I suffered with A. Fib since I was 19 yrs old ( now 62) but because it woud not show up at will, I could not get a diagnosis. At 61 yrs old, I let it go on for a weekbefore I then went to urgent care while A Fib was happening, the Dr I saw at the urgent care center called fire rescue & had me taken to the hosp, where suddenly my condition became important. All those years I was told that everyone has a irregular heartbeat at one time or another, nothing to worry about, live with it. So, when it happened everyday for years, I ignored it, would try to rest to get it to go away, use breathing excerises to try to interupt it, etc.
My mother, sister & 3 daughters have it also but I am the only one that has a actual diagnosis. Is this inherited? My family is going thru what I did for years, & told " we have to actually see it on a ekg or hear it with a stethascope". How can I help my family deal with this & get a diagnosis? 2 of my daughters 36 & 39 & my sister(54 yrs old) have thick blood platlets, have had blood clots in the past. Any suggestions?