Newly diagnosed with AFib and now have major anxiety

The research is a bit mixed on when and why to take a DOAC (direct-acting oral anti-coagulant). Some think all AF patients have a raised risk of stroke immediately, some recent research says only after 24-48 hours in AF. The CHA2DS2-VASc is pretty solid as a predictor, although someone with AF should probably be at a 1.5 just for that alone...my personal opinion. If you are a bit nervous, ask your cardiologist if you should take maybe one or two children's ASA, 81 mg each day, one morning, one at night. See what he/she says.
Many of us take 200-600 mg of Mg daily as a prophylactic against AF. For some it seems to work, while others say it doesn't seem to have helped. The literature and anecdotes are replete with triggers of all kinds.

If worried about not being on an anticoagulant, you should wear compression socks or stockings. I take Eliquis and still wear compression socks every day.

I am sorry that you have to wait so long to se a cardiologist (I know it seems like forever). I had severe anxiety also when I started with Afib (2022) . Verified with my Apple watch first then happened to have an episode that started in the parking lot when I had my first cardiology appt. shortly thereafter. So they were able to document it and started me immediately on Eliquis, scheduled, an echocardiogram, etc. All was done within couple weeks. After consultation with the cardiologist about my Paroxysmal Afib (he wanted to implant a pacemaker), I decided to speak to an electrophysiologist about having an ablation and it was scheduled it for a month later (seemed like a long time!). In the meantime, my primary doctor tried me on several anxiety meds and nothing worked (ex. one had opposite effect (speeding), others made my sodium drop too much, etc). She did give me the lowest dose of Ativan to get me through to the appt. for the ablation. ( I had the ablation in Dec 2022 and have not had another Afib event). I still had some anxiety and the doctor did not want me to continue the Ativan, so I researched lots of resources and decided to take magnesiun glycinate for anxiety, better sleep, and heart health. I currently take 250mg (2 tablets in the evening). I believe the safe amount for women is 350 so you could take another one in the morning. I believe it helped me tremendously with anxiety. If I were you, I would take the supplement to see if it helps.

Thank you for this. I will ask my cardiologist but since I am new to this I haven’t seen one yet. I have a list of questions. Just wish it was sooner rather than later. My anxiety can’t take it.

Brilliant idea. I will check into that. Thanks!

Thank you so much. My doctor did recommend magnesium supplements so I will try that route. The anxiety is awful. I wake up at 3:00am with that horrible internal shaking feeling. Then I can’t get back to sleep. The anxiety is worse than the aFib I think. I have taken .5mg Lorazepam but only after I’ve tried to fight off the anxiety for a couple or three hours. It definitely helps but I don’t want to do that daily as I know it can be addictive.

@frankie555 The anxiety can be crippling. When wwe are highly symptomatic, that's the worst combo.
AF won't kill you. It CAN lead to other problems, but those are almost always well down the pike with near-constant or constant AF. You're well behind that wave and needn't fret (easy for us to say).
The more you teach yourself about AF and its triggers and management, the more you'll relax AND the more clued-in and determined you'll seem to an electrophysiologist or cardiologist when you discuss your case with them.

@gloaming You should try calling the cardiologist’s office and asked to be called if there is a cancellation. Make a pest of yourself. Explain your anxiety. Good luck.

@frankie555
Try to see a electrophysiologist (EP). They area experts in the electrical systems of the heart. If you don't have someone local consider going to a major medical facility and have a second opinion there and will work with your local PCP and cardiologist.

The magnesium is a common prescribed supplement for PVCs and arrymthmia. I take 400 mg of Magnesium Citrate every day. Suggest by my Mayo EP for my PVCs.

The major risk of AFIB is stroke. That is why doctors prescribed blood thinners. You should asked your medical doctors what to do for you specific case not those on MCC who do not know your complete medical and mental health history.

Stress and anxiety per my EP will cause AFIB and more PVCs. Thus you should also seek advice from your medical professionals about adding a medication to help with your mental stress and anxiety. Also try to do life style changes on your own. Do you enjoy a hobby. If so try to do it each day to help relieve your stress and anxiety. Do you like a type of exercise. After checking with your doctors try to do an exercise you like. It will go a long way to help lesson your stress and anxiety which will help lower your AFIB and PVCs.

I take medication for my stress and anxiety, another for PVCs, and another for VTAC. They have really lessons all. I also exercise 6 days a week which for me is the best stress relifer of all of them.

Good luck, try to find a EP and please consider if none local then consider driving/flying to a major medicational facility and get a second opinon on treatments.

Please read "The AFIB Cure" Also, remember to get the right doctor to do the ablation, it's as much an art as a science.
If you live near and can travel to Raleigh, NC, contact this office to send your test results, especially the latest echo, to the great cardiac surgeon, Dr. Byron Boulton; set up a consultation visit, perhaps by phone. He is Director of the WakeMed Structural Heart Program at WakeMed in Raleigh, NC. Phone (919) 231-6333. I had a serious regurgitation/mitral valve problem (caused by a gum/dental infection) and AFIB. He repaired my mitral valve, did an LAAC, and did an ablation to cure my AFIB. That was over three years ago. I am as fine as wine, off all meds too, except for 4 amoxicillin before dental visits. I am an 81-year-old male, just a kid.
Regards,
Sagan