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.
Ugh!
Well, yesterday did my morning workout, which consisted of 90 minutes on the recumbent bike. I do this while reading the newspaper, so it is FAR from a real, sweaty, panting, groaning kind of thing (wait, what am I describing now?). So, then I head out for my regular Saturday morning routine - hit the bank, hit the liquor store (for lottery tix only, sadly am done with drinking), and the Dandelion, which is the naturopathic store where the wife and I pick up the supplements. Come home, get into the house and BOOM! Pulse starts racing and I can feel the BP shooting up. It was one of those "Uh oh, here comes the afib" moments which with we are all familiar. This probably lasted 10 seconds, but of course it felt like an hour. I plopped down on the couch to take my BP and of course it passed...well, the HR registered at 79, but the BP was 148/80. Felt weak the rest of the day...still took the wife out for our anniversary dinner (A Moroccan place in Gaithersburg, "Pashatown." But just felt weak the entire day. Went to bed at 10 last night, said a bunch of Hail Mary's and the "if I should die b4 I wake" prayer. Slept for 10 hours and missed church this morning (uh oh!). Today we have Kennedy Center tix (Peter and the Starcatcher, the prequel to Peter Pan) and then rush on home to see the Super Bowl. Are are the old guys rooting for Payton?
Anyway, I think I will call the cardiologist tomorrow and maybe run over to the nearby Johns Hopkins medical center annex for some blood tests, to see how I am progressing with the Metabolic Syndrome . What I really just want is for Peter Pan to take me out of the audience and back to the land and time when I was NEVER sick. Hard to believe that was just two years ago. Sigh...
Bill
Well, yesterday did my morning workout, which consisted of 90 minutes on the recumbent bike. I do this while reading the newspaper, so it is FAR from a real, sweaty, panting, groaning kind of thing (wait, what am I describing now?). So, then I head out for my regular Saturday morning routine - hit the bank, hit the liquor store (for lottery tix only, sadly am done with drinking), and the Dandelion, which is the naturopathic store where the wife and I pick up the supplements. Come home, get into the house and BOOM! Pulse starts racing and I can feel the BP shooting up. It was one of those "Uh oh, here comes the afib" moments which with we are all familiar. This probably lasted 10 seconds, but of course it felt like an hour. I plopped down on the couch to take my BP and of course it passed...well, the HR registered at 79, but the BP was 148/80. Felt weak the rest of the day...still took the wife out for our anniversary dinner (A Moroccan place in Gaithersburg, "Pashatown." But just felt weak the entire day. Went to bed at 10 last night, said a bunch of Hail Mary's and the "if I should die b4 I wake" prayer. Slept for 10 hours and missed church this morning (uh oh!). Today we have Kennedy Center tix (Peter and the Starcatcher, the prequel to Peter Pan) and then rush on home to see the Super Bowl. Are are the old guys rooting for Payton?
Anyway, I think I will call the cardiologist tomorrow and maybe run over to the nearby Johns Hopkins medical center annex for some blood tests, to see how I am progressing with the Metabolic Syndrome . What I really just want is for Peter Pan to take me out of the audience and back to the land and time when I was NEVER sick. Hard to believe that was just two years ago. Sigh...
Bill
Any time you think you should go to the ER (if you have good insurance) go.
Last night we watch Last Vegas, it was about four older guys from the old neighborhood getting together for a bachelor party in LV for one of them getting married (at 70). I'm sure you will enjoy it.
REALLY wanted to see that movie...but it left this area before we could get there. I have to say, the idea of a TIA or a stroke did enter my mind, as I was really feeling weak most of the day. Before you had your stroke, was there a week...or a few weeks...where you felt a little off? I will certainly not mess with any stroke symptoms. I will go immediately if I feel that something like that is coming along.
Even though it isn't a really tough workout, I did wonder if maybe that is a bit too long....I also do about 20 minutes at night on the elliptical in the Heart Rate Hill mode. So slowly getting back into shape. But after I do the exercise and all those Saturday chores, I generally come home and take a nap, cuz I am zonked. So maybe I should cut back a little until I am in a bit better shape...this of course wouldn't have been an issue 20 or 30 years ago, but ah...wonderful aging! Enjoy the game!
