Atrial Fibrillation

I had never heard of this until my last diabetic clinic when the nurse told me my heart beat was not quite normal. Now on rat poison(warfarin). What suprised me was that when friends found out so many also had it. Is it something one does not discuss?

Re: Atrial Fibrillation

I'm not sure whether atrial fibrulation is the same as heart arrthymia, which I have - every so often heart misses a beat and when it retarts I get a slight kick.

Re: Atrial Fibrillation

My mum has it and got a pacemaker fitted last year. She's now fit and well, after feeling a wee bit strange having something "alien" in her chest! Her heart had actually stopped, so the pacemaker was a god send to her and us.

Re: Atrial Fibrillation

a heart arrhythmia... aka.. Dysrhythmia.. Is a blanket term which encompasses any abnormality in you heart beat.. Therefore atrial fibrillation.. as well and missed or extra beats all fall under that umbrella.

Joe... your "missed beat" is very likely an extra beat.. known as a premature ventricular contraction.. or PVC.. several of these in a row can feel like a missed beat as you can experience a lightheadedness.. during this event. Most times these are idiopathic.. (no known reason) and not treated unless they become very bothersome.

Another possibility would be a Sinus bradycardia with pauses.. these however are taken much more seriously than PVCs and would likely be treated with a pacemaker.

Re: Atrial Fibrillation

I was diagnosed with this condition a couple of years ago. At the moment I just take an aspirin each day but I was warned that I may eventually have to go onto warfarin.

Re: Atrial Fibrillation

Thank you Audrey.

Val darlin' - I've been on Warfarin for many years and will be on them for the rest of my life following a number of Pulmonary emboli.

Re: Atrial Fibrillation

I think probably the thought of taking warfarin is worse than actually taking it. You seem to be doing well on it anyway Uncle Joe.

Re: Atrial Fibrillation

Yes darlin' - I'm fine. There a few restrictions - certain foods are a no,no - all the brassicas, so spinach, broccoli, cauliflower and sprouts are out and alcohol needs to be drunk only sparingly, but other than that everything or anything goes.

Re: Atrial Fibrillation

Most people do ok on warfarin.. it's a matter of having the blood test regularly to make sure you are not taking too much or too little and having the dose adjusted.. so that's a pain in the butt... One must be careful of cuts as they can take forever to stop bleeding, and there are some diet restrictions.. like taking it easy on dark green veggies... But people can be on warfarin for years and years and years.

Re: Atrial Fibrillation

I'm hoping the aspirin will see me OK for a good while yet. I can live without the dark greens but can't say I'm keen on the blood tests, once a year is enough for me !!