Suggest Treatment For Atrial Fibrilation And Swelling On Feet

Question : I was recently diagnosed with Atrial Fibrilation. It was found during my stress test. I have also been experiencing severe swelling in my ankles, feet, and legs, often up past my knee. I have had the swelling for a couple of years, but in the last 2 months, it has gotten to the point where they never seem to go back to normal size, despite rest and taking my prescribed diuretics. I am often short of breath, especially when trying to exercise and when lying on my back to sleep. No matter how early I go to bed, I feel exhausted when I wake up, and I often urinate several times during the night. I can feel my heart racing all the time, so while many people complain of havin A-Fib episodes, mine never seem to stop. Often I have pain in my chest, mostly on the left, that seems to radiate through my shoulder blades. I am a singer, and often when I sing, I feel pressure in my chest and cannot hold notes for long periods like I used to. I often feel faint when standing and sometimes I get a feeling as if everything stops, I cease to hear (but can still see), and I feel as if I will pass out, but I have never passed out. My concern is whether my A-Fib has put me into congestive heart failure. I will be seeing a cardiologist within the next week or two, so I just want to feel prepared so that I don't get hit with a bombshell, if you will.

I know that it does not turn into heart failure, but I know that continuous strain on the heart can cause it. I've had an echo that says I have 60-65% EF, which sounds like I am not in HF. I did not yet have the results when I asked the question. My main concern was the edema and the difficulty breathing when lying flat.