A F and flying

[trixie100]

Has anyone ever had an af attack on a long haul flight?

[Paulbounce]

Hi Trixie.

Nope - never. Always been fine flying (those were the days).

Make sure you stay well hydrated during the flight. Also work your med's out depending on the time zone you are traveling to.

The only problem I have had is lack of sleep due to 'silly hours' flights. Lack of sleep affects me and it takes a few days for your body clock to adjust. I find it hard to get back to a normal sleeping pattern after such flights - it passes though after 3 or 4 days.

Paul

[CDreamer]

Yes - no problems.

[The_Lord_is_with_Us]

It never happened during flight .... but many times in AFIB, I could fill a liter bottle with urine two times over very quickly. Learned AFIB promotes a hormone that does it.

[AussieHeart in reply to The_Lord_is_with_Us]

What is name of that hormone please

[The_Lord_is_with_Us in reply to AussieHeart]

Atrial Natriuretic Factor

[Peony4575]

It is on my list of “what ifs” puts you off travelling along with the dubious medical facilities in some other countries . Covid has temporarily kicked that problem into the long grass as won’t consider foreign travel for at least the next year the way things are .

[Hidden]

Rather than flying itself, the general stress involved in getting to the airport on time, preparing for the flight etc. might be why some people report problems. It’s probably important to plan everything meticulously and stay calm.

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

Absolutely, the flying was the easy bit!

[dexter8479]

Not on a flight, but before boarding. We were on a stopover at Dubai from Australia, and had several hours waiting, in the lounge very near the departure gate. I went into AFib, so was then really not looking forward to the flight. My husband stretched his legs as we approached boarding time, came back to say the gate had been changed to another at the opposite end to where we were. DXB is a very large airport! So we had to run/jog/power walk some 25 minutes to the new gate, but the upside was that it flipped me back into NSR. I’ve read lots of people who swear by exertion to flip them out of AFib. Oh, and once immediately after landing, but that was because the airline lost our luggage, and we were going on a really big holiday with lots of fancy clothes requirements! Three days with a small wheelie suitcase was a bit of a nightmare, but made for very good stories!

[Morzine]

Never on a flight and I’ve been to Australia and back....think it’s a good plan when flying to put it out if your mind. Make sure you relieve the stress of rushing, being late, give yourself lots of time, wear easy clothes so you don’t get hot and bothered! I worked on the surmise that why would it kick off just cos I was on a plane?Lots of us fly, in fact that’s why I fly because I asked everyone in here in my early days as I thought my trips were over,thrn I was so pleased to here so many go all over the world....my word that was so nice to hear!!

Sue

[MarkS]

I'm sure I have had AF on a flight in the past. I was in AF a third of the time before my ablation so I must have had AF on some long haul flights. In any case I would rather have AF on a flight when I can just sit there and relax rather than when I get to the other end and start activities.

[Rosemaryb1349]

Yes several times on both short and long haul flights. I am sure the stress of travelling and all its attendant problems was the cause as on more than one occasion afib would rear its ugly head when waiting in the departure lounge. I would just try to sleep during the flights and always wore compression socks.

[Bob56]

I had an AF episode on a long haul flight from London to Miami a few years back. It's often forgotten that despite the cabin being pressured, it is still the equivalent of being up to 8,000 feet in altitude. I, for one, react badly to high altitude, so it's important to take other precautions when flying. In my case that means no alcohol whatsoever before or during. I tend to avoid a big meal on the flight, and anything rich or spicy, which can be a trigger for me. As has been said, stay well hydrated, and make sure you have taken any medication at the right time, as long haul can easily throw things out of kilter. Apart from the AF itself, which subsided a few hours after I got off the plane, my main concern was going to the toilet seemingly every 5 minutes for the rest of the flight!

[AussieHeart in reply to Bob56]

What’s being in afib ... racing heart sensation... irregular heart beat or both? just diagnosed and really learning what this all means as experience myriad symptoms from racing, irregular beats to wild heart swings, tremor, hearing sensitivity, migraines, head pings (think ice pick), dizziness, dehydration, nausea, swallowing issues but EP / cardiologist hasn’t explained my symptoms just mailed out Sotalol script to take for next three months. I do have a loop monitor chip inserted over my heart so assuming will be told more at my first face-to-face appointment in July. Not good getting Dx during pandemic I guess!

[Bob56 in reply to AussieHeart]

Hi AF comes in all shapes and sizes. It can manifest itself purely as a fast heart rate, but in my case it was a truly irregular beat, not particularly fast, but unpredictable and still quite debilitating. I also had heart tremors, ectopic beats/PACs, and some other side effects, party caused by the AF but also by the medication I take to help it. The monitor you have fitted should tell the EP all they need to know and drive the diagnosis, but it's a shame you have to wait until July, as I doubt the Sotalol will necessarily be the medication the EP chooses to treat you longer term. I didn't get on with that drug as despite slowing my heart rate, it made me feel edgy and unstable, and it could be some of the feelings you have could be down to that. It can take quite a while to fine tune the right combination of rate and rhythm control to suit each person. If you can push to get seen sooner, that would be my main advice, but I know that's easier said than done right now! Good luck

[Bambi65]

yes, traveling from Florida to Dubai, then from Dubai to South Africa. Drink lots of water, walk around every hour, and watch a movie. I always pack for my afib whenever we travel, PIP (diltiazem) and Kardia.Cant wait to get back into the skys again.. Miss seeing other places and meeting new people.

[Snowgirl65]

I didn't have a-fib on my wonderful trip to Scotland in 2017, but the morning after I got home I went into a-fib in a big way! My EP said it was from jet lag, the stress of flying, etc.

[Bennera513]

I went into ventricular bigeminy (Premature Ventricular Contractions every other beat, not dangerous in my case) during boarding before a shorter connection flight after spending most of the morning flying trans coastal (U.S.). Ran to the bathroom and popped a Chlonazepam (A Benzodiazapine used for Anxiety) and a Flecainide (Anti-Arrhythmic Pill in Pocket) and got on the plane. Wasn't going to miss the flight. Nodded off to sleep after take-off and made it home safe and sound with only PAC's (Premature Atrial Contractions - A form of Supraventricular ectopic which in my case is considered more of a nuisance, but stress me out nonetheless) by the time I picked up my luggage. I'm sure to carry a few choice meds in case but have been lucky so far and not gone into Atrial Fibrillation (Afib). I'm more concerned of the anxiety and panic in an already tense situation. But on longer flights, deep vein thrombosis (If circulation is poor a clot can form in the legs. Real concerns even without afib). If I did I'd likely be sure to walk the aisle a couple times to keep blood and mood going. You can also do flexes or pulses to help push the blood along. I might even inform a flight attendant of my situation. Perhaps they could move me to an aisle seat where I could stay more active and stretch out? Also they could keep an eye on you in case anything major happened....?

[Peony4575 in reply to Bennera513]

Hardcore ! Some good advice too !

[AussieHeart in reply to Bennera513]

What the! This is all a foreign language to the newly dx!

[Bennera513 in reply to AussieHeart]

Fair enough. I edited my response with a bit more explanation where appropriate.

[EngMac]

Over the last 7 years, yes, lots of times, with the usual symptoms. I always get an aisle seat, which I prefer anyway.