Hi, I will start by saying that everyone is different but in my experience if my pulse rate goes up past 100 (usually it is up above 120 now) I rest and wait up to about 3 hours before considering hospital. Thanks to my American friends on site, I learned to do 'pill in the pocket'. ie taking an amount of perhaps Metroprolol (beta blocker) to slow the rate down. This has worked really well for me and I rarely go to hospital now, and if I do the episode has gone on too long and I need an ECG and monitoring.

A chemist friend suggested I take magnesium even if I am not deficient, it has worked for me and I haven;t had an episode for 4 months. I do have some atrial fib occuring for short bursts each day but i don't worry about them. I have a blood pressure monitor with pulse rate and that is handy to monitor if an episode has developed. I used to have very fast rates over 150 but some of them turned out to be Atrial flutter which I had ablated. I would never stay home if these rates returned.

I also have a packed bag including all the latest tests results, personal, medical info to take to hospital. Thankfully it has not been needed for a while. I have had A-Fib (and other nasty friends!) for 20 years, and yes it has been a lot of work with testing, changes of meds, hospital visits etc; but it hasn't stopped me living my life. I won't be trecking in the Sahara desert any time soon but I have had a great life. The first 12 months of A-Fib is annoying as usually the medication etc takes a while to be sorted and you feel vulnerable having a heart that doesn't behave itself, but with perseverence you will bet some peace. Best wishes, Ruth

I second Ruth's advice. Pill in the pocket has been very helpful for me also. I take 30mg of diltiazem and wait for 3-4 hours. I then take another 30mg. I usually convert before a second pill.

Generally, according to the dr's I work with, a heart rate over 140 calls for a trip to ER.

As far as the stress question....for me, it seems that I often have an episode of a fib after the stressful situation is over.

The best thing to do is relax. If you do not have other heart issues and are not in pain then going to the hospital is going to be stressful. You may want to check your blood pressure too. There are several triggers like coffee and alcohol that may cause it. You may want to call your doctor in the morning.

Thanks a lot everybody for the prompt replies.
I left a voicemail for the cardiologist, but your suggestions will help me when the doc calls back.
In particular I will ask about a "pill in the pocket".
Afib is new to me, I want a plan for what to do if it gets me again. My Afib has no symptoms, apart for the increase in pulse rate. And my blood pressure is typically low, although it seems to vary a lot. In fact my doc concern is that it's often too low. Strangely the time when my heart rate is highest (high 70's) is when I wake up, it goes down (low 60's) after hiking.
THANKS again everybody from a newbie.