AF resolution

[pilgarlick]

I have written here before of how wading into a cold sea up to my chest, gradually, had put me back into sinus rhythm after a spell of AF. I have just had, unusually, three days and more in AF, unresolved by the normal pill in pocket Flecainide. As we are not supposed to be venturing to the coast, I decided to have a go in the shower, starting with the coldest spray over my feet and working slowly up the body as far as the neck. Extraordinarily, it worked! I'm back in sinus and relieved that I shan't need to investigate plan B, which would have been driving to the country to grab an electrified fence.

[wilsond]

Well done! Good tip thank you ...plan A sounds preferable to B ! X

[jeanjeannie50]

Certainly sound like a good thing to try, to get out of AF. Thank you for sharing.

Jean

[irene75359]

Ha! The grabbing hold of an electrified fence made me laugh. I did that for a dare many years ago when I was young and foolish and it just about knocked me over!

[Izzle]

Well done you and thanks for sharing your cure. I have a few questions.

How long after starting you AF can the cold water treatment work, ie if AF is well established (say over an hour), does it still work for you?

How long do you need to tolerate the cold water?

Is the water cold enough to cure any prostate problems or can we cheat with a little warm water as well?

Cheers

[pilgarlick in reply to Izzle]

Dear Izzie

Thanks for your comments. In the past, when I have waded into a cold sea, my AF was never more than a few hours old as I never seemed to get prolonged episodes. Just lately, though, the episodes have lasted longer and were taking a day or so to resolve after I'd taken the Flecainide. On this last occasion, though, I had had AF for three days or more and was getting a bit fed up and wondering if I was now in permanent AF. The shower treatment was a bit of a last resort and I was quite surprised - and very relieved - that it worked.

[Davidv45runner]

Good job !

I have noted that one , and added to my anti Afib attack force ( AAAF) armour store to fight any future episodes.

Interesting that the shower worked when the 300mg ? Flecainide didnt .... how long was it after taking the flecainide did you have a cold shower ?.

As mentioned , it’s forcing the heart to work differently - I wonder how much of a link overall body temperature is ....

Another line of investigation ...

[pilgarlick in reply to Davidv45runner]

Thanks, David

I had been taking the maximum dose for three days without effect. Normally the Flecainide seemed to work within 24 hours. I add below the comments I've just passed to another reader. Best wishes Mike

In the past, when I have waded into a cold sea, my AF was never more than a few hours old as I never seemed to get prolonged episodes. Just lately, though, the episodes have lasted longer and were taking a day or so to resolve after I'd taken the Flecainide. On this last occasion, though, I had had AF for three days or more and was getting a bit fed up and wondering if I was now in permanent AF. The shower treatment was a bit of a last resort and I was quite surprised - and very relieved - that it worked.

[KMRobbo]

Thats brilliant - if it works all the time it puts you back in control

[Trav334]

Appreciate the post. I just gave it a crack this arvo after 3 days in AF and no luck for me. But willing to try any of these so keep em coming. I'll give this another go in the morning.

[pilgarlick in reply to Trav334]

I hope it works for you. It was a bit of a last resort for me and it may purely have been a coincidence that it did work. I'd given up on the Flecainide after three days and was thinking that I was going to have to contact my GP, so I was glad to have succeeded. Best wishes Mike

[secondtry in reply to Trav334]

Have you tried gulping down a cold drink from the fridge nb it worked for me using coconut water but I guess any long drink would do.

[pilgarlick in reply to secondtry]

I have tried a couple of times without success. Funnily enough, though, having a cold drink at lunchtime has actually put me into AF in the past.

[secondtry in reply to pilgarlick]

Absolutely, a cold drink works both ways for me as well.

[secondtry]

Thanks that's interesting. I am thinking that is mostly the brain sending messages to the heart via the Vagus Nerve that a cold shock to the middle core body is imminent get prepared!

As far as Plan B goes (even though we have electric fencing, not sure it's safe for me!) there are two options touch the wire with wellingtons on and for a much bigger kick touch the wire in bare feet (i.e. earthed). Just approaching the fencing with serious intent might stop the AF as happened to me in hospital when a doctor said he would have to shock me out.Personally, if I am going to be shocked I prefer to be in a hospital.

PS If Plan B worked farmers could set up drive thrus and save the NHS a lot!!!

[BevCynfelyn]

So glad it worked for you Pilgarlic, the only thing that's ever worked for me is dccv so I'm usually stuck in AF for several months a time waiting for one. Before AF I had horses for many years, and got caught on electric fences a fair few times..... Not sure I'd try it deliberately though!

[Sykesie]

Sounds like you’ve found the safest form of self-medication there is. Well done. Keep pioneering.

[Salvatore68]

What is pip and how is it to be used?

[pilgarlick]

Sorry, that seems to be doctorspeak for "pill in pocket". That is a drug that you only use when it's needed. I was on that regime after, because of my age, regular Flecainide was swopped for a betablocker for rate control and Flecainide to be used only when I went into AF.

[Kmwh]

Wonder if that would work? Would I have the resolve to do it? Even when I unplug the fence, I am hesitant to touch it.

[pilgarlick]

I remember reading, many years ago, of a farmer who resolved his AF by grabbing hold of the 24?volt fence; if that didn't work, he jumped off the cowshed roof! However unlikely, I think it was a genuine post...

[Shrek1974]

Top tips there, I’ll give them a try if / when needed - thanks. We’re only a mile or so from the sea - got to be worth a try. I’ve walked past a lot of electric fencing whilst waiting for a dccv & often wandered if that would work, never planned to try it though. 😂

[Tapanac]

Ha ha! Liked your last comment, very witty.

Coincidentally last summer I was very hot during the night and could feel my tachycardia and afib building up and thought oh no not another trip to hospital. So like you I went into the bathroom under the shower and started with slightly warm water then gradually turning to cold and after a while and wow it all stopped and I felt ok. The usual tiredness and weakness that comes with one of the attacks, but that passed as well.

Thank you for telling us about this and who knows it might work for others.

Best wishes

[pilgarlick]

Well done. I've tried exactly that in the past and it never worked for me. I think, in my case, it's the slow cooling of the body from the feet up, but who ever knows what works and why. Maybe I'll t ry your method again next time....