Guest guest Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 In a word, yes, afib feels like what you describe and different people feel it different ways. Some people don¹t feel it. The corn-popping sensation you feel may be what is commonly called palpitations, a symptom of the chaotic rhythm characterizing afib. The tests you mention are all used to diagnose afib. I usually get a sick feeling in my stomach as well as a tightness in my chest that borders on painful. Afib causes the heart to pump less efficiently, which can cause other physical symptoms such as fatigue. I hope this helps. Glad you found this board, which has been a great help to me and many others. -- Kathleen Stept (Flecainide 100mg bid, Diltiazem 120mg, Coumadin 5mg, baby aspirin), , Mississippi On 10/17/04 11:34 PM, " worriesbringmedown " wrote: > > I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THE HELL I HAVE, BEEN DOING READING ON A-FIB....I CONCUR > I HAVE IT. NOW IS A-FIB SOMETHING THAT COMES AND GOES, OR SOMETHING THAT > WOULD BE PICKED UP ON AN EKG,ECHO,STRESS(EKG BP)? WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE I > KEEP READING THE WORDS IRREGULAR-CHAOTIC- FIBRILLATING? WHAT DOES IT MEAN > HOW CAN I TELL I HAVE IT(IM SCHEDULED TO GET A LOOP MONITOR(ONE YOU WHERE, > WHICH RECORDS FOR 1 MINUTE BEFORE AND AFTER TIME U PRESS RECORD.) I BEEN > HAVING TROUBLE CATCHING IT. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 Dear Worriesbringmedown, To me afib feels like fish flopping around inside my chest. My episodes usually last anywhere from one to twelve hours. The feeling stays in the same place and does not move around. It sounds like you are getting lots of tests and that's good. What does your doctor say? Take it easy, Sandy IT MOVES AROUND, > > SOMETIMES IT FEELS LIKE IT DOES INTO MY HEART MUSCLE, OR CHEST > MUSCLE..AGAIN IM WAITING ON THYROID,STDS,LYME, AND EVERY OTHER BLOOD > MINERAL TEST KNOWN TO MAN...SO CAN SOMEONE RUN ME THROUGH HOW AN AFIB > EPISODE FEELS? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 >> Like my muscles (or heart) spaz out and it feels like I can feel my heart, spaz out or like dance around violently, like its popping like corn all around Longest its lasted was about 5 seconds...but I'm getting worried. Does Afib feel like this? << Dear Worries, Everyone's afib feels a bit different. Probably two main reasons for the differences -- first, everyone has their own way of perceiving their body and describing it. The second, is that no two folks' hearts go into afib the exact same way - there are different rates, different rhythms, etc. The " firing " mechinisms that are " spazzing " out can be coming from different focal points, etc. Saying all of that - my own afib generally feels very jumbled, as if there are tiny squirrels running around inside of my chest. It's very noticable, and my rate tends to be high. Instead of a nice ka-thump, ka-thump, ka-thump of being in sinus rhythm.... in afib I get a ka-da- ka---da-THUMP-ka-ka-ka----THUMP-ka-THUMP-ka-------ka-ka-THUMP (or something similarily obnoxious.) As other folks will remind you, no one generally " dies " from an afib episode. Keeping the complications at bay is the biggest concern -- and the biggest one to worry about is stroke caused by the ineffective pumping action of the atria during afib. Depending on your age and presense of other risk factors, your risk level could be extremely extremely low. But, if there is a risk, your doctor can prescribe coumadin or aspirin to regulate your blood to reduce that risk significantly. On a completely different topic -- when you write emails to this other other lists, please do not use ALL CAPS. It's difficult to read and in cyberland, it often " sounds " as if someone is " yelling " . It's just an etiquette thing and would probably be greatly appreciated! Back to the topic on hand - if your episodes last only 5 seconds, you may be better off being hooked up 24 - 48 hours to a portable monitor (instead of the one that you have to turn on/off when you feel it)... have they done that yet? Seems that might better catch what's going on. Perhaps you don't have afib, and instead have some other chest-wall muscle twitching. So, good luck in figuring out what's going on. That will still be your first step. Joscelyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 a couple of points of clarification .... >As other folks will remind you, no one generally " dies " from an afib > episode. Keeping the complications at bay is the biggest concern -- > and the biggest one to worry about is stroke caused by the > ineffective pumping action of the atria during afib. Actually, the risk is not bad pumping action directly causing death. The risk is the disorganized pumping keeps the blood pooled in the heart chambers and all " frothy " without normal circulation throughout the body. The pooling of blood in the chambers can result in clots forming, and if those clots spin out of the heart to the lungs or brain, death may occur from pulmonary embolism or stroke. > But, if there is a risk, your doctor can > prescribe coumadin or aspirin to regulate your blood to reduce that > risk significantly. The reason for aspirin or coumadin is to diminish the blood's ability to clot. So there is less liklihood of clots forming and causing the events suggested above. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2004 Report Share Posted October 18, 2004 To the person who is having a tough time. sorry I DID NOT CATCH YOUR NAME.. I am saddened by your mail, yes it is tough getting AF, but it is not going to kill you. It may make you feel pretty awful but you can get over that. The first thing to do is to read all the mails here on this board. Stop drinking coffee, chocolate and wines and take a stock of your self. The next thing is to find a really good Dr, not any old DR BUT A GOOD ONE. IN FACT THE BEST YOU CAN AFFORD. Speak to them and tell them how you feel and see what treatment plan you going to be put on. I bet you, I will be speaking with you this time next year, you are not going to die it just takes time to get back to a normal Life. Take care we are with you!!! C Uk > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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