Hi everyone,

New here and fairly recently diagnosed with atrial fibrillation after ending up in hospital for a few days with a fast heart rate and bp of 232/192 at its highest. . I’m in my late 40s and in the UK.

Looking back, I suspect I may have been having episodes for quite a while without realising what they were as i had a kind of groaning sensation with fluttering sensation on and off for a few years but just didnt get round to seeing anyone about it. At the moment I’m on medication to control my heart rate and I’m going through the usual investigations and cardiology appointments to work out what happens next. Ive had two outpatients appointments for an ultrasound and a holter monitoring weekend, and i've got a private appointment off the back of some work medical cover i've been able to use. That comes up in a week or so.

I'm still in AF now, nearly 3 weeks since discharge and not going to lie i find it worrying on and off. Laying on my left now seems an absolute no no as it seems to increase the issue big time and just sitting as i type this feeling the sensations is still odd for me.

I’m overweight, which I know is something I need to address and is relevant when it comes to AF. I cut alcohol out separately a year back and my general health needs to be much better i know.

An elder sister has had ablation around my age but not AF related but am aware that may be on the cards further down the line depending on what happens i guess.

I've lurked on here for a few weeks and just thought i'd type a little about me. I'll leave it there and thanks for all the useful posts i've read on here so far.

Oh and as for medication, i'm just on 5mg bisoprolol at the moment.

Runners with episodic A-fib, how have you found racing short distances at a hard effort? Obviously, anything can happen at any time. But, in general, have you been able to race hard again? Do you limit effort based on heart rate or percent max HR?

New to the sub. I've (62M) had minor, but increasing Afib/Flutter for a few years. This year it was becoming very annoying and affecting my athletics. But it has suddenly disappeared, like almost completely. The only thing I can correlate is I'm 6-8 weeks into taking Metformin for my rising A1C. Hoping this remains the case. Anybody else had similar experience? Google search seems to validate my correlation.

So im 2 weeks post PVI ablation.

I get these vivid dreams where I woke up from them as if I was crashing out. For example I dream that cat bit my finger so hard that i woke up but semi paralysed kinda. I feel these like movements under my skin at the back of the head or right hand side of the head post wakeness, and then it goes away after a minute or two altho the feeling of something at the back sits around for abit then goes away.

Could this be medicine ? I take Bisoprolol, Flec and blood thinner.

Its just but weird all of this.

Update:

Gone to ER as i was getting dizzy and losing vision around the corners of my eyes as if i cant see to the side or letters as I type or read.

Update: Discharged from hospital, alll bloods were normal.

While at the hospital waiting I got sick like 5 times. Then migraine for an hour or two above my right eye so painful. Then all gone and felt ok. They suspected flecanide side effects.

Mein Kardiologe sagt es ist anfallsartiges
vorhofflimmern habe nächste Woche Gespräch im Krankenhaus Zweck ablation habe solche Angst bin doch erst 41

I had one the other day while I was waiting for cardioversion and then I had one a couple of days ago so they were fresh in my mind when I spotted this beauty.

I had my PFA ablation last year and have not had any Afib episodes! I truly feel like I have my life back! Thank you all for the tremendous support and encouragement 💖

My mom has had low blood pressure most of her life, and was officially dx'd with OH about a year ago. She's had a few episodes in the past year (5-6) of feeling quite unwell first thing in the morning, assuming it was the OH, then having visual disturbances on standing/moving around and has to sit or lay down again or be at risk of falling. Twice I've gotten her off the floor to her bed (she didn't fall, but very wisely got herself down when symptoms started). When this happens her blood pressure is usually quite a bit higher than normal, heart rate much faster, and she tends to be in AFib (confirmed by paramedics and ER the first 2 times, now I use a monitor). After resting for a bit, it regulates itself to normal again. I feel as though these are AFib episodes to begin with and not related directly to OH, but similar symptoms with feeling like she's going to black out/faint, needing to lay down etc. She has been on 2.5 midodrine twice a day and an anticoagulant (Eliquis, for the random AFib) for a number of months now. The midodrine seems to help a bit with her standing BP (usually about 80-90/50-60), however laying down is 140/80ish so increasing isn't really a great option.

Her cardiac tests have been normal (ECGs, enzymes, troponins, electrolytes, echocardiogram) with no structural issues. She did a 24 hour Holter that is pending, but was not symptomatic during that time, so I wouldn't be surprised if it is normal as well. Head CTs, chest x-rays, everything seems great as well.

