New from Utah

Hi I’m new here, got a fib early 2017 Had an ablation in April of this year. Everything went well but started having a fib again in about August. I’m taking XARELTO 20 mg Day. I get to a fib at night after I have had a glass of wine. Does anyone else have the same problem or is it just me?New from St. George Utah

[JaneFinn]

Hey patty, welcome to the forum You'll find everyone very supportive here.

I'm sorry to hear your A fib has returned - gutting, isn't it? It sounds like you're getting Paroxysmal AF? - and yes for sure, lots of people here find it comes on at night, and also after alcohol. For that reason many of us have (reluctantly!) cut out the alcohol, along with other life changes.

I'm only just starting to get an understanding of this AF stuff myself, but I'm sure others with greater experience and wisdom will be replying soon x

[Hidden in reply to JaneFinn]

Thank you for getting back to me so soon. And that’s what I was afraid of. I hate to give up my glass of wine once in a while, not too many things we can Enjoy once we get older. I’m 71 but I guess I’ll just have to learn to live with that or should I say live without it thank you again

[Amuella in reply to Hidden]

Hi Patty

I do not take any drugs for my AF but take vitamin E to thin my blood 1000mg I have bouts once a week lasting about 12 to 24 hours I to have one glass of red wine with my dinner everyday and when I tried leaving it for a while it did not make any difference so like you I am trying to live with it

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Patty, the sulphites in wine are a known trigger I'm afraid. I'm too scared to drink any alcohol at all now. I've had three ablations and have been told I'm one of the few people that ablations don't help. Flecainide has been a wonder drug for me, nothing else helped. Jean

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I’ve only had one ablation and it seem to really work until I tried having a glass wine. But when I first had my ablation they put me on Flecainide And I couldn’t handle it at all so I’m glad it helped you thanks for the comeback

[Spoiler in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Boy, do I wish I could have continued my Flecainide, it was awesome! I was perfect for 7 months of normal😬

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Spoiler]

Hi Spoiler, why did you stop taking Flecainide?

[Spoiler in reply to jeanjeannie50]

July 11th of this year my EP did a routine stress test, my heart rate got to 120 ( they wanted 135) and I went into Vtach in less than 5 minutes on the treadmill. I begged him could I just take a smaller dose. I was taking only 50mg twice daily and not one problem, my life and work were normal. He said, it was not worth dying for, he had rather see afib. He said, no way. So I have been off of it, cardioversion Aug 20th, Aug 31th and Oct 23. Not on any antiarrhymics. Cardiac arrest on Tikosyn after second pill, the first pill converted me. No drugs left except amiordarone🌚😥

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Spoiler]

Sorry to hear about that.

[Robyncarmen]

Hi Yes that was always my trigger. I’m fine with no wine 🍷 but then chocolate 🍫 can cause it along with food, eating at night. I’m now permanently in AF now so my Cardiologist said to have a wine it’s not going to make any difference now. Let’s know how you go ???

Cheers. Rob xx

[opal11uk]

Have you tried leaving out the glass of wine and seeing if its any better? Alcohol can be a trigger for AF

[Mike11]

There are plenty of wines available without sulphates. Give one a try and see if it's the alcohol or the sulphate that is the trigger.

[Nanabrodie]

I found that new world wines were the worst for triggering af if I stuck to French or Italian I was fine. Seemingly new worlds have more sulphate in them . I have recently had second ablation back in August and so far so good and alcohol is not causing any problems at all 🤞

[sleeksheep in reply to Nanabrodie]

Wine only has to mention sulphides if they are 10ppm or over.

The same with ciders and beer.

Generally for export they increase the sulphide for longer shelf life.

I have to stay away from imported boutique beers and ciders.

I found staying with those that dont mention sulphides have little or

no effect on afib.

[Lizty]

It's very early in the 'blanking' process after your ablation. I avoided wine for six months after my ablation and since then have still been careful. No afib now so can drink one glass of wine in the evening quite happily, although I avoid alcohol if I am particularly tired or feeling unwell.

[Lofty77]

Hi Patty I have had A/F now for the past four years ,at the moment under control .i used to love a glass of wine but found this did trigger A/F now Wine and spirits is a big no no ,But rememberA/F effects us all differently.

[Finvola]

Hi Patty and welcome. It's a pain that you have AF to contend with again but I agree with jeanjeannie50 that the sulphides in wine are likely to be the culprit.

I gave up my lifelong love affair with wine on diagnosis - even tried de-alcoholised wine but it had the same effect as the real stuff.

It's a small price to pay for me to help keep AF away. I hope it works for you too.

[Spoiler]

I absolutely can not have any type of alcohol or even caffiene, I have always been very sensitive. Some people are not, but even before I was in persistant afib, alcohol was a trigger. Look up holiday heart, ER sees people come in with afib from drinking. Sadly even wine my EP told me was a no for me.

[Hidden in reply to Spoiler]

Hey thanks for all the feedback, it looks like everyone that has the wine except for a very few has the same problem as me. Just my luck oh well stay away from the wine for several weeks . If I have no more a fib it’ll be worth it. I do drink coffee in the morning but only one cup and I’m not a real big fan of spicy foods.

I was diagnosed with

Alpha-l antitrypsin deficiency ( Alpha-l )

It attacks my liver and longs so I don’t need a heart problem, that’s why I reached out to see about the wine.

Thank s for all your help

[RoyM in reply to Hidden]

Hi Patty....wine and brandy even in small amounts woyld trigger an Afib event. Since i have gone into persistant AF no problem with alcohol at all. I am also lucky that even now I am in Persistent AF I am pretty much sympton free. By the way i love St George I have visited a few times during my road trips from the UK in Utah and surrounding states. Lovely town and lovely temple in the centre. Keep well. Roy

[Hidden]

I can't tolerate even a sip of wine. I haven't had any alcohol for 7 years and it's the best thing that's happened to me. In retrospect, alcohol's not so great. I spent so many years with hangovers, feeling like s..., doing stupid things at parties, spending a fortune and making totally inappropriate comments, so life without alcohol is a blessing for me; even though I didn't have any problem with alcohol before the AF and was just a 'social drinker (?)'. Life did seem a bit more fun though...

AF makes you rethink lots of things, and I've tried to revise my thinking about alcohol both personally and as a member of society. Not preaching - just suggesting a different way of looking at it, and trying to put a more positive spin on something everybody assumes to be bad....