Bill
Hoping for NSR always!
We got Last Vegas on Netflix. They were from Flatbush.
You asked about before a stroke or TIA. The week before I had my TIA (Dec. 1,2013) I had four 8hr a-fib episodes when I was usually having one about every 7 - 14 days. During the week preceding the TIA my face (usually my cheeks and around my lips) felt strange, tingly. It definitely wasnt because I had worked out too much because I havent worked out on a regular basis since last June; that was when my polar showed a heart rate of 220 during a tap class which freaked me out. I decided it was time to give my heart a rest. I have just recently started back exercising (but at a very moderate tempo). But, other than the a-fib episodes and the tingly face I didnt see the TIA coming and at the time I thought I was protected from a stroke / TIA because I was taking aspirin AND plavix.
Anyway, it sounds like you are doing the right things.
Have a nice, slow day and happy anniversary!
atp
As far as warnings go, when I passed out, I had about a 3 second warning, enough to get down on the floor (if I wasn't trying to fight it).
For the stroke, no warning, I didn't even know I was having a stroke...except Sharon kept yelling at me saying I was having a stroke. I tried telling her she was wrong, but I couldn't form words. "Thick headed"
So sorry to hear that you had a bad day, yesterday and hope you are feeling stronger today:) Happy you did get to take your wife out for Anniversary dinner and hope you managed to have a good time:) (Happy Anniversary). Actually, your h.r. wasn't really too high, or your b.p. so feel sure you will be o.k., especially since it didn't ltast long. Probably scared you alot! I know the dreaded feeling thinking "here it comes!" My h.r. each time has been at least 140 and b.p. with episodes 120/110!!! My b.p. still goes up when I am scared/upset. I am using the machine resparate and it has really brought it down to normal - anywhere from 106/66 to an average of 118/75. No. B.P. meds. I take the Sotalol and the Drs. think that Sotalol helps a little. I keep a warch on it, h.r. is staying in high 50's to mid 60's. At first it was in the 40's from med. Occasionally does drop into high 40's.
Please take care and don't "push" yourself, too much!
Have a wonderful rest of the weekend. GO BRONCHOS!
Don't they know you are going to rob them every Saturday? You must be good or use disguises or something. Hope you feel better.
Saw Last Vegas. Great movie.
petey
You have a great sense of HUMOR, too:)
Thanks for making me laugh - good medicine!
Hugs,
Christine
Thanks for the good thoughts (and the hug!)....I feel MUCH better today and have done a mild workout with weights. Will take a break and maybe do the bike after a rest. You are correct in that I was more afraid than anything. It amazes me how much this is in my head. When I have a setback, like the one on Saturday morning, I should be thinking "Just a little setback, you will be fine tomorrow." But I seem to always go to "THIS IS IT! I will NEVER feel better again!" So much fear and anxiety with this.
ATP,
Wow, what a LOW budget version of Peter Pan! Looked pretty much like a high school put it on, but overall I was happy with the outcome. Always loved Disney stuff, and it was interesting to see their take on how PP got onto the island. I won't spoil it, in case anyone is planning to see it. I might recommend the "Once Upon a Time" CBS version of the story. Free tv, vice $100 per ticket at the Kennedy Center!
Pete,
It is an Irish version of "hit," not the Italian version! Our hits involve a lot more alcohol and hugs..although with afib..NO ALCOHOL!
Thanks for all the positive feedback guys, and I seem to past the latest panic....until next time!
Oh yeah,
Orchard, you are "using the machine resparate, and it has realy brought (my BP) down." Ummmm....what? What is a machine resparate? I couldn't get that one at all...sorry.
BIll
Take care, Carrie
It takes a while to come back... I did and hour in the gym on Saturday and Monday...screw the doctor!
The symptoms of stroke are distinct because they happen quickly:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding speech
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination
Sudden severe headache with no known cause
What should a bystander do?
If you believe someone is having a stroke if he or she suddenly loses the ability to speak, or move an arm or leg on one side, or experiences facial paralysis on one side call 911 immediately.
FAST:
F Face Drooping Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person's smile uneven?
A Arm Weakness Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S Speech Difficulty Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "The sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?
T Time to call 9-1-1 If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Check the time so you'll know when the first symptoms appeared.
petey