Hello fellow afibbers. I'm new to the forum and have found it really interesting to read the wide range of experience on here. I've had paf for about 5 years now, and went onto 200mg flecainide per day in December as things had progressed to an intolerable degree; lots of ectopics everyday, and frequent afib, particularly after having been for a ride on my my bike. This was especially distressing for me as I'm a keen cyclist, and love everything about it. The flec has been transformative for me - stopped the ectopics and afib almost completely. I gave the cycling a rest for a while and started back with short, easy rides with no issues. Last week though I did a longer (3 hour) ride, kept it steady and thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything seemed fine until I awoke at 4am the following morning with an afib, exactly like my pre-flec days. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Despite taking my flec, the episode lasted a good 48 hrs before resolving itself. No issues since, but it's made me think twice about riding again, which is a real pain. I spoke to my cardiac nurse who suggested that I do a pip if I end up with an episode like this, but not to go over 300mg a day. I think I'll be looking to go on the ablation waiting list soon.
So, I was wondering what experiences others have had regarding flec and exercise. Has anyone had anything similar?
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philmondo
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Hi Phil, your experience is quite similar to mine, only you are probably younger than 67. Strongly suggest you do no more than an easy hour ride and then less than half the number of rides. You need to let the 200mgs Flecainide work for a number of months to get your AF episodes to zero. Once your heart is stabilised without AF or necessary extra Flec doses then you can very slowly build exercise back.
I did this plus a lot of lifestyle changes as well and after 7 yrs have great QOL. I took AF as a warning sign from my body that I had made poor choices that meant I could not cope with any unexpected extra stress (mother died) or indeed my past lifestyle generally.
Yep unfortunately, too scared to try reducing it. It's quite ironic that when a strategy works well you are frozen into it for fear of rocking the boat!
Long time ago, someone in this forum has written: "Isn't it funny how many of us here are cyclists!?"
If and when you understand that cycling has largely contributed to your coming where you are, and that you are no longer "the old one" but "the older one", you will be able to stop doing it. You have obviously exercised during a long time and are "addicted" to it, but the exercise is reserved for young and healthy ones, not for those ones with serious heart problems, what AF actually is. I was always puzzled by people being stubborn and thinking more about the exercise than about their health. It is a clear sign of addiction, what else...? I was exercising up to my 60, but now take very good care about every physical activity, since physical activity is a serious cause (not a trigger) of cardiac problems.
In my opinion, if you make necessary lifestyle changes, diet changes, and if you continue with the medication, you may have long period of time ahead of you, without the ablation. The ablation is not a cure, but the way to make the life more bearable. Many people here have spoiled the result of the ablation through the early start with the exercise. Do not repeat their faults! All the best! (Please, do not mind my English, it is a foreign language to me!)
Hi Philmondo. I going on a gentle ride today not been on my bike in over a year! Not because of AF though my husband broke his back 😤I run 🏃♀️ anything between 5-7 k & keep it at that - my cardiologist was happy with this & as long as well hydrated no problems 🤞 I take flec as PIP 300 mg but likely to change that soon. Also on bisoprolol. Cardiologist said important for our situation to have good aerobic activity to keep the heart healthy & strong - but like others will say in moderation & im learning to listen to my body. 1 glass of wine on Saturday = AF 30 mins later - that’s that done then! 🥺
Hi all. It was me who mentioned that there appears to be so many cyclists (like me) with Afib. Add cyclists to runners and I'm sure you have the basics for someone's PhD.What if anything have I learned. My cardiologist stated that people who have trained hard, cycling running etc. who have a low resting rate somehow appear to be more susceptible to Afib. For reasons still unclear.
So what are the answers, I wish I knew. But avoid over stressing, keep out of the red zone on heart rate. Keep hydrated. Easy to say, avoid stress. Have good sleep hygiene. Have rest days, especially after a harder training session. Read the hints and reports on this site. Experiment with diet and alcohol. Try some of the vits, alternative botanicals and minerals. I take magnesium, fish oil and a good multi vitamin alongside prescription Apixaban. If I could summarise. It would be, be sensible, we are only human. Best wishes.
