Did moderate weight loss help anyone avoid afib ablation surgery?

[JoelH]

Hi, I am 51 and was recently diagnosed with lone afib, but I have had episodes for years that were always missed by office EKG's and stress tests. I was only diagnosed after wearing a monitor for 30 days. My monitor results were bad enough that my doctor did not think I needed to try medication for very long---multaq did not work at all for me, so I am scheduled for cryo ablation in just over a month because my episodes of afib have gotten almost unbearable---I am even afraid to eat a large meal lately because that has triggered an attack. I have quit drinking but still need to lose about 20 lbs. to get to my optimal weight. I have just started a strict diet of about a 1000 calories a diet per the randomized trial in the following link: jamanetwork.com/journals/ja...

This study suggests that it took more than three months before any significant differences were seen in the treatment group (dieters). So I am debating whether I should postpone my scheduled surgery for several months and try this strict diet to see if it will alleviate my symptoms.....Does anyone have any relevant experience on minimizing afib symptoms upon attaining their optimum weight???

[BobD Volunteer]

There is no doubt that lifestyle changes can have an affect on AF but my feeling is that they are complimentary to treatment such as ablation not an alternative. Reduction in meat consumption with a move to a more plant based diet cutting out processed foods , alcohol, stress etc etc has worked for some alongside ablation.

You have AF so you will get AF and all that changes is how often or how severe.

[Jonathan_C]

I had a long chat to my EP about all the 'alternative' methods of treating a-fib - specifically magnesium, but others too. The only thing he mentioned to me was that there is some evidence that weight loss reduces the likelihood of afib by 25% .i.e. prevents the onset of afib. I am sure weighing less makes all aspects of living easier, including dealing with the symptoms of afib, but i am sure weight loss won't cardiovert you.

[MarkS]

Dr John Mandola, an EP, has changed his views and now believes that for many people lifestyle modification is the way forward. See:

drjohnm.org/2015/09/a-cauti...

and medscape.com/viewarticle/81...

So that means weight loss, exercise, no smoking and limiting alcohol. In the trial, those following this regime had one sixth of the AF burden compared with those in the control group who did not.

[Diamondgirl5]

I have found that if I weigh less I have less episodes and have less breathing issues. Good luck!

[jeanjeannie50]

I've lost 7lbs in weight since Christmas and have had no AF now for just over 11 weeks. I've not gone that long without symptoms for many years. Have also changed my diet too and always eat plant based wholefoods and am lactose and gluten free. I also believe having an infected tooth extracted earlier in the year, which had given me problems around the time my AF started many years ago, played a part.

Jean

[JoelH in reply to jeanjeannie50]

That is very encouraging to hear. Have you also had any ablation in the past?

I just had an apicoectomy on my tooth with an old root canal that had gotten infected again many years later. When the dentist was doing the surgery yesterday, he said he could not see any further sign of the infection after the retreatment of the root canal he performed last month. I am hoping that clearing up this tooth infection will help me as well.

As for the plant based diet, do you mean exclusively plant based--I.e. vegan? I've been trying a Mediterranean diet with lower carbs and no dairy as well. When I eat a carb-heavy vegan meal--like beans and rice or oatmeal with berries--I felt that was a trigger also, so now I try to have more lean animal proteins like eggs and seafood or vegan proteins. But maybe with the tooth taken care of, I will be able to try vegan again......

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to JoelH]

I eat mostly fish with salad or veg, chicken occasionally, read meat perhaps twice a week and snack on mixed nuts and fruit. I don't buy anything ready made and all my food is cooked from scratch so that I know exactly what I'm eating. I'm gluten and lactose free, must admit I sometimes buy some really nice gluten free chocolate ginger biscuits. I'm no angel with regards to diet and sugar I can tell you, but I do my best!

I believe it took 10 days after I had my tooth extracted for the infection to go completely, or at least that's when my heart went back to a normal rhythm.

I've had three ablations.

Jean

[JoelH in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks for all the helpful information. Do you think that you had the infected tooth over the entire time period of your 3 ablations? If so, did the ablations still help--just not enough??? And congratulations on your recent success. I hope it continues.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to JoelH]

I believe having an infection in that tooth 12 years ago may have triggered my AF. Two dentist's tried to root fill the tooth and failed. It used to hurt but eventually the soreness died down, but I think the infection may have quietly simmered on. Yes I think the problem carried on before and after my ablations. The first two ablations didn't do much, but I was a little better after the third one last July.