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Feelings of anxiety post ablation

Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Sep 30 5:20am | Replies (23)

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How terrifying and frustrating for you! I started my AFib journey nine years ago and am a 79 year old female. It might be a different experience for a female but not sure. I’ve never owned a smartwatch but knew right away when the palpitations were starting up. For whatever reason the artery in my right side neck would start hurting like I was getting strep throat. Then the heart would starting racing and it would continue for one to two hours but with no pain in the chest or arms. I was told to wait it out if there wasn’t a tightening in the chest so I would put my feet up in a recliner and just try to be calm. I got this twice a month and it was always brought on by worrying and stress as I am a perfectionist and a worrier. I was on a beta blocker and blood thinner for nine years. A few years ago I asked to be put on an anti anxiety pill Sertraline - which kept the palpitations away but made me feel drugged. In Canada one has to be tested for AFib for quite sometime before qualifying for an ablation because our universal healthcare pays for it. My cardiologist finally booked me for a catheter ablation last March and so far so good except for some anxiety in the morning. I tend to over think everything and I will always be a perfectionist and worrier - so I did mention it to the surgeon yesterday and he said I’m fine and not to worry. Ha! I sure hope you get things sorted out - hopefully you’ll get a doctor who understands what you are going through. Maybe having a smart watch is making you more anxious and of course thinking about your family history doesn’t help. Take care. xo

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Replies to "How terrifying and frustrating for you! I started my AFib journey nine years ago and am..."

Thanks for your very reassuring reply! I appreciate your taking the time, to help ease my concerns. I, also, am a perfectionist and a worrier! I am, also, 79! Additionally, I am a caregiver to my wife! My wife was starting to have a heart attack about 30 years ago, when she was working in the Emergency Room, of a hospital, in Cleveland, Ohio. A wise Doctor tested her, when he saw her becoming symptomatic. They put her in an ambulance and sent her to The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center! The Cleveland Clinic is known for it’s outstanding heart disease expertise! They performed a quintuple bypass operation, that saved her life! She’s had 3 minor heart attacks since, and has had 4 stents put in her arteries, at the regional hospital, where we live now. She’s is in heart failure now! My wife also suffers from metabolic systemic disease, where she has Diabetes, and kidney problems. She can basically care for her basic personal needs, but, being so short of breath, I do most of the other chores etc. So, there are several reasons for my anxiety! Ironically, my dog, a Bichon Friese, was recently disgnosed with diabetes, so we give him 2 shots a day! My wife, also, is a Canadian citizen. She and her parents emigrated legally, to the United States when my wife was a youngster! We cancelled our annual trip to Canada,🇨🇦 to visit relatives, this year, because of the difficulties at the border. We love Canada, and wanted to see her first cousin, especially, this year, because last year, she had lost her business and house, in the horrible Jasper Park forest fire, 🔥 where the whole town was burned to the ground! I believe stress and worry added to my A-fib attacks! Thanks again for your wise advice. It will help me cope better! Take care!