Recently diagnosed PAF - advice support

[football1822]

Hi - advice / reassurance please ! I’m new to this site and recently diagnosed ( January ) with PAF following two bad episodes in December - Was taking Beta Blocker every day but reacted badly to those so now used as a pip - no episodes since early February then yesterday after household chores good walk then lunch in the sunshine ( lunch was a thick brown bread sandwich ) AF kicked in for about 3/4 hours following what seemed like strange sensation/ fluttering in the stomach abdominal area ? Stomach feels sore today- after 3/4 weeks free of this ( apart from a few daily ectopic ) it was quite alarming - due a telephone conversation with AF nurse on 7/4 doubt that will happen under current circumstances - live on my own so worrying perhaps unnecessary compared to some stories on here - any help advice ??

[Paulbounce]

You are not worrying unnessarily Football1822.

A heart problem is worrying at the best of times. PAF kicks in and you know you have it. For me now I'm really aware if it kicks in. However it will pass - the very nature of PAF is just that.

I find that it passes pretty quickly although my HR is higher for a few days. Apart from that I try not to worry. However that is soooooo easy to say and not so easy to accomplish !

We afib folks have to accept this I think. It's not easy I know - however you'll get though it and come out the other end stronger

Paul

[football1822 in reply to Paulbounce]

Thank you so much for your response felt like the end was nigh yesterday ( dramatic I know ) Anxiety kicked one ( don’t normally suffer with this ) then the beta blocker side effects increase the anxiety ! It helps to know others worse off than me with this and others aware of what it’s like to have PAF . Thanks !

[Paulbounce in reply to football1822]

Anxiety and heart problems are made for each other FB1822. Unfortunately they go hand in hand.

I could be wrong but beta blockers won't make you have more anxiety - that was certainly the case for me and my experience. I was more worried about coming off them - if anything, taking them calmed me down - your heart rate drops and gives you a chance to chill more. I hope you find the same yourself - I think you will given time.

Now I have to ask about your user name ? You must be a footer fan. I hope your not a Villa fan - I'll never speak to you again if you are heheh.

Relax as much as you can FB1822 - I think you'll be OK.

Paul

[football1822 in reply to Paulbounce]

Username ? No not a villa fan but if told you my team you wouldn’t communicate with me almost guarantee it

[heartmatters1]

Hi & welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear you have recently been diagnosed. Nearly everyone who gets the diagnosis thinks it’s a death sentence, but as I have learnt since joining that AF won’t kill you (it just feels that way), which reassured me, when I was first diagnosed over five years ago.

My treatment is PIP & anticoagulant to help protect from stroke. Also a lifestyle wake up, including low or no alcohol intake. Plus avoiding food which appear to trigger episodes. You mention you had your recent episode after eating a brown bread sandwich. Maybe it would be worth avoiding this for a while & try again to see what happens. It’s trial & error with this rogue condition it seems.

There are a lot more people on this forum who are far more knowledgeable than me, and are here to support you. Also read all you can on the AF Association website.

We are all here for you.

Best wishes Ally.

[football1822 in reply to heartmatters1]

Thank you for your message it means a great deal to me I’m going to explore the diet angle and possible triggers - Although I understand it could be one if a number bed of things - trying hard to focus away from yesterday - bought a Saturday paper for the first time in years The Guardian £3:20 !!!

[heartmatters1 in reply to football1822]

Well the Guardian won’t be scare mongering as much as some of the tabloids at the moment! Keep safe.

[Paulbounce in reply to heartmatters1]

I hope they don't for that price Heartmatters ! I'll stick with the Sun

Paul

[heartmatters1 in reply to Paulbounce]

🤣 true

[etheral]

The dangers of PAF include increased risk of having a stroke, and decrease in cardiac output. Hopefully you have an appointment with a cardiologist and electrophysiologist and you will get an anticoagulant such as Eliquis which you take twice daily and have an echocardiogram which can assess your cardiac output and valves and determine if any other treatment is necessary. Best of luck, etheral

[secondtry]

We have had a number of postings mentioning significant exercise then relaxing with a drink or lunch triggering an AF episode. I have experienced the same some time ago now. The short suggestion is wind down slowly after exertion and before relaxing.

The longer suggestion is to read up on the Vagus Nerve here and elsewhere; my understanding is that due to inappropriate lifestyle habits the associated nervous system (parasympathetic & sympathetic) are not rebalancing after exertion thus triggering AF e.g. rather like if the choke gets stuck on full on the old lawnmowers.

[football1822]

Thank you for your response it’s reassuring in a way that other people have similar issues and are sharing their experiences with me many thanks

[AstroFish]

Hi, I was recently diagnosed too with symptoms much like yourself. I was devastated. But I've done some research, researched the drugs, joined this forum and tried to find out everything I can. Knowledge is power in overcoming this.

Some things I have found - my own anxiety does feed this, especially the sensations around the ectopics. Also I have found that lifestyle and diet us crucial. Aow carb diet with no bread or refined carbs really does make a huge difference, ditto avoiding alcohol. Since Christmas I have been eating far less and as well as losing two stone I have a lower calorie diet and fast for at least 14 -16 hours most, tho not every day, and eat in an eight hour window. I'm not saying this is right for everyone, far from it, but for me it seems to work and I now have very very few symptoms. Certainly the low carb Mediterranean style diet has helped me. I have upped my exercise too. I have been prescribed Apixaban and joining this forum has been a huge help.

[football1822]

Hi there thanks for sharing this is useful - I’m considering a similar kind of regime I think it’s either triggered post exercise ( swim gym ) or diet I’ve had episodes Directly after both exercise and eating - many thanks keep me up to date on your progress !!

[john-boy-92]

AF affects us all differently. Before long you will take it in your stride.