Paroxysmal afib more frequent episodes, but less symptomatic, and shorter lasting

[lilmikeb77]

Hey all, I had an ablation back in January, and since then I’ve had 5 episodes of AFIB, my EP recommended weight loss, and I am currently down 40lbs, and still chipping away. My episodes prior to ablation typically happened once a year at most, and lasted 4-7 hours. Now my episodes seem to come on more often, about 6-8 Weeks apart currently, but I am less symptomatic, and a lot shorter, they were lasting about an hour and a half a couple months after ablation, and now I’ve had one that lasted about 5 minutes, and one that lasted about 25 minutes. Does anyone have experience with this, it feels very confusing, because on the one hand my episodes are more tolerable, and pass quickly, and on the other hand, they are more frequent. I’ve talked to my EP, and he keeps recommending more weight loss, I agree with him, but am not sure if I should be pushing back for a second ablation

[Hidden]

If you knew how much chemicals there are in the food we nowadays consume, you would avoid the food as much as you can. So, nothing better and nothing simpler to do for your health and longevity, but to loose the weight. It should become the main goal of your life - to get back to normal weight (BMI of 25)and to maintain it for the rest of your life. Fingers crossed, that you succeed!

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

Whilst I tend to agree you can’t avoid food altogether but here at least you can find food which is organically produced without chemicals and it is now becoming more popular as so many people are wanting to cook from scratch and not ruin their health with chemicals.

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

Whoever has the chance to produce own food, should do it, it is the way to know exactly how it was grown. I grow own tomatoes, never applying anything as the protection against the pest and fungi etc. But... after having made a more precise analysis, I realized that they still are not organic tomatoes. Why? I make own fertilizer, mostly from the remnants from the garden and the kitchen (waste from bananas, oranges, potatoes, etc.). There was also some chicken manure, from the chicken I had almost a decade ago, so I continued to use this place for composting. But, the chicken were fed with the factory produced food, which had in itself antibiotics for chicken protection. This antibiotics are still present in the manure and in the fertilizer I produce for the tomatoes. Everything is so spoiled with chemicals that, even with the best of intention, we can never be sure that it is organic...

[CDreamer]

I certainly experienced less symptomatic AF when it returned 3 years following my second ablation. I am wondering why you are confused by that?

I would stick with Lifestyle changes over other treatments any day and by that certainly work on all aspects, not just weight loss but a eating very varied, mostly plant based diet, good sleep, moderate exercise and managing stress and good breathing practice. Many people have found this type of approach life changing in a good way.

If you haven’t already, I would recommend reading the book The AFib Cure by Dr Day -in it he quite clearly states that it if you are prepared to have an ablation you should also be prepared to make the lifestyle changes to ensure the ablation is lasting.

My view is that whilst a BMI of 25 is ideal, as I struggle to achieve this I am content to stay hovering around 26/27 - any higher I certainly feel less well but when my weight dips I also start to feel unwell but I put that down to age as up until the last 7 years I was always slim and fit.

[Physalis]

I can't quite understand why you had an ablation when your episodes were so far apart. Surely there were people who ought to have been ahead of you in the queue. Now you are thinking another one when your episodes are 6-8 weeks apart and only last for a relatively short time. Maybe you paid for your ablation yourself.

I would have thought you should have got your weight down by those 40 lbs before they gave you the ablation. You say 40 lbs but not what your weight was or what your BMI is now.

How much do you still have to lose? Don't even think about it until your BMI is below 25.

[BobD Volunteer]

As has been suggested, weight loss is important but the amount less so as long as you can get your BMI down near or below 26. Avoid all processed foods and try to drastically reduce you meat intake moving to a more plant based diet. Better for you and better for the planet by all accounts.

That said I am sure there are plenty here who would kill for your extremely light AF burden so keep doing what you are doing.

[charley1953]

I have had paroxysmal AF for 7 years now. I started off having 1 attack about every month, then every 3 weeks and I then had a week where I had 7 attacks in a week. I then had a gap of about 10 months before another 1. Mine varied between 27 hours to 5 minutes. I now don't want to tempt fate but they are very short when I do get 1. Good luck.

[momist]

Sounds to me like a partial fix that might still improve over time. I would expect the situation to become clearer after a year from the procedure.

My ablation was at the end of June, so early days for me. Short sessions of AF I can tolerate, longer ones not so much.

Keep in touch with your EP and his staff, and make sure they know what's happening so they can advise.

[Adalaide2020]

First, well done on loosing the weight. Yes keep going until your BMI is healthy. Cook all your own food with the best ingredients. Hydrate. Try plant based but remember you may need to suppliments with vit b12. You have lots of advice on here. You may find your mild symptoms get even better if you look after your diet. I hope that is the case for you.

[lilmikeb77]

I sincerely appreciate everyones responses, I'm 31, and this is my first "big" medical issue. I am going to keep plugging away at my weight, I'm currently 225lbs., down from 270. I have a long way to go, but this AFIB is a great motivator, in a way I'm happy something like AF came along to whip me back into shape. I have read a lot about the legacy trials in Australia, and I'm hoping as I keep shedding weight, this AF will diminish more and more, and eventually cease! Thanks again to all, this really is a great community, and the tribal knowledge here seems to be unmatched