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.
Well,
The last time I did a Color Guard gig, before the Orioles game in July 2012, I wound up in an ambulance on the way to the emergency room...yesterday was my first day back in the saddle. We presented the National Colors before the Bowie Baysox game(they lost). While it was a teensy bit warm (75 dagrees at gametime), and I was a teensy bit shaky, I made it through, and NO AMBULANCE! I consider this a major victory, and a step back to my normal life!
Of course, STILL trying to get all this out of my head. Those of you who have manged this, what is the best method? In the BAFT (before afib time) I would exercise to get rid of the stress, and occasionally drink a teensy bit too much (wake up with a hangover, sleep most of the day, stress gone!). Now of course, no booze at all and while I do exercise (weights, static bike), I have been afraid to go back to jogging.
So it seems that while I thought all of my tiredness and dizziness was coming from the drugs (flecanide, Metoprolol), it may have been stress. 8 April was taken off the flec and blood thinners. In the next 2 days, I actually felt WORSE, and had 3 instances where my heart rate climbed over 100. Thank God not afib, just accelerated heart rate. So all this time, my issues (fatigue, dizziness) may have been stress. And of course it doesn't make you feel any better to be told you are the ONLY one in the study (laser balloon study at Hopkins) who is having issues, and this wasn't expected cuz I went to surgery barely 6 months after my first incident. Catching this early is best, right?
So I have just started to give the "vizualization" thing a try to relieve stress...already do acupuncture, massage, myotherapy..but any suggestions from you would be greatly appreciated.
I just am amazed that Valerie Harper can dismiss deadly cancer, but I am going to let the fear of afib give me a stroke? Not to mention the fear that Dr. Calkins will punch me in the head for ruining his otherwise successful study. Now wouldn't THAT be embarassing?
So, some good news, some bad news....just trying to relax. NSR to us all!
Bill
The last time I did a Color Guard gig, before the Orioles game in July 2012, I wound up in an ambulance on the way to the emergency room...yesterday was my first day back in the saddle. We presented the National Colors before the Bowie Baysox game(they lost). While it was a teensy bit warm (75 dagrees at gametime), and I was a teensy bit shaky, I made it through, and NO AMBULANCE! I consider this a major victory, and a step back to my normal life!
Of course, STILL trying to get all this out of my head. Those of you who have manged this, what is the best method? In the BAFT (before afib time) I would exercise to get rid of the stress, and occasionally drink a teensy bit too much (wake up with a hangover, sleep most of the day, stress gone!). Now of course, no booze at all and while I do exercise (weights, static bike), I have been afraid to go back to jogging.
So it seems that while I thought all of my tiredness and dizziness was coming from the drugs (flecanide, Metoprolol), it may have been stress. 8 April was taken off the flec and blood thinners. In the next 2 days, I actually felt WORSE, and had 3 instances where my heart rate climbed over 100. Thank God not afib, just accelerated heart rate. So all this time, my issues (fatigue, dizziness) may have been stress. And of course it doesn't make you feel any better to be told you are the ONLY one in the study (laser balloon study at Hopkins) who is having issues, and this wasn't expected cuz I went to surgery barely 6 months after my first incident. Catching this early is best, right?
So I have just started to give the "vizualization" thing a try to relieve stress...already do acupuncture, massage, myotherapy..but any suggestions from you would be greatly appreciated.
I just am amazed that Valerie Harper can dismiss deadly cancer, but I am going to let the fear of afib give me a stroke? Not to mention the fear that Dr. Calkins will punch me in the head for ruining his otherwise successful study. Now wouldn't THAT be embarassing?
So, some good news, some bad news....just trying to relax. NSR to us all!
Bill
Annette
I think the best way is to face the fear and it loses some of its power. Nextt time it will be easier. Congrats on taking a big step back to a normal life....at least the new normal with a fib
p.s. Valerie Harper is a good actress or she is in denial.