How my AF started...

Question for all the very knowledgeable people on here:

Background: I had a Sleeve Gastrectomy (weight loss surgery) in 2012. Extremely successful up until 3 years ago when I began to gain weight but I wasn’t eating more. Then I started having to force myself to be sick after eating just a tiny bit too much. I’ve been on the waiting list for a hernia repair and revision to gastric bypass for over a year now. My Dad had AF and died of a brain bleed last March.

About 3 ago after a drinking session and a McDonald’s on the way home, I was sick. My heart suddenly went crazy fast and was the same all the next day. It went away by the evening.

About 6 months after, another night out, some Doritos and I was sick.... same thing but it lasted until lunchtime the next day.

Last September I had a particularly stressful evening, had to move out of where I was living for 2 days, plus had a minor skin surgery the following day. I drank 1 beer and ate some Doritos and was sick. My heart started racing and never stopped... the next day at the surgery they said I needed to see a doctor if it didn’t slow down. It didn’t and I was diagnosed with AF 2 weeks later. My AF never stopped, I didn’t have episodes, it was constant. From September till the day of my cardioversion (3 wks ago).... I continued my pattern of eating and forcing myself to be sick when it became uncomfortable.

While I was waiting for my cardioversion I promised myself that if it worked I would not ‘over eat’ again and force myself to be sick. When I say over eat I mean possibly 1 spoonful too much. I still only eat very small meals. Anyway something must have made me think I was not helping matters....

So far my heart has stayed In NSR.... 3 wks now. I have only been sick once since. My meals are even tinier now!

Now my question is... do you think the being sick caused my AF? I did tell the Cardiologist my history but he didn’t say anything. Having read a lot on here, it’s making me wonder....

Obviously I can’t turn the clock back.... but am just wondering if I caused it.

Thanks! Plus sorry about the long story!!

[Kellyjelly]

Hi, I don’t have any advice or experience of this but just wanted to say hi as I posted my story here today after spending a lot of time trying to find answers by myself. I hope someone with a lot more knowledge than me comes along soon and you get to the bottom of it x

[Buffafly]

I think you know the answer to your question, don't you? I would say your general behaviour has provoked the AF. Read your own post again and ask yourself if you have treated your body with love and respect? Your heart is trying to tell you something. You mentioned your father's death and I wonder if there are other issues which are leading you to hurt yourself? Please consider whether perhaps you should seek counseling before undergoing more surgery which won't be successful if you don't take care of yourself.

Best wishes 💕

[Hidden in reply to Buffafly]

I thank you for your reply and I can see what you’re saying.

I would say this: The cardiologist said my AF was genetic as I’d shown no other signs. I told him what I wrote in my post.

I believed him until I came here... I see all sorts of reasons for AF and became to wonder.

The sickness is something I can control and I have. I can say this with all truth, I did not know I was doing anything that wrong. I ate an extra mouthful and then was sick.... everything seemed alright. Clearly I was wrong.

I’m hoping to get my gastric bypass surgery soon to repair the hernia and restrict food even more. Weight loss surgery does mess with your metabolism and mine is awful now. I’ll lose a bit of weight again... I’d put on a bit since last year after stopping the gym.

So, as I said I can’t turn the clock back.... whatever I’ve done, I’ve done.

On the plus side.... I feel much better now I’m in rhythm 😃

[Buffafly in reply to Hidden]

The predisposition to AF may be genetic but it seems it is lifestyle or other medical conditions that set it off. If you search for ' vagus nerve' here or Google it you will find lots of useful information but I have to say cardiologists don't always recognise the connection between gastric problems and AF.

[Hidden in reply to Buffafly]

I think you’re right. I’ve been very naive ....

I have been reading about the vagus nerve and I was thinking omg....

I knew none of this until I came here.

