New to AFIB

[lds001]

I have had Palpitations, PVC/PAC/PSVT etc.  They come and go...months of feeling well and then a month of what feels like almost constant flips and flops.  I am 63, healthy and suffer with anxiety.
So last week I saw the Electrophy. Doc.  He said I had AFib.....sounds like what they called PSVT he is now calling AFIB...I think it only last for seconds.....20 seconds or so....maybe 4 or five times a day.

My question is.....can I tell by feeling my pulse if I am having AFIB?  I am asking because I am feeling so poorly today...I think its anxiety....headache, flushed cheeks....wobbley legs...when I feelmy pulse, my heat rate feels normal   --- 60 pbm to about 90 bpm.....with an occasion PVC/PAC every minute of so.

So is it AFIB or Anxiety?  I want to call my Cardio and tell them I want to wear a monitor to see what is going on....the AFib is new to me....and my Anxiety is at a very high level.  I did take 1.0 of Ativan.

My Electro Doc says Ablation is not an option....sounds like its coming from all over the heart and  not often enough...I think.  So he wants me to start Flecanide.  I wont do that....I will have to find another way to deal with this...no to Flecanide...firm.  I do take Inderal...but can only tolerate at low doses....I have tried a calcium blocker and other betas that I cannot tolerate.
Thank you for you time.

[DeltaDawn23]

I have had paroxaml Afib since 2003, I am now 65, so was a bit younger than you are now.  I had had pvc's and pac's since I was in my 20's, no big deal -- they came and went.  The first Afib attack was brought on by anxiety because my husband was having a very serious surgery. I was admitted to the hospital overnite 2 days before his surgery and was converted via medication. I went 7 years before having 2 more attacks, again anxiety being a factor.  Those 2 attacks converted at home with no medical intervention.  This year I have had 2 attacks, one at Christmas and one 3-1/2 months later in April.  Both had to be electroconverted.  Now I am on Atenolol, Coumadin, Norpace CR and Xanax.  I have not had an episode for 5 months and have more good days than bad.  Taking the Atenolol (beta blocker) in 1/4 tab doses is the only way I can tolerate it, otherwise my bp and/or hr goes too low.  I went on the Coumadin after the last 2 episodes.  I believe the Norpace is keeping me in NSR.  The doctor said if I go a year without an episode, he will take me off of it.  The Xanax helps with the anxiety, as does deep breathing and distraction, and sometimes increasing the Atenolol.  Identifying triggers helps.  I cannot eat a large meal, use caffeine, drink carbonated beverages, go without sleep -- all these may trigger an attack.    The anxiety fuels an episode, so the body starts pumping out adrenaline, which keeps the whole process going.    I have switched doctors when the first didn't seem to be helping.  My primary card doc is very good about working with me and helping me find a drug combination that works.  I hope some of this is useful to you.  It is possible to feel better.  Good luck to you.

[LindaTX]

I know it's annoying.  I suffered from a-fib for over 12 yrs before I gave in to an ablation. It was a good decision.  I think you are right to ask for a Holter monitor for a week or two at least...so your arrhythmia can be recorded.  Also, I bought a pulse-ox online and it will show your erratic pulse rate as well as your oxygen level. I could always tell when I was in a-fib.  I could feel it in my chest, also had fatigue and usually shortness of breath. I'm not sure why you Dr said ablation was not an option?  A-fib is progressive.  I've never heard of it just "going away."

[MichelleP_3811]

I think you may want to pose your question in the Expert section of the forum.  They would be better capable of giving you medical advice.  As a layperson from what I know Afib is not necessarily life threatening but there is about a 15-20% higher risk of having a stroke if you have the condition.  You should at least be on a blood thinner.  I would definitely pose the question to your cardiologist to give you an idea of what to watch for with an episode.  But the most important thing you can do when you start to notice the flip flops is to try and calm yourself as best you can.  Take deep breaths and try to relax and let the tension go.  If your palpitations are indeed stress induced this deep breathing exercise should help give you some relief.   There is a lot of literature online if you were really interested in researching the condtion.  I highly recommend doing that.  I always feel the better informed you are the less likely your mind will wander on you.  Good luck and hang in there.  

Michelle