Chris, I take Lexapro, which is the mirror molecule of Celexa and has been shown to be more easily tolerated. I had stomach side effects on Celexa but the Lexapro is clean. It has no effect whatsoever on my Afib. I would check into the Lexapro vs. Celexa. I also gained weight on the Celexa but not much and it isn't really a problem for me anyway. I am amazed that Valium didn't helpby Kerry - AFIBBERS FORUM
My last few posts make me wonder if I'm a candidate! Anxiety over afib is frequently much worse than afib itself.by john - AFIBBERS FORUM
I think I need the collective wisdom, experience and reassurances from the nice people here. Since my first known episode almost 3 years ago, afib has been mostly under control. At first, I had a lot of episodes, then I kind of figured out, with your help, how to deal with it. For more than 2 years, it was an occassional demon. Now, over the last few weeks, it is really causing me a lot of anby john - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hans, I have saved all the AFIB Reports at home, so I can probably print it. My afib is clearly vagal. Like Robin, it is almost always related to gastro distress. And, like some of the posters, I have noticed that I frequently, but not always, get flutters within an hour or so taking my nightly dose of propafenone. It is such an inconsistent thing. I went 9 months without an episode, then aby john - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ron: I too have gone into afib before exercise. Sometime I think the thought that exercise might make afib cause enough anxiety in we adrenal affibers-that it does happen.I use a meditation exercise before warming up for about 4 minutes and it has helped... I am using solatol and am careful not go though the solatol barrier to heart rates over 100. Obviously I don run very fast anymore. I also mby Garry - AFIBBERS FORUM
Dear John, I commiserate with you. I, too, have become very anxious about lying down at night due to fear of afib occuring shortly after going to bed. A great way to look forward to refreshing sleep!! The worry, the anxiety itself , of course, can feed into the afib, reducing relaxed breathing, etc. and contributing to a setting just ripe for afib. Many, many posters on the BB have describby Carol - AFIBBERS FORUM
John - I totally agree with your comment about paying too much attention is also bad. In the early stages or years of afib, though, it is extremely difficult for most of us to ignore what's happening. It took me about 4 years of afib progressing from occasionally to quite regularly, to finally learn to live with it and not give in to the panic or at least, anxiety that it always caused meby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
I take Buspar daily, 3 x 5 mg., low dose but effective in lowering anxiety. My age is 63 and normal resting heart rate is about 40. I am a regular gym goer and spent many years jogging on a regular basis. Workout now is confined to the gym using weights, machines and some cardio. Then again, talk to one cardiologist and he chooses Coumadin whereas another, such as mine, says, 'not yet.&by Benj - AFIBBERS FORUM
Benj: You didn't mention what your afib rate is before you take the Cardizem. I wouldn't bother to take it if the rate is < 100 to start with, lest you slow yourself down too much (< 50). Also, while fast rates and long duration are a factor in putting stress on your heart muscle and possibly causing chamber enlargement, it wouldn't have anything to do with clot formaby Pam - AFIBBERS FORUM
Curious as to anyone's feedback. During an A-fib bout (once a month on average and probably vagal) I take diltiazem to slow rate to about 50-60 or lower and wait for conversion to occur which can be from 12-80 hours. Also, one aspirin tab a day and buspar (5 mg 3 x d.)for keeping the anxiety level low. My question- with a controlled rate that low is a person still as vulnerable for a strokby Benj - AFIBBERS FORUM
Elaine, fran has had wonderful success with diet but keep in mind that she is in the deep minority. By all means, take her advise (if you can follow what is an incredibly rigid diet). But it probably will not do much good, so don't get your hopes up. I don't mean to throw cold water on your situation but the tone of your e-mail suggests that you expect some miraculous change in youby Susan - AFIBBERS FORUM
Michelle, When you say you are new to afib, does that mean you have recieved an afib diagnosis from your doctor? How often? Have you had an afib episode caught on ECG? If so what was your resting heart rate while in afib? I think that would be the thing that really determines how you would feel. Some who have a high resting afib heart rate ( 120 and up) can be quite weakened and feel fainby Adrian - AFIBBERS FORUM
Okay here it is Sorry its so long. Jackie BACKGROUND In one of my many posts reporting my success with magnesium glycinate (MgG) in eliminating breakthrough arrhythmia while on Flecanide, I mentioned my interest and use of magnesium taurate (MgT). Some discussion ensued as to our true need of supplementing with taurine and another comment was quoted from the magnesium pages of Coldby Jackie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Mike: Yes you really have lone afib. When seen on a rhythm strip, it's unmistakable. We are all affected differently by our afib episodes. Some of us are more symptomatic than others. A lot of that has to do with the rate. After you were put on Atenalol, you noticed your episodes weren't as severe, and that's because the rate was at least somewhat controlled. This is a veby Pam - AFIBBERS FORUM
This could be just nerves/stress/worry etc.... I left home yesterday evening for a work trip out of town. I was a bit nervous about leaving (not panic or anything) I just don't particularly like to be gone from home without the family (I know- I'm a 77" inch, 290lb family man---I'll admit it!!!). I starte having some palps on the way and that made me a bit nervous and I beganby marshal - AFIBBERS FORUM
