I've only got 1 heart and I'm worried.

Sarnia

I was diagnosed with PAF almost 36 years ago and in that time I have had 4-5 episodes lasting 1-6 hours in an annual cycle.
I went to bed late on Saturday night and as soon as I laid down in bed, and episode started. 2 hours later, it stopped and I fell asleep. A while later, I needed the loo and once again, on laying down the PAF returned for 30 minutes. I managed to get back to sleep but woke around 8am in PAF.
The problem is, it hasn't reverted back to normal sinus rhythm as it usually does. I have taken a few readings of my heart rate using my BP monitor and it ranges from 137-145bpm with a dip to 72bpm.
I have had this for over 24 hours now and I am getting very concerned. I have Googled it, as you do, and atrial flutter has come up. PAF is irregular and thumping when I have it but this is well described as a flutter and I would hardly know that something isn't right.
Can anyone tell me if they have experienced both AF/PAF and atrial flutter? Any advice would be very welcome.

Sarnia, glad to hear you have gone to get help.
I have AFl. I would get yourself checked for Sleep Apnoea as that is often a cause.
You will probably be on an anti-coagulant, Apixaban or similar. Be aware that taking that, restricts the pain killers you can take. so do check - even any otc ones as they can interact with anti-coagulants.
Also, I would also read up about your vagus nerve and how to calm it down with simple physical movements, ear massage etc. Lots on YT about it.
A GP friend told me about this and it's excellent if you feel it (or AFib) might be coming on again.
The Vagus nerve runs the length of your body and close to the heart. That's why it can have an effect on your heart.

🇬🇬💐 Sarnia sorry to see you haven’t been well, and glad you are being fixed up now.

mabon1

Why are you asking unprofessional persons on
Gransnet, the wise thing to do is see your GP?

I asked on here because many cardiologists have told me not to go to A&E unless the episodes are accompanied by chest pain and breathlessness. As I had neither and felt ok, I hoped the episode, although long, would right itself.
When it continued I tried to contact the cardiologist's secretary with no success and reading the comments on here spurred me on to ring 111. I was fortunate enough to get an A&E nurse who reinforced what the GN's had advised and go to A&E.

It depends where you live. A friend of my father's had it. He called his GP who came to see him about half an hour later. He was taken to hospital, his heart was shocked to correct the rhythm and he was OK for the rest of his life. You can have a pacemaker installed in the chest which automatically shocks the heart when it detects an abnormal rhythm.

Sarnia, I was diagnosed with PAF aged 39, I’m now 72.
Please remember, however bad, frightened, ill you feel, A F will NOT kill you!
They tried every drug available. Be patient, they can take weeks to kick in.
2 years later I had pacemaker fitted.
Gives you confidence that it’s under control.
Now I take Bisoprolol, (beta blocker)Atorvastatin, Edoxoban (blood thinner) Losartan ( blood pressure) and the newest one is Dapagliflozin, prescribed by private cardiologist ( same guy I see NHS!)
I’m on my 4th pacemaker now. They are space age awesome!!!
My cardiologist said that panic attacks are exactly the same symptoms as AF and so, and I know I did/do, you double your panic, worry, fear.
Try to believe what they tell you! I didn’t and spent my life in anticipatory terror, so I allowed it to throw a dark cloud over every day…
That was my most stupid, overwhelming mistake. If I could have my time back, I’d trust the medics.
They are right
IT WONT KILL YOU!
Stroke is a ‘sideways’ threat, so control that and you’ll be tickety boo!!

OP I don't know if you are on medication for AF already ie beta blockers and anticoagulants but either way you need to get to A&E either via 111 or get a lift . Your GP won't be able to do anything and will just send you to the hospital.
I first had AF 6 years ago , ignored it and ended up with a massive pulmonary embolism to my cost .
You you need to be seen ASAP by the correct specialists. Please do not use suggestions on social media. AF won't kill you but side effects can . You need the correct treatment. Yes its scary but fairly common and can be dealt with IF you get the right help .

OP glad it's sorted now.

Whenever in doubt ring 111

So glad to hear you are now having good treatment. I have AF - it is caffeine that is the trigger for me. I am now on blood thinners and flecainide- 2 tablets a day. This has made me stable for several years. If I do get an episode which is rare now, I can just take more Flecainide and in 5-10 minutes, it is fine. The cardiologist calls it- the pill in a pocket. I keep some on me all the time. All the very best to you. X

Please can I urge anyone who has a resting heart rate that is over a 100 bpm for over an hour to get medical attention unless otherwise instructed by their own doctor. An abnormally high HR puts strain on the heart and can do damage, unless you have had a recent echocardiumgram or similar, you have no idea what structural damage you might have to your heart nor do you know what type of arrythmia you might have.
During my most recent recent hospital visit I had flutter, fib and SVT and a HR of 150bpm. Previously I'd had well controlled flutter for several years. I didn't feel breathless, I didn't have chest pain I was just aware that my HR was much too fast and felt chaotic, it was 02.00 a.m. and OH was fast asleep. I left it for 30 mins hoping it would settle, it took 20 mins to get to A&E which was very busy and I was in resus hooked up to various machines within 20 minutes ( including having defibrillator pads) .
Most of us live ok with fib, flutter, SVT etc the medications often work well, we can have ablations and cardioversions which can stop the problem permanently or at least for long periods of time but these arrythmias are slippery creatures and potentially dangerous. Please don't hesitate to seek medical attention if you're having a prolonged episode which doesn't settle. I've woken OH and he's driven me to A&E only to find by the time he's parked my episode has reset so we went home. However, the recent episode kept me hooked up to machines for 24 hours whilst they gave me different doses of various drugs whilst my heart raced in a chaotic rhythm. I spent another 24 hours on a cardiac ward. I wasn't allowed to get out of bed even to pee. It was a frightening and serious episode but thank goodness I went to hospital. The care I got was brilliant and the message from all the medical staff was clear, if you are having an episode that doesn't settle we want to see you.