Return of AF

Last year I had only three episodes of PAF, in Feb, July and Dec. I was encouraged by the fact that the last two episodes were five months apart- much longer than the usual interval of one to two months. This morning, however, I woke up at about 0130, turned onto my left side and noticed I was in PAF. So it’s only been around seven weeks since the last episode. I noticed my blood pressure was higher than usual yesterday and I had been more stressed. At present the heart is going at about 80 bpm.

[Hidden]

How discouraging for you. Is stress your usual trigger? It started in the night? If the others did, do you think your trigger might be vagal, ie depressives such as sleep, alcohol rather than “excitement” such as stress? Do you have a monitor to show if still in AF?

Have you been considered for ablation?

My heart rate is usually 80, but 120-200 when I had AF episodes. Good luck

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It started when I was asleep as it nearly always does. It’s been suggested by a consultant that it may be vagal. I have a Kardia so I know it’s still out of rhythm, but I can always tell independently. I’m hoping that it will stop when I take my morning dose of Sotalol. Thanks very much for you reply.

[Hidden]

That’s interesting. I will mention this when I see the cardio next month. I don’t usually eat before bed, but my heart rate can be 45-50bpm.

[Hidden]

My lowest was 43, but that is quite rare.

[fairgo45]

My heart rate drops often to 40 or even lower I'm on metoprolol and diltiazam, what did your meds get changed to?

[The_Lord_is_with_Us]

My AFIB can be Vagus Nerve induced usually by drinking a cold beverage. However, it is pretty well known that lying on your left side can also induce AFIB, which happens to me, too.

There was a time, when if I went into AFIB once a month I would have been overjoyed. But, I was going into AFIB 3 or 4 times a week. That's when I sought out a good EP and ablation.

Good Luck! in healing . . .

[secondtry]

With a low regular HR & stress it sounds like vagally mediated AF. My first move would be to reduce all forms of stress; then look at other Lifestyle matters on diet.

[Hidden in reply to secondtry]

I agree-but easier said than done!

[momist]

I have had long intervals between hits like that, and then I went into a phase where it was happening sometimes only a week or two apart. It seems totally random, and I never found any cause or pattern to it. I now accept that AF happens as randomly as the heart beats do when it's happening.

[sdweller]

I absolutely cannot lay on my left side... it can trigger an afib episode. You may want to try not doing so, many people have this issue. Also, afib episodes are often randomly spaced... so try not to get discouraged, you may go another 5 months now without another episode...or longer!

[Hidden in reply to sdweller]

I hope so! The new concern is the fast rate which might necessitate a visit to hospital unlike the slow rate!

[SirBeatalot]

I've had 5 episodes from Dec 19 to Dec 20 but within that period I was free of AF for 9 months.My heart rate is low at around 43 when resting and so I am unable to increase my 1.25mg dose of Bisoporol.I am on the list for an ablation, once I've had the vaccine and things have quietened down a bit.

Interesting that sleeping on your left side can trigger AF, I tend not to do that anyway due to the bypass I had nearly 4 years ago which still gives me pain.

My EP Consultant seems to think that my AF will become more frequent over time but that there is a window now for the Ablation before this happens.

Not sure if I have a trigger, but New Years eve in 2019 I did eat late and have a couple of drinks and woke up with AF which lasted 24 hours.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

[Hidden in reply to SirBeatalot]

All the doctors have said AF will likely progress over time-the heart is gradually “remodelled”. But none have given a time scale, or indicated how this might happen.

[reinaway]

These last 4 months I have had more trouble with AF than I have ever had and as I think stress both good and bad cause the majority of my episodes I wonder if all this Covid 19 pandemic could be at the bottom of the increase. We are bombarded left right and centre with bad news and confined to our houses so I am just hoping that come an improvement in the situation might make a difference to this awful tension we are all living under.

[Hidden in reply to reinaway]

Yes, the general situation is very stressful at the moment. Personally, I thought that the first lockdown wasn’t too bad- the weather was good and I went for lots of walks in local woods and did cycling. The cold weather and the fact that the situation is much more dangerous is undoubtedly more stressful for many and no doubt underlies a lot of AF.

[sdweller in reply to Hidden]

No doctor CAN tell you a "timeline" for progression...because they can't...it's different for everyone. And not EVERYBODY progresses to full-time from paroxysmal... although many do.