Jfjfern

[Jfjfern]

Hi everyone

I just want a bit of advice I started with paf after having pneumonia 5 years ago. I gave up alcohol as I found if I had a few drinks Friday and Saturday night I used to wake in the middle of the night with tachycardia then flip into af and then end up in Resus having Iv verapamil.

I then used to start just having a glass of wine in the day and I was ok with this. I found my triggers was dehydration caffeine and alcohol. I gave up alcohol when I got pregnant and after having my daughter ( now 2) haven't had a drink since as I darnt.

I haven't had an af episode for 3 years I'm on verapamil but don't always take it as I forget.

Would it be stupid to try a drink again ? And why can some people drink yet others it's a trigger.

I read an article on here regarding aspertame abs links with af I used to drink 4 cans of Diet Coke a day I wondered if this now caused my af and not the pneumonia.

Any advice would be great

Many thanks julie

[BobD Volunteer]

Hi Julie, If you find a trigger, then why risk setting things off again. You may be fine but what will you think if it rears up again.

Regarding what caused your AF I would say don't even go there. Chest infections can bring it on but really you need a predisposition to it and then maybe a trigger. Aspartame is not a nice chemical and blamed for lots of things but what is done is done and you can't change it. Chasing reasons isn't always very helpful in my opinion.

Be well.

Bob

[constabule in reply to BobD]

When first diagnosed i chased reasons and got same advice - why?

I tend to be analytical anyway , but reckon while it might help to find your trigger getting bogged searching will add to worries. I like good ale in good company - luckily the odd pint not seem to by my trigger and Ive only been told to cut back on things not cut out . Which is just as well as I still dont like the soft drink offerings . Seems my trigger is from within . I do though take care not to push it .

[Craggy]

I was diagnosed with PAF in 2014 and decided to give up all alcohol along with other lifestyle changes. I am taking flecainide and bisoprolol. My last AF episode was 10 months ago, so something is working.

I really missed having a pint at my local pub and hated the alternatives (non alcoholic and sugar drinks) so I stopped going in. Holidays are also much less enjoyable nowadays. I think it was Bob who said, you won't live any longer by giving up alcohol, it will just feel that way.

My original intention was to give booze a rest for a while to see the effect and then perhaps go back to having an ocassional drink if and when the AF settles down. However, now I don't have any desire to start drinking alcohol again. I would much rather remain AF free.

It would be nice to be able to stop taking the flecainide and bisoprolol and this would be a higher priority for me.

Good luck with whatever decision you make Julie. Just be sure it is part of a plan which you control.

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Hi Julie, Bob and Craggy as usual offering quality advice. I would just add caution on going back to known triggers e.g. drinking, ask yourself first what has changed; it's too easy when feeling better to just do it and ask yourself later why. Secondly, lifestyle changes due to AF can have positive outcomes.