Im a newbie and retired paramedic here. After years of meds for paroxysmal afib which I have had 10 years I finally had to be cardioverted after an unusual 36 hour afib episode in ER. I am always bradycardic my entire life of 60 years running in the 40's. But 3 months ago HR was up in 220-240. It dropped and hung at 140 for 36 hours. They cardioverted was fine. I went in and had ablation done for afib and aflutter which doc said he found that day too. All good 3 months go in yesterday for follow up said I feel much better! He said lets start tapering off Flecainide half dose for 4 wks. I shoveled snow we had here last 2 days which was stupid of me. I woke this am and heart is pounding in my ears and chest. Rate was only 65 but man I had that afib type feeling, weak and anxiety. Called him and he said many afibbers were calling because they shoveled too. I took it easy drank more water to stay hydrated and did breathing exercises and finally chilled out 4 hours later. Felt more confident as I did not run to ER as I usually had to with high heart rates. He said cold air, stress on heart from shoveling and the fact I cut my Flecainide in half dose was culprit. Now know better. I wont brag about how good I feel next time! Nor shovel heavy snow! lol
I jinxed myself 3 months after ablati... - Atrial Fibrillati...
I jinxed myself 3 months after ablation with EP Doc yesterday!
Glad you have recovered. Let that be a warning to all…………but it’s so easy to think that because we have been free of AF for a time that we are invincible again.
Thanks! Yes I am one of those guys trapped in a 60 year old body but think and still act as a 30 year old. I pay the price every time. lol
A timely warning to all I hope. Stop being stupid! Always listen to your body when exercising. Good work on the hydration though .
Nothing else needs to be said, just pleased to hear that you are now OK……
Yes much better and rested today! Thank you!
Safariran, please be warned you should never brag about how well you are, that you've never had a problem with your car, an accident or had big spiders in the house! 🙄😁
Glad all is well for you now. How I envy you having snow! Can you send some to the South of England please, we so rarely get any.
Jean
Come visit! Lots of snow. We had some snow on the ground before this week. Then had a short spell above freezing. It rained, slowly turned to freezing rain, sleet, then snow again. So now there’s a bit of fresh snow on top of about 6 inches of frozen concrete-like snow, crazy!
Good advice from medic. My theory is most AF is caused by an accumulation of factors with the trigger factor being the last straw. So no more shovelling, cold air or any other risky stuff while you are in your Flec reduction program!!
My goodness, that's practically the same thing that happened to me a few days ago (during a snowstorm here in Ohio) and I'd just come off Dofetilide a week before. Will we ever learn??!!
Yes, look after yourself. All those years you have been looking after others - now it's time for yourself. I praise the work you have done. The paramedics have been absolutely brilliant to myself and I owe them much. Always keep warm and hydrated and never exert yourself other than what your body is used to. Thanks for sharing your post with us and best wishes to you.
Oh thank you so much. Yes of all people me the Paramedic for so many years you think I woul d know better. I will say of all the cardiac emergencies over the year sin Chicago which was in the thousands for me to actually have afib and a bundle branch block makes me wonder if all that stress of so many years contributed to my afib. My Mom has it too but doesnt even know she has it really. Me on the other hand go from my typical 40's to 180-240 when I go in to afib. I usually wake with it at 4 am to 6am. I do have PTSD tho and have crazy nightmares from ambulance runs were we were shot at so many times by snipers in the projects and such here in Chicago. So that I am sure sets me up especially if I have dehydration, not rested well, or if I eat too close to bedtime, etc. I used to have so much anxiety over my afib in the beginning years but after talking with others and doing my research, learning breathing exercises and such I have calmed quite a bit. This forum is really a great tool for us afibbers. Especially for newbies because we all have been there. Hope you all have calm stress free days! We cant let afib control our lives. We can control it! Good luck all!
No don't let AF defne who you are. Anxiety over the years has been my problem also. Anxiety gives me an attack. Pulse rate goes high and flips me into AF. Thankfully it is not life threatening, but important to take anticoagulant medication to avoid blood clots and strokes. You can obtain a good quality of life if you take care of yourself, and listen, and learn from your body. You are not alone - there are many of us. Take care.
OMG. Glad you're better. I had the same experience when I halved the Flecainide-in the summer! It stopped when I went up to full dose again. Disappointing because I wanted the ablation so I could stop taking it. The consolation is that before the ablations Flecainide didn't work but after them it does.....take it easy!
So glad you’re ok! This past week of ice-snow has been dreadful, hasn’t it! (I’m in the northeast US.) We gave in a few years ago and hired someone to clear the snow. Give your heart a break! We’re getting a whole season of snow clearing for less than some of my med copays! 
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