If you could go back in time pre-AF and tell yourself something that would either help your AF journey or possibly avoid AF (if that's even possible) what would you say?
It can only be one thing, and it's one thing to make your life easier when you do get diagnosed with AF.
Go!
Keep calm and breathe.
Don't be an athlete or fighter pilot.
For me personally it would be: You're going to get ill, have time off work and a few struggles. Don't be impatient. It will be a longer journey than you expect, and as you start to feel better you'll get knocked back again. But as you tell patients at work, play the long game, ride out the bumps in the road and you'll start to feel better with help from friends and family.
If I was to time travel to the 8/9 months pre diagnosis I'd say stop the energy drinks & coke (drink) they're just not worth it. But I liked the first one better so I'm going with that.
Have a second ablation sooner rather than later, avoiding the medication route.
Id tell myself that I need to sort out my stress levels as in time it affected my physical health in ways I wouldnt have thought possible. Xx
If I could go back to my 20s (a *long* time ago and 50 years pre-AF!) I'd say: Follow all the lifestyle advice which is given these days - Don't smoke, don't drink more alcohol than the guidelines state, eat only non-processed food including plenty of veg and fruit, take regular exercise, keep your BMI below 25, or make sure your waist measurement is not more than half your height.
[back in my 20s I don't remember any of this being said]
Don't overstress your heart by any means.
Run 10k or cycle 50k if you want, but don't think you're the next Mo Farah/Chris Froome and keep the pace sensible.
If you're overstressed at work, consider a new job.
Don't become an adrenline junkie (this was my undoing) doing things like skiing, rally-driving, luge, etc. I still do the same things and they are just as enjoyable, only I do them at 90% of the speed I used to so there isn't the constant brush with danger all the time.
Absolutely... change job
Lifestyle
Go back in time to my early 20's and tell myself to never ever drink vodka and red bull. Countless nights out drinking double vodka/red bull and waking up with chest pains the next day. I am convinced that this was most certainly a contributing factor to my couple of bouts of AF and now left with palpitations.
To my mind, energy drinks are extremely dangerous and should be banned.
There should be severe restrictions on sale and consumption and better advertised risks for sure. I was naïve when I started 12 hour shifts and they got me through busy weeks but I regret using them as a crutch.
My sons stopped using them about four years ago and I about 12. Long drives with the race transporter on my own were when I used them. At least I never did anything stronger and DO remember the 60s! (Well maybe some ginger bread . Nudge nudge )
Nothing. You can change your Levis but you can't change your Genes.
Lifestyle. However I think I knew I should make lifestyle changes at the time but I chose to ignore my inner voice! X
Don’t gain weight.
Eat only natural foods that are free from artificial additives.
I would read CDreamer ‘s book, Holistic Management of Atrial Fibrillation. Oh wait, she hasn’t written it yet? Well I can’t think of anyone better placed to write it.
When you start having episodes of P-AF be calm, do not panic. If you are not experiencing chest pain although what is happening to your body is scary it is unlikely to be life threatening. Staying calm will have beneficial effects on your body and help your journey through the episode.
Only one?
I’d go back to when I was lying in hospital before the birth of my first child and say, “Never take your health for granted and no matter what life throws at you (and believe me there will be a lot of challenges) believe in yourself and don’t stress too much. It will be okay in the end and if it’s not okay, it’s not the end.”
Don't do four days of drinking to celebrate your 50th birthday! That was the start for me....
plus being stressed at work, drinking too much coffee and carrying too much weight.
Now aged 57: have lost 3 stone, I'm an expert on decaffeinated coffee, non alcoholic beer and wine (still have the odd glass of the real stuff now and again) and work still stressful but managing it better.
Lifestyle. Especially avoid stressful relationships.
Know what causes you stress and deal with it. But the root cause of my AF was having a congenitally damaged heart so probably my bit of advice would be to admit when you need help.
Do the job you love and stay career minded(nursing). Don't even think about getting married (3divorces).to stressful in them and worse getting out of them.
Take time out for myself and not try and fix everyone and everything.
Where is the rewind button please?
🤔💔
Get your under active thyroid diagnosed sooner.
Exercise and stay in a healthy BMi range.
Do a job you love, not one that you are permanently stressed out
I’d say no to vodka/Red Bull and no to recreational use of stimulant drugs. I asked my Dr before emigrating and he said that these things, as a young adult, probably brought on my AF.
I do take that on board BUT both my parents had it and they wouldn’t know an e or a vodka Red Bull if it smacked them in the face.
They’re both dead now but you get my point.
Would have taken my high blood pressure more seriously and although on medication should have adjusted diet and lifestyle accordingly.
Less alcohol, less social engagement, less stress.
Avoid fluoroquinolone antibiotics like the plague
Stop the ridiculous exercise regimes, moderate exercise only. Stop taking PPI's like Omeprazole (which deplete magnesium levels) and take a daily dose of magnesium.
After over 25 years with daily "Paroxysmal" AF and a failed ablation, I stopped taking PPI's and took a magnesium dose daily.
Result; absolutely zero ectopic beats and AF totally banished. I can't even feel my hear beating in my chest or in my ears as I used to and life is absolutely peaceful and calm because of it.
Try much harder to really sort out my bowel problems, only just realised I'm intolerant to fish.......
Reading all the very relevant comments only reinforces my one piece of advice 'Press the reset button'. I have made so many lifestyle changes, I sometimes can't believe the folly of inexperience.
Would have more respect for my body xx
travel insurance advice please 
is feeling cold a symptom or side affect of medication ??
