Best treatment for sudden ectopics?

[healingharpist]

Hello, fellow AF/ectopics sojourners! I'm in Kentucky, new to HealthUnlocked. Had occasional vagally-mediated AF episodes for 10 yrs, but since covid started 2 yrs ago, I think stress/anxiety upped my episodes to weekly, and recently, every 3 days. I just started daily 12.5 mg metoprolol (2 days ago!) and I use flecainide 150 mg when I get an episode (it works in 2-4 hrs). But in recent weeks, I'm getting very, very frequent/too many PAC's. (If I SIT a little bit forward, it helps--weird.)

As some have commented here, ectopics feel worse than afib! Does anyone have advice for what might help with PAC's that seem to have appeared out of the blue? Maybe I'm asking too soon, maybe metoprolol will help if I can bear up for a couple of weeks. Thanks to all of you for your thoughts, prayers for everyone, and I'm grateful to have found this site.

(2 wks ago I started acupuncture treatments, in hopes of eventually decreasing AF. Too soon to tell.)

[BobD Volunteer]

Slow deep diaphragmic breathing to six or less breaths per minute are a known help for many people.

[healingharpist in reply to BobD]

Thank you, BobD. I have managed to convert a few afib episodes w/ breathing but will try it for the ectopics.

[secondtry]

My cardiologist does not favour Flecainide PIP approach as too bumpy a ride for the heart. I was disappointed but took his advice to take a daily dose; 100mgs didn't stop it but 200mgs did.

[healingharpist in reply to secondtry]

Thank you, secondtry. Unfortunately, flec seems to cause ectopics as a side effect in me, so I take only 150 mg PIP. Suddenly all these PAC's appeared (even when I don't use flec & convert on my own), we just don't know why. They are so distressing!

[BobD Volunteer in reply to healingharpist]

Think of it as your heart trying to go into AF and failing.

[healingharpist in reply to BobD]

BobD, that is one of the most positive ideas I've ever heard re ectopics!! Yes, great thought. I've just started metoprolol and I keep thinking, "Maybe it's already starting to stave off the afib" which would put a whole new slant on it. Thank you! you have obviously been at this awhile and have grown wise.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to healingharpist]

Sabine Ernst (google her) told me that about twelve years ago at a reception I attended. Sorry I can't claim it as my own.

[healingharpist in reply to BobD]

Hey, still thanks. It was a very useful image to pass on and I will use it.

[Hidden]

In general, I find that its best to try to stop them before they start. Keep a diary to see if you can spot any patterns. They tend to follow stress and/or large meals, particularly sugary meals, in my case. Some people say that a magnesium taurate or citrate supplement is effective, but this needs to be approved by a doctor. This article discusses some other things to try:drsanjayguptacardiologist.c...

[healingharpist in reply to Hidden]

Thank you, Samazeuilh. I really like Dr. Gupta's approach. I will try mag taurate instead of the stir-in mag I've been using (which is causing diarrhea). This is like an exhausting puzzle to figure out. All the best to you.

[blulla1]

This has gotten rid of my ectopics and within a week. carrafibdietinfo.com/

[healingharpist in reply to blulla1]

Thank you, blulla1, I will look into that. I have an inflammatory condition and constantly dealing with dietary changes is exhausting. I am impressed that it worked in a week!!

[healingharpist in reply to blulla1]

blulla1, hello again. 1 cup of cranberries/day seems like a lot! Do you cook them? or are they dried? and did you plunge right in at 1 cup/day? He also adds dried plums (prunes?) to the list. Just wondering how you approached all the changes? Thank you.

[blulla1 in reply to healingharpist]

One cup isn't that much but I don't have quite that much. I cook them in a little orange juice and with some other fruit to sweeten them up. If I don't have some other fruit, like apples, blackberries or whatever you like, then I add one teaspoon of sugar to sweeten it up a bit. The most important thing is reducing calcium intake, so minimum or no dairy and make sure whatever you buy doesn't have calcium added. Also to get your serum Vit D levels up near his recommended so-called 'solar saturation level' of 64 ng/mL

Good luck!

[healingharpist in reply to blulla1]

Thanks for taking the time to give me those tips. I already take 5000 Vit D3 daily for 2 yrs so I'm going to try the rest of that diet, and hope I have such luck as you did. Hope that continues forever for you!

[healingharpist in reply to blulla1]

And did this diet stop your afib as well as ectopics? if so, it's really amazing, after all we go through trying to find help...

[blulla1 in reply to healingharpist]

I have only recently gotten serious about it but I'm very happy that I haven't had ectopics for several weeks after having them nearly nonstop for almost a year. I've had PAF for 4 1/2 years and constant ectopics were an unpleasant addition since last May with more frequent episodes of AF. I haven't had an AF episode in that time but that is relatively meaningless. Much more time needs to pass.

[CDreamer]

Any Life Hack that helps to increase vagal tone such as breathing as Bob describes - Alternating nostril breathing - nadi shodhana - helps balance and soothe Sympathetic/Parasympathetic Nervous system, distraction - doing anything you enjoy increases feel good hormones such as Endorphines which cancel the stress hormones your body produces when stressed psychologically or physically, drink cold water, hum or chant and many more.

Not everything works for everyone so you need to find something that works for you and for me - Tapping on my heel of my hand whilst slow breathing and creating an image that represents the word ‘Balance’.

Controlling your stress is THE most important factor so adopting daily practises which induce in you as sense of calm and then anchoring them (which is a technique used to remind yourself of your calm such as pinching your ear lobe, twanging an elastic band on your wrist) so you can use your anchor at any moment is really important - such as when ectopics kick in. They take time to learn and practice but when you have, you can utilise them in a moment and induce calm within a minute.

psychologytoday.com/gb/blog...

[healingharpist in reply to CDreamer]

CDreamer, I really appreciate your taking the time to give me those ideas. I also heard from my colleague at Mayo Clinic, who runs the Complementary & Alternative Med. Dept. that the MUSE Biofeedback has been very successful at stopping all kinds of cardiac arrhythmias and ectopics... but it is not cheap and does require a learning curve of sorts. My best wishes for your good cardiac health!