I was diagnosed with persistent/permanent AF back in June, I had a cardioversion that worked well for 6 days, I'm on the list to have an ablation but the wait is 9 to 12 months here....
I like to have a drink now and again, nothing over the top maybe 3-4 pints a week...
I have read that it is best not to drink as it can start an episode of AF... as I'm permanently in AF that's not going to happen to me...
Daily I'm on 5mg Bioprolol, 60mg Edoxaban and 320mg Sotalol
So can I have the odd drink or do I have to give up another vice....??
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Tough call. I'm also in persistant so a drink won't set it off - it's there anyway. The ideal is to keep off it but I understand your post. Personally I think the ideal answer is to keep off it - however I'm not following my own advice.
They churn out the stop smoking drinking and eating regime with every ailment people can suffer from, I'm on antibiotics at the moment and they have in capitals on the label to reframe from drinking. When you google why you find that if you have a liver condition drinking "can" make the antibiotics less effective..... So, again, they churn out the advice to 100% of people when only a few % will ever be effected....
Nor me Paul. I'm in presistant now. I have a new Amaze it watch and its certainly interesting watching my heart rate line go from 40 to 105 and back again. Great eh?
I don't think there is a problem in having an occasional drink , particularly if it is one of your pleasures! As you say, you are already in AF so it's not going to start it off. However, if you find that your rate escalates then I would say that is the time for a rethink.
There is no doubt in my mind alcohol even small amounts is a trigger for many but not all, and in binge amounts probably all af sufferers will be affected more than not. I am ablated and have a glass or two of wine most nights with my meal with no bad effect. But before the ablation wine/ booze was never a trigger for me that I could identify.
At that time I considered my self a bit of a walking chemistry set/ experiment so tried some things( like sugar free drinks) that I thought may be a tigger… dammit!! They were and others ( pineapple) that wasn’t
So if I were you I would try a pint and see what happens we are all different, but if you are triggered you will know what to do if not you can cautiously extend to a couple of pints etc.
The whole thing about af isQOL so it is worth a test IMO if you like an occasional drink
Being in permanent AF means I have no triggers to worry about, I have drunk a few pints a week and my Apple watch tells me my HR, ECG & oxygen levels don't change, the same with my BP.... Everything in moderation I suppose.. Thanks Pete
Hi there and welcome to the Forum. Have you visited the A F Association website? heartrhythmalliance.org/afa... Please take a look at our A F Fact File in our online patient booklets, it will give you a complete overview of the condition, or if you prefer contact us direct on info@afa.org.uk. I would also like to invite you to join us for our 'Virtual' online 'HRC2021 AF Association Patients Day' taking place online on Sunday 3 October. For full details please follow the link? heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
Thanks for the invite, we are away on 3rd, taking a months sabbatical in southern Spain so will have to catch the next one... I have read all the booklets and advice and it's always the same old story, everything you can get wrong with you is directly related to Drinking, smoking or being overweight... Well, that's the message they churn out, time after time...!!
You are most welcome, I am sorry to hear that you are not available to attend on Sunday 3 October. However, just to reassure you that the event is ‘Virtual’ so if you register this week, you will still have access to the presentations at a time to suit you over the next 12 months! Enjoy your time in sunny Spain!
I'm paroxysmal, and still have the occasional alcohol. I'm a lover of real ale, and lately the craft beers. I think the best thing to do is stay hydrated, and drink water along with the beer. I like the alternate glass approach. Also, don't go too far, anything that will raise your heart rate will make things worse, so take it slow and easy, and enjoy the flavours and not the 'effects'.
I have been up and down with AF and A flutter for many years but I have never tied it back to moderate alcohol consumption. I love my drinks at the end of the day and a couple of beers and a glass of wine goes down a treat. I’ve had an ablation to fix the flutter and on medication to fix anything else coming through and it’s going fine. I hydrate religiously during the day using my watch to remind me and I think that gives me the edge so I can have a little indulgence before and during dinner 🙂😋
Unfortunately, I had to give up drinking. I was NOT happy. My a-fib episodes would start 5 hours after I finished drinking wine. It was almost like clockwork. My fear of having an episode outweighed my joy of wine, so I gave it up.
I think drinking is really up to the individuals reaction to alcohol. I can enjoy a drink without too many repercussions although I now drink less than I used to. Caffeine and stress seem to be my AFib triggers. So my unqualified advise would be to drink within reasonable limits and see how you get on. Be careful if taking Beta blockers as alcohol will lower your blood pressure further........drink carefully!
I reduced having a pint from a daily indulgence to having one or two over the weekend. I’ve posted before about finding a trigger and it seems like a pint of beer is not one of them. At the weekend I had a pint of cider whilst visiting Canterbury with no ill effects whatsoever. The only thing I have found is that 99% of episodes (which are around once a week) is when I’m relaxing or sitting down not exerting any energy. It seems all the time I’m busy like gardening etc I’m normally ok. There was only once about six months ago I had been out for a walk and we stopped after sitting down and my wife had a tea and I had a pint that I had an episode after having a cider but again it was when I was not busy. I believe moderation is the rule for most things
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