Heart rhythm diagnosis

What are you feeling? How often? If it comes and goes, a heart monitor for a couple weeks might catch it. The new ones are so easy to wear.

Hi, My Journey started with a virus that caused fluid build up around my Lungs and heart. So my first symptoms were unable to catch a good deep breath and when I finially went to the ER it was because I could not breath lying down.

As there are so many types of Rhythm problems, can you describe what the not normal feeling feels like? It may actually be not even your Heart. During my journey I had trouble sometimes determining if it was my stomach or my heart. The are so close together some of my symptoms were actually my stomach. Probably why they call acid indigestion as heart burn.

Feels hard to catch my breath, heart racing, dizziness, headache, blurry vision and some chest pain (tightness). Occasionally right arm numbness. Guess this is why I’m here at Mayo.

Gosh, you are IN the hospital? That's good...but not good...if you get me. They'll do tests and find out if you have any clots, blockages, heart damage (D-Dimer enzyme in your blood shows if clots are dissolving, images will show blockages, and heart damage is signified by troponin, also in the blood, all of which they will do). Also, a 12 lead ECG will show if there is anything odd with your heart's rhythm. You're surely in excellent hands.
To answer your question, I was near the end of a 10 km run (65 at the time, a lifelong runner) when I felt my legs suddenly weaken and slow like they had excess lactic acid...if you are familiar with that sensation. I sat on the curb, took my pulse, it was rapid, but kept on after a few minutes. After cooldown, showering, at my compute, my heart rate felt fast through my chest wall. Went to the ER, they diagnosed paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. So, some weakness, some minor breathlessness at times, anxiety, feeling unwell, and the thumping and bumping in my left chest wall.

No not in the hospital but frankly have wondered a couple of times if I should go over to the ED. Have more tests on Monday so just resting and pushing through till then. I’m beginning to not trust what is happening in my body

It started as an "abnormal heartbeat" alert on my home BP machine. Would happen fairly frequently. When I would go to my PCP I would ask about it and he said probably nothing to worry about after poking and prodding. Was still happening after that so questioned him again at next meeting. Got a halter for 30 days and on the 27th day it picked up a 2 minute bout of AFib. Right away he's writing a script for Eliqus and mentioning a cardiologist.

Never had another recorded event since then roughly 5 years ago but now carry the word AFib on my charts and definitely froze my ability to change insurance plans on Medicare.

Had absolutely no symptoms when monitoring group called me at home when the event had a occured, was sitting at kitchen table reading a newspaper.

To this day the cardiologist has no real advice for me other than keep doing what you're doing.

With the advent of more and more devices and ways to monitor passively for AFib you will find more "events" no matter what there duration. The question they are left with is what to do with the results.

When you say "something isn't right" it also feeds into your anxiety of what you don't know and magnifies every little thing going on and enhances your thinking that something is not right.

What you have revealed (thanks) says the following to me, a widely read and researched patient, but NOT a medical authority...no training whatsoever:
a. You are in the 'paroxysmal' stage of AF, if that is what your arrhythmia really is. That's good. It's early, and the most easily 'whacked' into submission...the most easily treated by an electrophysiologist. I'm guessing that you don't have many PACs (premature atrial contractions) because those are felt by everyone...a strong thump in the chest wall now and then. You say you are asymptomatic, so this is why I feel you have AF....atrial fibrillation. You'd be surprised how many have atrial flutter and/or fibrillation and literally have/had no idea;
b. In some ways, your cardio is right....if you aren't bothered unduly (except now you know and there is some considerable worry), then you should/could just live with it for now. My input, if it matters, is that when a person's heart fibrillates, there is a 6 times higher risk of stroke due to clots forming in the left atrial appendage, where blood circulates a bit less efficiently. So, your cardiologist might prescribe a DOAC (direct-acting oral anti-coagulant), two common ones being apixaban and rivaroxaban. You might discuss this potential risk if your cardiologist doesn't bring it up;
c. Finally, so this doesn't turn into a tome, AF is considered to be a 'progressive' disorder of the myocardium. It will get worse over time. For some patients, this process takes months, for others it takes years. Again, to reinforce, the best time to get it treated is BEFORE it proceeds to successive stages of the disorder (paroxysmal, persistent, long-standing persistent, and permanent). Again, discuss this with your cardio, and ask about a referral to an electrophysiologist for an assessment and consultation.

Thats not a bad Idea if your close to a Mayo Clinic and you're having symptoms go to the ER. The breathing issue sounds just like it could be fluid around the lungs. I always thought fluid could build up in your lungs which is Pneumonia. But around the heart is when the sac around the heart and lungs i had never heard of until it happens to me and it will give you a breathing type symptom.
But any good ER should be able to help figure it out. Particularly if you're having breathing problems.

Sandw40,
Hello. I have had AFib since 2003 and used Eliquis since 2014. Also, received a pacemaker in 2016 which helped immensely.
Recommend if you want a big picture about AFib and a 5 step plan to consider improving quality of life with AFib and maybe putting it into remission, read "The AFib Cure". An excellent resource by two cardiologists/EP's: Drs. Day and Bunch.
All the best,
OUMike

Well thanks for the information but as my post mentioned I haven't had any issues with AFib in 5+ years and a firm believer in letting sleeping dogs sleep.👍🏼