It is your sentence, I have quoted!? I have mentioned it several times in my comments, you have noticed it quite right, and I could not forget it! So glad to have found the author! All the best!
hello,I am on flecainide too as well as Bisoprolol and am one of those people who finds it really hard to sit and do nothing! I've been decorating this last few months , mostly by myself however after a few episodes of flutters, AF and an admission with a suspected heart attack....I'm now listening to my body as they say and trying to have a less active day every couple of days.
I'm not sporty as in running (heaven forbid..last time I 'ran' was probably egg and spoon race at school) -or indeed cycling, I never had a bike in my life though I did ask Santa several times :-(.
I'll be 67 this Summer and after that scare with the suspected heart attack I'll perhaps take the running and cycling off my to do list!!
I walk my dog 3/4 times every day come rain or shine and as I say, hardly ever sit and do nothing.
I'm now waiting to see what my cardiologist will suggest though, even though with this lockdown stuff I've not seen him in about year and a bit.
Was interested to read the comment about ablation not being a cure. I dread this procedure as I think most people who have it done need it repeated over and over again.
Wine is definitely a trigger for me too so I just don't anymore.
I wonder if perhaps the Flecainide is no longer working for me as I still have many days of the flutters and they usually last hours and hours.......
I was getting the flutters, episodes at anywhere from 1 1/2 hours to 4 after taking my flecainide. My EP has had started me at 50mg twice daily 7 months no issues, stopped it after ablation, then 4 months later back on it at 100 mg twice daily for 1 months, had afib 2 days in hospital, increased to 150mg twice a day for 13 months.. Then I noticed I was getting long episodes at random within 1 1/2-4 hours after the medication. Mine seemed to start after the drug. My EP agreed and said he did not understand but the heart can remodels itself and medication requirements change as well. He reduced to 75mg twice daily, still had a few lasting anywhere from couple minutes to two hours at rates up to 180. He reduced back to 50 mg, so far I am stable again. Who knows, we all are different, but only you know your body. Observe and work with your EP. I am much much much better after ablation, before, any flip flop of the heart required a ER or hospital stay and cardioversion.I have had 17.
hi,my episodes are all random, no rhyme nor reason as to why they kick in. You've had cardio version 17 times??? OMG.
I have yet to see an EP but believe my cardiologist has been discussing me with one in Edinburgh so am thinking when I next hear from him, it will be to tell me I've to see the EP.
As I said since that trip with the suspected heart attack just 3 weeks ago, and being told there was damage to my heart, I'm a tad more worried than I used to be with this old heart of mine.
I had breast cancer in 2015 and wonder too if having radiotherapy to my left breast has contributed to this 'damage'. Who knows eh?
So many unknowns, the doctors think the Rocky Mountain Spotted fever I had is most likely the culprit for the scarring in my heart and afib. I am so very careful about all known triggers, life has changed for me. No workaholic any longer for me, time to slow down. The very best to you !!!
Hi philmondo...... I too have PAF & was diagnosed last September. Am taking Apixaban & was on Flecainide as PIP. This worked when I had an episode, but as they became more frequent my Cardiologist put me on 50mg twice a day. This appears to work fine. However, I do a lot of walking every day & some cycling, but 1 day about 2 weeks ago I walked a lot further than normal & without taking a decent break.
All was fine after, until about 2am when I went into AF. I took another 100mg of Flec & after about 1 hour, all ok & back in Sinus Rhythm.
Since then, not overdoing it & so far no repeat of episodes 🤞
So, maybe take it a bit more easy.....All the best !!!
Thanks everyone for your insightful responses. I recognise much of what each of you has said. AF is an exasperating condition when your favourite things in life are cycling and drinking red wine!
I'm 47 and if I'm honest have definitely pushed too hard in the past, particularly on my indoor trainer. The challenge now seems to be to recalibrate the cycling so that it remains a fulfilling means of staying healthy without exacerbating my AF. As some have said, short and easy rides are probably the thing. I'm just grateful that the flec (and bisoprolol 1.25mg) work well overall for me. I've read here that many don't get on at all well with it, so I'm lucky to have experienced no unwanted effects.
I'll look forward to reading and contributing to the conversations
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