
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.
But, as I recall, I didn't have any AF after that test, but did have a couple episodes of it the following week. 1 lasted about 1 hour & the other about 2 hrs.
I hate living w/AF.
But I am so very afraid of dying young too. I'm 59.
I've dealt w/AF since 2004, & the goofiest thing I've ever heard about AF is the fact that it duzn't damage the heart, or so that's what my cardiologist said. Weird.
Like lotsa people, when the AF first happened, I thought about what would happen to me if I couldn't work any longer & how would I be able to support myself. I still think about that. But, since last May, I have a less stressful job, & grrreat medical benefits, so that's less on my mind each day.
I wish I could retire, but a lot of companies, my employer doesn't have medical benes for retirees.
Bummer.
Plus, since I've had breast cancer & chemo & radiation in 2005 for 4 straight months, my oncologist told me that chemo will damage the heart (not could damage it). So, needless to say, that rotten episode has racheted up the AF episodes I have experienced.
I hate taking so many pills daily. No one knows what any medication duz to the heart itself, especially after taking it for a few yrs. It's the long terms effects that lotsa doctors refuse to talk about sometimes. I'm sure for professional reasons, they're careful to limit 'speculations' to their patients.
Having to live w/the after effects of cancer, TIRED every single day & AF dogging me, my friends have stopped asking me to travel w/them. They never say anything about why, but I know they wouldn't want to be around someone who has to stop & sit a lot.
Sometimes, I think that just maybe, if I have an AF surgical procedure, that maybe I'd feel good enuff to travel again. . .
I dunno.
I hope you have the BEST RESULTS of whatever test or procedure you choose to have done.
Oh, & yes, prayer duz work.