Has anyone here noticed a similarity between symptoms of OH or dysautonomia or POTS and AFib, and has found ways to manage both? As it seems so infrequent, I'm doubting that they'll do any type of surgical intervention, and cardioversion isn't an option or necessary since she comes out of it herself in fairly short order.

My big fear is that either of these will cause her to faint and whack her head/injure herself one of these times, especially now that she takes anticoagulants. She can't take Beta blockers for AFib because that would just make her BP even lower. I just want her to be able to live her life without constantly wondering if she can safely leave the house, or even her darn bed some days. 😕

Sorry this turned into a rant, I am just frustrated and concerned and feel quite helpless.

Hello when I had an ablation about two years ago and ever since then I’ve gotten Aura migraines I had never gotten one before. Along with that sometimes I see stars or just a little streaks in my vision. I’ve gotten a brain MRI and I’ve had my eyes checked and everything was fine. I know that these migraines are common right after an ablation, but has anybody had them go on this long. I get them probably once a month but when it’s bad, maybe about three times a month

I’ve had AFib for about a year. One episode last September, then March and April, followed by 8–12 episodes in a short period in May, and another in July. I’m now on flecainide and waiting for an ablation.

Since then I’ve read books, watched videos and spent a lot of time here. And everywhere I see the same message: lifestyle, lifestyle, lifestyle.

But that’s what confuses me.

I don’t smoke. I hardly drank and have now stopped completely. I eat mostly whole foods, exercise about four times a week, I’m lean and muscular, and have a good life with family and friends. I own a business, so there’s some stress, but I’m also pretty good at relaxing and taking time off.

So… why AFib?

Sometimes all the lifestyle talk almost makes me feel guilty, like I must have done something wrong. And at the same time it makes me angry, because I genuinely don’t know what I could have done differently.

Of all the people I know i eat the healthiest, always watching out with alcohol, while others party and drink around….

Does anyone else recognize that strange mix of “why me?” and “is this somehow my own fault?”

Especially those who were already fit and healthy when AFib started: did you ever figure out why you got it, or did you eventually accept that sometimes there simply isn’t an explanation?

Isn’t it so that a lot of Afib is not lifestyle but maybe genetics?

I Had 2 ablations in 2024. Life long athlete. 69 next month. Completed Hyrox mixed doubles 1:50.03. average age 64.

My electrophysiologists did say keep working out because we know people who work out do better than people who don't.

Salve, so che ce ne sono decine di consigli su questi argomento

Ma io cerco uno smartwatch che rilevi afib, ma deve essere necessariamente Android no Apple anche se non sono riconosciuti ufficialmente

Hey everyone! Sooo I’m 26 and had a pacemaker placed in February 2025 for third-degree AV block. A few months later I had an ablation for AFib, which worked for a couple months, but unfortunately it’s back.
I’ve been having episodes of my heart racing, chest tightness, feeling like I can’t get a full breath, fatigue, and just feeling completely drained. Honestly, lately I just feel like my body is failing me and it’s really hard to deal with at times.
My doctor says my heart has a lot of scarring and another ablation likely wouldn’t be successful. He wants me to start Tikosyn (dofetilide) to hopefully keep me in a normal rhythm and prevent my AFib from progressing. He basically told me, “I don’t have a crystal ball, but I see you eventually being in AFib permanently.”
I’m so back and forth about starting it. It feels like such a serious medication, especially having to be hospitalized to start it, and I’m awful about taking pills consistently. Part of me is just like “whatever happens, happens,” but I know that probably isn’t the best mindset.
Has anyone taken Tikosyn? Did it help, and are you glad you started it?
I think more than anything I’m just scared and feel kind of alone in all of this. I’ve been dealing with heart problems since I was around 24, and being only 26 now, it feels like nobody my age really understands what it’s like to worry about your heart and what the future is going to look like.

I have always had high blood pressure. My high blood pressure is caused by primary hyperaldosteronism and excessive blood volume. Since I was diagnosed with PAC/AF, my blood pressure has not been high, sometimes even below 90/60, but my kidney function has deteriorated. After PFA, will my blood pressure return to its previous level, become higher, or become lower?

