Christmas craziness and AFib - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Christmas craziness and AFib

Lahodges10 profile image
35 Replies

Hello, all!

Hope you’ve all had a lovely Christmas? I most definitely over indulged and I’m now paying for it as afib episode started today and been on/off for quite a few hours. Currently sat in the car outside the supermarket hoping I can make it around there without passing out. The joys! Long gone are the days of stuffing my face and drinking prosecco all over Xmas 🙄

Seeing the AF team on Monday which is very good. Hope you’re all well and hopefully not in the same boat as me? Maybe you are and I’ll feel a bit better 😜

I have also run out of magnesium taurate and I reckon that’s not helped. Must get some tomorrow!

Lauren X

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Lahodges10
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35 Replies
BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

Not going to say anything other than Happy New Year! lol 😁 I'm currently working on losing the 4 lbs I put on since start of the festivities by living soley on Turkey soup and dry biscuits! Since I have about a gallon of the stuff I made on Boxing Day it will take me a while to use it all . Boil it every day and jobs a goodun.

Lahodges10 profile image
Lahodges10 in reply toBobD

Bone broth also very good 😊

Alessa69 profile image
Alessa69 in reply toBobD

Mainline sprouts as well, very beneficial. Whether you like them or not 😂😂😂

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer in reply toAlessa69

love em.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

Yes, my AF took off a little worse after Christmas lunch. I did my best to ignore it and it eventually went back to below 100 bpm.

I've been in constant AF now for about 5 weeks, it started off quite high, but after a few days dropped to around 100 and was manageable. Now it's between 70-100, I'm usually about 62. I know I must never eat large meals, but I did so it's my own fault! I should know better! My daughter tells me not to worry about it, or I'll make it worse. She has this weird idea that if I had a man in my life I would be cured. Huh, I certainly don't agree with that!!

Hope you get some answers next Monday.

Jean

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Hi jean didn’t realise you where back in AF have you got to have another cardioversion

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply toPadayn01

I had my last cardioversion on Oct 8th, really don't think they'll offer me another so soon.

Padayn01 profile image
Padayn01 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Oh so sorry to hear that jean will they not offer you one so soon? Did anything trigger it?

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply toPadayn01

Well I did eat lunch out at a vegetarian (I'm not one) restaurant, which has the most wonderful eat all you want food. An attack has started right after eating there before, but this time I didn't eat so much and the attack began after I'd gone to bed that night, I'd been reading for about an hour and then got up to go to the toilet. I did walk up a steep hill that afternoon too and remember feeling particularly breathless.

I do like to blame something, then I think if I avoid that I wont have any more AF. It just makes me feel in control, rather than the AF controlling me.

Lahodges10 profile image
Lahodges10 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Oh I really feel for you 😢 I love those days when it’s 60/70 I feel normal again...hope you feel a bit better soon. I’ve been taking magnesium taurate alongside verapamil and felt much better for it.

Holly_lax profile image
Holly_lax in reply toLahodges10

Hi, can I ask how much magnesium taurate you take? X

Lahodges10 profile image
Lahodges10 in reply toHolly_lax

I take viridian Magnesium Taurate bottle says 1500mg capsule of which 112mg is magnesium and is 30% of four recommended daily dose. I take one a day. X

Holly_lax profile image
Holly_lax in reply toLahodges10

Thankyou xx

Paulbounce profile image
Paulbounce in reply tojeanjeannie50

Sorry to hear you are back in afib Jean.

Paul

GrannyE profile image
GrannyE in reply tojeanjeannie50

I don’t think your daughter understands the nature of the beast but I am sure she is right in that the more you worry the worse it is. Lucky you being normally around 62. I am very very rarely that low. Usually in the 70s. I believe that it is probably not worth getting anything done about it unless it is really deeply affecting your quality of life. At least that is what the Royal Brompton chap told me. Hope you had a good Christmas.

JaneFinn profile image
JaneFinn in reply tojeanjeannie50

Oh Jeannie I’m so sorry you’re back in constant AF 😕 Wishing you well... maybe you’ll be startled/jolted out of it without need for a cardioversion waiting list? I can hope :)

(I agree with you about wanting to maintain at least a semblance of control over the AF- it’s better than feeling at the mercy of it..) xx

irene75359 profile image
irene75359 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Ah Jean, sorry to hear the beast is back! Eating a small meal is very difficult around Christmas.

Have your daughters become your parents too? Mine have! On Christmas Day I mentioned that I was thinking of becoming a pescatarian. Anxious glances all round, and a mini lecture about how I need the calories and calcium as I am quite skinny, and also have hypoglycaemic episodes (the effects of which can be more worrying than an AF episode). Your daughters probably worry about you, I know mine do. Don't know about the man though...!

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply toirene75359

Yes, my youngest daughter thinks she's my mum! She caught me peeling an apple and I had along lecture on how surprised she was to see me doing that and went on and on. I had a reason, but you know what I just couldn't be bothered to fight my corner!

