Vagal Nerve stimulation

[Swimsyroke]

Has anyone explored ways of stimulating the vagal nerve as a way of preventing AF as seems to be responsible for possibly the majority of Afib triggers? Wouldn't it be great if just like a pacemaker we could have a vagal nerve implant to give it a jolt when it's thinking of doing it's dirty work!!! Pie in the sky I reckon!!

[jeanjeannie50]

Have a look at this:

youtube.com/watch?v=QSAvPgq...(Not working as expected?)

[Swimsyroke in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks I looked at it. Guess you have to do this regularly. to keep the vagus nerve stimulated. How often I wonder? And does it prevent or cure?

[Singwell in reply to Swimsyroke]

Alas I'm a singer and hum regularly...hasn't worked ☺️

[BobD Volunteer]

My Bowen man has done work on my vagus nerve which seemed to help the ectopics. Not seen him since the pandemic started.

[Swimsyroke in reply to BobD]

Thanks for that. I was a case study for Bowen last year so may think of pursuing it.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Swimsyroke]

Wello done for knowing about it. Most people don't. Cured my sciatica.

[fra48 in reply to BobD]

For a non native english speaker, what is a Bowen man? Searched also on Google but unsuccessfully…thanks

[BobD Volunteer in reply to fra48]

Bowen technique is a body manipulation technique a little like accupuncture without the needles. Small areas are stimulated to improve nerve function and blood flow I understand.

[Singwell in reply to BobD]

Never thought of Bowen for my sciatica. Good tip. Will ask the local practitioner if she's still doing it.

[Jay10 in reply to BobD]

Hi Bob, I am suffering with Sciatica at the moment. Where can I find a Bowen practitoner near me please. Is there a directory I can access?Hope all is well with you and Sam, keep safe.

Jackie

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Jay10]

bowen-technique.co.uk

[Jay10 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob. Will look at the site

[secondtry]

The last time my AF started, I stimulated/shocked the Vagus Nerve by gulping down a very cold drink which stopped it.

[Swimsyroke in reply to secondtry]

I try everything in the book but nothing has ever worked for me

[chris45558]

I was given a large syring by a Paramedic to blow into . Always worked on my SVT

[Swimsyroke in reply to chris45558]

Lucky you but not easy to come by.

[Pjt55]

I have a vagal nerve stimulator inplanted. I had it implanted years before diagnosed with AFIB for a different reason. I could tolerate it for 9 months and now it is just dead sitting there causing who knows what problems. I tried for those 9 months to get it adjusted and to try to tolerate it. But it w as turned off becuase it caused severe breathing problems. Now it has been banned for the use I had it implanted for. It is only approved for seizures now and is only activated during a seizure. It was a fffrghtening experience having the side effect of no not being able to breathe. Therebis more to my experience with it that was not good but will leave it at that.

[Swimsyroke in reply to Pjt55]

Thank you so much for your story Pjt55 and I'm so sorry. I didn't know there was such a thing as a Vagal implant but would rather suffer with regular Afib than go through what you have obviously gone through. Hope things are improving for you now.

[Snowgirl65]

I once jokingly told my EP that I was considering using my stun gun on myself to jolt my heart back to beating correctly. He wasn't amused in the least bit!!

[Singwell in reply to Snowgirl65]

🤣

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Snowgirl65]

Had plenty of belts off high power ignition systems whilst working on race cars but apart from hurting like **** they never did anything.

[Mounder]

There are lots of exercises for the vagus nerve on YouTube, along with many other videos with more information, etc. Just go to YouTube and enter 'vagus nerve" in the search box.

[Swimsyroke in reply to Mounder]

Thank you. I will do that.

[Diddyd]

Hi

I had recommended this device by a cardiologist. There has been lots of good Scientific research around its effectiveness.

parasym.co/

I think with any of these vagal nerve things, you have to do them regularly such as every day for a few weeks to begin to see benefits. If you look at poly vagal exercises on You tube, there are some simple movements to do which have come out of Stephen Porges Polyvagal Theory.

Other things like a cold shower at end of your shower, gargling for 2 mins when you clean your teeth are pretty easy to add in to your daily routine.

There is a Dr Habib who has quite a good book which lists ideas to do daily/weekly and monthly. The ‘look inside’ feature in Amazon shows you those pages if you are interested.

,

[Diddyd in reply to Diddyd]

Daily practises

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[Diddyd in reply to Diddyd]

Weekly practises

.

[Diddyd in reply to Diddyd]

Monthly practises

.

[Singwell in reply to Diddyd]

OK. After my scepticism above re the humming I can see that some of these I've been doing and they DO help. I in fact do the slow breathing immediately after eating to kick start my defective vagus (had the digestive end tied decades ago due to suspected ulcer); I also definitely experience the power of daylight; I always sleep on my left side; I use a slow breathing technique called the 2:1 ratio that apparently taps into the vagus. It's been known to reduce my BPM by 40 when in AF and sometimes will see it off if a mild episode.

[Diddyd in reply to Singwell]

It’s amazing that such simple things can have an effect. It’s just remembering to do them for me 😂

[Swimsyroke in reply to Diddyd]

Thanks for the very helpful information Diddyd. I will look into it all.

[LindaDaisy]

I started humming. It drove my husband mad as it became a habit. It took me ages to stop.

[Mugsy15 in reply to LindaDaisy]

I'd recommend a shower 😁

[Singwell]

Lots of responses here - and interest too. Personally I don't find the Porges exercises useful - breath holding seems counter productive to me and always wound me up during an episode. I did some work with a practitioner who uses 'coherent breathing' techniques and a ratio called the 2:1. I've found these really helpful - last time I had an AF episode, 20 mins of this took my BPM from 134-94. Although it took an extra half dose of my pills to see the episode off altogether. I'll try to find a reliable link about this technique. My practitioner who's in fact an osteopath, describes the 2:1 as a way of hacking into the vagus.

[Swimsyroke in reply to Singwell]

Interesting thanks. I will look up the 2:1 breathing technique as like you if I focus too much on breathing it only takes my attention to my heart rhythm

[Singwell in reply to Swimsyroke]

This link looks quite sensible. They're saying to start with same ratio breathing first (which I do) and then twice as long for the outbreath than the in-breath. It encourages the parasympathetic to counter the sympathetic nervous system, which is what I've found.

[afibber57yo]

I am trying the iStim EV-804 using 200uS, 30Hz stimulation for 30min/day with ear clips on the ear lobe and tragus. I turn it up from lowest until I feel a slight tingling, then down a little. I will let you know if it helps, but it MIGHT so far!

[Swimsyroke in reply to afibber57yo]

Thanks for that. It sounds too complicated for me but am interested if it works.

[theohappy in reply to afibber57yo]

I'm wondering, since some time has passed, if you found the vagus stimulator helpful with your AFib?

[afibber57yo in reply to theohappy]

Though I was faithful in use I can't say that it helped me. I still have episodes every 2 weeks. I feel like it has promise yet perhaps the attachment points and stimulation parameters need to be figured out.

[theohappy in reply to afibber57yo]

Thank you for your response. Sorry it did not do more to help.