AFib returns: AFib returns after more... - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

32,309 members38,580 posts

AFib returns

JackyMac profile image
14 Replies

AFib returns after more than 2 years. I've been stable on min dose of flecainide until a week ago and woke up with erratic heart beats that cleared and went into rapid heartbeats. 111 said to go to A&E but when I got to there, there was nowhere to sit, people were sat on the floor without an inch of space and a queue out of the door.

I decided to see my doctor in the morning and she put me on verapamil which did The trick after 48 hours. However this morning woke up to AFib again. I'm still taking verapamil but think I'd be better back on flecainide. Why always when I wake up?

Just off loading, thank you for listening.

Written by
JackyMac profile image
JackyMac
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
14 Replies
CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

Commiserations. If AF starts during sleep then it could be postural. Have you tried raising the head of your bed?

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply toCDreamer

Can AFIB start depending on posture?

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer in reply toPadayn01

Yes - triggered by the vagus nerve. Put Vagal AF into the search box to view lots of threads about this issue.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply toCDreamer

Thank you will have a look now

JackyMac profile image
JackyMac in reply toCDreamer

Thanks CDreamer

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce

My understanding is that flec and verapamil work best when taken together. Flec is doing the job for me at the moment but if (when) afib returns I've asked to start on verapamil alongside flec.

Research shows they are much more effective taken together rather stand alone. Worth discussing with your doctor ?

secondtry profile image
secondtry

I understand it is important to nip AF in the bud as you don't want to let your heart get in the habit of tripping into AF, which encourages more episodes. I started on min Flecainide (100mgs day) which didn't stop it but 200mgs (medium dose) did and have been episode free for 5+ years. I would add I didn't rely on just the pills and took a lot of other lifestyle action.

As CDreamer says posture is important and your comments suggest to me 1)don't lie on your left side 2) use an extra pillow for your head. It is possible you have vagally mediated AF.

Good luck

secondtry profile image
secondtry

Sorry, one more thing you could have mild sleep apnea, try nasal strips at night.

JackyMac profile image
JackyMac in reply tosecondtry

Thank you. I will do that

You might want to try this to keep Afib at bay:

--------------------------------------

After 9 years of trying different foods and logging EVERYTHING I ate, I found sugar (and to a lesser degree, salt – i.e. dehydration) was triggering my Afib. Doctors don't want to hear this - there is no money in telling patients to eat less sugar. Each person has a different sugar threshold - and it changes as you get older, so you need to count every gram of sugar you eat every day (including natural sugars in fruits, etc.). My tolerance level was 190 grams of sugar per day 8 years ago, 85 grams a year and a half ago, and 60 grams today, so AFIB episodes are more frequent and last longer. If you keep your intake of sugar below your threshold level your AFIB will not happen again (easier said than done of course). It's not the food - it's the sugar (or salt - see below) IN the food that's causing your problems. Try it and you will see - should only take you 1 or 2 months of trial-and-error to find your threshold level. And for the record - ALL sugars are treated the same (honey, refined, agave, natural sugars in fruits, etc.). I successfully triggered AFIB by eating a bunch of plums and peaches one day just to test it out. In addition, I have noticed that moderate exercise (7-mile bike ride or 5-mile hike in the park) often puts my Afib heart back in to normal rhythm a couple hours later. Don’t know why – perhaps you burn off the excess sugars in your blood/muscles or sweat out excess salt??

Also, in addition to sugar, if you are dehydrated - this will trigger AFIB as well. It seems (but I have no proof of this) that a little uptick of salt in your blood is being treated the same as an uptick of sugar - both cause AFIB episodes. (I’m not a doctor – it may be the sugar in your muscles/organs and not in your blood, don’t know). In any case you have to keep hydrated, and not eat too much salt. The root problem is that our bodies are not processing sugar/salt properly and no doctor knows why, but the AFIB seems to be a symptom of this and not the primary problem, but medicine is not advanced enough to know the core reason that causes AFIB at this time. You can have a healthy heart and still have Afib – something inside us is triggering it when we eat too much sugar or get (even a little) dehydrated. Find out the core reason for this and you will be a millionaire and make the cover of Time Magazine! Good luck! - Rick Hyer

JackyMac profile image
JackyMac in reply to

Oh wow!, that's certainly something to take on board. I do eat a lot of fruit but I have had two years without any problems, but I will keep some records. Thank you

Brenda-j profile image
Brenda-j

I also had an ablation nearly 2 years ago. As they noticed on a 24hr monitor (about 6 months later)that I had had a tiny episode of flutter and AF I was put on 50gr flecainide twice a day and 120 of verapamil once a day. The consultant said it’s best to take both together. I have had no problem so far🤞!

JackyMac profile image
JackyMac in reply toBrenda-j

Thanks Interesting. I'm going to try that as my doctor didn't seem to know what was best going forward and is waiting for an answer from the Consultant.

jwsonoma profile image
jwsonoma

Hi I started on 50mg 2x a day and had a"breakthrough" so I am now on 75 2x and have been fine for 3 years. The next break through will take me to 100.

After essentially stopping all alcohol and dropping 10KG to get my BMI to 20, my cardiologist said my afib may never come back. I walk a min of 1 hr a day. For me life style is key especially taking stress of my heart from carrying around any excess weight and pumping blood through unnecessary miles of capillaries.

Good luck

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Nightly Afib Now

I now get afib episode almost nightly, anytime from late evening through to early morning, always,...
Motov profile image

Is my afib going away?

I was diagnosed on Aug 26, 2017. Woke up at night with with afib. Since then I was put on...
li17 profile image

Beta Blockers and Vagal Afib

So in a small comment on a blog a year or two ago I saw a doctor state that beta blockers can...

Air conditioner and Afib

hello all, can anyone tell me if being in an air conditioned environment i.e car or room for a few...

Afib or something else

A few months ago my Cardiologist told me to stop taking Flecainide daily, and switch to Pill in the...
Budken profile image

Moderation team

See all
Emily-Admin profile image
Emily-AdminAdministrator
Kelley-Admin profile image
Kelley-AdminAdministrator
jess-admin profile image
jess-adminAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.