Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 Hello to Everyone, It's been awhile, but now I am experiencing an annoying (not to mention frightening bout with a-fib. It began on Tue., waking me from a sound (and then driving me into a troubled) sleep, sorta " backed off " on Wed., and is now ping-ponging around my chest even as I write this. I know and ER visit will be an even more fatiguing waste of time, but when my a-fib strikes it's almost as if somebody is punching me in the area that unites the rib cage, and hard. I am falling into high anxiety mode, though I can be thankful that it didn't strike during my ballet class earlier today. Do any of you suffer from the above-mentioned chest bombs? And if so, how on Earth do you deal with it,particularly if you have to weigh the consequences of spending several harrowing hours in hospital, only to be told to ride it out until NSR is re-established ? I mean, the hospital bills are astronomical enough; it would pain me to insist on being checked out, get an EKG reading that turns out negative, then get hustled out the door to make space available for a patient with a REAL problem! I am also concerned that diet (duh!) may play a role, as I had just shoveled in a chicken and steamed rice/vegetable meal with a healthy dollop of a red pepper condiment--in fact, the A-Fib started directly afterward. On Tue. I experienced lack of sleep and a hastily gulped down Diet Pepsi. Do these sound like " trigger items " ? Has anyone else had a similar event after consuming this stuff? Just writing this has provided me with some semblance of normality, as anxiety probably tends to make the situation worse. Last question of the day: How do you know when NOT to worry, as opposed to standing on the brink of a near death experience? I would hate to have that happen while in a classroom with comely leotard- clad nymphettes! Thank you for any assistance; thank you for being here period. ric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 > Hi, Ric, Just reading your message I am thinking about an ice cold Pepsi. I would almost kill for a Pepsi :-) but I wouldn't drink it, because I'd probably start throwing ectopics or worse. Heavy meals are also a trigger for me. Like said, your doc knows best what you should do. I asked mine to give me a plan depending on what happened, particularly so I wouldn't completely freak out if things started happening at night or over the weekend. Both my old and new docs (I moved) gave me the same plan, but yours may differ since your case may be different. I am to go into the office for an ekg and a five minute chat where the doc tells me what to do. (I wait a few hours first to be sure the afib is persisting.) If it starts late in the day or evening, I can wait until morning to call the office. If it happens on the weekend, I call whoever is on call, but again, I don't have to root some poor doc out of bed. If your heart is structurally okay, and you are taking a blood thinner if it is appropriate, afib isn't going to kill you. That's what they keep telling me, but, of course, I also have this giant feeling of dread anyway, sigh. Maybe your doc can adjust your meds to improve things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 2, 2004 Report Share Posted September 2, 2004 > Hi, Ric, Just reading your message I am thinking about an ice cold Pepsi. I would almost kill for a Pepsi :-) but I wouldn't drink it, because I'd probably start throwing ectopics or worse. Heavy meals are also a trigger for me. Like said, your doc knows best what you should do. I asked mine to give me a plan depending on what happened, particularly so I wouldn't completely freak out if things started happening at night or over the weekend. Both my old and new docs (I moved) gave me the same plan, but yours may differ since your case may be different. I am to go into the office for an ekg and a five minute chat where the doc tells me what to do. (I wait a few hours first to be sure the afib is persisting.) If it starts late in the day or evening, I can wait until morning to call the office. If it happens on the weekend, I call whoever is on call, but again, I don't have to root some poor doc out of bed. If your heart is structurally okay, and you are taking a blood thinner if it is appropriate, afib isn't going to kill you. That's what they keep telling me, but, of course, I also have this giant feeling of dread anyway, sigh. Maybe your doc can adjust your meds to improve things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 3, 2004 Report Share Posted September 3, 2004 ric I feel your pain I have only had three Afib episodes and went to the ER . I THINK I have had some short ones at night but I have tried to change my diet staying away from as much caffine as possible and spicy foods I also have stopped my glass of wine because I swear it comes on from alcohol. My second attack was a real scare felt like my heart was coming out of my chest even went so far as to call an ambulance because my wife was just as scared as I was. Hope you feel better All the best Pete > Hello to Everyone, > It's been awhile, but now I am experiencing an annoying (not to > mention frightening bout with a-fib. It began on Tue., waking me from > a sound (and then driving me into a troubled) sleep, sorta " backed > off " on Wed., and is now ping-ponging around my chest even as I write > this. I know and ER visit will be an even more fatiguing waste of > time, but when my a-fib strikes it's almost as if somebody is > punching me in the area that unites the rib cage, and hard. I am > falling into high anxiety mode, though I can be thankful that it > didn't strike during my ballet class earlier today. Do any of you > suffer from the above-mentioned chest bombs? And if so, how on Earth > do you deal with it,particularly if you have to weigh the > consequences of spending several harrowing hours in hospital, only to > be told to ride it out until NSR is re-established ? I mean, the > hospital bills are astronomical enough; it would pain me to insist on > being checked out, get an EKG reading that turns out negative, then > get hustled out the door to make space available for a patient with a > REAL problem! > I am also concerned that diet (duh!) may play a role, as I had > just shoveled in a chicken and steamed rice/vegetable meal with a > healthy dollop of a red pepper condiment--in fact, the A-Fib started > directly afterward. On Tue. I experienced lack of sleep and a hastily > gulped down Diet Pepsi. Do these sound like " trigger items " ? Has > anyone else had a similar event after consuming this stuff? > Just writing this has provided me with some semblance of > normality, as anxiety probably tends to make the situation worse. > Last question of the day: How do you know when NOT to worry, as > opposed to standing on the brink of a near death experience? I would > hate to have that happen while in a classroom with comely leotard- > clad nymphettes! > Thank you for any assistance; thank you for being here period. > ric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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