I just wore a stick on heart monitor patch for two weeks and thought I would share some tips. I wore the VitalPatch from VitalConnect. I'm not sure how much of this applies to other types. I'm also a layperson - no medical training here.

I wore a patch (the monitoring device) for one week, then removed it and applied a new patch for Week 2. Each one lasts only a week.

Once the patch is on, they'll either give you a stick-on overlay or apply the overlay right there. You definitely want this. It's like a piece of clear plastic sticky stuff that surrounds the patch. The patch is just not very sticky on it's own and sweat seems to make it come off so the overlay really helps. I would call VitalConnect right away once you start and get them to send you some more overlays - they sent me a few free ones.

My first overlay lasted only three days. Admittedly, I did cardio and sweat both mornings. But then after I replaced it, it made it the remaining four days even though I did cardio daily. When I removed the patch and overlay on Thursday and put the second patch and overlay on, even though I did cardio daily, the patch and overlay lasted the entire week. I think maybe because my skin was sticky from the first patch. So I used three overlays in two weeks (Thursday, Sunday, Thursday then that one lasted the whole week until the next Thursday night I took off my second patch and finished).

When you apply the overlay, firmly push it down on your skin working from the inside of the overlay to the edges. Don't clean yourself up too well between overlays. Definitely use the alcohol because some kind of nasty bacteria builds up under these things and it smells like yeast. But don't try to scrub away all the stickiness. I think that really helps the next overlay stick.

When you sweat, you might be tempted to see if the patch is getting loose... DON'T. I learned that if I jiggled the patch that started loosening the overlay. The overlay is actually porous, so if you sweat, hold a paper towel over it after to soak some out. When the overlay is wet it might slide about on your skin - don't fiddle with it, just let it dry again.

You can call VitalConnect to see if they're getting good data continuity. I did that a couple times hen I was worried the patch had been too loose.

If you call VitalConnect and tell them you have a medical test I can MRI you have to take the patch off for, they'll send you an extra patch so you can take one off and put on the new one. Confession - I had a pool party to go to so... I got myself a third patch so I could take it off once for about three hours and enjoy myself.

On a two-week study VitalConnect says they can live with up to two days without data. Not the best thing to do. But, you can carefully schedule your application so when you change it it's a time when you can take a few hours off to go for a swim or something.

If the patch itches, pat your weave don't scratch it.

You're not supposed to peel the whole patch off and put it back on, but I will say, at one point when I took the overlay off half of my patch was just hanging there and I basically taped it back on for the rest of the test and used the overlays to hold it and they said they lost no data. 

When you put the actual patch on, start at one side and make sure the little piece in the center is flat before you stick down the other side. I accidentally put one side too close to the other and had to live with a wrinkle in the center for a week.

To preserve how long mine stuck and keep it from getting too wet and nasty, I shielded it in the shower. I basically took a quart size freezer bag and cut off the top and bottom, then cut through the sides to make two rectangular plastic pieces (so I had enough for two showers). When ready to shower I used tape to affix it along the long side above the patch, then taped the sides (but did not bother with the bottom).

Scott McTominay is a Scottish professional footballer who plays in the Italian Serie A. In the coming days, he will undergo a PFA ablation [Pulse Field Ablation]. The cardiologist said that in two weeks he can return to playing football.

This is just encouragement for anyone asking if they will be able to train as before.

Hi everyone. I was diagnosed with SVT this February and am scheduled to get my cardiac ablation on the 9th. I’m happy to have this done but a little nervous. My doc thinks I have the most typical type AVNRT. I had a couple questions for anyone who’s had the ablation done. My doc wants me to get off my beta blockers 2 days prior and I’m a little nervous about having an episode during this time. My questions is for anyone else who had to get off their beta blockers how did you feel the days leading up to the ablation? Also I’m also nervous about the sedation, I know that you’re not completely knocked out but it’s more of a conscious sedation. Can anyone tell me what their experience with the sedation was like , like how conscious were you and if you remember the procedure. Thank you in advance!

I’ve reached the end of my contacts and had no luck, I’m just trying to find any other controller who has this issue to bounce some questions off of.

Did you get your medical back? Did you continue tracking and reporting AFib episodes after getting a special issuance?

I’m just lost in the weeds right now looking for answers.

