Returning to sinus rhythm

[Sleepyzz]

I have paroxysmal afib and usually go back to sinus rhythm within 20 hours maximum. This time I’m halfway through second day. Rates are not particularly high but go high if I do much.

What do others do while waiting to reset? I know that progression is likely to mean more episodes like this. My normal triggers are dehydration or too much of certain food but this time I think it may have been tiredness and stress.

Thanks

[BobD Volunteer]

Any chest pain or dizziness then seek medical attention. Other wise unless rate is astronomic (180-200+)keep taking the tablets and hope.

[Maril1]

I find doing something shortens the length of the attack especially something at a regular pace like walking which can bring the episode to an end within the hour . It use to do it in 15mins when I first found out about it 2008.Otherwise it can last up to 8 hours for me. Tiredness especially fatigue is my biggest trigger also excessive drinking but 2 or 3 pints can be a benefit in my case .Found by trial and error over the years.

[Sleepyzz in reply to Maril1]

Thanks have given it a try and been put for a 20 minute steady walk 🤞

[Janey1955 in reply to Maril1]

I would agree with steady pace walking. Doesn’t always work but more successful than anything else Jane

[sportscoach]

I have had PAF mostly vagal tone for 17 years mainly because I was an endurance athlete who picked up the stomach bug helicobacter pylori, my episodes range from around 12 hours to 2/3 days, the regularity is around 4/5 times a month, HR 90 to 120 when in AF. I went to A and E twice in the beginning but found they do very little but take an ECG, lower your HR then kick you out, A and E do not see it as an emergency unless there is chest pain, fainting, breathing difficulties, etc all the symptoms associated with a Heart attack, Heart failure or something indicating a more serious problem.I have a cardiologist and an anaesthetist as neighbours as they say thousands of people lead a normal life with paroxysmal, persistent and permanent AF get it controlled and form a personalised plan with an EP

I take the prescribed meds and see my EP I have had one ablation which helped in 2016 I will probably have another one, it's a bit of a gamble but I am trying to hang out as long as possible because technology is improving all the time.

It's by no means the most pleasantest thing in the world and some people have it really badly, however for me, I can think of many worse conditions.

[Sleepyzz in reply to sportscoach]

Thank you that’s helpful. My experience of A&E is the same they give me bisoprolol and wait till too rate about 100 and send me home. Just a bit freak out this time as it’s taking longer than usual but I guess it’s something I’ll need to get used to. Hoping to get a review of meds and am due an echocardiogram soon for other issues so hopefully will feel reassured.

[secondtry]

Suggest do more on lifestyle changes, identifying most usual triggers and start building a list of actions to try if an episode starts e.g. walking at a steady pace, resting whilst focussing on a steady heartbeat on YouTube, gulping a cold drink down, cycling & many more mentioned here.

[Sleepyzz in reply to secondtry]

Thanks I’ve been living with it for 10 years so have managed before with some of the above. This is the first time it has gone on so long. Other than in the very early days

[Macmedal]

My experience in A&E has been very different. They do treat it as an emergency and I have had two cardio versions as a result of admission on two separate occasions. However my heart rate does go very high varying from 160 to 200 and although beta blockers will bring the rate down it doesn’t revert me.

[Sleepyzz in reply to Macmedal]

The times I went mine was very high but thankfully not that bad this time in terms of rate.

[Jetcat]

Hi sleepy, Iv converted back to sinus rhythm a few times by drinking freezing cold water. It hasn’t worked every time but it’s worth a try.? Try putting a bottle of water in freezer to get temp down faster but don’t let it freeze solid. Then keep it in fridge until you need a drink. Best wishes. Ron👍

[momist]

Mine also got worse in the same way, the more years it went on. I found that the best way to stop a session for me was to get really involved in something I was watching on TV. Coincidentally, a good ladies tennis match worked for me on two separate occasions (I find men's tennis too fast and hard and serve dominant for me to enjoy). I'm not a football fan, or that might have been good too. A really engaging film can also work. Alternatively, simply going to sleep often works, in that the AF tends to stop in the wee small hours of the morning. The AF stopping always wakes me up though.

[Snowgirl65]

Tiredness and stress will definitely do it. Try becoming involved in something -- hobby, cleaning (that one works for me), gardening. Taking my mind off it seemed to flip me back to NSR in the past.

[KMRobbo]

I used to go for a run, 8 to 10 mins of that and I was back in NSR.

Sadly stopped working on my 12th Afib attack in 20 months. The last two prior to that I had to run quite a bit longer that 10 mins.

AFib begets AFib is what I read and that's what my Afib progression demonstrated. I was in Afib for 8 days between 130 and 195 bpm resting for the 12th attack, eventually getting cardioverted in the coronary care unit of my local hospital with flecainide infusion under supervision.

After that I was on a more severe drugs regime to try to keep me out of AFib as I was so difficult to get out of AFib once in it, and the drugs had undesirable side effects. Anyway I was totally fed up with attacks interupting my plans, so I had decided to have an ablation during my 5 days in hospital. Additonally I am not sure permanent AFIB at 195 bpm resting is sustainable!

I had a PVI cryoablation 10 months later and have not had Afib since (3.75 years ago).

I was 57 at the time, reasonably fit with no other comorbidities.

Not medically trained , this is just what happened to me.

Best wishes.