Sadness

Hi Everyone
I apologize for the long post. I’m newly diagnosed, about a month now. I had one documented AFib episode that converted on its own after 12 hours. I wore a zio patch for 2 weeks and the results came back showing no AFib, less that 1% PAC and PVC’s. 2 short runs of SVT with the highest heart rate being 119 BPM. I was on Diltiazem but switched to Metaprolol, and I take Eliquis.

Since the Zio patch came off I have had 2 episodes of a racing heart just out of the blue. First I experienced a rush of heat from my chest to my face and head and then my heart would race up to 120-150BPM. I have the Kardia device and both times came back no AFib but sinus tachycardia.

I am 56 years old...and a thought crossed my mind last night that maybe I could be going through menopause. Any women on this forum suffer from hot flashes with a racing heart?

I’m sure I am not alone in the feeling that my life has been turned upside down. I have 4 beautiful daughters and a grandson and one more on the way. I feel like every way I envisioned my retirement has now gone out the window. I feel sad most days and my anxiety is through the roof...always feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I’m trying to carry on as normal but I cant. Each day is filled with thoughts of what if...what if I’m in the car and it happens, what if I’m alone with my grandson and it happens...I’m starting to isolate myself . I cant even sit still to enjoy a book, a movie....i cant drive anymore because I’m constantly feeling on the edge of panic.

I was given a benzo to help with all of this but I’m so on edge that its not helping.

I know there are others who suffer from much worse than I do...I just cant seem to start my new normal in a healthy way. Maybe its a time thing and living with it I will adjust?

Now on top of the AFib the SVTs have me freaked out.

I’m not seeing a light at the end of this tunnel. I applaud all of you for being so strong.

Don't despair Tracy! Look on the bright side, you have had 'only' one afib episode and very few other problems. It has likely got to do with change of hormone levels. I'd send my wife to a specialist and he'll tell you what to do.
As for your anxiety, i know it is easy for others to rationalize, but difficult for the sufferer. A psychologist could be of immense help there.
Best wishes!
Don't dismiss dietary changes as a means of making you feel better.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/24/2018 11:02PM by Joe.

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traceyf45
I’m sure I am not alone in the feeling that my life has been turned upside down.

Oh, trust me, Tracey, you're not alone in that.

Here's the reality you're facing now in a very quick summation:

Welcome to afib. It sucks.

No, you're not going to die. It may feel that way, but if you find a competent electrophysiologist and follow their advice, afib will never kill you.

Your life as you know it and were looking forward to doesn't need to change. You can count on continuing it exactly as you planned. :-)

You're going to need to make some choices. The choices available for dealing with afib are: lifestyle modification, drug therapy, and ablation. Those choices can be combined, obviously. This is the big decision you're facing at this stage so you need to start learning about those choices.

Given your age, ablation would be the favored choice these days. You could easily live another 30-40 years, and the reality of drug therapy is it will probably be imperfect, some drugs will have intolerable side effects, and some will work great for a few years and then just stop working. There's also the problem that the longer afib continues the more likely it is to become persistent. "Afib begets afib" is a phrase you'll probably hear, and it's true. The longer you're in it, the more likely you are to stay in it.

If, after much consideration, you decide that ablation is the way you want to go, the one thing you need to know is that who does the ablation is paramount. If you're going to go with drug therapy, then the local EP is probably perfectly capable of treating you. But if you're going to choose ablation, you need the most experienced EP you can find, the one who's done thousands of ablations, not hundreds, and definitely not dozens.

I'm sorry you find yourself here, but your life isn't over. You can deal with this and you will.

Great post, Carey. Should be a compulsory read for all new afbbers.

Gill

What Gill said.

Welcome Tracey - Carey has offered you great advice. I'm very sorry you've found it necessary to post here, but glad you found this very valuable resource of helpful information to assist you in coping with and managing Afib.

The emphasis in your mind should be that you aren't going to die and that YOU have many options and YOU can take steps to minimize the recurrence. It starts with fully educating yourself (empowering yourself) on the potential underlying circumstances that allows the arrhythmia to happen and along with the meds, you'll start to recognize various patterns or trends that may be contributors. We often say it's a journey.

