Sleeping on my side sets off AF!

[KarenYvonne]

Does this happen to anyone else? When I sleep on my left side it sets off my AF ? I have slept on my left side very comfortably for years until August last year when I had to go to A&E with my first bout of AF! I can now only sleep on my back which isn't as comfortable. Does anyone else have this ? Thanks

[souljacs4]

There are threads on here related to this if you put (sleep left side) into search it should come up. if not I am sure others will answer your question.

[stormcloud in reply to souljacs4]

Yes, this happens to me too and I think is quite common when you have AF.

[KarenYvonne in reply to souljacs4]

Thank you I will look it up. It does appear that others have the same problems, I thought it was just me !

I am just 50 and have felt really miserable since being diagnosed with PAF. Felt like I couldn't have fun anymore or a glass or two of prosecco !

[seasider18 in reply to KarenYvonne]

Cheer up a report in the Mail yesterday said that dentists are now warning people that Prosecco is bad for the teeth!

tinyurl.com/hoyj5kn

[absolutepatsy in reply to KarenYvonne]

You are the second person who has mentioned prosecco. I only need one mouthful and within seconds am in AF. I stopped drinking 2 years ago. I have other triggers, believe it or not an Asda iced mince pie at Xmas set it off.

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

Yes, indeed! The very first episode I ever had of AF was started when I got into bed and turned to my left side. BAM! Pretty common. It's just one more little quirk that many of us have to deal with.

[KarenYvonne in reply to SRMGrandma]

Interesting, at least I know it something that affects others to. Thanks

[SRMGrandma Volunteer in reply to KarenYvonne]

It brings the heart closer to the chest wall when we lie on the left side and that proximity for some of us is enough to be an irritant to the heart. It's the same reason they do an echo while we are on the left side. The heart is at it's closest for them to visualize via the echo.

[Pacific]

Sleeping on my left side always triggered my PAF but I have not had an episode since last summer when I started taking Fleicanide 50 mg and Bisoprolol 1.25 mg.

However, I know that I can trigger off an attack by inadvertently pressing on my left chest when reading my iPad or a book.

I got 2 episodes of only 10- 15 minutes last fall (on the meds) and I have learned not to do this!

I assumed it is related to the left atrium

Another possible factor is that on the Bisoprolol my heart rate lingers between mid 30's at night and mid 40's sitting down in the daytime, which may Make me less susceptible to an episode. I am no athlete though!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Pacific]

Interestingly low heart rate is often a trigger for AF and for those (vagal AF) people beta blockers are not such a good idea. More not less likely I fear Pacific.

[Finvola]

Lying on the left is uncomfortable for me too. Although it has not triggered AF, it makes my heart feel as if it is heavy, bulging to the left and not beating properly. I thought the same as Pacific that it is related to stresses on the left atrium.

[BobD Volunteer]

Left side, right side, back? We are all different but the fact is that some positions for some people make them more aware of what their heart is doing and they feel that this is causing the AF. You have AF therefore things will make it happen.

Bob

[Pdotg in reply to BobD]

This is exactly what my EP says.

[Hidden]

Yes, can't sleep on my left, sometimes not on my back either and always OK on my right.

[Gracey23]

Karen , yes I have same problem. I slept for over a year on my back and right side after reading to not sleep on left side with AF. Sure enough one night I was so uncomfortable that I said, I'm sleeping on my left side. For ten minutes it felt like bliss to change my usual position but then sure enough I went into AF. I couldn't believe it ! Never did that again not matter how uncomfortable I get. I have no idea why this happens but I know I'll never experiment again. You aren't alone! Gracey

[KarenYvonne in reply to Gracey23]

That's what I did ! Fed up of being on my back and tried my comfy left side but went into AF! Right side seems to be ok.

[Gracey23 in reply to KarenYvonne]

So unbelievable that us A-fibbers can't even get comfy !