[Alessa69 in reply to Hidden]

Hi there, sorry that you are going through such a very difficult time, Shock if losing your Dad and major health issues , it all impacts upon the heart 💗Take a look at Dr Sanjay Gupta’s video on YouTube and his Facebook

Page York Cardiology,’. Great info there, well explained . He mentions the connection between the Vagal Nerve and A Fib.... not many CARDIOLOGIST’s make that connection. Treasure your body and live life, it will love you back 💗I had that same relief post ablation when the discovered my A Fib, which had previously been dismissed as stress.....SO delighted to be back in NSR

[Hidden in reply to Alessa69]

Thank you for your reply. Yes it was a tough year. I’m working on changing things now... good job I came here!

[meadfoot]

Sorry to hear you are having a bad time. Also sorry to hear you have lost your dad, such trauma doesn't help us emotionally and physically. Everything seems to be hitting you at once and I hope you can get the support you need from your medical team.

You clearly have a familial presdispoision to af if your father had it and probably forcing sickness has brought it all to the fore coupled with your emotional upset re your dad, over eating, original by pass surgery and pending hernia surgery, all a perfect storm in fact for the condition to raise its head.

Pleased you have found over eating and making yourself sick is a trigger for the af, knowledge is power so you will be avoiding that combination in future. Read all you can here about af and triggers on the afa website.

Hope you get your hernia surgery soon and continue to stay in nsr now you know how to help yourself do so. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to meadfoot]

Thankyou for your thoughtful reply.

2018 was the worst year of my life ... I’m 53 so I think I’m lucky to have 52 great years before the 53rd one.

I’m changing everything about my life now. I gave up alcohol when I was diagnosed with AF. Later I gave up caffeine... today I’m giving up sugar in my tea.

Possibly stable door syndrome but well, I’m giving these things a go to stay in rhythm 👍❤️

[icklebud99 in reply to Hidden]

Never stable door syndrome, we all live life our way and make errors, I had to stop smoking, alcohol, believe it or not Branston Pickle lol, and lots of other triggers, dark chocolate, fizzy water, the list goes on. I also avoid all stressful situations where possible, all you have been through is most definately a huge factor in your condition starting, making your self sick is a stress on your body and I'm glad you have stopped this before it develops into an eating disorder. Read as much as you can from the AF association website and ask as many questions on here as you like. Everybody wants to help. Good luck, love yourself.

[Hidden in reply to icklebud99]

Thank you .... yes it seems there are all sorts of triggers! Who knew! I certainly didn’t.

I am being very careful now... very. 😄

[Hidden]

I would just like to add how brave I think you are to be so open about your story and insightful about your actions and reactions.

Making the decision to have weight loss surgery must have been so difficult. Change is also always difficult and finding ways to deal with choices we have to make, can sometimes lead us down a strange path to achieve a goal, such as your slight overeating and induced 🤮.

You have had a lot to deal with but, hopefully, can now focus on yourself to reduce your AF burden and continue your weight loss.

Take care

Pat x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Pat 😍

[Hidden]

Hi i gave up caffeine have decaf coffee and have decaf coke don't drink no more but life is getting good don't worry no more that was my worse thing worry so it can only get better little steps we can do this

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Yes.... most definitely changed things up! Worrying is hard to stop.... but I’m trying!

[007talullah]

Maybe you were always going to develop AF (AF incidence increases with age) and if it hadn’t been from purging it might have been from sleeping, or eating. Maybe it was the alcohol and not the purging. Try not to beat yourself up or feel guilty about it. Sometimes AF just happens no matter how good or bad you’ve been living. Best to just figure out how to move forward positively. Good luck! Lani

[Hidden in reply to 007talullah]

Thank you.... I wonder about that too!!

Oh well, I have it and have to just get on with it.... like everyone else.

[Ianc2]

When you are surrounded by people who re scoffing cakes and guzzling beer it seems so unfair but for good or bad you only get one go at this life. I have seen a friend go on the anti diabetes 800 calories a day diet, after being advised he was going to go blind and lose his lower legs, and succeed. I have also attended the funerals of others who did not. The after effects of widowmaker heart attacks are tragic.

[Hidden]

Hi I would like to go away this year on holiday abroad only having P A F since Sept 2018 it had scared me going on a plane go every year on one but this year don't no wot to do any advice out there