Afib and Anxiety
I was first diagnosed with afib 2 years ago and in those 2 years, I find myself becoming increasingly anxious. With every extra beat, I think I'm going to go into afib. I find myself constantly monitoring my heart rate..is it too fast (at 75) too slow (55 at resting), in short, I feel like I've become a full blown neurotic and I hate myself at times. I never used to worry like this, I feel as if I'm doomed, I'm stuck with this for the rest of my life. I've had many tests, echocardiogram, nuclear stress, echo stress and several others, each one coming back perfect..all is well except for when I short circuit. My last afib episode was 15 months ago, and I feel as if I'm working myself up towards another one and I KNOW stress is a major factor. Even when I was in the ambulance, I had myself so worked up, I was making it worse. It wasn't until I got into the hospital, that I began to calm down and I was back in NSR within the hour. My doctor tells me to try to maintain a stress free life as much as possible, but is that really possible? I'm just venting..I'm angry but..at who? I suppose I should consider myself lucky that I'm not experiencing constant or permanent afib, but still, afib begets afib and it's with me to stay. Does everyone go through periods of depression, the "why me" syndrome? I'm stuck in it right now and I'm not very happy about it.
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Today I went for another halter monitor test, the 24 hour one. My doctor sent me for the test to ease my mind that the palpitations I\'m getting aren\'t afib. My entire family is prone to palpitations, I\'m just the lucky one to get afib. About 25 years ago my Mom was in the hospital with an erratic heartbeat..almost a week before they could get it under control. They never called it afib, and for a few years she would get episodes of palpitations...then it just stopped. I wonder if I have the same thing? I keep hoping I\'m one of those people who had afib and it just goes away. Wonders of wonders, that would be so awesome, but I\'d still stress thinking I\'d get it again!
Today I found out the halter monitor test showed nothing unusual, a few extra beats, that was it. I still stress, I stress over being stressed. My main problem is my head, I need to stop worrying over things that haven\'t even happened. Right now I\'ll focus on a good test result and see if I can maintain that attitude for more than..oh..10 minutes?
Good Morning, My story is so close to yours !!! I have no other problems with my heart except afib, every test is fine , they even checked my arteries and they are all clean , no blockage at all, I was always a go getter type of guy , I love to go offshore and fish and do all sorts of outside activities , since the afib has started in the past 2yrs I do not go anywhere , I stay close to home, my anxiety has gotten out of control , I was getting panic attacks, I have had 4 ablations , I also do not want to take meds for the rest of my life. I would love to be AF, anxiety and panic free , I am also Sober over 25 yrs ,Thank God for these forums , Life is much easier knowing that I am not alone , Ivory do yourself a favor and get rid of that blood pressure machine , you will know when you are in AF , I was like YOU , I tested myself every 15 minutes , its never the same !!! It was suggested to me to get a dog , what a difference this pet has made in my life , great therapy , I still have bad days , like you its all in my head too. I just did the cryo ablation , I am going to beat this illness !!!
Hi Alan,
I love my dog, she is my comfort, best medicine you can ever have. By nature, I\'m a very anxious person..I tend to worry, even if it doesn\'t involve me, I worry for everyone else! I\'m getting better, I would often wake up in a near panic state, and rush and take my pulse, which would be racing..not afib, just fast. Now, if I wake up like that, I take some deep breaths, turn on the TV, grab a book, anything to take my mind off of my heartbeat. It works most times. I\'ve been free from afib for 17 months. My doctor reduced my dosage of Rythmol to twice a day, 150mg. I just started taking it once a day, since he was going to do that anyway next month. Today is my third day, I feel fine except for the weather :)
Congrats on being sober for 25 years. That, in itself, is a major feat! If you can beat that, you can beat afib. This is a wonderful place to visit, even if I don\'t post, but reading other posts makes me feel so not alone.
My birthday was nice, quiet, a good movie and some friends.
I\'m happy you have a positive attitude, it works!
C
The local news staion did a interview with my Dr and Me here is the link http://www.local10.com/video/27367752/index.html
HAve had this stuff for a little better than a year now. Stinks. Two weeks ago I went from sporadic to persistent. HR and BP pretty well controlled. Am considering ablation, but from what I read it looks a little sketchy. HAve you had any procedures or do you just have intermittent episodes?
Fortunately, I am off all meds except low dose aspirin and haven\'t had an episode in almost 2 years (it will be 2 years in November). IF I were to have quite a few episodes, my doctor already knows I will get an ablation. We\'re hoping my afib never comes back. So far, I\'m off meds for 2 months and okay