[Elaine1951]

Me too. Not AF but ectopicd

[Roseyuk]

Hi Karen, yes I can no longer sleep on my left side, not sure if it's anything to do with the fact that I get AF in my left atrium,

I've had two Ablations and two cardio versions, neither worked unfortunately. Plus I had a Tamponade,

Still waiting for further investigations, at Liverpooll. Hosp,

For possibly a pacemaker'

My last H monitor showed ventricular ectopic beats,

Although normally harmless if you have H decease or HA as I have, had, it can prove

To cause my heart to stop, just wished I had not looked up exactly what it was,

hope you eventually get some , relief soon, with you're AF..

And yes only being able to,lie one one side to sleep,

Is horrible'

Best wishes to you ..

[KarenYvonne in reply to Roseyuk]

Thanks for your reply, good luck with your future treatments.

[Hidden]

Yes indeed, if I lie on my left side my heart will start fidgeting and if I turn onto my back straight away, it stops. Over-sensitive hearts are a pain in the armpit!

Incidentally, I still have the odd glass of wine (or two). I refuse to stop living because of this blasted condition...

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Well done, that's the spirit!

[Gertsen in reply to Hidden]

Me too, I have cut down a lot on the wine and have less than the recommended amount although my GP says as long as I stay within that I should be fine. I do find that bubbly can set it off. I

[PeterWh in reply to Gertsen]

It may be the type of bubbly. Champagne is often OK but Prosecco is known to cause issues with some.

[Patient007]

Yes I also get worse AF when sleep on my left side. I cannot sleep on my back because I have acid reflux and I snore! I mainly therefore try and sleep on my right side.

[Hawkie147]

Re the subject of sleeping on left side.

In my case because I have 'progressed' from paroxysmal AF to persistent AF it no longer matters anymore as the AF is there which ever way I sleep.

Are you jealous you paroxysmal people.?

Another 'good'thing about being in persistent or permanent AF is that you no longer get that sinking feeling when you realise that your AF is about to start.

Now if only I didn't get tired so easily.

Any one out there like me? Would like to know.

Love Jean

[PeterWh in reply to Hawkie147]

I am in persistent AF but I find if I sleep on my side the AF gets worse and also feel pressure on the heart.

[Marion62 in reply to Hawkie147]

Hi Jean

By the time my AF was diagnosed nearly 4 years ago, I was told I was in persistent/permanent AF.

I have never known anything different and have had no real symptoms - but I do get tired more easily now.

I prefer to sleep on my left side and only very occasionally I feel my heart rate.

Best wishes

Marion

[Hawkie147 in reply to Marion62]

Hi Marion

You are like my husband who very recently has been told he has AF.It was discovered after he had an ECG at the doctors.He had felt a little breathless after a game of golf so sought out the GP.

Now he had absolutely no idea that there was anything wrong and says the only time he is aware of his AF is when he is in bed.

As for me a sufferer of 15 years I knew from day one that there was something wrong and have always been able to feel it. Now that I am in Persistent and nearly Permanent AF, it is the night time that I find hard. I try to avoid sleeping on my left side but often awake to find that I have been doing just that.

I too get tired but the Bisoprolol that I take has a lot to do with that and obviously the fact that my heart is working at reduced capacity.

Anyway still here aye!!

Lol Jean

[Marion62 in reply to Hawkie147]

Hi Jean

I had to change to diltiazem because bisoprolol made me so tired.

Marion

[Hawkie147 in reply to Marion62]

Hi Marion

I am seeing the GP this afternoon funnily enough. Might well discuss my Bisinoprol which I have been taking now for 9 months. It definitely makes me tired but one good thing about it is that because it keeps my blood pressure nice and low I now don't need to take any blood pressure pills like I used to.

There is always the bright side.

Not keen on this 'sticky weather tho'.

Jean

[Marion62 in reply to Hawkie147]

Let us know how you get on this afternoon.

Marion

[Vony]

100%....positional changes are a big trigger for me..the only real trigger I can identify in fact. Also sitting on low chairs triggers me.....weeeird!!! Lol

[gardenome in reply to Vony]

And I have learnt from experience not to lie on my left side to clean under a table!

[PeterWh in reply to gardenome]

Snap