We are all here to help guide you to helpful resource information. As a start, open this link and check the various titles of the many helpful posts that give tips and background for living with atrial fibrillation.
[www.afibbers.org]

Stay connected with us, Tracey.
Kind thoughts to you,
Jackie

Great Summary, Carey:

I was always told that the major fear of afib is stroke from inadequate prescribing, compliance or monitoring of blood coagulation medications, not heart issues.

At that time Warfarin was the only prescriptive choice so hopefully the newer meds have a wider protection range so stroke is no longer as feared. Certainly compliance is easier with the new drugs but that could in itself lead to overconfidence and neglect.

Is Warfarin still the "Gold Standard"?

Gordon

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ggheld
Is Warfarin still the "Gold Standard"?

That's a good question. I'd say it still is for research purposes but it's being rapidly replaced by the direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in routine use for afib. Any study comparing the effectiveness of stroke prevention of a drug or treatment will always use warfarin as the standard because it's so well known and studied, but if you're newly diagnosed with non-valvular afib today, your cardiologist will probably prescribe one of the DOACs. I was on warfarin in 2010 for my first ablation, but as soon as Pradaxa was approved by the FDA a few months later, my EP switched me to that. I can'r recall hearing of anyone newly diagnosed in the last few years who was put on warfarin.

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Carey
. I can'r recall hearing of anyone newly diagnosed in the last few years who was put on warfarin.

Unless there is a comorbidity that requires anticoagulation for which DOACs are not approved. That’s rare, but it does happen. Lupus or anti phospholipid syndrome come to mind.

Yeah, I believe there are several more conditions where warfarin is preferred, but aside from people in those categories I'd be surprised to see an EP prescribe warfarin these days, especially since the DOACs have been shown to have a lower bleeding risk.

Hi Tracey,
So sorry you're feeling down. Your story sounds so similar to mine. I initially had mostly SVT, in fact it started happening every night in the middle of the night. I was afraid to go to bed, babysit for my son... Months later I had some episodes of short-lived a-fib... I totally understand where you're coming from, but things can get better and we're all here to support you! Lots of good advice above. Learning and talking about how you feel will help move you forward. Did you have an echocardiogram? Knowing your heart is mechanically sound helps you understand your options.
I just turned 60, had my ablation with Dr. Natale two weeks ago and my rhythm feels stable and happy. His team was awesome. I have hope to get off my drugs in the coming months. You can work this out too! To add about the psychologist, I would find someone who specializes in medical issues or I used a certified health coach that was also a PA. Your anxiety isn't a pathology, it's a reaction to this difficult life experience. You need to talk it out so you don't hold this experience "in your body" which can enhance your rhythm issues.
Sending you healing!

Carey...your posts are always intelligent and well said. That is a valuable asset in this forum for all who are seeking possible answers about their concerns.

Yes, I do understand your concerns. I first started having irregular heart beats when I began menopause. I have had horrible hot flashes now for 12 yrs. When I have a hot flash my heart rate almost always skips beats or starts beating rapidly. I have also gone into afib from a hot flash in the middle of the night. I have had no help or even acknowledgment from my doctors of the correction between having afib and menopause. When I have mentioned how hard menopause has been for me, their eyes usually glaze over and say there is nothing they can do. I have found that I feel better now emotionally than I did at the beginning of menopause. It was like going through puberty again but much worse. Luckily, that anxiety has diminished considerably.
I have found that acupuncture helps to reduce my hot flashes and balance my system. Also, I use several vitamin and mineral supplements and try to eat a healthy diet. Also I have a workout routine I try to do everyday which helps as well.
This board has been incredibly helpful for me in reducing the number on afib incidences I have.
I just wanted you to know that you are not alone. I hope that you get the help you need. .

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traceyf45
I feel sad most days and my anxiety is through the roof...always feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.

I’m not seeing a light at the end of this tunnel. I applaud all of you for being so strong.

May I join your pity party club?
I am a 57 female, and I was just diagnosed last week. My heart felt funny/fluttery, enough that I took my pulse and it seemed off. After a couple of days of this decided to see the doc who booted me right next door to the ER, where they told my I have Afib.

