A-fib showing up?

[Marge]

I've been having some episodes of a sort of shortness of breath but it is not what I've always thought of as SOB. It doesn't seem to happen when I'm walking, going up stairs, or otherwise exerting myself. I feel like I'm not breathing properly when I'm just sitting there, or lying down. Then a wave of panic/anxiety comes over me -- which I can deal with during the day when I'm doing normal activities but at night I cannot. So I get up and do something and hope the anxiety or panic will subside (sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't). My sleep has been very adversely affected! When we were in Mexico recently the anxiety got so bad we cut the trip short by several days & flew home.
Today I went to see my Primary Physician (I have an appt with my cardio on March 18). He had me do an EKG which came back with "Left bundle branch block" (which I've had all along) and "Wandering pacemaker". (Which I've never seen on my EKG printout before.)
All my EKGs in the past have indicated some level of irregular pulse, but my cardios have always said all I have is benign PVCs and am in normal sinus mode. I had one very brief episode of A-fib at the hospital a couple days after surgery.
But now my Primary Physician is saying that he thinks I may be experiencing episodes of atrial flutter or even atrial fibrillation. I have to wait until I see my cardio week after next to pin down what is going on. I sure hope it is not. I really do not want to have to go back on the warfarin, although I realize it is not the end of the world if I do.
I guess what I am wondering about is that I do not understand why, after an easy recovery and a year of no problems since the mitral valve repair (and no history of a-fib prior to the surgery), a-fib or flutter would surface NOW.
What on earth would bring it on at this point?
In the meanwhile -- I've got a prescription for diazepam which seems to deal with the anxiety episodes and helps me sleep!

 

[tobagotwo]

Marge,

That's no fun. The only flutter you're supposed to get in Mexico is in your tummy. Come to think of it, that's not much fun, either.

You're already in touch with the doctor, so I suggest two things, as that's all that seems to be in my bag of tricks for this.

One is to be sure you're exercising almost every day, preferably walking. Mild or moderate exercise, particularly steady, as walking can be, seems to help with arrhythmias sometimes.

The other thing is magnesium. If you're taking other prescriptions, check with your druggist to see if you can take a magnesium supplement. Druggists are a fabulous source of untapped information, and are usually more knowledgeable about your prescription medicines than your doctor. Some medications can inhibit the uptake of magnesium, causing a deficiency. It also can work the other way with some medications, hence asking the druggist, who will know.

If you can take magnesium supplements, then give them a try. Magnesium is quite inexpensive, and can be instrumental in regulating the heart. I suggest that you don't take over 200mg at a time, as it is also used in laxatives. I believe the MDR/RDA/acronym-du-jour is 400mg.

Best wishes,

 

[Yaps]

could you have eaten or drank

could you have eaten or drank

anything different? I seem to have a-fibs the more caffeine I drink, and really do check everything now. I will loose my breath and it seems heart is literally 'jumping' , it about knocks me down... just a thought, love the pup

 

[Barry]

Very common for folks to experience a-fib as an anxiety attack. Main problem with a-fib, as I'm given to understand, is the possibility of throwing clots - and thus getting a stroke. Also my understanding is that treatment of choice for that is Coumadin/Warfarin, which I'm already taking 'cause I've got an artificial valve.

I get a-fib all the time according to the machines, but I've only been aware that it was happening once - and it was awfully unpleasant. Felt like there was a bird fluttering in my chest.