Permanent Afib and alcohol

[Mollykin]

I’m in permanent Afib and don’t appear to have any food or drink triggers that I know of making my symptoms worse. Once lockdown eases and I’m allowed friends in the garden to visit for a few drinks, how much can I safely drink in one nigh? I usually have lower alcohol wine. I want to enjoy life as only 54 but want to be safe. Don’t do it often. I’m fine after a large glass of wine at the weekend heart rate and no don’t budge. Thank you 😊

[Hidden]

Alcohol won’t help with your plan to lose weight or have an ablation. Did you manage to get a second opinion from an EP?

[Mollykin in reply to Hidden]

Hi I only have the odd drink I was just wondering about special occasions and my graduation when it comes. I have had my echo and waiting for results and have been referred for a private consultation with an EP to discuss my options if any and also to ask about weight loss and lifestyle, travel, progression of the condition etc. I hope he puts my mind at rest with a lot of things. Thank u for your reply 😀

[beardy_chris]

Alcohol may not affect your permanent AFib but many of the drugs used to treat AFib don't play well with it e.g. anticoagulants or beta-blockers. Check the pamphlets for your particular cocktail and/or check with your pharmacist.

[RoyM]

I have been in permanent AF for five years now and luckily my quality of life is better in Permanent AF than ever it was in PAF. However, I do find if I drink much more than a small Brandy I wake up during the night with a slightly raised heart rate and a heavy heart beat. I eventually decided that drinking alcohol is simply not worth the discomfort a few hrs after. So, I have given up on alcohol altogether. We are all different and you will find your own alcohol tolerence level. Good luck

[captainKFF in reply to RoyM]

Hi, what is your current heart rate while in permanent Afib? Also, would appreciate if you share why you think it’s better Q of L in permanent Afib than PAF.

[RoyM in reply to captainKFF]

I am in permanent AF which means it is beating irregularly all the time 24hrs a day. The difference between permanent and persistant AF is simply I have agreed with my EP that no further attempts to revert me back to NSR will be made. I made that decision about five years ago and don't regret it at all, in fact its a relief not to be chasing the "holy grail" of NSR and simply now just getting on with life. When I was living with Paroxysmal AF it was awful, very raised heart rate 170/180 was not unheard of. I was unable to function, no energy, shortage of breath, unable to walk very far, walking up hills was a nightmare, as time went on the periods between NSR and Paroxysmal AF were considerably getting less and less I missed a lot of family gatherings and plenty of holidays were spoiled because of the condition. In May 2016 My heart rhythm went from NSR to AF but it felt different. I visited my EP who confirmed i was in AF and that he would try a cardioversion that put me back into NSR for 11 hrs. Even though I went back into AF it felt OK, so with my EP's agreement we decided not to try again or try an Ablation. Although I am now in Permanent AF my quality of life is great, I can swim, I walk at least 5 miles per day, when the weather permits I cycle and most importantly I can chase my 8 year old Granddaughter about, I am never breathless, I am not aware that my heart is beating to its own rhythm, Yes I don't think my quality of life is better..I know it is. My resting heart rate is anything between 65/70 BPM and exercise can raise my heart rate anywhere from 70 to 115 BPM depending on the level of exercise. There is no doubt I have lost the top 10% of my exercise ability but at 74 I can live with that. I have 12 monthly scans and my EF is 55% with no re-modeling of my heart structure and no dilation of the chambers. My medication list is 1.25mg Bisoporol daily and Apixiban.

Yes absolutely 100% my life is better in Permanent AF than ever it was in Paroxysmal AF.

I hope that answers your questions captainKFF. Take care

[djmnet in reply to RoyM]

Ditto for me, a 76 year old woman in Colorado. I find persistent/permanent much easier to tolerate. And yes, I do have a couple of alcoholic drinks a couple of times a week with no change. My resting heart rate is 70-80 and does not limit me in my daily activities.

[RoyM in reply to djmnet]

Thats great dymnet...stay safe and healthy, my wife and I recently did a car trip taking in Colorado ...and drove from New York to Santa Monica..taking my Permanent AF with me lol, great trip, lovely country. Cheers Roy

[7164 in reply to RoyM]

RoyDoes it not mean you will get heart failure quickly? So confusing. I feel that I am ruining my own life and my family life by anxiety and avoiding things!!

Rod

[7164 in reply to RoyM]

RoyI never understand how being in permanent af can be better to live with than Afib. Are we paf people not all trying to avoid permanent?

