Re: Do you know when you're in fib?

December 26, 2000

I was a chronic afibber until an ablation/pacer last week. It started in 1991

and for several years was in and out. The only way I could ever actually know

was by taking my pulse and I did not have the symptoms that so many complain of.

True I had S/B which may have been related to the Afib, but could also have been

pulmonary at least in part.

Barry --Corte Madera, CA

Do you know when you're in fib?

Does everyone always know when they are in a fib? I have just started

doing this, and have had no problem knowing when it hits. But my doc

has said that it's quite common not to know. So now I'm curious.

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December 26, 2000

> Does everyone always know when they are in a fib? I have just

started

> doing this, and have had no problem knowing when it hits. But my

doc

> has said that it's quite common not to know. So now I'm curious.

Annie

I am one of those who always know when I am in AF. Even with the

reduced ventricular rate when in AF that my medication regime

maintains (+ or - 75), my symptoms include flutterings in my chest,

mild chest tightness, slight pain between my shoulder blades and

reduced energy.

Unfortunately, after about 13 years of PAF episodes that very slowly

increased in frequency and length, I am having an episode through

these holidays that is not stopping and that may be the beginning of

chronic AF for me. I thought I had adjusted to being in and out of

AF with pretty good equanimity (about 2 1/2 days in NSR followed by

about 2 1/2 days out), but I guess I didn't realize how much the

faithfully recurring periods of NSR gave me the hope I needed to get

through. It surprises me how sad I am that I may not be in NSR

again. For the first time I am thinking seriously about the Maze and

am grateful that Jack Drum works so hard to keep the information we

need for this option so easily available.

From reading your messages I know I am not the only one who has

benefitted from being forced by AF to incorporate a sense of

vulnerability into my sense of strength. I just don't like this new

reality that I may be trapped in a body that feels vulnerable all the

time. Yet I know this isn't the end of the story. If this is my

time to be chronically in AF, I will learn whatever I have to learn

from this, too. Maybe I will adjust to it, or maybe I will decide to

have the Maze, or maybe something else will happen that I'm not yet

able to imagine. I know I will share my musings with this group from

time to time, and be glad to read yours as well.

Lee

December 27, 2000

> Does everyone always know when they are in a fib? I have just

started

> doing this, and have had no problem knowing when it hits. But my

doc

> has said that it's quite common not to know. So now I'm curious.

Annie - I had a 24 hour holter monitor recently which showed " in and

out of afib all day " . I was unaware of this and I reckon I actually

had ectopic/missed beats (due probably to a potassium deficiency)

which presumably can show up as afib. I've had some bad afib attacks

in the past and I knew all about them - believe me.

Regards

, London UK

December 27, 2000

AFib woke me up from a deep sleep early this morning. I definitely know I

am " in " -- heart flopping around like a fish out of water. According to the

new plan outlined during my recent visit to a new (for me) cardiologist (the

one who diagnosed me with vagally mediated PAF), I will admit myself to the

hospital to receive Flecainide. The hope is that I will convert within an

hour or two, and can subsequently take it on my own whenever I have an

episode. I'm on my way...

Sandy

Do you know when you're in fib?

>

>Does everyone always know when they are in a fib? I have just started

>doing this, and have had no problem knowing when it hits. But my doc

>has said that it's quite common not to know. So now I'm curious.

>

>Web Page /group/AFIBsupport

>Afibbers Database- http://www.dialsolutions.com/af

>To Unsubscribe send an email to: AFIBsupport-unsubscribeegroups

>Daily digest mode: Send a blank message to AFIBsupport-digestegroups

>Individual emails: Send a blank message to AFIBsupport-normalegroups

>Read on web only: Send a blank message to AFIBsupport-nomailegroups

December 27, 2000

> I reckon I actually

> had ectopic/missed beats (due probably to a potassium deficiency)

> which presumably can show up as afib.

, can you say more about the potassium deficiency/missed beats,

and in particular how it was remedied? For about a day and a half, I

am having what I experience as pauses, but my doc yesterday said were

called extra beats. I have been supplimenting with calcium for a

long time, and started magnesium supplimentation shortly before the

extra beats started. I have not supplimented with potassium because

my endocrinologist warned me that potassium suppliments can " burn a

hole right thru the stomach. "

Thanks very much, Trudy

December 27, 2000

> Does everyone always know when they are in a fib? ..... I always

know immediately..get a few thumps in the chest as a first sign and

then a few more. My irregular pulse will then confirm it and I know

I'll be there for the next 16-36 hours.I don't start getting the

other symptoms for a few hours after going into it..,ie. light head,

shortness of breath etc.....the depression usually hits when I have

to go to sleep in it.

December 27, 2000

Just wanted to let you all know that my heart returned to NSR today.

This nearly 7 day episode of AF was very much longer than any I have

experienced, which had never previously reached even 3 days in

length. I'm exhausted, but very happy to have my old friend NSR

back. May she keep returning to all of us.

Lee

> > Does everyone always know when they are in a fib? I have just

> started

> > doing this, and have had no problem knowing when it hits. But my

> doc

> > has said that it's quite common not to know. So now I'm curious.

>

> Annie

>

> I am one of those who always know when I am in AF. Even with the

> reduced ventricular rate when in AF that my medication regime

> maintains (+ or - 75), my symptoms include flutterings in my chest,

> mild chest tightness, slight pain between my shoulder blades and

> reduced energy.

>

> Unfortunately, after about 13 years of PAF episodes that very

slowly

> increased in frequency and length, I am having an episode through

> these holidays that is not stopping and that may be the beginning

of

> chronic AF for me. I thought I had adjusted to being in and out of

> AF with pretty good equanimity (about 2 1/2 days in NSR followed

by

> about 2 1/2 days out), but I guess I didn't realize how much the

> faithfully recurring periods of NSR gave me the hope I needed to

get

> through. It surprises me how sad I am that I may not be in NSR

> again. For the first time I am thinking seriously about the Maze

and

> am grateful that Jack Drum works so hard to keep the information we

> need for this option so easily available.

>

> From reading your messages I know I am not the only one who has

> benefitted from being forced by AF to incorporate a sense of

> vulnerability into my sense of strength. I just don't like this

new

> reality that I may be trapped in a body that feels vulnerable all

the

> time. Yet I know this isn't the end of the story. If this is my

> time to be chronically in AF, I will learn whatever I have to learn

> from this, too. Maybe I will adjust to it, or maybe I will decide

to

> have the Maze, or maybe something else will happen that I'm not yet

> able to imagine. I know I will share my musings with this group

from

> time to time, and be glad to read yours as well.

>