Hi Eddie,

In my own experience, stress can play a part in bringing on episodes of atrial fib, although this is not always the case. If you're able to do so, consider joining some group that focuses on physical or mental or spiritual activities aimed at reducing stress. Yoga, for instance, or meditation, or card games or whatever might bring you some peace.

Know that there are many atrial fib folks who have shared also experienced your worries about this condition. Worry runs throughout your post and I hope you can find some ways to be good to yourself and relax and know that this is a common issue. I don't like it when it happens to me, so I know a bit about what you're going through.

Wishing you the best as you go forward.

Hi eddie. I got diagnosed 3 weeks ago with afib. L o ng and short of it
Doc threw me on coumadin and cardizem calcium blocker. ...I was scared anxious. Ect......did quit smoking. which was great..but only thing that helped with anxiety and fear was walking with wife.. your not alone.....but listen to folks on here. Helped me through ...yoga is great too....... im waitin for cardioversion. Still never felt any pain. Crazy. But had fear and anxiety for awhile ..it got better....good luck my friend

Hey, Eddie--welcome! You are on the same meds and dosage as me!

I don't like the idea of being on meds for the rest of my life either...lost a hundred pounds a couple of years ago so I could come off meds, only to find out I have afib and got put back on meds! I have to say, though, that after being on flecainide for over a year now, and first on a beta blocker that was recently switched to diltiazem, I am more likely to panic at the thought of being taken off of them.

It does take a while to get comfortable with the idea, and to process the thought of being on meds indefinitely when you don't feel sick. Getting back to my normal routines from before my afib diagnosis is what has helped me over time. Sure, I take meds, and see the doctor for tests every now and then, but the rest of my life is the same as it has always been.

Relax, take some time to learn about this, and give it a chance to see how you do on the meds.

Marital problems and gambling. The first thing that came to mind was "drinking". I'm not saying that was what you were doing. I just know what I've seen.

A friend of mine told me once -years ago, but I'll never forget it- that certain things require drinking:

1) extra-marital affairs... He told me drinking is absolutely essential to having an affair. Cuts down on the guilt. Makes it look better than it actually is. (I felt like I was in the movie "Guide for the Married Man" when he told me this.)

2) The second was boating. Boating = drinking. It's like a code word. Let's go boating (drinking). It gives a new meaning to "dry dock". Of course, the phrase "3 sheets to the wind" means you are so drunk you aren't paying attention to the sails. Also, there is Captain Morgan Rum... that's enough proof (no pun intended) for me. Note: "fishing" can be substituted for "boating" for some people.

3) And finally, we have gambling. You can't gamble without alcohol. I mean, who wants all that stress and risk. And if you lose, you've got to escape for awhile. Deal with it later. Maybe later will never come. Heck, drink the next day when you start thinking rationally about gambling risk, odds of winning, and what you've lost. The casinos will oblige you with free drinks. I wonder why.

So anyway, if you were drinking a lot at the casino, stop drinking. You will have less afib or maybe no afib. You actually have more of a chance of not having to be on rhythm drugs or have any more attacks if your afib was caused only by the alcohol and you stop. That's the good news about alcohol induced afib.

Whatever the cause, find out what the possible causes are for you and address whatever it is... high blood pressure, heart issues, weight problems, sleep apnea, thyroid, whatever.

Most of all, deal with your stress with professional help, even if you did it before and it didn't work. Also deal with your marital issues. That stuff will rip you apart and can induce afib. Hopefully your wife is doing her part and is supportive of you and the relationship. But the bottom line is you need to become strong with or without her.

I didn't intend on preaching and I guess I got off on my comedy routine, but you get the idea.

petey

yeah thats what happened to me 2 months ago was sleeping in the bed and i turned over and my heart was racing but i felt fine whent to the emergency room they slowed it down with a iv drip thats how i found out i had intermittent afib this whole time i thought it was panic attacks the symptoms are the same i was scared out of my mind 2 months ago but each day its get better so far im not on any meds only baby asprin i had to train my mind this isnt no diffrent then a person with diabetes that have to take insulin ever day there is a somebody out there thats in a 10 times worse position then we are atleast we have options and can chat about this on the internet its a person outhere with no options from a illness stay blessed peeps

Hi Eddie:
There are many of us on this group that have struggled with AFIB for decades. You do get used to it, even if it's not always completely controlled, but usually it can be managed well, so it doesn't interfere with you life. I your case, it might not be so bad, since it might cause you to look at your life and pay attention to what needs fixing. May be a blessing in disguise.
Most of us here would agree that while AFIB tends to be chaotic, and defies complete control in many cases, there are some things that will often trigger it. At the top of the list are STRESS, CAFFEINE, and ALCOHOL, there are lots of others.
Over time, dealing with these triggers and taking your meds should help. FLEC tends to be well tolerated by most (but not all) ... the FLEC is being use to help you heart maintain normal sinus rhythm. The diltiazem (Cardizem) is used to help maintain a proper heart rate. It may take some time to find a proper dosage.

Sounds like a little counseling may be of use to you. Since its very difficult to change the behaviors of others, you may find that taking an adjusted life path solves a multitude of problems for yourself. Stop by on occasion and let us know how you are doing.

