Hello, can I ask if anyone has experience of this. Very often when I wake during the night to use the toilet I have AF but manage to get back to sleep and then I wake still with AF. This has happened for 10 nights during this month so far. Took a Kardia reading this morning confirming AF with heart rate of 120. I cannot understand why I’m waking with it so often. Not due to see the Cardiologist for another two years.
AF during night and on waking - Atrial Fibrillati...
AF during night and on waking
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Nan1
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40 Replies
•
I know AF can happen during the night lying on your left side it can trigger it
• in reply toPadayn01
The same happened to me, often, and it is frightening. I am 6 months post-ablation and just recently completed a sleep study. It was determined that during my REM sleep my oxygen level drops and pulse increases which awakens me. I strongly suspect that prior to the ablation that triggered my afib. Even now, post-ablation, I can 'feel' my heart rate quicken and a pounding of my heart beat in my ears when aroused from REM. I am being fitted for a mask this week and expect these issues will resolve themselves. Best wishes to you
Yes many of my AF episodes would start at night and I would wake up in AF. It can often be triggered by lying down and disturbing the vagus nerve or undiagnosed sleep apnea.
You could try different sleeping positions or propping yourself up to sleep and ask for a sleep test for sleep apnea (you don’t need to be a snorer but I am) which can be treated. One of the biggest improvements for me was after being treated for SA with CPAP - there is a very well known link between AF and SA.
Hope that helps
Best wishes CD.
That’s interesting. Thanks for that. I’m told I do snore as the cartilage in my nose has broken down to a certain extent and I get very blocked.
When you are prone to AF attacks and need to get out of bed in the night, do it slowly and sit for a few minutes before standing. Make sure you are taking nice deep breaths too. I'm afraid as we AF sufferers grow older, going from being still to quick movements can trigger an attack. We often shallow breathe for too long as well. People say, I was sat still watching t.v. and AF suddenly started. That's when I believe shallow breathing is the cause.
Jean
Or in my case, I did not realize that I hold my breath.
Yes, that's the problem, we don't realise we're shallow breathing until our hearts protest! I think deep breathing, every so often, used to happen naturally when we were younger.
In my case, I attended a really bad Catholic elementary school and learned early on to hold my breath when afraid of getting hit!
Oh dear, I guess that's ingrained in you then!
Not anymore. Just have to remind myself to breathe occasionally!
Good advice Jeannie 
during two recent night time episodes of P-AF I got up too quickly once when a tile came off the roof in the storm and another night when my dog alerted me she wasn't well . I shot out of bed and felt my heart 'leap' into P-AF from my slow sleeping heart rate. I won't make that mistake again.
Yes, I've got out of bed too quickly in the past and triggered AF.
We live and learn.
I read an article recently (which I can't now find..) which said that this also significantly reduces stroke risk, so a bit of a no brainer for any of us.
Yes, I believe that to be true. I've told the following story many times: about possibly 12-15 years ago a friend was in bed and her husband bought her a cup of tea and placed it on a bedside table. A little later she reached to get it and knocked it over, she grabbed some tissues and bent, leaning out of bed to wipe it up. She had a massive stroke and is now in a wheelchair. With that in mind I now never bend to pick anything up if I'm in, or have just got out of bed. Stroke is my fear, would rather drop dead, than live with the effects of a severe stroke.
When we lie still in bed the heart has bit of an easier time because it doesn't have to pump too hard, but once we get up and stand it's job increases as it has to pump harder to get the blood around when we're upright. We go back to bed and are aware of our hearts beating faster and worry AF has kicked off (sometimes it can, if you haven't got out of bed slowly), but a few deep breaths should slow it down - keep deep breathing until it calms. Of course worry can initiate AF, so when we feel our heart pumping so hard our anxiety can set in and keep the fast beat going.
Just be aware to get out of bed slowly and sit on the side for a short while, to make it easier for your heart to adjust to the change in position.
Jean
Well that's the last cup of tea in bed my wife gets. It's for her own good...
Seriously though, a very sad and cautionary tale.
No, give her a little bell so that she can call for you to wipe the tea up. There, problem solved for you. Lol.
I suppose I may as well do it while I do the rest of the cleaning...
