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.
Dr. John's site has some good advice:
What AFib patients should be first told, from
http://www.drjohnm.org/2011/03/the-best-tool-for-treating-atrial-fibrillation/
1. I am sorry that you have AF. Welcome to the club, there are many members.
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.
5. AF isnt immediately life-threatening, though it feels so.
6. Worrying about AF is like worrying about getting gray hair and wrinkles. Plus, excessive worry makes AF more likely to occur.
7. Emergency rooms treat all AF in the same way.
8. There is no cure for AF.
9. The treatment of AF can be worse than the disease.
10. 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 a blood thinner. Sorry about the skin bruises; a stroke is worse.
11. 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.
12. 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 blood-thinning 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.
And I would add (from a silly movie):
FEAR IS A CHOICE.
What AFib patients should be first told, from
http://www.drjohnm.org/2011/03/the-best-tool-for-treating-atrial-fibrillation/
1. I am sorry that you have AF. Welcome to the club, there are many members.
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.
5. AF isnt immediately life-threatening, though it feels so.
6. Worrying about AF is like worrying about getting gray hair and wrinkles. Plus, excessive worry makes AF more likely to occur.
7. Emergency rooms treat all AF in the same way.
8. There is no cure for AF.
9. The treatment of AF can be worse than the disease.
10. 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 a blood thinner. Sorry about the skin bruises; a stroke is worse.
11. 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.
12. 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 blood-thinning 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.
And I would add (from a silly movie):
FEAR IS A CHOICE.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUO0JyTjSSA
AFib starts about 4 minutes in.
My new motto:
FEAR IS A CHOICE.
I know it is not wise but just how bad would taking a stimulant be? My quality of life is suffering more so from not sleeping and by the way, i await a clinical trial to address the enlarged prostrate causing the nocturia thanks
It makes more sense to me to treat the prostate issue. I know there are some options, have you exhausted fhose?
As strange as it seems, I was talking to my hairdresser recently (yes..a gay guy) and he was complaining about the same thing. He got himself a urinal to keep by his bed. He pees and goes right back to sleep instead of a trip to the bathroom, turning a light on, etc.
Couldn't hurt to try that.
Fear is a choice but it's also a natural reaction to the unknown. Early on I would venture to say most patients are fearful.
billypilgrim, sorry to hear you're struggling with these issues. I suffered from sleep deprivation due to Afib for many years so I know what it does to day to day function. I also experienced nocturia as my Afib worsened. If you're in Afib for long periods or persistently your heart releases Atrial natriuretic peptide which increase urine volume. If you also retain fluids in your extremities you'll get a double wammy of volume produced when you lay down to sleep. I don't have much in the line of suggestions but I like Marikay's idea, at least it's less disruptive than the walk, lights, etc. I hope you get some professional help with this soon, sleep is extremely important especially when Afib is in the mix.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYKj6SFIP3w
bill
This UCSF Mini-Medical School lecture is by far the best overview of AF I've seen. It truly answered all my questions re:AF.
Hope everyone here checks it out.
Annette
Thank you for sharing your great find!
By the way, my BP is good to low, i had a stress test a couple of years ago with an echocardigram and all checked out normal. I have no swelling or edema at all (my legs are the skinnest part of me) my main complaint is fatigue and sleepiness. I hope it works without getting me worse into afib then I hope the clinical trial works out in my favor and I dont need the Provigil or ritalin
Thanks I like this very informative site
Glen