P.S. Barbara...I had to get off the beta and cal.channel blockers...and the Cardizem...I'm asthmatic and ALL of these meds caused me severe breathing problems I had to...out of absolute necessity...get off them...I read about the person who has hiatal hernia issues...got that too...my hernia prolapses onto my esophagus and causes the churning and " heart attack" type pain...it really sucks when we have so many seemingly unrelated symptoms..but a really good cardiologist in conjunction with a gastroenterologist can work together with an internist to help resolve the issue..feel free to respond ...I will keep a close eye on the site. Thanks, Fran
P.P.S. after reading some of the other responses..I can add a few more points...wow all you guys really have got me going..I was almost forced into ablation 5 years ago...but after researching and finding out how infrequently they do solve the problem and how stressful the procedure is along with the despondency of the failure...It made the decision easy to say NO. My other health issue which precluded my taking strong anti coagulants was small intestinal bleeding from abnormal venous malformations and hemangiomas which.reduced my hemoglobin to dangerous levels and increased my heartbeat to a new normal of 90...poor oxygenation of my vital organs and extreme physical weakness...I was beyond consolation and believed I was facing imminent death..but the right doctors got me together and I'm looking forward to competing at events on my horses next month...you can do it......I'm 66 years old...thanks for listening..Fran
Barbara,
Sorry you are going through this. Me too, I’m going through hell. My life is so messed up.
I had my first panic attack in last July. Since then started to worry about my heart, but cardiologist appointment is two months later. In those two months my anxiety level kept going up, and one night I woke up in afib. I have no doubt that the prolonged and constant anxiety caused my afib but cardiologist and EP didn’t agree.
Now I’m stuck with afib for life. And my anxiety is from afib, afib can’t be cured, so my anxiety won’t go away. Please help us.
Hello Jim,
Sorry for the delay in responding - I spent so long waiting in the Drs surgery to get the ECG and Bloods done last week I caught a cold - so many people coughing and sneezing, its unavoidable, so have been laying low for a couple of days. Anyway Jim I thank you for your comments and support, and I am desperately trying to get to see a Cardiologist, but it seems I am banging my head against a brick wall. - the Drs practice I am with has 10 GP's and I have in time visited all of them - there are those that I will never visit again, those that showed interest but no knowledge, and 2 who showed enough interest to listen to what I was saying - but then totally go against what they say they will do - Arrrrgh
One of the later - a fairly new German Dr who has joined the practice was the latest one I have been to see - ( it is he who told me my Anxiety and Heart meds clash, and that there is nothing he can give me - he even said 'are you sure you really need these anxiety meds - ) and so it was he that I went to see with my demands for a Heart Monitor for 24 hours and a referral to a cardiologist.
He said all the right things - gave me the once over, organised bloods and another ECG - and when I complained about MORE BLOODS - ANOTHER ECG He said there was a procedure that had to be followed, tests that needed to be done - so I played along - and the rest is history, as they say.
I was so upset and angry to receive that telephone call from the Practice receptionist giving me a message from the Dr to say he was happy with most of the bloods, but wanted me to make an appointment in a month to have them re done and then to make an appointment to see him - no explanation as to what are the bloods he isn't happy with then? Why have I got to wait a month and have them done again? - no word about the Monitor - nothing.
I am so fed up Jim I thought he was working with me not against me - I told him how rough I feel 24/7 - he knows I suffer with Generalised Anxiety Disorder which isn't going away on its own, and I need some med support to cope with the symptoms - and he leaves me hanging for another month - I really feel let down and alone, and had a total emotional wipeout over the week-end, and seriously felt as they I couldn't go on any more - I have been without Anxiety meds now since my Original Afib episode last July - every day has been a battle - but I have managed to survive without having a total breakdown by sheer determination - but its no way to live, I have become a virtual recluse, I don't go out unless its to the Drs, I never see anyone except my Husband, and my Son when he visits - if I go out I break out in a sweat, dry mouth, rapid breathing then the shakes and wobbly legs set in an I head for home as fast as I can - this is no life - sometimes, just sometimes I think perhaps I would be better off just not being here anymore - don't worry I would never do anything to harm myself, I'm not brave enough - but it all gets so much to cope with - and with the Afib as an added bonus life just seems too difficult at times.
Sorry for the sob story, I know there are so many others out there who are suffering far worse than I.
Barbarax
Hi Barbara,
Sorry you're having all these problems.
GPs are good for some things but not for afib or anything related with afib. I don't care how attentive they may seem, or how many tests they run, afib is a speciality field and out of their league. Half of GPs can't even read an EKG correctly without the machine's program telling them what they're looking at.
The most knowledgeable are EPs but they have a tendency to be more aggressive and promote surgeries (ablation) over drugs. Next most knowledgeable would be a good cardiologist. Many people here, including myself, have consulted with both. That gives a a more balanced overview.
There is absolutely no reason you should be without your anxiety medications while being treated for afib. I'm certain any cardiologist or ep will find the right mix of drugs to help both your anxiety and afib at the same time.
Hope this helps.
Jim
Hi again Jim,
I am sorry to show my ignorance but what is an EP ? I keep hearing about EP's but havn't a clue what one is - Help .
Barbara x
Hi Barbara,
EP is short for electrophysiologist. An electrophiologist is a cardiologist who specializes in heart rhythms. They are the ones that do the catheter procedures like ablations. Like many here, I see both a cardiologist and an EP. I see the cardiologist for general checkups and overall advice and I've seen the EP usually at times of my afib episodes like when I needed electro cardioversion. EPs tend to be more aggressive and more surgery oriented so I think it's always best to run their recommendations by a good cardiologist who might be more comfortable with a lifestyle and medical approach. In your case, either of them should find the right combination of drugs so that you can take your anxiety meds and at the same time take your afib meds.
Jim
Bless you Jim for the explanation xx