Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.

[Rich101]

Hi Keith, what symptoms do you get?? have you noticed any triggers relating to or causing the episodes?
\we all seem to have similar experience with the chest compression thing.
Its so strange!!

[jalba]

Hello again Rich,

I am new to AF, my most serious bout was just about one month ago, so I don't really know what the trigger was.

I have never smoked. The only drinking I do is the occasional glass of wine with a meal. I very rarely drink coffee, and I am not overweight. All in all I have looked after myself, including a healthy diet and with nothing to excess.

However, I would class myself as an A+ personality, so perhaps that has something to do with it. I have also had a few personal traumas in my life through illness and death in my family. All very stressful.

When on holiday abroad last year I had a bad fever, and the arrhythmia appeared about 4-6 weeks after this, but I don't know if there is a connection.

I can agree with your comments re family support and comprehension of the condition. However, I had a breakthrough yesterday when a two page article on AF was in one of the national newspapers.

[jalba]

Hello Keith,

You appear to have all the same associated AF ingredients that Rich and I have.

I can sympathise with the anxiety. I am not so concerned when I am not experiencing any symptoms, although I have had a preoccupation because of devoting some time to try and find a way through the problem via nutrition, supplements and exercise.

When I read the side effects of the medication, I want to avoid that route if I can.

Apparently there is the potential for cure if electrocardioversion or ablation is done early, but I am a little bit scared of this method, and it is difficult to get immediate treatment in this country.

[warby]

Hi good to speak to you both, sorry for the late response but I've been off work today and have just moved house so do not have any internet access yet. No idea way my epsiode of AF started, have been under a lot of stress before hand. I have resently lost 6 stone in weight was 26 stone now under 20. Although I've always exercised go to the gym everyday apart from since my episode of AF have only been a few times, I keep bottling out although my GP says it would be good for me. I do not drink alcohol (only very occasionally) do not smoke, but I do have a very stressful job which has been adding to my stress.

I am very stressed out regarding having another episode of AF although my GP says to try and put it at the back of my mind, which is easier said then done.

Which newspaper was the article in I could do with a copy. What did it say, anything positive?

[warby]

opps forgot my symptoms were a very funny feeling in my chest, tiredness and a bit of dizziness on and off. Only had the 1 episode so far.

[Rich101]

Hi, yeah I can relate certain episodes of a.f to stress, but not always. I tried desperately to link the episodes to nuritional reasons, or a certain activity. But because I have had a few episodes, it becomes very difficult to establish a link between them all.
I do get alot of palpitations/eptopic beats pretty much on a daily basis. But this of cause could be over awareness of the hearts beat, or the anxiety/stress of expecting another a.f attack. So maybe I will concentrate on reducing anxiety and see what happens.

Keith-I think the ablation is normally carried out if A.F turns perminent, although it also said that if it is performed early on into having symptoms it is more likely to work.
The thing is because our symptoms come and go, (or have lone a.f ), its hard now when the next attack would be, could happen just once!!!
I think if I could go along time without an attack maybe the heart can sort of re-wire its electrical habit??????? maybe im being a biot optimistic now!
But I think its a vicious circle, if it happens one day, I worry and think its gona happen again soon, but then can go 6 months with no a.f. Very strange.

Id be interested to lok at the newspaper article. Which newspaper was it in???

[jalba]

It was yesterday's paper, either the Daily Express or Daily Mail. I can't remember which. It was my mother-in-law who kept it for me, because she realised that the experience of the woman in the article was identical to mine.

The gist of the article was about how badly this woman aged 44 had been treated by her GP and local hospital over a number of years, but eventually discovered a good clinic, with clued in specialists. I think it was The John Radcliffe in Cambridge.

She is going to have ablation this week.

It went on to consider how poor many medical professionals and institutions were throughout the country.

However, it said that there were changes afoot, and specialist clinics were appearing.

It was quite a large two page article.

[jalba]

I think the best way to help with the anxiety is to take all the precautions you can.

The main threat with AF is obviously the potential problem with blood clots and a consequent stroke or heart attack as a result.

So you have to ensure that you are taking the right anti-coagulant and anti-thrombotic should you go into AF. Preferably those that have minimal side effects.

The other tack, is to prevent AF in the first place (if you can!) and to minimise the duration as quickly as possible, because the risk of blood clots is obviously minimised when you are not in AF.

I very recently bought a key chain pill container so that I can have immediate access to 300 mgs of aspirin and a beta blocker should I need it.

There is obviously a lot more we can do with diet and supplements etc, but once you have optimised everything possible, then you just have to try and relax and get on with life as best you can!

Of course there is the possibility of taking the surgical route and going for catheter ablation. If you get the best specialist possible, there is a chance that AF could just become a memory!

[warby]

Yeah I agree with all the above I am trying to keep positive and get on with things, but struggling at present, anxiety and panic is geting the better of me at times although my family are supportive but as already said they do not fully understand. I carry my flecainide with me all the time, never thought of carring around some asprin aswell, although I do take this daily.

I think its the stress that makes me very aware of my heart and its beating, always feels like its fluttering but I think its coming from my stomach etc. I am also prone to keep checking my pulse when ever I get any odd beat or feeling in my chest. This is driving me mad.

Oh well still got to get on with things through, need to work to pay the bills.

[Rich101]

It all sounds very much like the symptoms, trouble I have to put up with!!!
It is nice that others have the same, as its such a strange condition, and do feel as though knowbody could possibly understand, even the docs dont seem to understand.
Theres an interesting website, www.afibbers.org, theres extensive research on this site about lone a.f, also some positive research by a canadian cardiologist whos sais lone a.f is in almost all cases caused by nutritional diffieciencies. And can be corrected by increasing intake on certain vits, supplements.
so going to try this at first along with taking omega 3, 6, and 9 oils. The herb Hawthorn is also good for arrythmias like this.
Have any of you noticed the symptoms you get are partly caused by maybe poor breathing habits (shallow breathing), or and poor posture( compression in the chest)?????????????