Dealing with AFib episodes

[carol73]

I have recently been diagnosed with AFib after it happened under anaesthetic in April. No previous history I am aware of. I have since had 3 episodes (very scary!) and hope for advice on control and management. Thank you

[TamlaMotown]

Welcome to another newbie Afibber like me. I'll leave the advice to the experienced amongst this forum as I am still learning myself about the dreaded AF. I still find it very scary too. It's a great forum though lot's of lovely Afibbers ready to offer advice to us novices 😊

[carol73 in reply to TamlaMotown]

Thank you TamlaMotown. I will welcome any advice more experienced AFibbers can offer so I can, hopefully, not let AFib rule my life. I would especially welcome advice on triggers/signals to be aware of or avoid.

[Hidden]

Welcome to the club that non of us want to be a member of.

My advice would be to read as much as you can , and check out some of the youtube videos from Dr Sanjay Gupta.

AF won't kill you, so have that firmly planted in your thoughts.

If you have an EP they would hopefully have given you a plan for what to do when AF strikes.

As for triggers, you could drive yourself mad trying to find them, they are different for everyone, and you may never find yours (I know that I haven't found mine!!)

You can reduce your AF burden by being at a healthy weight, exercise, eating healthily, reducing/cutting out alcohol, caffeine, Chinese food etc etc

good luck with your AF journey

[TamlaMotown in reply to Hidden]

Why Chinese food Mikee?

[Hidden in reply to TamlaMotown]

Monosodium glutamate, a known trigger for some people.

Add to that sulphites , found in cider and white wine to name a couple

Of course, they may not be your triggers

[TamlaMotown in reply to Hidden]

Well I must admit I had a Chinese meal a while back before I was diagnosed & I just thought it was coincidence that my heart started going like a train. Just goes to show

[djbgatekeeper]

Hi there, my triggers are listed below in priority order, as mentioned we are all different but avoiding the list below will capture 90% of what upsets most people's apple cart:

1. Alcohol

2. Energy drinks

3 . Caffeine (in anything tea, coffee ect)

4. Stress

5. Fatigue

6. Over exercise

7. Large meals

8. Sudden cold ie guzzling ice water.

The trick is to not panic when you have an attack, take slow deep breaths and remain as calm as possible. Obviously if you feel the need or unwell then seek medical assistance. I presume you are in the process of being medically assessed anyway? Take care and don't worry as the profesdionals will look after you 😊

[carol73]

Thank you for your very informative reply. I have tried to read what I can about the condition but have to admit getting a bit overwhelmed by some of the medical terminology which is why I have hopes that fellow Afibbers can explain things in ordinary speak. I had read about the possibility of MSG being a trigger but the possibility of sulphites is a new one for me. And I do like my white wine .....!

[CaroleF in reply to carol73]

Welcome to the Forum, Carol, where there are lots of informed, helpful and supportive AFibbers.

* For medical terminology have a look at the Pinned Post on the right - 'Abbreviations and Acronyms'

* For really good information about many aspects of AF take a look at all the resources for patients on the Atrial Afibrillation Association website here:

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

* If you are newly diagnosed it would probably be useful (and may not be too late) to register for the AFA Patients Day at the ICC in Birmingham on October 7th. It's well-worth attending and several of us will be there.

See here: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

As far as control and management is concerned:

* have you seen a cardiologist, or better still, an Electrophysiologist - an EP - as they are the experts in the 'electrics' of the heart)?

* do you have a treatment plan?

We can best help if you have specific questions since AF is such a mongrel condition and we all seem to have different triggers (or none!), often react differently to medication and so on and are able to control events to some extent by various means such as controlled deep breathing or mindfulness. To be honest everything seems to be a matter of trial and error. It's why it can be such a frustrating condition.

Hope this helps a bit,

Carole

[Morzine in reply to carol73]

Welcome carol, ima newbie too since May....this forum has lots of sensible affibers that know this beast so well.......yes I loved my white wine but the cardio told me it was a definite baddie for Afib......as I’m a newbie I can say with time you get a better perspective of this than when you are in shock over it and overwhelmed.....this site helps.......I’m on medication now and that has made life so much more normal.....it still scares me but I dont think of it much now and get on with things...you will too

Sue

[djbgatekeeper]

Yes I used to love a nice pint of beer on a summers evening, not had a drop for the best part of 20 years 😬 some folk can get away with small amounts of alcohol but 1 drink triggers me... Sadly!

[momist in reply to djbgatekeeper]

Or even not so small amounts. I am a fan of good beer, and go to beer festivals. I confess that I over indulge (although that takes a lot less beer these days than it used to!). Alcohol does not seem to be a trigger for me in any way, but stress and dehydration are, I think. As others have posted, everyone is different.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to momist]

Lucky you 😀 have a pint for me at your next festival pls 👍

[Maagaa]

Hi Carol I also went intoAFIB during a major surgery at Christmas 2016 for a few,onths we tried different meds and nothing worked then I was introduced to a wonderful Electrophysiologist from Hackensack named GlaucoRadaslovich who worked with me with meds preparing for my cardio conversion which worked for me and I have been in steady sinus rhythm for almost 2 yrs I am aware that I can flip anytime but enjoy the peace For s long as I have it. If you are anywhere in the vicinity ofNJ I would suggest getting in touch with this wonderful and competent man Good Luck