Hi Eddie, afib is especially hard to deal with in the beginning, it does get easier. Having panic and anxiety to start with only makes it worse. Work with your doc and try the meds and you will find something that works for you to help manage it. It is especially important to reduce stress, Alcohol is big trigger and one we all need to stay away from. In time you will learn what your triggers are and will learn to stay away from them. Find something else you like to do that can help you relax, deep breathing is also good when you feel the stress and anxiety coming on. Many people use flec and do very well on it.If you do not want to be on meds daily you will need to discuss this with your doc and work out another plan that will keep you on a good path. Anti-coagulation is a big one so we do not have a stroke. Good luck and hang in there you will find a way to manage this. Feel free to come and vent or ask questions any time, lots of great people here and lots of support!

Welcome to the forum Eddie. Surprised it took them as long with the electro cardio conversion being the last effort. That said, the most important thing is to meet with your Dr., cardio and an EP at some point in the very near future. You have been put on some serious med.s after just one incident, which is surprising. But, it's likely your 'scrips will be minimized and changed after you get some thorough follow-up. Everyone reacts to med.s differently and they won't ultimately hurt you, especially short term. How old are you? Hang in there and there's some great advice here on DS.

Hi Eddie, I lived in Bethel Park...many yrs. ago. I hope your Dr. visit was helpful!!!!!!!

ya I never did drugs or drink or caffine and I only eat organtic healthy foods...just gambled and wife stress

also im 6 ft 179, good blood pressure good cholesterol , like I said I did have lots of stress from gambling, non drinker non drugs non smoke

Quite often there's no rhyme or reason to this disease/condition.

But, it's also been called "Holiday Heart Syndrome."

Aka: Getting totally wicked buzzed in a short period of time when not eating properly or being hydrated. Binge drinking etc.

Hang in there, it sounds like you're in good hands with the scheduled appointments. Keep us posted on the results. - Tom

Eddie:

Here is something you should read. Dr. John Mandrola says this about afib:


13 things to know about Atrial Fibrillation

February 27, 2014 By Dr John
Filed Under: AF ablation, Atrial fibrillation, Dabigatran/Rivaroxaban/Apixaban, inflammation


Here are 13 things I tell AF patients.
1.I am sorry that you have AF. Welcome to the club, there are many members. (Three million Americans and counting.)
2.I know how it feels.
3.Your fatigue, shortness of breath and uneasiness in the chest are most likely related to your AF.
4.AF may pass without treatment. Really.
5.Important new work suggests AF is modifiable with lifestyle measures. As in you can help yourself.
6.AF isnt immediately life-threatening, though it feels so.
7.Worrying about AF is like worrying about getting gray hair and wrinkles. Plus, excessive worry makes AF more likely to occur.
8.Emergency rooms treat all AF in the same way. One hammer often a big one.
9.There is no cure for AF. (See #5)
10.The treatment of AF can be worse than the disease.
11.The worst (and most non-reversible) thing that can happen with AF is a stroke. For AF patients with more than one of these conditions: Age> 75, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure, or previous stroke, the only means of lowering stroke risk is to take an anticoagulant drug. Sorry about the skin bruises; a stroke is worse. Know you CHADS-VASc score.
12.The treasure of AF ablation includes eliminating AF episodes without taking medicines. But AF ablation is not like squishing a blockage or doing a stress test. It will be hard on you. It works 60-80% of the time, has to be repeated one-third of the time and has a list of very serious complications.
13.If your AF heart rate is not excessive, its unlikely that you will develop heart failure. Likewise, if you have none of the 5 risks for stroke, or you take anti-coagulant drugs, AF is unlikely to cause a stroke. In these cases, you dont have to take an AF-rhythm drug(s) or have an ablation. You can live with AF. You might not be as good as you were, but you will continue to be.

Theres obviously more than 13 things to say about AF. Its a complicated disease with many different ways to the same end. We need adequate time with our patients to give them this kind of powerful knowledge. They need time to digest all the possible treatments, or perhaps no treatment. Patients need to weigh the disease against the treatments.

All this is why AF treatment should not be rushed.

JMM


So you are not going to die from afib and it might disappear. You are young. Good luck. I hope your family problems work out. You don't need the stress to complicate things.


petey

I am hoping your Dr. visit went well!

The Dr.s have to start somewhere with treatment. Seems they each have their favorite plan. One size does not fit all....so often the plan has to be adjusted...altered or ditched.

I have paroxysmal or not all the time afib. The length of time between episodes varies for me. So, I do not take a daily med. I do take an anticoagulant... because of my Chads score
http://clincalc.com/Cardiology/Stroke/CHADSVASC.aspx

Afib diagnoses comes out of a clear sky for most of us...it is shocking and puzzling. It took me several days to understand what it was...then several months understand how it would impact my life, how I would manage it, and to accept it.

When I am not in afib, it is no big deal. When I get an episode...it is
stressful...depending on the circumstances.

Lots of folks got for years with very few or no episodes. Some folks have episodes often. It will take awhile to know how it will be for you...but, you will be Ok!!!

so do I have to take these meds..i don't want to..doc says if I don't take meds it may get worse..im thinking of going to new doc to see what they say..