I am a paf person who felt really scared when I went into paf. I had a ablation 9 months ago and now live in anxiety that the paf will come back! Please explain if you would

Rod

[RoyM in reply to 7164]

Hi Rod...This rouge condition of AF hits people in different ways and affects their lives differently. Going into Permanent AF was completely different for me than suffering Paroxysmal AF, first and foremost was the anxiety factor...will I or won't I go into AF today, I don't have any of that now, I know I will be in AF...but a different kind of AF.

I hated being in Paroxysmal AF it left me drained and dis-interested in everything. My episodes of AF was happening almost every other day. I was offered and accepted an Ablation in May 2016, three weeks before the Ablation date I went into AF I knew I was in AF but it felt different, even though my heart was beating irregular it wasn't the normal 150/170 BPM I spent the next few days waiting to return to NSR but it never happened, I remained in AF with a heart rate of approx 65/70 resting, during the day carrying out my normal activities it would vary between mid 80's to 115 depending on the activity, then on resting it returned to 65/70 BPM but still irregular.

I kept my appointment for the Ablation with the EP and had a interesting discussion, he advised I don't go for an Ablation, instead that day I underwent a number of test, CT echocardiograph and physical examination. My heart structure was fine, the EF was normal, no breathlessness and normal blood pressure. His question to me was can I do the things I could do before AF and the answer was yes, although I couldn't run like I used to be able to...that was more down to age than anything else, its now 5 years since I went into Permanent AF my recent check ups show normal heart structure, EF of 55% normal blood pressure.

Heart failure is a confusing and scary description but it means merely that the heart is not pumping the blood around the body has efficiently as it should. An EF of 55% is pretty much normal and my heart chambers are not dilated, I am pleased I took the EP's advice and didn't have an Ablation, would I rather be in NSR..... of course I would, but I much prefer to be in Permanent AF than Paroxysmal AF, my life is pretty much normal without the worry or anxiety of wondering when next I will go into Paroxysmal AF.

There are a number of people on this site who may tell the same story...we are all different and this condition makes us all different. I am happy not to be chasing the "holy grail" of NSR. I also think trying to identify triggers for AF is the road to madness...Regards Roy

[7164 in reply to RoyM]

Thanks RoyThe anxiety is ruining my life. If the paf comes back I don’t know if I should follow your route?

Are most permanent afers similar?

[RoyM in reply to 7164]

Hi Rod. Anxiety is the friend of AF and can contribute to episodes of AF try to enjoy each day that is AF free. Sometimes worrying about tomorrow can spoil today. Why don't you post a question with a new thread asking for people's experience who are now in Permenent AF. Try to control your anxiety and don't allow AF to define you. .life really is to short. Stay safe. Regards Roy

[7164 in reply to RoyM]

Thanks Roy

[Stucoo]

I would suggest making sure you also drink lots of water between the alcoholic drinks.

[momist]

Everyone looks for triggers, don't they? I did myself, for a long while. I've now concluded that there are NO triggers, it's just general life style and diet and mental state that influence the incidence of AF.

I, too, enjoy an occasional drink (or several!). I used to frequent beer festivals, and have lots. At that time, I found matching the beers one to one with plain water helped a lot. I can't do that these days, for many reasons, but I still think drinking water alternately with alcoholic drinks is beneficial.

Most of all, listen to your body and do what feels safe. Don't be afraid to stop and switch to drinking non-alcoholic things. I've not tried any of the non alcoholic wines, but the beers have improved immensely over the last few years. I recommend the German ones especially.

[Mollykin in reply to momist]

Thank you. If I drink I stick to the low alcohol wine and alcohol free which are actually very good just wasn’t sure how much is safe as even non alcohol wine has sulphates which I hear are a trigger. I’m not wanting to take any major risks but also very occasionally would like to be sociable it’s very scary.

[ETFCfan]

Hello Mollykin, I’m glad you have asked that. I’m also in permanent AF and have been avoiding alcohol completely. I have had the odd glass of Prosecco on special occasions pe Covid with no ill effects. Like you I’m thinking in advance to sitting in the garden with a drink. I’ve decided to try no more than two drinks every now and again and see how it goes, obviously I’m aware of the interactions with the drugs that we are on too.

[Mollykin in reply to ETFCfan]

Hi it’s hard giving up everything and hard being breathless and tired most of the time so it would be nice to relax with a wine now and again without worrying, must be some perks for being permanent Afib 🤣

[djmnet]

This 76 year old woman with persistent/permanent afib for over a year does enjoy an alcoholic beverage a couple of times a week with no issues.