How it started

I didn't think to write a diary, so I am a little slow in getting started. I hope this may help someone who knows something just isn't right - or offer a bit of comfort to those who have had diagnosis and are concerned.

Remember - we never know where life will take us. We need to live life to the best of our ability, and not take our health or our loved ones forgranted. I am forever grateful for what I have and the things I have done in my life. I'm looking forward to much, much, more

Here's my story...

On January 16, 2017 I finally had enough fright that I called and made a doctor's appointment. My heart had been racing, and it was getting very uncomfortable.

I have palpatations, so I thought that's what was causing the racing heart, and one night I realized that the skipping a beat was really a racing heart beat. It lasted several minutes (more than 10). I knew it was time to check in with my doctor. My appointment was January 20. He arranged for a cardiogram and a 48 hour halter to be put on the following Monday. My doctor had told me if I had an episode where my heart started racing again for more than 10 or 20 minutes, to go to the hospital. They can diagnose better when they see what is going on.

January 21st I was celebrating my grandson's birthday. We went out for dinner out of town (about 45 minutes from home). During dinner my heart started racing and wouldn't stop. Desert just was not going to happen. My kids got scared because they could see my heart beating in my neck, and I was a little short of breath. My daughter is a PSW and took my pulse, it was 168 bpm. It did start to slow down a bit. By the time we got to our vehicle it started racing again. I told my daughter to drive home, I would be fine because it always slowed down. This time my heart would not stay beating at a more normal pace. I was honestly scared. I had never experienced this before to this extent. The shorness of breath was terrifying. I didn't know how long I could keep myself calm.

I told my daughter to take me to the hospital. She dropped me at the ER doors and went to park the van. Our emergency department was swamped. The triage nurses were doing their best, but I couldn't wait any longer, so as soon as I could catch their eye, I got attention. I was taken in and my BP and pulse taken and they escorted me to a bed in the ER. My BP was what I remember as 183/98.

I was diagnosed with A-fib. The doctor wanted me to take a blood thinner, but conceded that a low dose asprin would do until I saw a cardiologist (I didn't want to take pills if it wasn't necessary). I was released after a few hours. They took blood tests to make sure I didn't have a heart attack or stroke. My blood was good, and my pulse was finally staying "normal".

My "Normal" pulse is 58 to 65 bpm. So a rate of 160 to 180 is crazy.