Long Haul Flights

[Seahorse8]

My anxiety over having AF episode on long haul flights acts as trigger for episode. Now have to avoid all long haul. Now take short haul but time consuming and expensive. Anyone else suffer similarly? Any advice as to how to deal with?

[SRMGrandma Volunteer]

I used to frequently  go into AF after long flights.  Not only was I anxious, but dehydration played a huge part.  So I decided to stop being anxious about it (I'm the boss of my thoughts), and changed to drinking plenty of water to avoid the dehydration.  Resting up at the destination makes a difference too, as jet lag was just as likely to throw me into AF.  Happily, since my ablation I have not even been able to travel without thinking about AF.   Breathe deeply, concentrated relaxation is the antidote to anxiety.

[KipperJohn in reply to SRMGrandma]

I flew here to Melbourne from the UK on 15 February, in the full knowledge that I have PAF and am due a second ablation when I get back - I have an appointment with the EP on 15 April. Fortunately I have never gone into AF whilst flying - although I had a 12 hour episode here on 21 March. Completely out of the blue as usual - I had been feeling ok apart from my usual persistent cough which was worse than normal. Anyway I took an extra 25 mg of metoprolol and just rested up. Luckily I went back into NSR whilst asleep so am hoping that's the lot until I get back to the UK on the 11 April - but how long's a piece of string?

From a practical point of view I obviously brought more than enough meds, have stayed off wine etc (I hardly drink much anyway) and drink plenty of water and am reasonably careful with my diet. It's not easy psychologically knowing AF may occur at any time, but equally I still feel determined not to let it rule my life - hence continuing down the ablation route.

I'm 68 and lucky to have an understanding family both in the UK and here. 

Hope that helps - take care!

[KipperJohn in reply to KipperJohn]

Oops sorry - flew here on 15 March so AF 6 days after flying.

[Seahorse8]

Perhaps I should have been clearer. I routinely got AF before I even got on a long haul flight. The trigger I am certain was the anxiety caused by the fear of actually having an AF episode during the flight (often 10 -12 hrs duration). In reality I never had an episode during a flight . I took all usual precautions re no alcohol , plenty of water etc. In the end I had to give up long haul simply because the pre flight anxiety proved too much. 

[Kodaska in reply to Seahorse8]

The facts so far:

- You freaked out about getting AF on a long haul flight.

- You never got AF on a long haul flight.

What does this tell you?

SRMGrandma is correct, as far as she goes, but there's more to it.   You can't be the boss of your thoughts (great phrase!) until you know what they are and what they mean.  Examine the two facts and you might conclude that your anxiety is baseless.  If you continue to feel anxious over something that doesn't happen, you would do well to examine the reasons you get anxious.  It certainly isn't AF.  It's something else, and AF is a symbol, or cover, for it.

Figure that out and go deeply enough into it to see its root causes.  Then you can decide if you want to do whatever it will take to cure it.  Until then you'll experience anxiety, whether it's AF or something else.

There's peace on the other side of difficulty, and there's no short cut.

[Chris147]

I would not fly long haul now. I hated long haul anyway certainly could not cope with jet lag and feel there are many places I love in Europe so no real longing to go back to the states. The thing I thought about for me is that you are over the ocean for 4 hours to usa so if Paf came on which it could especially feeling anxious I decided there would be no where to divert to. I really hope with less episodes over time my confidence will grow and I will contemplate a trip to the canaries which I love.  I totally concur that af should not rule your life and I have tried to combat my fears but I have to be true to myself and think how lucky I am that this horrible problem came when I was 60 and not as it does for many people who are much younger. Giving up not giving in to some aspects of my life is not the end of the world getting on on a daily basis free of symptoms is my priority. I do admire others that are more determined than me happy flying. Chris 

[suzytoshoes]

Hi I have  PAF , i felt the same  thinking about long haul flights, i was worried sick but  My Daughter &Son   live in Canada,  so i decided to chance it  talked to myself   that i would be fine  and i was  i felt better over there than here, but i know it is not easy  but i dont want  AF to   Affect  what i can do   if possible , just rest up  best i can

                                          Suzy

[Patient007]

I think you should just relax and enjoy your long haul flights. Think of it as a great adventure. I have done six long haul flights each one around 11 hours.  I travel on my own and do get a bit anxious, mainly because I am a bit claustraphobic but the cabin crew are always very good and if you remember to take your meds on time and allow for any time differences you should be okay.  Please do not let it stop you flying long haul. Good luck.

[weezergeezer]

I went to China, I went to Australia, I went to Mauritius...all Af free,

if only I had the power to demand or stop an episode, its out of my hands !

[CDreamer]

I flew long haul, US, Singapore and a few others beside with AF.  I had several episodes of AF and whilst flying and thought nothing of it - just went to sleep and used the toilet more often - the advantage was I couldn't do anything anyway so much easier to relax whereas at home I always stressed about not being able to complete was I was doing.  I was lucky as neither episode lasted very long and HR was never over 130 so Nothing dire ever happened, I did monitor myself though with Alivecor.

No point in worrying in something you cannot control, what you are doing sounds much, much more stressful in taking short haul flights to get somewhere.

[Rellim296]

Seahorse, what would happen if AF struck you whilst flying?  Would it be a real problem?  Do you have the sort of violent AF that requires hospital intervention?  Even if not, do you have a plan of action and a means of getting back to NSR?

I told my GP I was not keen to travel and he encouraged me to go abroad and I did and had a great time, no problems of any sort.  AF struck me on my next jaunt.  I wasn't stuck at 35,000 feet but I was away on my own and had a string of train journeys and appointments and woke with AF that continued until the evening.  At the time I didn't know how to deal with it and just had to carry on with my plans and I was fine.

I'm feeling, however, that your reluctance may be more about managing anxiety than about managing AF.

[Seahorse8]

In response to Rellim296 I did note in my original post that it was an anxiety issue. It was this I sought advice as to how to deal with. (I try to manage my AF with medication and lifestyle.) Has anyone else overcome similar anxiety? How ? 

My AF episodes are not numerous but when happen are typified by rapid irregular heartbeat (150+ bpm) , shortness of breath , considerable discomfort and exhausting. When lasting for 1-2 days required cardio version . Perhaps not life threatening but not pleasant at anytime and I think positively nightmarish if they were to commence early into a long haul flight within the cramped conditions of a plane. That's the concern that gives rise to anxiety. How to relieve this anxiety which itself can act as a trigger for AF? Catch 22?

[Rellim296 in reply to Seahorse8]

I think that the problem you've brought up is the nub of why AF is such a beast to be plagued with.