I am new here...and new to AFIB. I would appreciate all of the advise and help I can get. It is really freaking me out...

[Vinoandpasta]

I was diagnosed with AFib last month and just started medications a week ago. I have been having attacks every day for a solid week now, and they start about an hour after I take my meds. Is this normal? I've tried all the home remedies to correct them, but nothing helps except taking an Ativan.

[Hidden]

Hello and welcome, I see that you are from the States where we know medical care is different than here in the U.K. The first thing is that being newly diagnosed for almost everyone is a massive shock but the important thing to always try and remember is that although there is no cure for AF, the symptoms can be managed by a variety of different treatments and once treatment is stabilised, most go on to lead long and relatively normal lives. The first and best thing you can do is now is find out all you can about AF and establish how best to find a treatment plan best suited to your particular condition. That’s important because AF is what we call a mongrel condition which can affect people in a variety of different ways. One size definitely does not fit all!!

So check out this post and once you have digested some of the helpful information it contains then please ask as many questions as you like to fine tune your understanding.

healthunlocked.com/afassoci.........

Regarding the medication you are taking, Ativan, it is not a drug I’m familiar with but having Googled it, it doesn’t seem to fit the category of drugs normally associated with treating AF. You also need to look carefully at the information relating to anticoagulation and use the CHADsVASc score to see if it is a medication that you should be taking. Lots to digest I know, but we are a friendly bunch and there are several member from the States who will be more familiar with your medical procedures.......

One other thing, love your pen-name but if it reflects your lifestyle then most people (but not all) find that alcohol seriously impacts on their AF.

[Vinoandpasta in reply to Hidden]

Thank you Flapjack for all of the great information. I truly appreciate it! And I have been digging in reading as much as I can about it and ways to change my diet and overall health. For AFIB, my cardio doctor put me on Diltiazem for blood pressure and Eliquis for blood thinner, which I have only been on for a week. I started taking Ativan back in June when all of this anxiety started and my primary care doctor didn't know what else to do, thinking it was just anxiety attacks... We finally decided to do an EKG and ultrasound, and then I wore a heart monitor for 2 weeks....therefore the final diagnosis of AFib. But it seems my palpitations are starting an hour after I take the new meds, and it has happened EVERY day. I then just pop an Ativan and it helps. I informed my doctor of this yesterday. So maybe its just a too high a dose...who knows...like you said everyone reacts differently to them. And yes, I do like my red wine at night. I have cut back on it, but it does not set off any attacks...it actually calms them down...and me

[Shcldavies]

Good advice from FlapJack. Unfortunately Red Wine is particularly bad for most with this condition. You need to understand that your on a journey, how long that journey takes and how well your health holds up depends on a number of things.

How good your Doc is for this condition

How well you keep your Doc informed of changes to your condition (Would inform him of how you feel on the medication your taking)

How well you can change your lifestyle to improve you condition

There is a cause to AF, unfortunately the cause is very difficult to find so some self help is in order and this self help is a catch all as the cause is unknown. Remember if you start to improve your lifestyle now, the effects may take months to manifest in ant significantly improved condition but better this than slowly deteriorating for years. Looking on the bright side you may start to feel better in days or weeks.

Initial self help I suggest is

Stop alcohol, and caffeine for now and probably at least 3 month - this may be the most difficult (it was for me) but I found it did make a difference after 2 months

Drink plenty of water

Regularly eat an avocado and banana.

Take Magnesium supplements (not magnesium oxide)

Take a hot bath with Epsom salts

Check your iron and vitamin D levels and supplement if their low

If you taker PPIs stop them or reduce them (Cut my intake by half and they still worked, now On half dose every 3 or 4 days but it took a year to get to that)

Reduce sugar (from all sources) this is the 1 thing that can gave the most beneficial effect

Get a full 8 hrs sleep or as close as you can to it

Try to be stress free, difficult I know but you can but try.

Keep us informed of your journey as we all learn from each other, you will find that different things effect us all different, I believe that this is because the cause can be different in everyone.

[Vinoandpasta in reply to Shcldavies]

Shcldavies....thank you sooo much! I did A LOT of research yesterday and learned more about how to self help. I started about a month ago eating more avocados, salmon, fresh lemon water, etc, and cut out red meat, fried/fast foods, etc, after I found out my cholesterol was high. My diet thru the pandemic had gotten really bad (eating too much comfort food and drinking too much wine). I do take a PPI (for YEARS) so I will start cutting back on that...I too can go about 3 days before I start getting indigestion if I do not take it at all. My PC doctor keeps my Vit D in check since I am on Arimidex (breast cancer survivor 3 yrs now), and my iron level actually tested high. I read about the magnesium and potassium yesterday, so I went and bought a bunch of bananas too! I will also get some epsom salts. I will talk to my doctor before I start a supplement tho. I stopped caffeine back in June when I started having anxiety attacks. As for stress and anxiety, well that's the hard part. I've been trying to do better, but it is a work in progress. And now with this AF, every time I feel something in my chest, I'm thinking its a stroke or heart attack! I do pop an Ativan still every now and again! I have already cut back on my wine at night also...but a glass or 2 calms me down and helps me sleep. I have completely stopped before for 2 months...it wasn't so bad. Lost 18 pounds! I think of it more of a security blanket if anything!

