I've been AF free for just over 2 months now and had gotten used to feeling well. I had a procedure lined up during this week for a camera examination of my lower bowel after suffering an anal fissure in August. On the day of the test I was asked to stop my anticoagulant and first thing in the morning to use an enema to clear my bowels. It worked within 10 minutes and without going into detail I was in no doubt I was empty 🥺.
Almost immediately I went into AF and drove to the hospital for the procedure. All went well and I was given the results that I'd hoped for. The AF passed after about 6 hours and had been relatively mild with my BP staying normal throughout with observations hourly during my stay. My HR never went above 71 although irregular and the staff didn't seem concerned. The consultant requested that I didn't take any anticoagulant for another 24 hours as they had removed a small polyp. I did worry a little that I was more at risk of stroke as I was in AF but he said it was fine and to start them again the next day.
I've never thought about it before but I'm now curious as to why the AF started exactly at the time I'd rushed to the loo or was it Sods Law as I've read somewhere in the past there is a link with digestive issues and AF
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Hammerboy
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Wouldn't have a clue ..... EXCEPT it is a fact that the vagus nerve influences many organs in the body BUT significantly both the heart and digestive system. Recommend it as a bit of light weekend reading/research. Also "Google" schematic diagram of vagal nerve - a picture is worth a thousand words. Good luck.
I had same experience in 2017 and then noticed that on the bottle and packet of emetics I was given it did say that they could affect the heart and to be wary if you had any heart problems. The hospital and consultant knew about my AF so presumed they hadn't said anything because they considered it safe - or of course because no one else had reported any problems. I had to have this again a few months later to ensure my problem had cleared and this time asked the nurse what I should do because of AF and she said to take the dose in two parts about an hour and a half apart. This worked more gently but it did work, and I had no problems that time. I can't remember the medication I was given but the tablets to go along with it was senokot and funnily enough because I only took 2 tablets I still had the rest of the packet in my medicine cabinet and found it yesterday and it is now in our basket of tablets to take to the pharmacy to dispose of. It says on the pamphlet "to consult your doctor if taking anti- arrhythmic medication". I was supposed to take one of these every evening for 4 days before taking the other preparation but once I read this had only taken two and stopped. I think it is always helpful to to query all medication given as I have twice been given medication which I found when reading the pamphlet had contraindications with other medicines or with other conditions so I had and had to go back to the Doc and get different medication and once the pharmacist noticed and sent me back to the GP. I am afraid when you get to my age you can have so many conditions and take so many medications that it must be a minefield for the Docs and pharmacists to wade through to find out which you can and can't take.
By coincidence I've just been reading on Facebook, Sanjay Gupta's take on this. He states categorically that there is a link with digestion and heart. I'm sure if you google him you'll find it.
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Finally had my ablation yesterday
Sod's law.....revisited
Episode 5
Update after cryo ablation 11 days ago
Post Ablation
