Back into AF after 2 years free

[AndyDuk]

Hello all,

So I managed 2 years from my last cardio ablation abs I’m back into AF again . Sadly due to Covid a load of routine operations have been postponed and especially the one to deal with my teeth. Low grade dental infections can kick off AF again so look after those mouths , also Bisoprolol and long term use can restrict the saliva in your mouth and fast track decay .. I wasn’t aware of this

Now I’m in a situation where I’ve got to have teeth removed , before I can cardio ablate again .. let’s pray the NHS don’t postpone it by another 9 months like they have already ..

Anyway my Cardiologist has told me I need to exercise and I’m constantly out of Rytham . It’s safe apparently but has anyone else done this ? I did a 6.5km hike today in 1hr30mins but I feel it this evening ! How do other people go about exercising whilst in AF ?

What measures do they take ? (ie taking a companion with them)

Does anyone else hike and mountain bike (emtb) in AF ?

Andy

[RoyM]

Hi Andy. I have been in permenent AF for over four years. I am able to exercise daily I walk approx 4/5 miles per day I swim (well I did before Corvid closed the pools) I cycle regularly and chase my 7 year old granddaughter around. I am lucky my resting heart rate is mid to high sixties but will raise quickly when I exercise and can reach 130 /140 if I exercise hard but equally returns to normal quickly. I am a 73 year old male. My medication includes Apixiban and 1.25 mg Bisoporol daily. Cheers Roy

[AndyDuk in reply to RoyM]

Thanks Roy ! I’m 49 (family history of AF) . Resting heart around 60-70! Average BPM 80 although I did get this upto 160bpm yesterday whilst walking up a steep hill! It’s good to know you can just get on with life as I love cycling and the outdoors !

[RoyM in reply to AndyDuk]

Good luck Andy..... don't let AF define you. Roy

[jondeanp]

I’ve been in NSR for 2 years and have been able to return to full exercise (running, cycling etc)

When I was in AF I couldn’t do these, but I was able to tolerate gym exercises ie body weight or dumbbells etc.

I ended up doing a type of HIIT session but just did it to a level I was comfortable with. I used to do approx 20 mins of short bursts of exercise. If I felt I’d overdone it I could have a longer rest period or just call it a day depending on how I was feeling.

Just doing these little bits kept me ticking over and made me feel like I was achieving something.

This may not work for you. Listen to your body

[captainKFF]

Hi, hope u feel better, could you please share what is your heart rate during your afib episodes? Regards

[captainKFF]

Hi, I forgot to ask if you can also mention your resting heart beat during afib, just trying to understand difference between resting and exercise afib heart beats, thanks

[AndyDuk in reply to captainKFF]

There is no difference right now I am constantly in AF . It’s more a fact of resting when I feel tired and fitting any fitness regime into when my body lets me. I don’t feel the pounding in my chest, it’s normally out of breath that’s the first symptom and I use my Apple Watch ECG to check what’s going on ..

[captainKFF in reply to AndyDuk]

Is your heart rate above or below 100ppm when you’re resting and in permanent afib? mine goes above 100

[AndyDuk in reply to captainKFF]

So resting it’s around 70-90, but just pottering around the house gets it easily upto 120bpm . I do take Bisoprolol and are about to move onto Amiodarone. During exercise I find walking can get me to 160-170bpm but cycling on my e-mountain bike keeps me under 150 ..

[captainKFF in reply to AndyDuk]

Thanks for your prompt, if I may ask why are u considering starting Amiodarone?, my dr has me on Flecainide and bisoprolol for 5 years.

[AndyDuk in reply to captainKFF]

So , I’ve had two cardio abalations , 4 cardio versions and my last CardioVersion kept me in Rytham for 8 days . I am overweight so they won’t take the risk for another cardio abalation until I loose a fair amount of weight . The current approach is teeth out , wait a month, cardio version whilst on Amiodarone and then run this for 3 months to keep me in Rytham . The problem I have is it’s a family condition but being a big lad doesn’t help . I also hate Bisoprolol with a vengeance and react to it , so it has to be taken at night . The sweating , zombie like feeling is just so hard when trying to work in the morning . Amiodarone will keep my heart in Rytham (similar to Flecinide ) but it’s not a long term solution .

[MalJam]

I cut out all artificial sweeteners. Worked for me so far.

[Ianc2]

It has taken me years to do it and there have been many deviations along the way but I have slowly but surely driven my weight down. Every 2 llbs = 1 bag of sugar. 7 bags of sugar = 1 stone. Get a back pack, put the bags in and carry it round for a while. Enjoy the feeling when you put it down.