Later that night I took my pulse and noticed it was jumping all over the place. Immediately I went into panic mode. This had never happened before. I was very scared. My dad rushed me to the ER where the told me I was in AFIB. This was the first time I have ever heard of this. They decided to put me in the hospital for the weekend and chemically converted me back to Sinus Rhythm the following Monday.
During my stay in the hospital I had EKG, ECG, bloodtests, ecocardiogram and all came back normal. They said structurally my heart was great but my potassium was a little low but not significant. I was put on toporol and sent home with the instruction, "go to a cardiologist as soon as you get back to Oklahoma." I left the hospital and returned home. The day we got back my grandpa had a stroke and was rushed to the hospital. I couldn't stay and headed back to Oklahoma. He died 2 months later. He will be missed.
When I saw the cardiologist in Oklahoma he put me on a 24hr holter monitor, changed my medicine from toporol to digoxin, because I was feeling sluggish. The holter results showed that I was fine just experiencing PVCs about 2000 in 24 hr period. My cardiologist said this was nothing to worry about. I disagree. He wanted me to come back in a few months. The next few weeks after talking to him were pure hell. I went through serious anxiety problems and coping with my newly diagnosed condition. Difficulty sleeping, and I had panic attacks almost daily. I was unsure if I was going to have a heart attack or die. I wasn't getting answers from my Dr. so I changed to another cardiologist. He evaluated my case did a stress test and said I was fine. He took me off all meds and told me to take 400mg of magnesium and a baby aspirin a day.
Since then a day hasn't gone by that I don't think about my heart. It is a constant struggle to accept my malady and to adapt to a new way of living. I have PVCs daily for which I am told are completely normal. Don't worry about them, they are benign. However I live in fear of "what ifs" and will I die early? In addition I have no answer to as to why this occurred. I wish I knew so I could just avoid that activity.
Fast forward to a week ago. A washer hose broke and flooded my house. I had to have the entire carpet replaced as well as a lot of my belongings. This was not fun. I was very stressed again. Went to the gym to blow of some steam and came back in AFIB. I went to the ER again. the gave me a few injections and I went to my cardiologist the next morning. He confirmed I was in AFIB and put me on my current meds. Digoxin .25mg and Atenolol 25mg daily. On converted back on my own later that day. Since then I am becoming more accepting of what I have... praying daily and exercising when I can. My blood pressure is consistantly around 65/115 and HR is 60-70 BPM.
I am getting married in 2 months and I have to get myself under control.
My biggest problem is not knowing what exactly is causing this. Why now, and will it get worse? What are the best ways to deal with PVCs and are there others my age with this problem? I feel alone in this because as much as my fiance and family love me, there comes a point where I don't want to talk about my fears and problems as they have their own as well. I don't want to make everything about me and my heart problems. So I thought joining this group could help. Sorry about the long message.
Eric
I am a 32 year old male who lives in Oklahoma and am getting married in Sept 2009. I was recently diagnosed with Lone AFIB and have had two separate episodes in the last year. I am currently on 25mg atenolol and .25 mg of digoxin. Since then I experience PVCs daily, some better than others, but am in Sinus Rhythm.
O.k. I'll try to keep it short.
I had my first confirmed AFIB episode in Oct. 2008. I went to my parents house in Indiana 800 miles away to watch over my 96 yo grandpa who lived with my patents. They went on vacation for a week and I was there to keep an eye on him. That week was very stressful to me because at the time he was rapidly getting worse with dementia and his overall since of time and reality. I didn't get much sleep that week and as the week came to end I was exhausted both mentally and physically. The next day after their return I helped my dad with a tree that had been struck by lightning in their back yard. We spend the day with chainsaws removing broken limbs and moving heavy stumps. I started feeling dizzy but didn't think anything at the time. Later that night I took my pulse and noticed it was jumping all over the place. Immediately I went into panic mode. This had never happened before. I was very scared. My dad rushed me to the ER where the told me I was in AFIB. This was the first time I have ever heard of this. They decided to put me in the hospital for the weekend and chemically converted me back to Sinus Rhythm the following Monday.
