Just realizing that I may have had Afib for forty years! Is this possible? I was diagnosed 13 years ago but looking back over the years, I remember sporadic instances of what felt like serious “spells,” where I felt like I was at risk of dying. After a few hours they resolved and of course, if they were indeed Afib, could not have been diagnosed afterward when I sought medical care. I don’t think I even knew what Afib was then though I realized that whatever was happening was likely cardiac related. No doc ever suggested Afib, probably because I was “young,” and there was nothing like an Apple watch or a Kardia available to check on the spot. As I think back, I remember being in circumstances that could be triggering for Afib in each instance. Now that I have been treated by Dr. Natale and have such a quiet heart, I am really aware of the difference and am wondering if others suspect that they may have had very paroxysmal Afib for much longer than they thought? https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190947,190947#msg-190947 Sun, 28 Jun 2026 11:52:20 +0000 Phorum 5.2.23 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190947,191585#msg-191585 Re: Just realizing that I may have had Afib for forty years! https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190947,191585#msg-191585 sldabrowski AFIBBERS FORUM Thu, 13 Jul 2023 15:06:09 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190947,190954#msg-190954 Re: Just realizing that I may have had Afib for forty years! https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190947,190954#msg-190954

I wasn't diagnosed with Afib, until 2006, but I know for a certainty, that my first episode was Thanksgiving day 1980. Caffeine induced.

I went for years and eventually developed a panic disorder, which allowed the mind-body cycle to reinforce itself, even though doctors didn't "catch" any heart issues despite extensive cardiac testing.

It wasn't until I was able to get the panic under control, that it was finally diagnosed.]]> lisa s AFIBBERS FORUM Sun, 11 Jun 2023 04:24:38 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190947,190950#msg-190950 Re: Just realizing that I may have had Afib for forty years! https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190947,190950#msg-190950
That's why I've never understood why current practice guidelines discourage ECGs during routine physicals. Why wouldn't you do one? It's cheap, harmless, and takes maybe 2 minutes. If I were a PCP, I would do a baseline ECG on all new patients no matter what their age, and then if it's normal I would repeat them at 10-year intervals until their 40s at which time I'd switch to annual intervals. Finding asymptomatic afib in a 35-year old is an invaluable discovery, and it's not like afib is the only disease an ECG can detect.]]> Carey AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 10 Jun 2023 22:24:33 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190947,190949#msg-190949 Re: Just realizing that I may have had Afib for forty years! https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190947,190949#msg-190949
Was it ever AF? Dunno. But it was definitely an abnormal rate, and alarming at the time. Neither episode repeated in the following days and months, so I quickly forgot them. My bad...in retrospect.]]> gloaming AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 10 Jun 2023 21:37:04 +0000 https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190947,190947#msg-190947 Just realizing that I may have had Afib for forty years! https://www.afibbers.org/forum/read.php?9,190947,190947#msg-190947
Now that I have been treated by Dr. Natale and have such a quiet heart, I am really aware of the difference and am wondering if others suspect that they may have had very paroxysmal Afib for much longer than they thought?]]> Daisy AFIBBERS FORUM Sat, 10 Jun 2023 18:08:39 +0000