Eric, I'm sorry to hear of your anxiety and how it's affecting your life. I hope you can get it sorted out. Personally I feel it pertains more to an imbalance of neurotransmission, coupled with lack of vitamins and minerals that are important for the neurotransmitter's pathways. Not to say that you have Alzheimers, Parkinsons or Lou Gehrigs, but these disease have become very pby Richard - AFIBBERS FORUM
Eric, I beleive that first experience of Afib can awaken anxiety related to death or to some other important issue (however the most important issue is often life and death) , that this experience of frightness is not fully conscious all the time . To some of us it may even be a 100 % unconscious process because it is to much frightening . When this is the case , anxiety and axiousness aby pierre - AFIBBERS FORUM
Eric, I was just where you are two and a half years ago. I went afib during a tennis match as a healthy, active 37 year old. Went to the ER, rates running into the low 200 bps and would not convert via meds. I was electrically cardioverted 36 hours later - that was my first and last episode - thank god. I suffered with panic & anxiety for months afterward. Saw a shrink and was put on Paby Toby - AFIBBERS FORUM
Eric, I too have major panic attacks and the doctor put me on Buspar. You may want to check into it, it was developed specifically for panic attacks. It seems to be working for me. Debbiby Debbi - AFIBBERS FORUM
Eric - I don't know whether this will help - just a suggestion. Right after my first afib attack I found out that I was hypercalcimic - too much calcium in my blood. Excessive calcium can affect the brain, heart (arrhythmia), stomach (gastric problems). Since the parathyroid glands affect the calcium content of the blood it was apparent that there was something wrong with one or all four ofby Stevie - AFIBBERS FORUM
Iwent through a lot of the same things in my 30's now in my sixties. Some of the triggers for me were, alcohol, eating many many sweets, and the wrong foods. i also had my first arrythmias during that time too, and was in the hospital for a month trying to figure it all ot. The physicatrist was next, but i went to a Nutrionist instead. My arrythmia was not AFib at that time, but Ventriculaby Bob G - AFIBBERS FORUM
Chris, I understand your doctor's point about valium working better for anxiety, but he probably has no idea about the value of Ativan in inhibiting vagal tone. He probably doesn't even know or deal with the connection between vagal tone and Afib. I also seriously question the distinction between Valium and Ativan with regards to strength. I have taken valium before and it is a pretby Kerry - AFIBBERS FORUM
I posted here back in November, but I'lll briefly reiterate. After a stressful day back in early november I went into my first episode of Afib. After 10 hours in the hospital I converted back on my own and was sent home with a prescription of Atenolol and asprin. I was a healthy, active 31 year old with no medical history or conditions. A week after leaving the hospital I began having panicby Eric - AFIBBERS FORUM
Some months ago I had a discussion with Richard who told me that I should tell my story and post it on the forum. His remark stayed in my mind ever since. So here's my story. It¹s long, but I can¹t write it any other way. I hope it can be of some help for the person who has the patience to read it. Back in 1992 (I was 35 years old); I suddenly felt unconscious while trekking in Nepal. It took mby Pierre - AFIBBERS FORUM
I agree...you know when its time...whether you are laying in the ER...saying ...this is it and I am going for it or getting your co workers to take you to the hospital for the umpteen time or just as the Afib accelerates into what you know is coming..you just cannot take it anymore....I agree 100%. Some people have a high tolerance and others like me after the increase etc the last few years...juby bee - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Kate: I can truly empathize with you on your anxiety with AFib. I am a 56 year old very active (was very active) who was diagnosed with A-fib in July, 2003. (I had 5 cardioversions before I could even come to accept it. Had I not found this website I don't know what I would have done as I received very little information from my doctor. I have had many frustrations with my doctors whichby Sherry K. - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kate, It's easy to say but Afib really isn't all that bad and you should view it as a nuisance. Assuming that your heart rate while in Afib is not too fast, then the phsycial symptoms during afib should not be that bad. Being that you have lone Afib and assuming your episodes don't last too long (less than 48 hours) then you are not dealing with a serious condition. I would at lby Kerry - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Fran This is what I have found I do seem to have the symptoms ie at 3 am when my blood sugar would be low it does start to make sence Hypoglycemia means low blood sugar. This brochure is intended to increase knowledge about reactive hypoglycemia and to give suggestions on its control. What is reactive hypoglycemia? Reactive hypoglycemia can occur when blood glucose falls, resources of glucby robin - AFIBBERS FORUM
Stan...the flip and flops are common. Everyone has different results..some are totally free of any extra beats....flutters et c. I choose to go back on my beta blocker as I still have some extra beats that go to some runs of PVC but as long as I take the toprol I am symptom free except for occasional extra beats ...which all people have at one time or another and some flip flops that quickly leavby bee - AFIBBERS FORUM
If the side effects from daily use are too much, you might try using the drug on demand. I take flec. at the onset of an episode and twelve hours later and I convert always within the 12-14 hour period. It has kept me out of the Cardioversion lab since starting it nine months ago. I learned about this approach on this board. Since the flec seems to be keeping you in rhythm, you need to considerby Kerry - AFIBBERS FORUM