During my stay in the hospital I had EKG, ECG, bloodtests, ecocardiogram and all came back normal. They said structurally my heart was great but my potassium was a little low but not significant. I was put on toporol and sent home with the instruction, "go to a cardiologist as soon as you get back to Oklahoma." I left the hospital and returned home. The day we got back my grandpa had a stroke and was rushed to the hospital. I couldn't stay and headed back to Oklahoma. He died 2 months later. He will be missed.
When I saw the cardiologist in Oklahoma he put me on a 24hr holter monitor, changed my medicine from toporol to digoxin, because I was feeling sluggish. The holter results showed that I was fine just experiencing PVCs about 2000 in 24 hr period. My cardiologist said this was nothing to worry about. I disagree. He wanted me to come back in a few months. The next few weeks after talking to him were pure hell. I went through serious anxiety problems and coping with my newly diagnosed condition. Difficulty sleeping, and I had panic attacks almost daily. I was unsure if I was going to have a heart attack or die. I wasn't getting answers from my Dr. so I changed to another cardiologist. He evaluated my case did a stress test and said I was fine. He took me off all meds and told me to take 400mg of magnesium and a baby aspirin a day.
Since then a day hasn't gone by that I don't think about my heart. It is a constant struggle to accept my malady and to adapt to a new way of living. I have PVCs daily for which I am told are completely normal. Don't worry about them, they are benign. However I live in fear of "what ifs" and will I die early? In addition I have no answer to as to why this occurred. I wish I knew so I could just avoid that activity.
Fast forward to a week ago. A washer hose broke and flooded my house. I had to have the entire carpet replaced as well as a lot of my belongings. This was not fun. I was very stressed again. Went to the gym to blow of some steam and came back in AFIB. I went to the ER again. the gave me a few injections and I went to my cardiologist the next morning. He confirmed I was in AFIB and put me on my current meds. Digoxin .25mg and Atenolol 25mg daily. On converted back on my own later that day. Since then I am becoming more accepting of what I have... praying daily and exercising when I can. My blood pressure is consistantly around 65/115 and HR is 60-70 BPM.
I am getting married in 2 months and I have to get myself under control.
My biggest problem is not knowing what exactly is causing this. Why now, and will it get worse? What are the best ways to deal with PVCs and are there others my age with this problem? I feel alone in this because as much as my fiance and family love me, there comes a point where I don't want to talk about my fears and problems as they have their own as well. I don't want to make everything about me and my heart problems. So I thought joining this group could help. Sorry about the long message.
Eric
You have to be aware of the PACS--I can feel mine, some people may not be able to. My AFIB usually comes between the hours of 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. So I am aware.
The stress level has to go down either with change of environment or medications or both.
Stress is very significant in arrrythmias and makes things worse.
there are other things you can do - I assume they told you no caffeine, no cigarettes, no chocolate and no alcohol.
Establish a daily routine - go to sleep at the same time. If you have to, get some sleep aids.
Arm yourself with knowledge, but don't over do it. when u start reading about what can go wrong with your heart, it's like looking into the face of death. think positive - you are young and u will be OK.
the main thing, IMO is getting a daily routine. i know you have a lot going on, but if you have health problems u can't do anything about your daily goals.
Toprol does make you sluggish, but it goes away eventually as you adjust to the drug.
i know you are scared about the heart, but eventually it will get better.
don't be afraid to talk to your doc about anti-anxiety meds. they can really help.
i hate drugs, but I do whatever it takes to stop worrying. As soon as I get excited all kinds of things happen - PVCs, short a-fib runs, etc.
Hang in there!!!
I, too, think Eric needs some help with anxiety. Being so overwrought about the AFIB really does make it worse. See your primary care doc for this and INSIST that you need help with anxiety. Also, Eric, you should see an electrophysiologist, not just a cardiologist. The electrophysiologist is a cardiologist who has specialized in the electrical systems of the heart. I wasted a lot of years seeing a cardiologist, but got real help with I saw the EP. It makes a world of difference to see a SPECIALIST in this area of study. I highly recommend you go to a regional heart center, such as a research university with a cardio unit. They may recommend the best meds, or, you are so young that an ablation might be in order as a more permanent fix. I am AFIB free now for almost five months since having the ablation on Feb 3!!!! Good Luck, Eric!
unless your doctor recommends it, DO NOT try it at home without consulting with your cardiologist.
