Termination of AF episodes

[rich101]

Hi All.

just wondered if anyone else has had any success in terminating there af episodes with Vagal maneuvers, carotid massage, deep breathing ect???.. or anything else for that matter

[Finvola]

Rich - I never managed to stop an AF episode no matter what I tried , but Valsalva manoeuvre worked most of the time for rapid, regular episodes of SVT. A cardiologist advised me to try the vagal manoeuvre at the start of any episode in case it was not AF and could be stopped.

[rich101 in reply to Finvola]

Thanks Finvola,Thats exactly what my E.P said, I have A.F on ECG, although only happened a few times, and my EP thinks it could be a re-entrant arrythmia as mine have previously been stopped by all of the above mentioned. Im due.for svt ablation in a couple of weeks.

[Finvola in reply to rich101]

Best wishes - SVT ablation has a very high success rate, I believe.

[Di1962 in reply to Finvola]

What is this valsalva/vagal maneuver?

[Finvola in reply to Di1962]

Valsalva is a method of expelling air against closed airways whilst bearing down on your diaphram and it can successfully stop SVT - if you get it right! You should not try it whilst standing as it can make you dizzy! There are various articles on the web but this one may explain most of it:

bupa.co.uk/health-informati...

Click on Treatment

[Di1962 in reply to Finvola]

Thank you!

[rich101]

Thankyou, im hoping it sorts the problem, but have agreed to go to cryoablation during the procedure if necessary. All the best.

[rosyG]

good luck

[fallingtopieces]

An hour and a half into quite a violent PAF episode for me, an ambulance man told me to take a deep breath in and then let it out very slowly whilst bearing down. At the time I had trouble doing it as I thought I was going to faint but within 15 minutes I was back in NSR so it could have been down to that.

Coughing usually works to stop my short runs of extra beats,PVCs,PACs etc. In fact I have been more or less free of all PVCs and PACs for the past three weeks and I'm sure that has been due to the awful irritating and hacking persistant cough I've had.

They have just appeared again today as the cough almost gone.

Pat.

[Hidden in reply to fallingtopieces]

The ambulance lady told me that when you cough it sends an electrical charge to your heart….could be useful for some people.

[Japaholic]

The only thing that stops my episodes (50% of the time) is to take the extra prescribed drugs my dr gave me and have a good 6-8 hours sleep.

Other than that, they stop when they want to and not before.....

Having said that, acupuncture has worked twice to flip me back to NSR.

[deelan]

Today I went into AF but managed to revert back into NSR in about 20 minutes; not sure if it's coincidence or not but I focussed on my breathing e.g. in through the nose and slowly out through the mouth.

Happy New Year to Everyone from Australia (it's currently 40C outside!)

[Thomps95]

I've tried all those maneuvers and they don't work well for me if I am already in fibrillation. It stops when it stops. However, if I feel on the cusp of AFib (transient palpitations etc) then I employ those maneuvers to calm my heart rate while I wait for a PIP to kick in. That does work.

[cupoftea]

Hi,

Happy New Year,when AF started about 6yrs ago holding my nose and blowing really hard worked once or twice.

[Hidden]

Similar to the comments below, if I get any signs of a possible AF start or without any signs but before a known trigger (e.g. getting into bed when v tired), I take regular deep breaths.

I have been AF free for 9 months but the snag is I don't know whether it's the Flecainide, the supplements (Mg compound with potassium,taurine etc, CoQ10, Krill oil) or the lifestyle changes…….I have a sneaking feeling though that it's probably needs all three.

[fallingtopieces in reply to Hidden]

Orchardworker, You sound just like me!

I am taking several(many) supplements, including all the ones you mention above except for krill( where I take 'MorEPH', a high EPA, instead. Added to your list, I also take Vit D3, hawthorn and a probiotic. I've taken this lot for 2 and a half years now.

I'm sure they've helped me. An unexpected bonus was my cholesterol going down from 4.9 where it has been for years, to 3.79!

Plus I don't wake up in the middle of the night with a racing heart any more.

Pat.

[Thomps95 in reply to fallingtopieces]

What is with the racing heart in the middle of the night? I don't get it often, but I do get it occasionally, especially after a big meal. Strangely, my cardiologist -- and a second one I consulted -- didn't know or seemed to dismiss it as nothing serious. Is it just a benign transient palpitation (fast, but well under 100 bpm and only lasting 20-30 seconds), or is it flutter? If the latter, it seems of greater concern.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

Interestingly enough the maneuver that converts me the fastest is shopping at my favorite mall. One step into Nordstrom's and suddenly I am in NSR. Not kidding...my husband thinks I am making that up but it works every time. Shopping makes my heart happy, and lowers my blood pressure. Much better than those nasty drugs I tried a couple times

[Vony]

Sometimes when I am in AF if i sit upright with legs straight out ( eg on a bed) and lean slightly to the side ( left or right) it will stop within 10-15 mins. But that is because position very much affects me personally. Maybe worth a try though! None of the above manoeuvres have worked for me but reading fallingtopieces specific technique spunds good..i had never done it like that before.

[rich101]

I also get Tachycardia in the night, mainly after a big meal or after any alcohol late on.

I think its digestion related.

Im seeing the gastro doc later on today so will let u know what they say.

[Vony]

Lol! I saw a picture of a yoga move that slows heart rate down and is similar to what you describe Jo! Interesting.

[Lucybod]

I have stopped my irregular heart increasing my heart rate, either on a treadmill or going up a slight incline at a fast walk. I DONT have the fast heart rate type of AF.