Sleep Disturbance

[RichMert]

I have had 2 ablations but recently seem to be waking up regularly throughout the night. I notice that recently when I lie down, I get the odd 3-6 second heart flutter which could be tachycardia but not AF. Just wondered whether a flutter during sleep could rouse me?

[Hidden]

I'm sure it could. Some drugs can effect sleep too. Do you lie on your left? Some people find lying on the left can trigger AF.

[RichMert in reply to Hidden]

I am AF free or at least I think since ablation. I am aware of a sensation and the heart rate speeds up though remains in NSR. Will be almost impossible to spot on an ECG unless 7 day monitor.

[Buffafly]

Depends how you wake up, if with a jump could be sleep apnoea?

[RichMert in reply to Buffafly]

Interesting that you should suggest that. I asked my doctor and consultant about this and they just gave me a funny look. I was getting what can best be described as throat spasms at the time which occurred mainly as I was just dropping off to sleep. I would suddenly wake because I was unable to swallow which also meant unable to breath but, I guess if I relaxed I realised I could still breath through my nose. These only started when I was put on Amiodarone prior to first ablation and got particularly bad when they stuffed me full of it quickly prior to my second ablation. These spasms grew further apart with time after coming off the Amiodarone which was 2 years 3 months ago. They could not find anything wrong with my throat when I saw a specialist and I am convinced it was the Amiodarone. The only Sleep Apnoea symptom I have is snoring otherwise. I get 6 second bouts of ectopics or tachycardia since ablation but these can be weeks apart or periods of hours apart. I have just become aware of what feels like a flutter when I lie down and wonder if it is connected with frequent waking up during the night.

[Polski]

Many people with AF are short on magnesium. When I started taking it I found that my health improved in other ways too, including my sleeping becoming much better with far fewer interruptions, so that might be worth trying. Search on here for many posts on what kind of magnesium to take etc.

[Curlychriscoach]

My experience post ablation, has been one episode of AF during the night, for 5 hours, after something woke me suddenly. Of course the 5 hours was spent listening to my heart, not the best use of time!

The second point with lying down... I normally get into bed from vertical to prone in seconds and when getting up during the night, if needed, from prone to vertical in seconds. I have then had the 5-10 seconds of tachycardia. I have altered my routine by sitting on the edge of the bed for 5 seconds when both lying down and getting up. Adding 10 seconds to my nightly routine has stopped the events... so far.

[RichMert in reply to Curlychriscoach]

I will try this. Thank you