All my labs were normal except my CBC showed a high MCHC, and of course my ECG was abnormal (Atrial fibrillation Aberrantly
Minimal voltage criteria for LVH, may be normal variant, Nonspecific ST and T wave abnormality). They also did an echo and sent me off with a 48 hour Holter monitor, and put me on 120 mg diltiazem and wanted me to take a blood thinner.. I was restistent to that without research first, so I doing baby asprin. (Yes after reading I see I am going to have get stuck on a blood thinner...blech) I see the cardiologist in 2 weeks.

Like you, I am super, super depressed about this. I am a pretty active person. I ski everyweekend in the winter, I like to hike in the summer and run a bit (off for winter but had planned to start up again, jogged a fee miles a week ago) I'm always wanting to be doing more not less. I went for two hikes this weekend (Holter monitor and afib be damned) and the 700 ft elevation which is never 'easy', had a serious exponent on it ... I've never had such a hard time with a moderate hike in my life. (will be intersting to see that holter says about that)
Super depressing.
The good news is that after 5 days of the med my heartrate is at least somewhat normal (BP monitor not saying irregular every single time), and other than the anxiety I feel fine.

My risk factors are, yes I'm overweight (should really loose 50 lbs), I've never undertood why I have such a hard time with my weight but I do. Never lost it all after having my last child and then added to that (all while being a regular jogger/exerciser... go figure)

I've been battling the blood pressure issue this last year, (Trying med #3) Now I'm guessing this was a bigger problem than a I thought and must have been a problem much longer than I realized. (Just shoot me for not treating it sooner).I also admit that due to a constellation of reasons I am in crappy shape right now. In general though I have always felt like a pretty healthy relatively fit person. I feel totally gut punched right now... I was really looking forward to a summer of serious hiking (We just lost the old dog that had slowed us down the last year or so)

I too would like some advice on how to deal with the depression. I don't have time to be sick, no less have time to be depressed about being sick. My life has had it's share of trials and tribulations, and has recently been on the up and up... I was looking forward the direction things were going... and now this. Also, like you, I'm thinking of my kids. Their dad (my ex) has 'issues' (my trials and tribulations, unfortunately), and my kids have enough to deal with there, they do not need a sick mom. So yeah, the depression and anxiety is really feeling horrible.

I am glad to find this forum, thank you Tracy for your openness in sharing your challenges and sadness, I empathize and think it's healthy to air those feelings in order to move forward in taking care of ourselves. Appreciate Bolimasa and Libbys posts of support and thank Carey in being so informative as well as compassionate, you too Jackie.. I'm also adapting to current atrial flutter trying to learn all I need to and also manage my fear. I am finding sticking to my routine as much as possible, work, errands, social life can help me believe life goes on.

I'm a 60 year old woman, born with congenital heart disease, had open heart surgery at 3 yrs old for VSD and ASD. Grateful to have had a full life, have three wonderful adult kids.. I developed complete heart block 12 yrs ago and have had three pacemakers since that time. I had a few brief A=fib episodes 8 yrs ago, and was lucky to have had a period of relative calm until now. I had a brief AF episode last Thursday, that I could sense,but it was followed by atrial flutter starting later that night. I am still in atrial flutter, and it initially overwhelmed me with a sense that my life was over. I have questions I'd so like to hear some of your input on but I will post more in a new thread as I don't shift the focus of your thread Tracy but just wanted to express how similar my reactions are.

Hugs,
Lindz



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/10/2018 05:44AM by Lindz.

Dear Ladies of 'the club'... There's no question... this arrhythmia thing really sabotages our lives. I'd like to offer you all...first, my compassion and support and also mention that often running behind the scenes is the hormonal issue that many women face.

I'm observing this in the rear-view mirror, because my AF began at age 59 – long after I endured surgically induced menopause at age 44. However, because I was fortunately in the care of a nutritionally oriented, Board Certified Family Practice MD, who had prescribed Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BiHRT), I was able to avoid the typical menopausal symptom ‘syndrome’ which can certainly complicate how we feel, cope and function...even without the added stress of Afib.

If you have access to a practitioner knowledgeable in BiHRT, I strongly suggest you check into it for your specific needs.

Hugs to all,
Jackie

This is a great thread and helpful to those of us who are trying to get used to the idea of having Afib.