I could see the little bell being used a lot - 'Doctor, I've got this constant ringing in my ears...'
Yes ,yes so true Jeanjeannie50. I was told to take a sleep study. Sleep Apnea has alot to do with it. I have a sinus problem and get nasal conjested and allergies. Ive noticed when im ok with those two i dnt get afib during night or wake up with it. Though now im doing really good. I had my first ablation 2 months ago going on my third month. Ive had a couple of episodes but very minor. Going for the sleep study soon.
It will be interesting to hear how your sleep study goes. I sometimes get the nasal congestion too and find one side will be completely blocked and I'm only able to breathe through the other. I'm sure the heart can't be happy having to work with half the oxygen intake.
Poor you. Things like that stay with people forever
Sleep apnea? It often goes hand in hand with AF.
Have you had a sleep study carried out?
Nan1• in reply to
No but I think I might ask for one. Thank you for your reply
If its anything like my experience,I'm up and down all night,
With myself I think fear started it,
I don't do much to increase my heart rate,Therefore,I do less in the day and drink a lot of water,so I don't need as much sleep and I'm up all night usually because of my water intake.
Yes. I invariably have attacks at night that trigger much need for urinating. I sometimes get up to pee and by the time I get back to bed have to get up and go again. I can lose 2 kilos in weight overnight due to this. I have been told this is a safety valve triggered by the vagus nerve.
I have wondered if Sleep Apnea was involved but never checked it out. Perhaps I should.
100% have a Sleep Apnea test, there is a cost involved and depending on doctor, they don't give it over willingly, especially as like me you have an almost normal BMI , it saved my life being tested positive as they knew how to control my AF in a better way.
i take metoprolol 25mg, once in the morning, again before i sleep. at times, i wake up with heart racing, if it doesn't subside, i take another 25 mg., keep the tabs and glass of water on my nightstand.
I awaken with AF often during the night. It happens if I eat in the evening and don't wait for 3 hours before retiring. Sometimes it will help if I sit up and suck on ice. Also I elevate the head of my bed.
Yes it has happened to me many times before they performed an ablation.
See your cardiologist! Omg, if that was happening to me, l would be very concerned. I see my cardiologist every three months! I can’t be without him. Although he did say six months last visit.
Hi Nan
I totally agree w Janith: make an appointment w a cardiologist as soon as you can. Have you been diagnosed w AFIB and are you taking medications to control it? Here are my thoughts: As helpful as these posts are (as a fellow afiber I read them daily:), they’re not meant to provide a diagnosis nor provide a regimen of meds. So do yourself a favor and don’t wait 2 years to go back to your cardiologist for an assessment. Then together you can decide what your options are...
Good luck
Yolie
I know this sounds goofy, but when I get the night flutters, I hold my breath and count to 10. For some reason, it seems to work.
Hi Nonopiano...l get occasional flutters like little butterfly wings fluttering....do you know what causes it and why it happens please?....
Atrial flutter is a little different from AFib in that your heart is not necessarily out of rhythm for long. I've had two ablations and several cardioversions, plus meds, for Afib to no avail. Finally got relief from a Maze procedure which is more invasive, but it did the trick. The surgeon warned me I might have a few flutters and he was right, but I don't let it bother me and it's pretty common. Here's a link which might help answer your question: hrsonline.org/patient-resou.... "Butterfly wings" is a good way to describe it!
Hi Nanopiano....l couldnt bring up the link regarding flutters...no problem tho....l have no worries regarding the flutters l just wondered what causes them....thankyou for answering....
Hi, thanks for reply. Yes I was diagnosed with AF in 2014 and have regular reviews. He is happy for me to go another two years but perhaps I should bring it forward. I’m on Warfarin and Beta Blockers
I try to turn over carefully and slowly. If AF starts, it has helped - sometimes - to bear down and hold my breath (suggestion from my cardiologist). And yes, get up slowly.
I'm curious about how long the episodes last and whether you are on an anti-arrhythmic. Waiting two years to see your cardiologist is a long time in my view. I would report it to his/her office if it were me.
marcyh
Hello Marcyh, thanks for reply. Usually once I’m up, had breakfast, walk around they clear. I’m on Sotalol
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