It is also dangerous if you have plaque in your carotid arteries - it can potentially dislodge the plaque and cause a stroke.
Please, please be careful.
The people in your family are probably scared too. They'll all have different ways of dealing with it. Sometimes they'll feel supportive, sometimes they'll feel smothering, sometimes they might feel distant. Don't stress too much about this - they probably don't want to burden you with their own fears about what might happen to you, and are acting strangely because of it. It's hard to process for you and your family.
Find one thing that you can do that will almost never be impacted by your AFib, like a board game. Any time the stress level is getting too high, call up some friends or family, play this game together, have a drink and a good time. Remind yourself and your friends that your heart problem isn't who you are. You are Eric with a heart problem, not an AFib patient named Eric - YOU come first :)
Also, be happy they never tried the valsalva maneuver on you. They tip your bed 15 degrees negative, so you feel upside down, then they ask you to bear down... AND they expect you to relax! It feels like you are going to fall on your head!
But again, stress most of the time causes PVCs.
My PVCs were symptomatic- I was nearly passing out each time. Some people are just very sensitive to them.
I was put on flecainide, which relieved the PVCs. Now I'm off the drug and i rarely have PVCs, but I also got stress and lifestyle under control.
good luck!
What's a PVC?
I was diagnosed as AFIB, did short hospital stay, was
"cardioverted" (if that's the right term), have since had
vacillating pulse rates and discomfort.
I'm never sure whether i"m "in AFIB"
Pardon my naivete
Eric
I totally understand you. I would suggest that you start a VERY slow work out routine because sounds like you are going into SVT (supra ventricular tachycardia, a sinus tachycardia) which then progresses into a-fib.
Do not attempt to run if you are not doing so on regular basis.
Start with walks and increase your indurance over a period of time. When you were running your pulse was probably in 170s at that point.
Take walks, then walk faster, get a pulse meter and try not to go over 120-130 BPM while walking.
Be sure to have LOTS of water on bard before any exercise, since dehydration causes tachycardia.
BE sure your doc knows about what's going on.
Good luck, Nat
Digoxin does have some risks to it, when you picked up your prescription you should've been given a sheet with all of its info.
http://www.drugs.com/digoxin.html
First, you have my complete sympathy as you are asking so many of the questions I did when I first started with all of this. It will become more clear and you are not in acute danger.
I am fairly infrequent on this board but the times I have been here I have found it very helpful.
I started with PVCs and my doctors also said they were nothing to worry about. The only problem I can see is that they are harbingers of afib difficulties to come.
Since this discussion is about advice, here is mine. You need a really good doctor, specialist in this particular problem. I traveled to Palo Alto, California, near Stanford and went to a group called Cardiovascular Medicine & Cardiac Arrhythmias. You can google it. The two best doctors for your problem are Dr. Patrawalla and Dr. Roger Winkle. Cleveland also has a center known for its work but I have found this northern California group to be very good. They are affiliated with Sequoia Hospital, a 5 star cardiac hospital, also very good. They are not a teaching hospital and do not use inexperienced doctors to assist or perform surgeries. They have done 800 ablations in the last four years and more is better. Also their followup is very good.
At your young age, I would think an ablation would be the ticket. The deal is, if you stay in afib for years, your heart will no longer be able to have an ablation as it will be stretched out. If you can control it with medicine and trigger control, you could do that while the technology continues to advance. Usually, eventually you will not be able to stay out of afib and you should probably get an ablation before that. Before the ablation monitor your heart to make sure it is not enlarging.
I totally agree with the other posters who have talked about doing something relaxing. Music has been my constant companion. Something about the rhythm and relaxing nature of it, although I like rock, helps more than anything.
Are you aware of your triggers? Too strenuous exercise, stress, missing a full night's sleep, physical or emotional fatigue, explosions in movies, anxious movies, anxious anything, coffee, tea, chocolate, alcohol, getting chilled, overheated, too much salt, too spicy food, too big a meal. You can start the dance of the triggers, or just go straight to the ablation. I hate, hate afib, have I said that?
Anyway, I know a number of people who are cured, so it is possible.
Very best of luck, just don't settle for less than the best medically and you should be fine. You sound like a super candidate for a cure.