Something new happening

[Sunny-fl]

I have Paroxysmal afib which has been quiet since my Pacemaker was inserted June 2017 for SSS tachy brady and I take diltiazem and xarelto. I was starting to feel pretty confident. Now for the last few weeks I get occasional a flutter after dinner and in the middle of the night which I've never had before. My recent pacemaker check showed a flutter episodes. I contacted my cardiologist office after one bad episode and they said to take my PIP Flecainide which I did one time. I'm so disappointed with this new issue, I know nothing about aflutter or what causes it or what to do about it. I'm being scheduled for a home sleep study test but that doesn't explain the after dinner aflutter. Any information would be appreciated.

[rosyG]

I'm not sure about flutter but if it had shown AF activity after meals and during the night it would be the vagus nerve that was involved. Flutter is linked with AF so perhaps the same cause?

Deep breathing, blowing as it you are blowing a balloon but keep mouth shut ! bearing down- all can slow the heart rate and may be enough to steady things. Don't have too large meals etc.

Hope you get it sorted soon.

[EngMac in reply to rosyG]

Pretty much all heart doctors and other doctors focus their attention on the heart and few if any health practitioners focus on the vertebrae in your neck and back that compromise the nerves, including the vagus nerve, that tell the heart what to do. All the things recommended by RosyG actually affect the back and maybe not so much the heart. I know for sure back issues can start and stop AF. I have been aware of this for a few years. Getting anyone to help with this is a challenge. Chiropractors may help and may even stop AF if you find the right one and have a vertebra structure that responds positively. As we age, the discs in our backs compress and thus the nerves are more impacted. This could be the reason for the expression "AF begets AF" as we age.

Our bodies decrease the amount of collagen they make as we age. The discs in our back and many other parts of our bodies need collagen - skin, hair, nails, etc. Try taking collagen supplements if you are over 50 and this could help. You will have less wrinkles, if that interests you. There is one other possibility that could help and that is using a seemingly voodoo device. I have not completely found the definitive solution or recipe but I have learned this is definitely something worth pursuing. It does not involve drugs so this is positive and it can help with many health issues. If you want more info, message me. Some of these devices are very expensive but at least one is affordable for some people and comes with free training. Without training or a trained practitioner, it is not very effective. Training given by some manufacturers is very expensive. Unfortunately, the cost of medical devices can be inappropriately inflated. I don't know if specific medical device names are allowed on this site so I have not been specific.

[rosyG in reply to EngMac]

I think it's also that the body switches between the autonomic and the parasympathetic nervous system which is why changes occur when we relax/sleep if we have the vagal type of AF