Thank you sooo much for all of the advise! I truly appreciate it!

[Shcldavies in reply to Vinoandpasta]

Looks like you had it all covered anyway, you have leaned a lot in a very short time, well done. I will caution that it does take time for nearly everything to take effect. On the Epsom salts use around 4 times the amount they recommend, I use half a packet ( about 2 cup full's in a bath.

Keep us all posted with your journey, many of us take 3 steps forward the 2 back so don't expect everything to improve without the odd hiccup.

[Tux18 in reply to Vinoandpasta]

All of the information being shared to you from this forum is so valuable Even though I’ve read plenty about afib over the last few years it is good for me to have a review. Did want to mention that for me if I have a very hot shower or hot bath such as with Epson salt it can trigger a fib. For me I must keep it just warm as extreme heat can be a trigger for me. Just thought I’d mention that .

[Golfer60UK]

Hello,

Welcome to the AF club, I see you have had some good advice already, but the main person to listen to is your Doctor or Cardiologist.

I have just had my second ablation and so far after one week I am in sinus rhythm which has lowered my heart beat down to the 50's rather than 80/100 when in AF.

A beta blocker and blood thinner are the key to managing AF and there is no reason to stress or worry as there are options available via management or ablation procedures to control the symptoms

Best of luck

Dave

[Golfer60UK in reply to Golfer60UK]

Had my second ablation four weeks ago, all going well at present. I take my BP twice per day and it has averaged 130/78 with heart beat average 55. Still taking Bisoprolol 2.5mg each morning and Apixaban 10mg twice per day.

The only issue i have experienced during this period, has on occasions seem to miss a beat. Only now and again. Wondered if any one else has had the same experience

David

[secondtry]

Well done for consulting this Forum so early, it took me some months to find it! The AF journey starts with a big learning curve (and some anxiety is normal) but the knowledge is well worthwhile as you can work with your medical team, which is essential as everyone is an individual not only physically but also in their treatment preferences.

I have gone from very anxious/borderline depression to excellent QOL in 6 years not by luck but doing my homework on the condition and making loads of lifestyle changes.

Your first step is to pester your medics to stop the AF episodes, once that is stabilised you can work on lifestyle changes, a host off which are detailed by generous postings here.

[Bambi65]

Oh sweetie, welcome. You have found a great source of information and experiences here. Congratulation!

At one time, we have all had that shock diagnosis of AFIB, and now wondering what do I do. All our experiences will be different, but the one thing to know is that "Afib will not kill you" although you may feel like it will.

I have had my monster for about 5 yrs now. It rears its head 2-3x a week with a Heart Rate from 140-180+. Like many others, I have a Kardia to determine my rate and confirm that I am in AFIB (AliveCor EEG). I can also email the reading to myself, or to my doctor. If you have not already heard of it, you may want to look it up. Runs about $100.00 USD from Amazon or directly from the source.

I have chosen NOT to take any rate or rhythm medications since I have had bad reactions to them. I have also chosen NOT to do any surgical intervention either. My quality of life is manageable. However, anti-coagulants are a must for me because I dont want to reduce the risk of a stroke. I have tried may homeopathic treatments, and many suggestions from other people here.

There are no wrong questions, ask anything. We all have experiences with Afib, (I call it my monster) One more personal perspective; I do not allow my Afib to control my life. I dont live in fear of the "what if it happens"... I travel (before virus), Im very active, bike riding, swimming etc. Live your best life in all that you do. My montra is, "my monster and I share this body, but I control the head."

[Vinoandpasta in reply to Bambi65]

Thank you Bambi65! I needed to hear that! I feel like I have been living in fear for the last couple of months since I started having these attacks (doc was just treating me for anxiety until I insisted lets test further!). At least I now know what it is...but it still scares me! And I really need to get back to work! It just seems every time I feel any kind of twinge in my chest I am having a heart attack or a stroke! I have to find a way to deal with that, and get over it if I plan to get back to my "new normal" life. Thank you for your encouragement!

[Tickerprobs]

Welcome or not, depending on which way you look at things. I have permanent AF but have hitty missy days. It can be depressing and sole destroying at times. Try not to get stressed (that fuels Afib). I find that too much food can compound my symptoms. I think that acceptance is a major thing but that applies to lots of ailments I suppose. Good luck and try to stay positive.

[teach2learn]

I have had two successful ablations, but when I started getting returning symptoms about three years after the second one, I decided to try upping my daily dose of liquid CoQ10 (Liquid Gold) to 30-40 mgs. Symptoms backed right off, and everything seems to be back to normal...just a few extra beats now and then and some angry "complaints" when I lie on my left side occasionally (my heart does NOT like to be crowded). Needless to say, I swear by it. I am on no other medication for afib, other than Eliquis.

[EngMac]

Please read about Ativin. My mother took this for years and the long term impact is not something you want to add to your other health issues. Taking it for a month or so is ok but long term is not.

[Debra2020]

I'm having the same issue right now. My Cardiologist is changing my medication. Talk to your doctor. You might need that or just a dosage change. I was diagnosed a year ago. Several med changes and dosages. Best of luck to you.