Laying down

[Donber65]

Hi my partner has af and has noticed that when laying down his heart does silly things but when up and moving around it seems to be ok

Does anyone else get this problem as he is really worried

[aika]

Very similar "Donber65". Mine always occurs more towards late afternoon and early to mid evening whenever I relax. Yes it can occur at random times earlier in the day (sometimes morn/sometimes early afternoons) but without fail in the first mentioned time frame. Spoke to my cardiologists (2 of them) about this and one said he does not know while the other tried to avoid answering. Both would not provide a clear explanation. Sorry I can not provide a proper answer with a solution, but I am searching myself. I will now speak with my GP whom I have known for many years.

[JaneFinn in reply to aika]

Hi aika, you describe exactly my experience too- if you do find out anything I’d be really grateful to hear. Thank you x

[aika in reply to JaneFinn]

Of course "JaneFinn". Let's both share whatever we can find out please.

[Hidden]

I'm sorry Donber but we are not medically trained therefore we are unable to offer any form of diagnosis, but if you could be more specific about the nature of the "silly things", others may come up with some suggestions for you to consider. I think however, it is something that you should discuss with your GP or cardiologist.......

[Hidden]

Hi Donber65 I don't have this particular prob with my afib but I had a thought you might want to ask his doc about. Often medical (or even other problems) we have seem worse when we are trying to relax or sleep. This may be an explanation why many people find their symptoms worse at night when the house is quiet and others who may live there are sleeping and not available to help distract them from their thoughts and worries. Could it be that afib sx are happening at other times also but as he may be involved in other activities he is not as aware of them? If it were me I would tell his doc and ask if perhaps having a record of his heart activity ( a 24 hour monitor, perhaps) for a continuous period of time might pick up sx at times he's not aware of them.Just a thought. Couldn't hurt to ask. Take care. He's lucky to have such a concerned partner. Burma

[rosyG]

He should ask his GP to arrange a monitor to see what is happening. Vagal AF happens at night or when relaxing so important to try and get a diagnoses from GP just so any meds needed can be organised

[BobD Volunteer]

I think this is very common and many people state that they are unable to lay on one side or the other as a result. I suspect a lot of it is due to pressure on the heart making one more able to feel it . Of course once noticed it is hard to ignore.

[Sam72-]

Yes I understand what you mean about silly things , I get it to sometimes in different positions in bed . I am not a doctor or medical person but I think it can be vagal , the nerve gets sensitive and can give you funny beats and my left side is the worse as it tends to give me ectopic beats.

[Eileen54]

It could be that these happen all of the time but if you are busy just don't notice them ,but when you sit down to relax your mind isn't on other things so you become more aware of what it is doing

[Buffafly]

I often get what I call my heart's 'party piece' when I lie down to sleep, it seems to try out every kind of arrhythmia in quick succession but maybe because I had an ablation it gives up and settles down after a couple of minutes. I think it is the change in pressure on my heart especially because my spine is crooked. If it went on for longer or happened every day I'd get it checked out.

[etheral]

The most serious condition that could cause this would be Congestive Heart Failure. This needs to be ruled out. See your cardiologist.

[CDreamer]

This is Autonomic Nervous System - rest and digest response - indicating that the irregular rythm could be vagal induced. There is quite a lot you can do to help yourself with vagal AF - slow breathing exercises can help but it tends to be very individual.

You may find watching some of th Dr Sanjay Gupta videos helpful - YouTube or FB - he talks a lot about vagal AF. Also put vagal AF into the search at the top of the page and you will find quite a lot threads about this. Lots from Dr Google but beware of the sources & those trying to peddle solutions.

There could be underlying reasons such as sleep apnea - especially if there Heart irregularities at night. That may be worth looking at,

Having a full stomach also has an influence, I nearly always have eaten too much when I have AF episode - like this morning which is why I am here whilst I await it to subside.

I found that improving vagal tone can also help.

