Does anyone experience any symptoms or suble changes in their body before or after an episode. I ask because for me i can feel one coming on. I get a lump in the throat and have a number of eptopics before it starts.That helps me to medicate or be super vigilant on my triggers. Afterwards besides being generally wiped out i have found my upper chest aching and feeling like i have exercised too hard, its like feeling irritated but jot wanting to cough. Also i have neck, upper back and kidney ache as well as having a cough and dry throat. I would be interested to hear from anyone who experiences this chest-lung discomfort as i am concerned about it. Im on Flec 250-300ml
dose each day and recently that has not had an effect once i have an episode that can last 24 to 38 hours. Rough. I think ablation is the way forward but not wanting to for obvious reasons.
Written by
chenstone18
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I don't usually have any symptoms before AF strikes, but often I have difficulty afterwards. A year ago we moved from our lovely home into an independent living facility. It is a very welcoming and friendly place. Within a day after we moved in my back froze up and my husband had to lower my back on to the bed at night. Two weeks later I had to start using a walker. It wasn't until I had so much trouble that my pacemaker had recorded that I had been in AF the day before the move and the day of the move. I did not notice that I had had AF. Furthermore all the muscles in my back tightened up. My physical therapist recognized it right away and called my primary care physician who put me on a med for a month to release the tension in the muscles. In a way you are fortunate you can tell when you are about to go into AF.
I sometimes have a twitchy heart beforehand, sometimes pee a lot even before AF starts. Afterwards I have a headache and stomach ache and am generally wiped out 🙁
Hi there,
I would suspect that what is firing off all these symptoms/feelings etc. is the vagus (or vagal) nerve ..... or rather a dysfunctional vagus nerve.
Do suggest you do some research into this and before you dismiss it out of hand research in particular schematic diagrams showing how the VN wanders through the body and the organs that it impacts with.
There is massive amounts of research being done overseas into the way this nerve functions, much more so than in Britain.
Effectively, the VN is an information superhighway between the brain and a multitude of organs, but especially the heart and digestive system.
Thanks for this, i believe you are right. Too many things point to this in my case but improving functionality of the VN is difficult to find any help. Im convinced that i have developed a sensitively after a trauma that gave me PTSD. Subsequent anti depressants no doubt had a negative effect too but how to reverse it? I am an active 58 year old who runs 12 - 18 miles a week and cycles a lot when af doesnt get in the way but as its got worse recently and maxed out on Flecanide im looking at making improvements where i can. Thanks for your time.
I have days (or nights) when I feel tired and pee a lot but no actual AF I rationalise tbis as the flecainide doing it's job.
I always get an increase ectopics- this is really the only indicator. Usually these are infrequent, but before PAF they increase in frequency and intensity, then, immediately before, I get a few heavy fast ectopics in succession. Sometimes it’s possible to stop an attack by, particularly, walking about briskly or deep breathing , other times not. Eating during PAF usually makes it worse.
You have described exactly - and I mean exactly - how I feel before and after an attack. I have only ever experienced the start of AF when lying down, so I have put it down to the vagus nerve impacting on the stomach and bowel and putting pressure on the heart, as I feel as if I might choke and/or pass out if I continue lying flat. Afterwards, I feel wiped out, and again like you, with an aching chest and throat.
After quite a long break, I have recently started experiencing lower abdomen problems again, which I am now convinced are caused by the VN. My tummy feels as if someone is kneading bread inside it, and is quite painful; this is usually when lying on my side. Last night, in addition to that, my limbs shook uncontrollably as if I had hyperthermia. If I sit in a chair and try to stay calm, it usually clears up fairly quickly, and so far, I have not experienced AF at the same time. Over the years, I have had all sorts of tests and nothing wrong has been found with my bowel, and I have been diagnosed with IBS because no other reason could be found. I always accepted this until I discovered the VN, and now think this must be the culprit. I had a lower back and neck injury many years ago, so I think that pressure on the VN from the spine may be the reason. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find a doctor who even understands what I am talking about. I don't take any meds, apart from Edoxaban.