Another time, just once while I was staying at her house over this Christmas, we'd had a huge late lunch and my heart took off in fast AF. I felt for my pulse just to see what it was doing, got caught and was told not to 'keep checking my heart' as it would make it worse. Well I know that, because it's my mantra and I certainly don't keep checking it. Honestly, I don't know how I survive on my own at home!! Daughters do have bouts of treating you like a child.

As for a man, well I bumped into an old work colleague of my ex husband and he's asked me to meet up for a coffee. Have had some messages from him since too and I know he's keen. Now he's a lovely person who I've known since 15 years old, but he's about 82 and I'm 69. Well I received a long lecture on how I shouldn't judge men by age and told that I'm not getting any younger. I know what it is, she wants someone around to keep an eye on me and see I'm ok, so that she doesn't have to worry, but I love the peace of being on my own. She used to say I needed someone 10 years younger than me - what's happened to that I wonder!

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly in reply tojeanjeannie50

Mr Buff is 84 next week and still very fit - much healthier than I am, so don't prejudge!

Lahodges10 profile image
Lahodges10 in reply tojeanjeannie50

You sound just like my wonderful mum. My mum is 67 and runs the emergency operating theatres, works four nights a week and has my children for me when I work. she’s on her own and says the same as you, she loves not having to answer to anyone 😉 I’m 35 and I’m the one with afib, my mum can outrun me and work more hours than me 🤦🏻‍♀️

sotolol profile image
sotolol in reply tojeanjeannie50

Hi. Men do not cure AF. Many other things but not that. If anything they make it worse when the hearing aids are muted to the wife sounds.

Lahodges10 profile image
Lahodges10

It’s so weird how food can effect it so much. Very annoying actually as I love food 😩🙈 hope you’re feeling a bit better tonight.

exbcmc profile image
exbcmc

I went back for about 72 hours.....fine now. Hang in there.😉

Lahodges10 profile image
Lahodges10 in reply toexbcmc

Feeling much better now 😬 at least I know what it is, before I was diagnosed I thought I was losing my mind! Glad you’re feeling better 😊

I was quite careful, didn't stuff my face at the in laws and only had a small mouthful of wine to toast....

Was working 27th so didn't drink or over eat on boxing day either. Only a glass of buck's fizz and an early night (10pm) before the 6am start.

Work wasn't too bad but I still fell asleep on sofa at 9pm.....

IT's been refreshing to get through christmas well!

Mouchkin profile image
Mouchkin

Yes I was very disappointed to have quite a prolonged episode of AFib on Christmas Day. It is the first since my ablation in Feb. It was probably due to several things. We are moving in three weeks and are packing up...going from a big house to a little one! I had a lot to eat and a little to drink and I was with my large family....so over excited. I have six children (four adopted) and with their partners and children we were a large party.

ErUrMama79 profile image
ErUrMama79 in reply toMouchkin

Do you regret ablation? Is it working for you? My dr is almost demandi g i get watchman without even mentioning the ablation as a choice. Im 40 i have 2 young adult girls 18,20 i want to be around long time. Could u give me tips. Risks. Maybe comparisons...

Mouchkin profile image
Mouchkin in reply toErUrMama79

I am not an expert...but some on here are far more knowledgeable than me. You need to get another opinion from the medics I feel.

As for me....I don't regret my ablation at all. Although I have had this little blip I realise it is through too much stress and lack of sleep plus rich foods.

I felt really ill before my ablation. I was out of energy ,out of breath and afraid. I am much much older than you and I thought I was “on the way out”

Now I feel heaps better ,have a lot of energy, and am very grateful to have had the ablation. I had a mild complication which is sorting itself out but the main difference is that I feel really well.

I do hope you can get some good advice so that you can make an informed choice.

Ecki profile image
Ecki

I've had quite a few short episodes over the last few days. For me, it's definitely linked to eating big meals, but so far has settled after a few hours. As of yesterday, back on my normal diet of small meals, low fat, low carb and my stomach and heart are feeling a lot happier. Must remember this next Christmas.

JaneFinn profile image
JaneFinn

Hi Lauren, hope you made it round the supermarket ok... and also that maybe it’s settled by now?

Good luck with the Appt on Monday xxx

Rubyray profile image
Rubyray

I hope this doesn't happen to you but I had a somewhat severe itching episode from taking magnesium 250mg for about a month. When I quit taking it the itching stopped. Guess I won't take it anymore.

jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50 in reply toRubyray

Taking magnesium orally gives me a sore stomach. It certainly doesn't suit everyone when taken that way. Now I add it to my bath water and also have a magnesium oil spray.

Polly159 profile image
Polly159

Hope you feel better as time goes by. Was working up to Christmas morning then a large meal with a couple of cocktails. No AFIB, thankfully, just really tired - but it's a kind of hibernative time of year anyway. Was surprised how easy it was to move from festive feast to salad, pulses and fruit! (Maybe just a sign, though that I'd eaten too richly!

Janelr profile image
Janelr

I couldn’t eat as much as I normally do had no alcohol either but I’ve had another stinking cough virus so thankfully as awful as it is it’s helped me out.

Lahodges10 profile image
Lahodges10

This made me LOL 😂

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