Afib And Anxiety

[MissTerious]

Just wondering if any of you have a problem like mine. I have afib and anxiety which brings on my afib, so it's a chicken and egg situation. So along with bisprolol I have to take blood thinners to protect me from strokes, but they can also cause bleeds on the brain. Yet another chicken and egg situation. Had an afib attack this evening and feeling sorry for myself and too anxious to go to sleep. Fed up!

[Maydup]

Are you still awake Lottie?

I hope you've managed to sleep and feel a bit better in the morning. I sympathise as although I dont have the same issues as you, I do have anxiety which is really difficult to manage sometimes. I'm a late sleeper but do need to go in now as I have to be up quite early, but if you are still awake, try a warm drink and a little bit of music or the radio to help soothe you. Take care.

[emmie]

my atrial fibrillation comes on every day, not sure whether it's anxiety related but i totally sympathise with you. I do have depression for which i take medication which helps a lot.
Perhaps speak with a GP who understands what you are going through.

[MissTerious]

Thanks both of you. I needed to talk. I saw my doc last week about the anxiety and depression. In fact we talk quite often. But the afib panics me. I have a bad ibs flare at the moment which gives me irritable bladder so I've been up half the night! Afib has calmed down with breathing exercises, but it took a long time last night.

I really appreciate your replies.x

[emmie]

i have learned to live with AF, even though it happens every day, i take meds for my anxiety/depression, and they help a lot.
its good to get out in the open and talk to GP and other support workers.

[MissTerious]

Maydup, like you I'm a late sleeper but was upstairs on the bed last night doing afib exercises. Usually I can control the attacks quickly. Last night it took about 3hrs.

Digestive problems and IBS are often what triggers my attacks Emmie.

[emmie]

i take Apixaban for my AF. its a blood thinner. I too suffer from a form of IBS, which i take meds to control.

[Peter Pedant]

Yes - moi
this is standard treatment
and with known side effect

the riv is v impt. - if you are going in and out ( of A fib that is!) you are at much higher risk of stroke. ( I was told I had 3 h to find a chemist and get my first dose in !)

odd thing is, that the b-blocker needs an hour to kick in, even if you are taking it regular - dont ask me Y.

[Peter Pedant]

or us
30% over seventies have AF
they practised on a lorra lorra people before they started YOU on riv/apix and beta blockers
Half my siblings 2/4 have it

[Sqad]

You have AF and all underlying causes have been excluded so that emotion and stress comes into the picture.
That is your situation.

Yes, you do have to take blood thinners and yes if you have a stroke due to a bleed, then you are in a spot of bother, however strokes due to bleeds are a much less common cause of strokes than clots.
Swings and roundabouts.

Managed well and your condition seems to be managed according to modern thinking, then your prognosis should be as good as anyone's life span of your age.

[MissTerious]

Thanks Sqad. I think my anxiety is my main problem, so does the doc. Thank goodness I have a good doctor that I can actually see and who actually listens. And of course we have a brilliant hospital night porter on here.

A bit grumpy though sometimes x

[MissTerious]

Emmie, I've just been taken off Apixaban and put on Edoxaban. Doc tells me that they will make me less tired and I only have to take one a day. We get yearly blood checks to make sure we're on the right thinners.

[MissTerious]

For Gness

I've put this on here to keep it in the right section.

Does your friend find any strong link between gastric activity and afib.

When my ibs plays up and I get too full or windy and bloated, it triggers my AFIB. I have to be very picky about what I eat or drink.

Obviously open question to anybody with Afib!

Thanks

[gness]

Didn't know so I asked. No connection at all. There seems to be no trigger to her Afib. It can come on when she's fast asleep and the pain, which cardio said was angina, wakes her.

[MissTerious]

At least I don't get pain with it. Your poor friend. I get pain with everything else but no pain or breathing difficulties. Thanks for finding out for me, x

[MissTerious]

I must admit my anxiety level is sky high and making me quite ill. My doc says we should go ahead with our house sale because it might well be what I need. He is not keen for me to keep taking medication. He also thinks my AFIB is extreme anxiety or has been caused by extreme anxiety. We had a long face to face session last week. I'm finding life so difficult at the moment. I'm tempted to stay away from AB, but weighing the situation up, I'm probably better off staying on here because of so many really nice people on here. Fortunately I have a great husband and a wonderful best friend who is my soul mate. I've hidden this away in Body and soul because it's not as busy as chatterbank. But I'm quite frightened about it at present. It's not like me to open up like this!

[MissTerious]

I'm told I come across as a confident happy person in real life and that I'm funny and always smiling. That's great. Little do they know!

[Vagus]

I’m so sorry you’re feeling like this at the moment.
A little bit of advice which mamya gave to someone on here, and which I took on board..
Ask those questions you want to
Answer those questions you want to
Don’t join in with anything which may make you more anxious or upset, you Don’t need that in your life and people here can defend themselves.
Most of all, stay calm and carry on! :o)

[MissTerious]

Thanks Vagus. Mamya and you are right. I did get upset yesterday again. I don't like bullies or people that make insinuations which are obviously aimed at me or others. I also hate unfairness.I should stear clear. My anxiety problems go back to childhood for no known reason. I have always hidden it well under a cloak of confidence, like many others do. Xx

[gness]

Sorry if you've said this, MissT and I've missed it. Have you had an appointment with a good cardiologist? The lady I'm helping a bit has had two. One dreadful and one very good and helpful.
Apart from prescribing the scary new pills he changed the dose of some of the ones the GP had prescribed. Just a little but she thinks the change is helping her. Early days.
We have the same GP. He's great. Same day appointments, home visits, phone calls to check on you, but sometimes seeing an expert is a help.

[MissTerious]

Gness, They have seen no need for referring me to cardio because I don't meet the criteria of no pain or breathing difficulties. In fact one in London said they thought it was hyper anxiety, all my obs have been OK. All my bloods OK and I have had a heart scan. Paramedics have talked me down from anxiety and stopped it.If I ever do get pain or breathing difficulties I shall take myself off to A and E straight away. I think I am so over anxious now because of all the pain from Hypermobility, osteoarthritis and a very damaged spine and, on top ofthat the fact I can't tolerate strong painkillers. Steroid injections do nothing for me at all! In fact ìm a total mess!! Not so bad today now that my IBS is settling! But Im shattered and miserable! Can't take much more it! X