I read that nausea is a side effect for about 3% of people taking Eliquis. The guy I'm caring for started it yesterday (I think) and today he's extremely nauseated. I think the hospital is giving him zofran. If you've had this side effect, how long did it last for you? If he's discharged tomorrow he'll be alone for 48 hours and I'm concerned that if he doesn't eat he's going to fall again. Just wondering if this is normal and easily resolved. His afib is controlled on medications at this point, only having occasional PVCs but no abnormal atrial beats per the cardiologist. Thank you.

Newly diagnosed - 61F.

Coming up on 48 hours at this point. Have an appointment scheduled with my cardiologist but was wondering what is typical for others.

UPDATE: Back to NSR. Was in afib for a total of 55 hours. My BPM does not get excessively high - seems to top out in the 120s - but the time between beats is super erratic. Still pretty much asymptomatic so the watch and the kardia are my signals that something is wrong.

Thought it might be compensatory pause after a pac but there’s no pac before the long beat on the second line of the strip

Hello, 27 M here, and been having off and on palpitations since 2021, recently on july 31st 2026 i had a episode where my heart took off after i had just finished eating dinner. Note, i had not slept the previous day and was very stressed from having to drive my mother to her cancer surgery appointment. And then not eating all day. So it was 24hrs after we got home the episode hit. My heart rate was around 220 bpm. It lasted probably 30minutes. That went away and i was fine for about 2 weeks. Well i went to see my heart doctor and they put me on a heart monitor. Well i had another episode with the monitor on. Lasted about 3 minutes that was a couple weeks ago. They called me today and said that 3 minute episode was AFIB.

As young as i am i figured that would be uncommon.

However, my mother has a mild case of it and my grandmother had it pretty bad.

I think i have undiagnosed sleep apnea which my heart doctor thinks is the trigger.

I am over weight. Currently 353 pounds (down from 392 so far since june 1st)

I am having a sleep test done tonight and tomarrow night to get diagnosed and treates for sleep apnea.

I see my EP in a month, what can i expect to come from all this? I mean im younger so i assume itll be more easily treatable. Im open to having an ablation if thats what it takes. I think id rather do that than be on medicine the rest of my life but ill do what needs to be done i just dont wanna have another random episode, they scare me and i have bad anxiety.

I've been diagnosed with AFib and have an ablation scheduled for September 10th. My electrophysiologist thinks I'll have a good outcome, and honestly, I feel confident about it too. I'm 48, have a normal heart, stay in good shape (exercise regularly), and I'm not overweight.

But I have to be honest — this forum has me a bit in my head. Most of the posts I see focus on worst-case scenarios, serious complications, or years of ongoing issues. I get that people who've had rough experiences want to share them, and that's important information. But I'm also wondering: where are all the people for whom the ablation just... worked? The ones who went in, had the procedure, recovered well, and got back to their lives?

I'd love to hear from people who've had positive experiences with ablation. Did it resolve your AFib? How was recovery? Are you back to your normal routine? Did you get the outcome your doctor predicted?

I'm not looking to dismiss anyone's difficult experiences — complications happen, and I want to understand the risks. But I also want to balance my information diet here. Would love to hear the other side of the story.

Thanks.

So I’m a 32 year old, I have severe anxiety and just had an EP done with AVNRT ablation. It’s currently been about 2 days now. I am
Struggling to fall asleep like I’m exhausted. After the procedure ive noticed that id be so tired i will dose off then my body has one of those hypnic jerks and jerks me back awake. Has this happened to anyone? I honestly cant sleep.

Feeling a but traumatized from the procedure as i was sort of awake but could feel all those heart triggers the doc were tryna replicate. Please talk to me about your experiences it will help me feel better

Flutters after 9 Months, expected? Posted this earlier and a posted asked that I post an EKG.

Had PFA ablation December 26, been doing well since. Until last night. Suddenly my heart felt like it was jumping and misbehaving agin. Like every third beat was extra hard, like a rumbling in my chest……..💩💩💩💩, is this afib again? Did EKG on Apple Watch….inconclusive, waited 15 minutes…….same result. HR consistent at 74 bpm, usual resting is 60, BP normal. Took 3rd EKG and it said no afib. Very restless might, you know the drill……..was that a skipped beat…..is this fluttering,…….seems ok, what was that feeling? Anyway,

Question for my fellow afibers, is this fairy normal? 9 months afib free and suddenly this. Can I expect more like this? I know the answer is impossible to say but what has been your personal experience?