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Two weeks ago I was at a 21st birthday party and I woke up in a hospital. I was told my heart rate is at 180bpm and my heart rhythm wasn't right, I had three beers and two shots within a space of 2 hours (which isn't much for me), my BAC in the hospital was 0.014. I was in the hospital for 36 hours or so because my heart rate wouldn't go back to normal through medication, to get my heart rate to normal, they put me on a drip overnight (can't remember what) and it went back to normal. I was told at the hospital that this should be a one off. The scary part for me was I was vomiting and lost consciousness but my cardiologist (a different one from the hospital) told me that wasn't common and isn't directly related to the atrial fibrillation. The hospital cardiologist told me that it was most likely a 'one off' and to stop drinking for a month. If people weren't there to save me from that particular case though, I probably would have died because I wasn't breathing properly.
I saw my cardiologist this week for further testing (the hospital didn't suggest this, they pretty much had to let me go when I was at a normal rhythm) and he told me it's recurrent and he couldn't tell when an episode could happen again. He pretty much told me to live my life how I want to and not worry too much about it because it isn't a very serious condition. I had an ECG done while I was there and it was normal so I don't have 'permanent' AF.
I kind of felt with the new cardiologist that I could get back to normal so I had 2 beers on Thursday and 2 beers on Friday Night however it felt the same on Saturday as it did when I was in hospital, my heart rate was not at 180 but it felt sensitive on the left side of my chest like it did when I was in the hospital so my rhythm was probably off. It still doesn't feel 100% since I drank those couple of beers on Thursday and Friday.
I'm going to stop drinking for probably 2.5-3 months (when I finish university) because it's obvious this causes it, my cardiologist sort of led me to believe that this will not happen EVERY time I drink which I really hope not. If not I feel like I've been punished because I'm a 21 year old male who goes to the gym 4-5 times a week (although not lately because of this), I don't smoke, don't take any medications, don't do drugs, don't have high blood pressure or cholesterol and I eat fairly well. I only drink usually on a Saturday and the very rare Friday but I don’t necessarily drink every weekend.
I can't even go to the gym until I have a stress ECG and I'm petrified I'll be told that I can't do the exercises I want to do (Deadlifts, Bench Press, Squats etc, I'm very much into heavy weight training).
I just hate this; no one else my age (that I know) has to deal with anything like this. Even though the hospital and my cardiologist said it's fairly common among young people, all the data on the internet is saying it's usually always found in 50+ year olds so that makes me feel prety crappy. I know there are worse things without a doubt but I've had to overcome autism (I was autistic as a child), Aspergers, Epilepsy, Asthma. I've had to wear glasses since I was 9 or 10 and I have a droopy eyelid so I can't even wear contacts without feeling self conscious, I have eczema (on and off) and psoriasis (on my head, thankfully at the moment there is only one patch).
I am just hoping that this does not occur every time I drink from now on, if it happens once in a while then I can live with that but if my heart rhythm (not heart rate) keeps going irregular every time I drink that would be horrible.
I don't drink enough to warrant something like this at all considering some people drink a lot everyday with no complications. This isn't so much a self sympathy thread as it is a question of how things like this can happen to a healthy, fit 21 year old. I'll get used to it even if I don't quite understand it.
Anyone else have something like this? Did it affect your alcohol intake or exercise?
I'm getting a Stress ECG done (ECG whilst on treadmill), Echocardiogram (ultrasound) and a Thyroid blood test. I'm also going to go to my GP and get a referral for a blood test on my magnesium (was low when I was tested at the hospital), calcium (was high when I was tested at the hospital), zinc and iron. Anyone else have any other tests I can get done?
I saw my cardiologist this week for further testing (the hospital didn't suggest this, they pretty much had to let me go when I was at a normal rhythm) and he told me it's recurrent and he couldn't tell when an episode could happen again. He pretty much told me to live my life how I want to and not worry too much about it because it isn't a very serious condition. I had an ECG done while I was there and it was normal so I don't have 'permanent' AF.
I kind of felt with the new cardiologist that I could get back to normal so I had 2 beers on Thursday and 2 beers on Friday Night however it felt the same on Saturday as it did when I was in hospital, my heart rate was not at 180 but it felt sensitive on the left side of my chest like it did when I was in the hospital so my rhythm was probably off. It still doesn't feel 100% since I drank those couple of beers on Thursday and Friday.
I'm going to stop drinking for probably 2.5-3 months (when I finish university) because it's obvious this causes it, my cardiologist sort of led me to believe that this will not happen EVERY time I drink which I really hope not. If not I feel like I've been punished because I'm a 21 year old male who goes to the gym 4-5 times a week (although not lately because of this), I don't smoke, don't take any medications, don't do drugs, don't have high blood pressure or cholesterol and I eat fairly well. I only drink usually on a Saturday and the very rare Friday but I don’t necessarily drink every weekend.
I can't even go to the gym until I have a stress ECG and I'm petrified I'll be told that I can't do the exercises I want to do (Deadlifts, Bench Press, Squats etc, I'm very much into heavy weight training).
I just hate this; no one else my age (that I know) has to deal with anything like this. Even though the hospital and my cardiologist said it's fairly common among young people, all the data on the internet is saying it's usually always found in 50+ year olds so that makes me feel prety crappy. I know there are worse things without a doubt but I've had to overcome autism (I was autistic as a child), Aspergers, Epilepsy, Asthma. I've had to wear glasses since I was 9 or 10 and I have a droopy eyelid so I can't even wear contacts without feeling self conscious, I have eczema (on and off) and psoriasis (on my head, thankfully at the moment there is only one patch).
I am just hoping that this does not occur every time I drink from now on, if it happens once in a while then I can live with that but if my heart rhythm (not heart rate) keeps going irregular every time I drink that would be horrible.
I don't drink enough to warrant something like this at all considering some people drink a lot everyday with no complications. This isn't so much a self sympathy thread as it is a question of how things like this can happen to a healthy, fit 21 year old. I'll get used to it even if I don't quite understand it.
Anyone else have something like this? Did it affect your alcohol intake or exercise?
I'm getting a Stress ECG done (ECG whilst on treadmill), Echocardiogram (ultrasound) and a Thyroid blood test. I'm also going to go to my GP and get a referral for a blood test on my magnesium (was low when I was tested at the hospital), calcium (was high when I was tested at the hospital), zinc and iron. Anyone else have any other tests I can get done?
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