shanny,

it is very hard to keep positive about this whole thing. Just feel free to express fears and emotions on this site. You will get a lot of support here.

Hey Shanny, it's not rocket science yet, Your either going to do rate control, or rythm control or combo of both and if you can't handle the drugs then there is ablation. There are a lot of theories out there for causes. Good luck on your journey thru the five stages of grief. Once you get to acceptance it's not too bad and remember you can still live a long full life.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention rate of 99 is not that bad, I often go into the 150's when I'm in afib

Hi Shanny and welcome to the group. Sorry I am so late welcoming you. Afib is really scary when u have an episode and when you are in NSR you fear for the next. With that said, you have to try to relax and enjoy life. I believe I am the youngest member here at 30 years old. I try to take it day by day. Flecainide works for me as a pill in the pocket very quickly. It is really the only medication I trust right now. Also practicing meditation and relaxing yoga has worked wonders for me physically and mentally.

Keeping u in my prayers

Heather

hi heather, wow your only 30 and you have this..im glad that you have found something that works for you...at the moment im plodding along i think my body is getting used to the flecanide, was dizzy and lightheaded and felt slow yesterday..

today still dizzy and slow but not as lightheaded...thank you for your reply...i am looking into starting yoga and tai chi..i think it will help my mind to get to a better place...hugs shanny

When I was placed on flecainide twice a day I remember feeling light headed as well. I only took it for a few months bc I am now pregnant. I'm not sure if ill go back on it twice a day or use as needed. When I was on it my afib was keep away. So I feel comfortable with it. Keep in touch!

:)

Everyone else has pretty much covered everything :)
Just wanted to tell you that i also take flecainide without any problems.....it has given me my life back. Im about 99% a fib free in the last 2 years with flecainide.
Best wishes

Welcome Shanny, I'm Robin. Diagnosed in 11' after full blown afib for 5 days, then a cardioversion. I was having "flutters" for years, then more pronounced "flip flops" that would make me dizzy, like I would pass out but never did. It's a nerve wracking thing that's for sure. You get lots of info here. Robin~

Welcome Shanny,
So for the late welcome.I have been dealing with afib for 2 years and recently decided to try medications. Started on flecianide but when my dose up increased I started to have visual problems so I deceased my dose to 100mg bid, so I am now in a wait and see pattern again. This support group has been a great resource.
mek3

Hi Shanny, sorry to hear of your experiences and I hope you fell better about things since your first post. I'm also a Victorian so you are the closest member I know who has AF. I'm also a new AFer, it started in April this year and my first hit was pretty scary, not only for me but my youngest daughter who accompanied me to hospital. After I was hooked up to all the wires and had the blood test tube inserted, she went very pale and said she couldn't breath. Next thing all attention switched to her, the nurses started fluttering around her and my wife likewise. I felt like a spare-tyre while all that went on. Anyway, she recovered very quickly from her anxiety attack and I return to normal rhythm 12 hours later.
I've had 6 attacks since, the latest lasted 30 hours this weekend - so, still trying to work out management strategy with my cardio.
I don't panic these days as I know its not an automatic death sentence, more a nuisance and something to manage. Just need to find what drugs (initially) we respond to the best (I'm still not there yet). Also, one thought that keeps me planted is that there are many worse things out there to be suffering from. Hope this helps.
Best wishes...... Damien

I am so glad I found this site:) I had my first attack of A-fib in March of this year and to make a long story short ended up in the hospital - took three days to convert. They tried Diltiazem and didn't tell me about the horrible drug Amiodarone they put in my drip (took it for a month after I came home, also took Diltiazem with Warfarin which worked for 6 months. A few weeks ago, out of the blue, had another one - scared to death - fast h.r. again, high b.p. and the a-fib.. Diltiazem drip worked for about 1 hr. and then it would go back up, they tried many things - though I was dying. I went home on Diltizzem and Lopressor and it returned the next day, so they put me back in the hospital. Cardiologist finally gave me a Sotalol pill and overnight it straightened out. I am doing pretty good on it with Warfarin, but still get some skipped/paused beats - Dr. said o.k. as my heart is very strong - had SO many tests, all normal! I read things about meds. and get very frightened. I am going to Florida for Thanksgiving and Dallas for Christmas and worry about attacks. I have Kaiser Permanente ins. they don't have it in these two states. I live in Colorado.
Any advice appreciated. Take care everyone.
Christine

Christine: There are many people in Florida and Chicago that have afib. If you're nervous, google where the hospitals are where you are going to be. In reality, going from high altitude to lower altitude should lesen afib. petey