[EngMac]

I have posted many times suggesting an option, which I am pretty sure, no cardiologist will suggest. I am probably the only one on this site who has tried this. It amazes me no one else has. The influential power of the herd is substantial. I suggest you take a look at some of my posts and go outside the heard and try a non-prescription, non-surgery, non-diet option. Find a chiropractor who will agree to check your spine and attempt to improve its structure to reduce or eliminate AF symptoms. Even most chiropractors are part of the herd; and unless you find a unique one, even this option will be negated. Should you find one, this option is not without its challenges; and will likely take patience and perseverance, and probably money on your part; and on the part of the chiropractor, a dogged determination and willingness to risk discipline for doing something not approved by the professional practice guidelines. They likely cannot say they are treating AF. They can say they are fixing your spine; and if this improves your overall health, that was their goal. Healing a nerve can take a year; but first, removing what is irritating it must be accomplished before it can begin to heal.

The nerves in the neck that affect the heart are the parasympathetic ones and in the back are the sympathetic ones. The parasympathetic ones slow the heart and the sympathetic ones speed it up. It is my guess, when the heart slows when we sleep or lay down, the sympathetic nerves do not speed it up again and it attempts to achieve this on its own and we get arrhythmias. If indeed the nerves in the back or neck are more compromised when we lay down, eat a big meal, etc, it seems to make sense that fixing them might be beneficial.

I am not a doctor, but just like everyone here, an inquisitive participant with a real life experience that likely has merit. I sure wish some knowledgeable doctor and chiropractor would at least thoroughly study this possibility. Should this be proven to help, this would be an amazing breakthrough in the treatment of AF.

[Sam72- in reply to EngMac]

Very interesting read 👍🏼

[JaneFinn in reply to EngMac]

I agree, EngMac. I’m very interested to read your experience.

I went to see a cranial osteopath for migraine relief and he worked on releasing my vagal nerve - which has had a positive effects not just on my migraines but on arrhythmia and stomach irritation too. Feels like a miracle sometimes.

I go back as often as I can afford it - the migraines are steadily improving but the arrhythmia comes and goes. But for sure my position (along with tension too) is a crucial factor and this particular cranial osteopath (who is just brilliant) is very knowledgable about it all.

[Doodle513 in reply to EngMac]

I have Afib and I have Chiari, a malformation which is located in the neck. With Chiari Malformation chiropractic manipulation can have deadly consequences. If you have excrusciating headaches the begin in the shoulders and works up the back of your neck, all over pain along with a long list of other symptoms you may be suffering from Chiari Malformation. Find a neurologist who specializes in Chiari and find out of this is your problem. Also having a sleep study (including upper & central studies) can be very helpful. My Afib is cardiac drug resistant & will not correct with Abligation because it is not a cardiac problem it is caused by Chiari Malformation. Although my problem is not heart caused or corrected, I still am on a blood thinner to avoid blood clots. Chiari correction involves brain surgery, and should be avoided unless symptoms are unbearable or life threatening. conquerchiari.com is an 3xcellect site to find more info.

[EngMac]

One more comment. It is possible that, for some people, the number of adjustments could be few to obtain results.

[higgy52]

hello Donber, i get the same can go bed with a pulse of 76 and get up in morning and check pulse after a short rest and it's nearly 100, then slows down during day, take Bosopolol in morning

[Burlingham]

I used to get it really bad at night so my doctor upped my medication (which I always took in the morning) he told me to take the extra tablet at night. So I decided not to increase my meds but gradually change my original dose to evening just before bed time. Worked for me. Sometimes get the funny heartbeats before tablets due.

[JCH53]

Yes I agree with C Dreamer I too find I cannot lie on my left side without getting palpitations.I have watched Dr Sanjay Guptas u tube videos and he says many of his patients tell him that.I suspect mine is Vagal AF.I have a hiatus hernia too.I sit up as much as I can in bed eat smaller portions of food and find that helps.Ive been taking magnesium supplements recently and find that helps, something that Sanjay Gupta recommends.He also has a website More than just medicine ? that is all about how improving your lifestyle can help.

[exbcmc]

Particularly lying on my left side. Otherwise I really didn’t feel it.