Thanks for this it is encouraging to know that i am not the only one with odd symptoms. Have you found anything that helps improve the functionality of the VN? Im convinced it is as a result of 4 whip lash injuries and or PTSD. I have had a stiff neck lately so have started massaging.
I finally got physio for my whiplash injury (from when a kidney specialist went into the back of my car when I was driving my husband back from the hospital after he'd had a totally unnecessary endoscopy as he had the healthiest gut the guy had seen- he was ok as he'd been given a sedative which was why I was driving!). It involves doing simple neck exercises a few times a day- I don't always remember but do them when I am waiting for other things (and remember)-it does help. difficult to describe but ask about them if you can get an appointment with a younger physio.
I was having at least 2 fast PAF episodes a month for the last 2 years.
also only starting while lying down, often after food. After a lot of reading research and looking at my diet and chats with John (carneuny), I decided to give up gluten. That was about 5 months ago, episodes carried on as normal for the first month but after that I have only had 1 short episode in the last 4 months and that one was 9 weeks ago. For me it seems to be the answer... here's hoping!
I've not had an attack for a while but when one was coming on I felt a bit strange and either felt as if i had toothache in every tooth with the pain ,also my both arms started to ache severely from shoulders to fingertips and feel numb ,another symptom was having to run to the loo to pass water every 5 mins or so even though I hadn't drank much fluid people get all different types of symptoms.
i used to get the fluttery feeling in the chest/neck for a few minutes then by the time I got my HR monitor on I was 160bpm resting but no symptoms.
later on as AF developed I got what i now think were ectopics as the aft started then boom 160 bpm no symptoms.
had an ablation 23 months ago no AF since (so far as i know). I do get ectopics which come and go , i had a spell of months this summer and hardley noticed any but have had quite a few weeks with them recently (have them now missing /extra beat every 20 or 40 beats with the flutter in the throat.
have a bit of a cold coming on so hope its just this!
Interesting - what you are talking about is a visceral experience - you must have excellent introception - ie: you are very aware of what you internal organs are experiencing. This means you will have an opportunity to take steps to help you to possibly avoid a full blown AF episode.
I have strong visceral experiences - but they are different from yours. I always had what I can only describe as a sudden adrenaline rush - even when I was sleeping - along with a sense of pending emergency, many call it doom. Sometimes my gut would go quiet (not good!) sometimes burping, acid reflux. All are signs of the various parts of the Autonomic System communicating with me.
There are 3 parts - Sympathetic/Para-Sympathetic (Fight or Flight which most people are aware of), Visceral - which communicates with various parts of the brain which travel to the cognitive part of the brain and vice versa - hence we are able to self sooth through mind and action and the Reptilian ANS which is the part that immobilises us - think brain freeze, losing bladder/bowel control, fainting - all things that can happen during trauma or sudden and extreme stress.
The visceral and Reptilian autonomic systems are more direct than vagus nerve or any myelinated nerves and therefore you have more immediate sensation/feedback. These communicate with the brain stem, not the cognitive part of the brain - I always called it my AF pre-cursor. I found this a very useful mechanism for either taking action or finding a ‘safe’ place to sit out an episode.
Because your body is under such stress when in AF you will experience after affects such as fatigue - you’ve done the equivalent of running a marathon, especially if your HR is high.
If you are relatively young and fit with no other conditions, your weight/nutrition are good, not under stress or your stress is well controlled, you sleep well - no sleep apnea then ablation sooner rather than later - higher possibility of success.
Hope some of this explanation helps your understanding of what you are experiencing and that many people have similar experiences - but I think we are the lucky ones because many people don’t, they don’t even know they have AF! We sensitive types are forewarned.
That very informative and cery interesting thank tou for taking the time to share. Currently looking into electrolyte imbalence but early stages of research. Thanks again for adding to the pictire.
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.
Feeling grim after hospital stay for AF episode - advice please!
Grumpy mood before onset of AF episode?
Is AF a cause or effect
Blood in urine after Af episode 
AF episode recovery - is this normal?
