1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions

Atrial fibrillation

Posted by Used to be carefree @usedtobecarefree, May 13, 2012

Hi Everybody,
I've just been diagnosed with A-Fib. I had my first episode of palpitations about 6 weeks ago, and my second one was about 2 weeks ago. Both of them lasted about 6 hours and just went away by themselves. I had hoped it was no big deal, but apparently it means I've got a "condition" rather than simply having had an "event" or two. Anyway, it looks like this all means that I'm going to continue having these events, I'm going to need more medications including warfarin, and eventually I'll have a stroke and die.

Is this consistent with your experiences (except for the last thing, of course)? I'm a 57-yr old male, in otherwise good health. I'm now on a low dose of a beta blocker, I've stopped all caffeine, and I've greatly reduced salt and alcohol (now at 2 beers/day). Any advice or experiences you can share would be greatly appreciated.

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Clay6970 | @clay6970 | May 17, 2012

I won't tell a lie but I have AFIB and nobody knows why. When I become aware of the PACs and PVCs during the day, life can become very difficult. The ability to "concentrate" or "focus" lose out to the pounding in and "heaving of" my chest. In addition to the accompanying pain and fatigue that I usually experience, I often take 2 or 3 of my meds and then nap or at least lie down for my coping mechanism. After 30 to 60 minutes, the palpitations have either significantly lessened or are no longer noticeable as the pills have begun to work. When I return home from visiting Mayo Clinic about what seems to be an unrelated matter, my cardiologisty has in mind a referral that may eventually require surgery for ablation of the AFIB's source(s), but that is not on the near horizon.

REPLY
2 replies
Used to be carefree | @usedtobecarefree | May 18, 2012
In reply to @clay6970 "I won't tell a lie but I have AFIB and nobody knows why. When I become..." + (show)
@clay6970

I won't tell a lie but I have AFIB and nobody knows why. When I become aware of the PACs and PVCs during the day, life can become very difficult. The ability to "concentrate" or "focus" lose out to the pounding in and "heaving of" my chest. In addition to the accompanying pain and fatigue that I usually experience, I often take 2 or 3 of my meds and then nap or at least lie down for my coping mechanism. After 30 to 60 minutes, the palpitations have either significantly lessened or are no longer noticeable as the pills have begun to work. When I return home from visiting Mayo Clinic about what seems to be an unrelated matter, my cardiologisty has in mind a referral that may eventually require surgery for ablation of the AFIB's source(s), but that is not on the near horizon.

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Ablation sounds like it's not a bad route. Your A-Fib sounds like it's significant enough to justify doing it. I was just searching around other websites and found a lot of discussion of 2 triggers--alcohol consumption and a deficiency in potassium and magnesium. If you're willing to share, let me know other facts about your life and your symptoms.

REPLY
Clay6970 | @clay6970 | May 19, 2012
In reply to @clay6970 "I won't tell a lie but I have AFIB and nobody knows why. When I become..." + (show)
@clay6970

I won't tell a lie but I have AFIB and nobody knows why. When I become aware of the PACs and PVCs during the day, life can become very difficult. The ability to "concentrate" or "focus" lose out to the pounding in and "heaving of" my chest. In addition to the accompanying pain and fatigue that I usually experience, I often take 2 or 3 of my meds and then nap or at least lie down for my coping mechanism. After 30 to 60 minutes, the palpitations have either significantly lessened or are no longer noticeable as the pills have begun to work. When I return home from visiting Mayo Clinic about what seems to be an unrelated matter, my cardiologisty has in mind a referral that may eventually require surgery for ablation of the AFIB's source(s), but that is not on the near horizon.

Jump to this post

Thanks for you comment. I do take Magnesium, Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Fergon, B-12, allergy and Testosterone injections, Centrum Silver, Polyethelyne Glycol, colace, 81mg aspirin, Calcium Carbonate, Tylenol and a lot of other real medicines on a daily basis. Other meds are on hand and added as regularly inconsistent situations arise. I have not really had more than a sip of alcohol for almost twenty years and I have not really ever smoked at all since I smoked off and on for about a year in 1969 to keep the mosquitoes away in Borneo. Potassium has never been a problem. Like many people with CAD, I usually have low HDL. Otherwise, the other typical metrics are acceptable or good.

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snowteacher | @snowteacher | May 24, 2012

I had atial fibrillation and five years ago had a cardiac ablation done and I was back doing things I love to do. but now I have to have 4 or 5 by-pass on my heart. I am in good health not over weight. I am 66 years old, My mother had the same problem 30 years ago and had 5 by-pass operation. Taking asprin helped me.

REPLY
1 reply
Used to be carefree | @usedtobecarefree | May 24, 2012
In reply to @snowteacher "I had atial fibrillation and five years ago had a cardiac ablation done and I was..." + (show)
@snowteacher

I had atial fibrillation and five years ago had a cardiac ablation done and I was back doing things I love to do. but now I have to have 4 or 5 by-pass on my heart. I am in good health not over weight. I am 66 years old, My mother had the same problem 30 years ago and had 5 by-pass operation. Taking asprin helped me.

Jump to this post

Thanks for replying, and I'm sorry to hear about needing bypass surgery. The ablation was completely successful, then? That is, no palpitations in those 5 years? And is it pretty likely that the AFib is unrelated to the need for bypass surgery? I mean, the one comes from blocked arteries and the other is an arrythmia.

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lottie | @lottie | Jun 22, 2012

my grandson at age 28 had afib for awhile without revealing it to anyone until one night while breaking up with his girlfriend,he was rushed to hospital with a heartrate over 400 heartbeats per min. all from stress.within 5 day ,we had him in heart surgeons office who admitted to hospital for ablation.that was 2 1/2 years ago and has not had the problen since.

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jenny2 | @jenny2 | May 20, 2021

Hi,
I know how you feel. I just had my first Afib episode about two weeks ago. The cardiologist put me on Xarelto. I felt dizzy and weak. He took me off and now I am waiting to see what’s next. Worried because I am not taking anything now. Will be getting back to him soon as I feel better. There is a virtual Afib Patient Conference Aug. 6-8.There will be doctors there from The Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins as well as others. You can go to getinrythm.com to find out more about it.

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treeman1942 | @treeman1942 | Nov 7, 2023

I have Atrial Fibrillation and am now on 25MG of Metoprolol once daily. It seems to be helping a little.

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bc1776 | @bc1776 | Nov 8, 2023

I m confused as to why you’re on just metoprolol and I’m on Eliquis having one time event lasting 45 mins last year. My risk factors are I’m over 65 and a woman. No other health issues. Nothing has showed up on any of the test I had. My afib was detected by my Apple Watch. I just want to get off the blood thinner. No one will take me off the medication. I wonder why I’m not just on metoprolol and not eliquis. Does any really know.

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1 reply
katiekateny | @katiekateny | Nov 8, 2023

When I was first diagnosed by ER Doc….he put me on just metoprolol.

Then my regular doc sort of freaked and added eliquis. She felt the risk on a blood clot was enough. And like you I have had rare episodes but very short. Still..it isn’t for life. In 2 months I will get a watchman and that will be the end of eliquis.

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