I can hardly believe that it is 5 years since I joined this group. I don't visit often since my ablation almost 4 years ago.
I had so much help from people in this group and today I see that Bob is still helping people... I see CDreamer is here helping too. God bless you all.
I am fine after my ablation - no problems. If you remember, I am not taking Eliquis (blood "thinner") nor any other medication although at my age I am supposed to.
Here is the weird info which I am passing but please do not take it at face value.
Noticed that people in Croatia take some grape or plum brandy first thing after getting up in the morning. I noticed that they are all in good health but of course I couldn't attribute that to an early morning drink.
I talked to the owner of the small rental who used to complain about his arrhythmia. Last summer he said that he doesn't have any episodes.
He said that he takes a drink every morning although he never liked to drink in his life.
I couldn't believe that story. Alcohol is one cause of problem - from what I heard from doctors and in this group.
I almost forgot that when last week I saw the interview of some retired cardiolog who mentioned use of drink in the morning in the Balkans.
I was shocked when he said: " These people are not crazy. It is a long tradition.
Drink in the morning stimulates the vagus nerve and may help for Afib caused by vagus.
I am still puzzled and intrigued by this. Is this really possible?
Warm regards and thanks to Bob and all "old timers" who are still helping people.
To new ones I can only say that there is more knowledge in this group than you will hear from any PE.
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adriatico
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Interesting, and It’s good to hear you’re so well.
Nothing surprises me where AF is concerned, and I can’t help thinking how lovely it would be to be prescribed a glass of slivovitz in the morning instead of bisoprolol 😊
No, alcohol is definitely not good for AF and other arrhythmia. Alcohol seems to "confuse" sinus nod in the same way it confuses our brain. Actually, in Balkan, one cup of coffee and a glass of brandy in the morning is the recipe for longevity, what makes sense - coffee activates the heart and brandy makes the dilatation of blood vessels, so blood circulation improves significantly.
Hi Adriatico, I'm so pleased to hear that your heart is still behaving after your ablation 4 years ago.
Long may that continue.
I've heard this about that drink before. We used to have a member on here called Barabas who was Serbian and he told me about the plum brandy. Desperate to try some I looked up how much it was to buy and at the time it was about £20 a bottle and of course you couldn't order just one. I went to Croatia last year and tried some out there (not at breakfast I might add). The barman was a little shocked that myself and my daughter asked for it and said are you sure this is what you want? It tasted awful, but then I guess there are lots of different types. It's interesting that you have been told the same thing though.
So in answer to your question is this possible, I would answer yes, I believe it is.
It was too nasty tasting to drink (though I did try), so my daughter had it as well as her own. She was fine. After your post I'm now regretting not buying some while out there to bring home.
Wonder if it's available anywhere in uk? By the way - how are you health wise - I think?? Like me you have permanent af. I've found Digoxin & Diltiazam are suiting me much better than Bisop & Flec. I have found your postings along with Bob v helpful over the last few years. You have helped me in different ways through some difficult days when I had af. So glad I had 2nd ablation 6 weeks before lockdown. Recovery was a bit up & down but the difference for me has been amazing so far.
Pleased to hear that you're doing so well. Yes, I have permanent AF now and to be honest I'm a lot better this way.
Digoxin messed with my mind I thought I was going crazy, felt in a daze and one day I cried for no reason. I never cry, tough as old boots. I couldn't wait to get off it, but have a friend who like you is doing well with that med. I wouldn't mind trying Diltiazam, at the moment I take Flec and Metoprolol.
Search for plum wine on the internet, that's what I did but it was a few years ago.
Yes, much better than a year ago & like you in permanent af which my cardiologist said I would probably feel better being like it. I still get the odd day of feeling the heart racing. Isn't it amazing how we all react so differently to medication. The Flec made me feel quite ill & caused the af flutter. Didn't know you had that sort of a reaction to Digoxin must have been quite scary at the time. Last thing you want when trying to lessen impact of af. Diltiazem as you probably know comes in various strengths (180/240/300mg) took me a while to get dose right & ended up on highest dose. My cardiologist said it helps control the flutter/rhythm. I take it at bedtime & has kept the heart a lot calmer than before though now & then still get the feeling af is kicking in bu, it's never anything like before ablation. My cardiologist said you have to keep to the same slow release brand, mine is Zemtard capsule.
Hello jeanjeanie50, In your post you said you are in permanent AF and that you take flec and metoprolol. I thought flecainide was to keep us out of a fib so I’m wondering why you would be taking that? Today I got a report from Device check and was told that the last three months I was 62% in a fib , which has made me very concerned and unhappy today. This is a much higher percentage of the time than my previous device check indicated. I’ve been pondering whether to try flec again. When I have tried in the past I did not have energy nor did I feel as alert as normal.
Hi TuxAt the moment I believe Flec keeps me in a tolerable rhythm, though still in AF. I've tried not taking them and my heart is certainly not happy without. When I first started taking Flec I thought it was causing all sorts of side effects, I'd read about them all in the accompanying instructions - I have a powerful mind! Luckily they soon disappeared as my body became used to them. Perhaps you could start in a low dose?
You can probably make it yourself. I make fruit au de vie by soaking blueberries /raspberries /figs in 40° alcohol when we have gluts of fruit. The taste is modified by the amount of sugar added. You leave it for a year then drain off the fruit. This can be kept and eaten with ice cream. As I hardly drink at all except one small glass of wine with dinner I use it in desserts or cooking.
How good to hear from you and so pleased you are doing well.
I well remember the plum brandy - Slivovic - from the 1980’s, boy was it strong, knock it all back in one go, no tasting it! I quite liked it but only a thimbleful at a time. I believe it could be anything up to 60% and that making it can be a bit chancy as there are toxins if you get the fermentation wrong. We brought a bottle or 2 home and as I remember (it was very inexpensive).
I believe that anything that cures has the ability to cause - and vice versa. I also believe in the placebo affect and that if you believe in something, it’s worth at least half the battle.
I did prefer the Apple Schnapps.
I have changed my mind on a lot of things since those early AF days, I do now have the occasional drink with no consequences.
It's inspiring to read you're four years on post ablation. Yesterday was my first anniversary of AF diagnosis and I'm seeing an EP at last on the NHS with a view to assessment. I already know I'm likely that be suitable. I've read such variable reports though... As for the plum brandy - takes me right back to the 70s and travelling all over Europe on those 50 quid Railcard things we all bought in our student days. And yes, it was disgusting and the farm workers were all drinking it for breakfast.
My grandfather who lived to 1001/2 had his drink every day his mind intact till the day he crossed. I thank this group for the help n information. It helps me. My ablation was 11/23/2020. My headaches are much better n gone at times I eat bananas n they help. I read in google bananas help headaches.
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