When My Heart Skipped Its Rhythm: My AFib Story
Susan never expected her racing heart to lead to a lifelong condition. This is how she learned to live well with atrial fibrillation.
The Night Everything Felt Wrong
I was fifty-four and busy—work deadlines, kids still needing rides, evenings that stretched too late. One night while washing dishes I felt my heart suddenly flutter and pound like a bird trapped in my chest. It lasted only a few minutes, then stopped. I told myself it was just stress or too much coffee.
Over the next weeks the episodes came more often: a racing, irregular beat that left me light-headed and short of breath. Climbing the stairs to my bedroom made me pause halfway, hand pressed to my sternum, waiting for the thumping to settle. I started avoiding evening walks with my husband because I never knew when my heart would decide to race.
One morning I woke up dizzy and nauseated, my pulse jumping all over the place. My husband drove me to urgent care. That was the first time anyone said the words ‘possible arrhythmia.’
Looking for Answers
My primary doctor ordered an ECG, which looked normal because my heart had settled by then. She sent me for a Holter monitor—a little device I wore for forty-eight hours. When the results came back showing long stretches of irregular rhythm, she referred me to a cardiologist. Waiting for that appointment felt endless; every skipped beat made me wonder if I was missing something serious.
Hearing the Diagnosis
In the cardiologist’s office the words ‘atrial fibrillation’ sounded clinical and distant until he explained that the upper chambers of my heart were quivering instead of beating properly. He said the biggest risk was blood clots that could cause a stroke. I remember staring at the diagram on the wall, thinking how strange it was that something so quiet could be so dangerous. He ordered blood work, an echocardiogram, and started me on a beta-blocker to slow the rate and an anticoagulant to protect me.
Treatment and Finding My Balance
The first months were an adjustment. I had to remember my evening pill every single night and get used to monthly blood checks while my medication levels stabilized. I cut back on caffeine, started walking again—slowly at first—and learned to check my pulse. Some days I still felt flutters; other days my heart behaved. My cardiologist talked about possible cardioversion or ablation if the episodes became more frequent, but for now medication and lifestyle changes were enough.
About six months in I had a longer episode that left me breathless and panicked in the grocery store. I sat on a bench, counted my breaths, and called my doctor’s after-hours line. Knowing I had a plan—and that the anticoagulant was already protecting me—helped me stay calm until it passed.
Living Well with AFib
Three years later I still take my medications every day and see my cardiologist regularly. I track my symptoms in a simple notebook, keep alcohol light, and never skip my evening walk if I can help it. AFib hasn’t disappeared, but it no longer runs my life. I’ve learned that listening to my body, asking questions, and staying on top of care are the best ways I can protect my heart—and myself.
This information is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you have about a medical condition, and never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you read here.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.
Medically reviewed by WellAlly Medical Editorial Team · Last reviewed October 9, 2026. · Read our editorial policy