Afraid to sleep. Most episodes happen at night. What can I do?

Posted by hopeandfaith123 @hopeandfaith123, 5 days ago

Hi. New here. Was diagnosed with paroxysmal Afib in March and was hospitalized in ICU. Now realize first episode was probably in Sept. They happened about once every three months but now more than once a month. I live afraid. Not sleeping at all since most episodes happen at night. Last night had one and pulse was 208. Drove to er parking lot and took the Flecanaide pill In the Pocket for the first time. It cardioverted me after about an hour. Came home and have been up all night. Afraid to sleep and it happening again but no sleep triggers episodes so it’s worse. I don’t know what to do. I had taken a Xanax .25 during the day yesterday because I felt anxious and had lots of PVC/PAC so I figured it was going to be a bad night. I hadn’t slept in about 3 days. And that’s exactly what happened. The Xanax did nothing though which was strange. PVCs/PACs continued , was extremely nervous and afraid and went into Afib. Can someone recommend what I can do? I need to sleep but afraid to close my eyes and sleep. Actually afraid all day. This has changed my life and I am nothing of who I used to be. I don’t know how to live like this. Thank you for any answers you can provide.

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moski | @moski | 2 days ago

Update
Early this morning I had Afib. I thought I was doing good. I’m on carveldilo. I’ve had Eliquis induced stomach problems for 5 months and the Afib has really kicked in (Eliquis is bad for me)
My Afib nearly always comes around 1-2am with a gas bubble. But not this time no gas bubble but I did gently introduce a few new foods back into my restricted diet..
Since the heart rate was seldom over 110, I decided to try things.
Lymphatic massage and tapping would keep the Hrt under 75.
But it wouldn’t convert. Cold water didn’t work. Tried the bath room, no luck.
Warm chamomile tea with the hot cup sitting on my chest felt amazing, with an HRt of 60-70, but wouldn’t convert. Got a warm pack with a slight chest massage felt amazing too, didn’t convert. It’s been 1 hour and 45 minutes so far.
Then…even though I had no chest bubble, I took Pepcid. Guess what 10-15 minutes later I converted and went back to sleep. This morning when I awoke the first thing I did was 5 big burps.
Why won’t the Dr’s listen ?? Let’s fix the stomach or the vagus nerve. No they’d rather an ablation that they said would be a 50 -80% chance of working? Or more drugs. At least with acupuncture I’m way more chill about this.

lgusan | @lgusan | 2 days ago

In reply to @gloaming "I, too, was diagnosed with severe OSA and have used a PAP machine ever since. Just..." + (show)

@gloaming

I, too, was diagnosed with severe OSA and have used a PAP machine ever since. Just a correction: CPAP won't help with atrial fibrillation if it was the original cause. Once your heart is disordered electrically, that's it...for life. What CPAP can do is to reduce the nocturnal strain on your heart that caused the AF in the first place. By keeping your airway splinted, you keep your optimal range of O2 saturation. The constant severe reductions in O2 in your blood during sleep apnea, with its constant threat of 'dying' , is what makes your heart disordered.....it can't get any rest at night. The CPAP keeps your blood oxygen levels up, and your heart can beat calmly, even down at the low rate of 34 BPM if that's what your O2 demand is and your heart is fit and strong.
So, your cardiologist is partly correct. CPAP won't make AF go away. AF is a progressive disorder (all the modern research makes this quite clear), and left unmanaged it can get worse progressively. The CPAP machine, apart from improving your quality of sleep by allowing you to STAY ASLEEP....not waking up gasping for air sixteen times each night... and therefore going through each successive stage of sleep properly..., will reduce the constant strain on your heart and possibly decelerate the progression you don't want. You have the disorder and it is permanent. It can be reduced in severity with CPAP, but also it needs strict management via drugs, lifestyle changes, catheter ablation (The Gold Standard of care for AF for most patients, especially early), or a pacemaker.
I said your cardiologist is partly correct. He's right on the face of it, as stated. But CPAP is necessary for longevity if you have moderate or severe sleep apnea. Not only will OSA cause sleep disruption, which is very unhealthy (weight gain, metabolic syndrome, kidney and lung problems, dementia, etc), but it causes your heart to continue, even more quickly, to deteriorate. CPAP is essential if you want to live longer, with or without atrial fibrillation.

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Thanks for your insight on sleep apnea and CPAP machine. I definitely agree with you and will look into purchasing one. Do you know if Medicare covers these machines?

Either way, I will get one and start using it asap. That way, it will not only help my heart somewhat, but it will also prevent my wife from having to worry about me whether I am breathing or not during the night.

Thanks again.

milkmaid | @milkmaid | 2 days ago

In reply to @natat11 "Hello- I understand your fear. You are not alone! Are you taking Flecainide on a regular..." + (show)

This comment is wisdom! Please listen to it and than talk to your DR! 🙂

gloaming | @gloaming | 2 days ago

In reply to @lgusan "Thanks for your insight on sleep apnea and CPAP machine. I definitely agree with you and..." + (show)

I live in Canada and have no connection or knowledge about health care in the USA....sorry. I would guess that, with a formal diagnosis from a qualified MD, you should have 'some' help getting a CPAP machine.

dalebout123 | @dalebout123 | 2 days ago

Have you been tested for sleep apnea. My heart was beating so fast at night that it woke me. I am now on a CPAP machine and my heart is not having to react to apnea episodes.

dianemari | @dianemari | 1 day ago

Has anyone had any experience with Aspire - as alternative to CPAP. I have mild-moderate sleep apnea which I have chosen largely to ignore; I get a little relief from sleeping with elevated head/shoulders from my raised mattress but find a CPAP claustrophobic. I am concerned, tho, if ignoring it is bad for my heart health. Since my ablation about 1&1/2 yr ago I have been AFIB-free but still concerned about general heart health

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