Philippa's story
Philippa Sayer, 41, only found out she suffered from atrial
fibrillation after a series of incidents this year.
"When I started to experience IBS symptoms before a course I
thought it was just nerves.
"I have two young children and there was a lot going on with
work so I was stressed, and I thought it must have been something
to do with that.
"When I went on the course, I almost passed out. I felt unwell
for the entire two weeks.
"Then a few weeks after I got home, I started to feel even
worse. I had unbearable pain in my abdomen and it was very
difficult to walk. When I went to the doctor about it he said I
might have gall stones. I went for a test, but a week later I
collapsed.
"It was only when I was sent for an ultrasound of my abdomen
that it was picked up. The ultrasound technician also scanned my
lungs and my heart, and realised there was something wrong.
"It turned out I had atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy and
my heart was beating at more than 185 beats per minute. My doctor
was stunned. I had to spend 13 days in hospital.
"Looking back on it, there were other warning signs I ignored. I
felt puffed walking up stairs but I put it down to being unfit, and
I had heart palpitations but I’ve suffered from those for 20 years,
so I didn’t think much of it.
"I’m now on warfarin, among other medication, but my heart is
back to normal. I found the whole experience very surreal.
"I had checked my pulse and it was always weak. Had I known this
was a sign that there might be something wrong with my heart I
would have done something earlier.
"Not everyone with atrial fibrillation has symptoms, so it's
really important people check their pulse. It's so easy to do and
it only takes a few minutes."
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