I am fortunate in how infrequent my afib is but yes, last time I ended up in the ICU. My heart rate approaches 200 and it feels like a big fish flopping around in my chest, chest pain and left arm pain, shortness of breath etc. I joke around with the EMT's and docs to keep myself calm.

I do not take blood thinners. Some docs want me on them and some don't.

One paramedic gave me a bolus of diltiazem despite my saying no, and my blood pressure went down to 60/40 range. I am more emphatic now.

Only happens at night. Since I started taking Gas X when I feel it coming on, I feel like I have averted a few episodes. I had a short episode last month and it stopped. I drove to the ER parking lot and waited just in case! I hate calling the ambulance and am known for driving myself to the police station. The EMT's get really annoyed.

If the episode is bad, I do take 30mg diltiazem myself. I also try cold water on the face/head and bearing down. Doesn't help!