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

Posted by hopeandfaith123 @hopeandfaith123, Aug 14 7:54am

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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psyche | @psyche | Sep 28 4:47pm

There are a lot of free sleep meditations on the phone app called Insight Timer. (there’s a PLUS version that does require $ but I have found plenty on the free one) I’ve used many of the sleep meditations as well as a host of others related to chronic pain, etc. It almost always helps me fall asleep AND gets me back to sleep after waking up to go to the bathroom!!

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bettyhoulahan | @bettyhoulahan | Sep 29 4:15pm
In reply to @psyche "There are a lot of free sleep meditations on the phone app called Insight Timer. (there’s..." + (show)
Profile picture for psyche @psyche

There are a lot of free sleep meditations on the phone app called Insight Timer. (there’s a PLUS version that does require $ but I have found plenty on the free one) I’ve used many of the sleep meditations as well as a host of others related to chronic pain, etc. It almost always helps me fall asleep AND gets me back to sleep after waking up to go to the bathroom!!

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@psyche
Heart trouble can certainly make it hard to relax and sleep. I’ve had Afib for 13 years and been in a fib 24/7 for the last 7 of those years (permanent, persistent). My heart rate currently is close to normal but rhythm is never normal. I do spike up to 170 bpm. I don’t have a great heart eg severely & moderately enlarged atriums and damage from a SCAD STEMI in 2022. My point is that with good care and medication our risk is substantially reduced. I hope you too can develop some peace of mind based on that fact.

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Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Sep 29 9:09pm
In reply to @lgusan "First and foremost, you need to check with your doctor and see what he tells you...." + (show)
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First and foremost, you need to check with your doctor and see what he tells you. I am no doctor so I really cannot tell you what you can do.

I myself have AFIB and a heart rate of 40+ which is very low. It probably goes down to less than 40 when I am sleeping but I need my 8 hours of sleep. I also have congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, pooling of blood in veins due to 2 upper chamber valves leaking blood into my veins.

I have had 3 cathertizations to determine any blockage in veins or arteries, 2 cardioversions to get my heart rate back in normal rhythm, 2 Ablations on my upper and lower chambers to control my heart rate. I was doing fine with my heart rate back to normal rhythm; however, on 8/2/2025, my AFIB returned so I am back to square one.

My Cardiologist wanted to do another Ablation, but I told him thanks but no thanks. I am 80 years old, and I started having all above-mentioned procedures since 2017. I am tired and too old to go through anymore procedures so I will just continue to take my Eliquis for the rest of my life. My Cardiologist said I could go that route if I wanted to.

I am not worried too much about going to sleep at night even though my heart rate is below 40 but if I was going to worry about it and not sleep, then it would just make matters worse for me. If God wants me to wake up in the morning, great, if not, then I will wind up in Heaven with God's help.

You take care and God bless you.

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@lgusan Amen, Right there with you. What a great feeling to know that to as Paul says to die is gain. I'm here as long as he wants me too but Heaven sounds great also.
God Bless

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Dana, Volunteer Mentor | @danab | Sep 29 9:19pm

This happen to me also but as some have said you need your sleep also. Mine usually happened just about midnight so I actually started staying awake to get past then. Not the greatest reason and for me it was the shocks by my pacemaker. I just delt the best I could to not worry and for me Prayer helped. The answer for me was that my heart was getting to the point that medication was not helping and I was in the hospital. At least there they were able to help me rest better as I was monitored and if I was having a problem that needed intervention, they could put me to sleep and shock me back into rhythm .

I got so bad that the solution was a heart transplant. so the first step is to talk with your doctors. Be honest your really scared of what happens while asleep. Maybe anti-anxiety med may help. I went on them for a while also. I really know what your feeling as its a form of PTSD. so, I hope you find answered to help you deal with this.

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713j | @713j | Sep 30 7:13am

@nella9548 where is this thread for sleep?

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lgusan | @lgusan | Sep 30 8:29am
In reply to @danab "@lgusan Amen, Right there with you. What a great feeling to know that to as Paul..." + (show)
Profile picture for Dana, Volunteer Mentor @danab

@lgusan Amen, Right there with you. What a great feeling to know that to as Paul says to die is gain. I'm here as long as he wants me too but Heaven sounds great also.
God Bless

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@danab

Agreed! God bless you and we know that Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, will always be with us and never forsake us.

Take care and stay strong with your faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ. AMEN!

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gloaming | @gloaming | Sep 30 1:37pm

@nella9548 Excellent and comprehensive. Few of us get enough exercise, we're absolutely welded to our electronic devices, sleep apnea was the very last assessment offered by my cardiologist (and it was the culprit, 'severe OSA' the diagnosis), and we don't eat decent diets any more (not that we don't make an effort, it's just that our food supply has deteriorated in quality, even fresh vegetables!).
I have been dipping into our outdoor hot tub for years now, after brushing my teeth and taking my night's pills. It seems to set me up for a more relaxed drift into sleep.
Snacking any time after about 1900 hours, or eating a meal that late, invites a restless start to sleep, possibly even some GERD or reflux if the meal included alcohol, especially (for me) red wine and red meat.

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713j | @713j | Oct 1 7:56am

@nella9548 got it thank you

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