Atrial Fibrillation
Discussion
Apologies for forgetting to return here.
OK, some history. At Uni I went from being an athelete to not being able to walk to the toilet, for a few months. I played rugby with a chest infection, ended up with myocarditis and pneumonia.
About five years ago, I started telling my wife my heart wasn't behaving - she poo poo'd it. Then one day lying on my chest, she went "what's that?"
"My heart"
"You're going to a doctor"
I ended up getting a Cardia device to help me record my heart. It means I have evidence.... Yesterday I washed two cars, walked the dogs, went for a bike ride, helped clean the house, entertained guests and didn't have any issues.
This morning, just after the guests left, I registered a peak of 231bpm (second highest I've recorded), with an average of 215. I can't get over 186 on the bike (resting rate of ~50bpm).
I can't get a handle on what causes it - I've cut out salt, massive reduction in booze, I had just eaten a small breakfast, but I hadn't bent over to put pressure on the vegus nerve. I'm not massively stressed now (last month saw ~375 hours worked), and I'm tired, but I've had worse. I'm hydrated.... argh! Anyway, enough moaning. I took my 'pill in the pocket' and it settled down over an hour.
Anyway, look after yourself people.
OK, some history. At Uni I went from being an athelete to not being able to walk to the toilet, for a few months. I played rugby with a chest infection, ended up with myocarditis and pneumonia.
About five years ago, I started telling my wife my heart wasn't behaving - she poo poo'd it. Then one day lying on my chest, she went "what's that?"
"My heart"
"You're going to a doctor"
I ended up getting a Cardia device to help me record my heart. It means I have evidence.... Yesterday I washed two cars, walked the dogs, went for a bike ride, helped clean the house, entertained guests and didn't have any issues.
This morning, just after the guests left, I registered a peak of 231bpm (second highest I've recorded), with an average of 215. I can't get over 186 on the bike (resting rate of ~50bpm).
I can't get a handle on what causes it - I've cut out salt, massive reduction in booze, I had just eaten a small breakfast, but I hadn't bent over to put pressure on the vegus nerve. I'm not massively stressed now (last month saw ~375 hours worked), and I'm tired, but I've had worse. I'm hydrated.... argh! Anyway, enough moaning. I took my 'pill in the pocket' and it settled down over an hour.
Anyway, look after yourself people.
Caffeine! Forgot about that. Gave it up last year. For rides, I use an electrolyte replacement tablet in the water - works wonders when you're a sweaty mess like me.
One other bit - weakness in the left arm sometimes. The cardiologist was doubtful, but I did finally get an abnormal trace when I had it - the systolic peak was 50% under normal. The other thing is what I call butterflies. It feels like nervousness or butterflies. The Kardia device records it as hesitations in the start of the diastolic phase.
Still wish I could figure out what starts this all off....
One other bit - weakness in the left arm sometimes. The cardiologist was doubtful, but I did finally get an abnormal trace when I had it - the systolic peak was 50% under normal. The other thing is what I call butterflies. It feels like nervousness or butterflies. The Kardia device records it as hesitations in the start of the diastolic phase.
Still wish I could figure out what starts this all off....
No, anti fungals (athletes foot cream), of all things. Strange for a topical treatment to have such an effect. Jesus. Not my side, but good luck to you.
Last night was interesting. Woke in my left side, with my heart thumping madly, but I could only feel it on the left half of my body. For those fighters amongst you, it felt like a body shot each pulse.
Today I had mostly lost the power in my left arm, until I had NS drugs and pain killers.
What's that about Italy having 24.5% death rate with AF and Covid? Sod that. I'm surviving.
Last night was interesting. Woke in my left side, with my heart thumping madly, but I could only feel it on the left half of my body. For those fighters amongst you, it felt like a body shot each pulse.
Today I had mostly lost the power in my left arm, until I had NS drugs and pain killers.
What's that about Italy having 24.5% death rate with AF and Covid? Sod that. I'm surviving.
I used to be the same, just get on with it. Now I pay a bit more attention...
Big issue I find is relaxing. Normally it's with alcohol, but cutting that out leads to.... Well, being unable to relax. Nothing else does the trick. Not exercise, yoga, meditation, or any other traditional method. I'm thinking moderation is the key, but currently the heart is lumpy and I've just woken up!
Big issue I find is relaxing. Normally it's with alcohol, but cutting that out leads to.... Well, being unable to relax. Nothing else does the trick. Not exercise, yoga, meditation, or any other traditional method. I'm thinking moderation is the key, but currently the heart is lumpy and I've just woken up!
GT3Manthey said:
Glad i found this thread as ive posted frantically elsewhere twice already today !
Im sure my wife has AF though its yet to be confirmed but all is in hand with regards seeing a cardiologist.
Obviously as of yet we don't know what path we'll be taking but its reassuring to hear help is at hand.
Just one remaining question - Whats the worse thing that can happen here if the condition is fully treatable ? TIA
Worst thing? She lives out the rest of her life happily married to you! Im sure my wife has AF though its yet to be confirmed but all is in hand with regards seeing a cardiologist.
Obviously as of yet we don't know what path we'll be taking but its reassuring to hear help is at hand.
Just one remaining question - Whats the worse thing that can happen here if the condition is fully treatable ? TIA
Seriously though - the cardiologist would be best to talk to about that. The options go from change the environment she is in (less stress, less booze, less salt, more water etc), then pill in pocket approach. When they stop working, then it's ablation. If that doesn't work....
Seriously though, shout if there are questions. It seems a number of us live with it and are in different stages. Good luck to the lady.
I thought I would live up to a promise and share with you some of the EKGs I've got. I use a Kardia device, that allows me to record to my phone. This was brilliant, as the cardiologist said it aided him diagnosing me much quicker.
This was today. Resting heart rate of 54ish, then this...... This has been happening for the last hour. No idea if it's worth taking a Flecainide or not. But as I'm trying this, it's getting wosrse, so I may.
Next up is something I call 'butterflies'. It's a fluttering in your chest. This is what it looks like on a graph:
Then there are thumps. You can actually feel this if you are touching my chest.
Finally, this was a really bad one. I know it's bad when the bottom line is all fuzzy....
There you go. Hope this is of use to someone.
This was today. Resting heart rate of 54ish, then this...... This has been happening for the last hour. No idea if it's worth taking a Flecainide or not. But as I'm trying this, it's getting wosrse, so I may.
Next up is something I call 'butterflies'. It's a fluttering in your chest. This is what it looks like on a graph:
Then there are thumps. You can actually feel this if you are touching my chest.
Finally, this was a really bad one. I know it's bad when the bottom line is all fuzzy....
There you go. Hope this is of use to someone.
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