Feeling more like my 'old self'

[Shyman]

I was diagnosed with AFIB in October 2020 at the age of 79.

Since then I have been on a learning curve about an ailment

of which I had little prior knowledge. Health Unlocked with

its daily mail bag of the trials and sufferings of fellow AFibbers

has been a valuable source of information.

During the pandemic, with the compromised access to professional

medical advice, I have long since decided to try to self manage my

condition . There is no one to blame for the NHS backlog and general

practice difficulties, it is what it is.

I take many tablets, some prescribed, some supplementary.

However just recently I have started to feel more like my old self.

Afib problems, belching and abdominal gas seem to have reduced.

I am firmly of the opinion that my diagnosed heart condition is the

result of years of poor digestion. As an Insurance agent in my younger

days I used to have irregular meals, at times several hours between meals.

Eventually I was treated for gastritis and have lived with heavy burping and belching sessions on a regular basis. I wonder what volume of 'gas' I expel

on these occassions, it seems almost like I could blow up two bycycle tyres

with my exhalations. The increased air pressure in the chest must surely

be at least annnoying to local organs, in fact the heart plugging away 24/7

being frequently assaulted by a 'weather event' might be tempted to

malfunction in protest.

On request I reduced my Bisoprolol from 2.5 to 1.25 mg.

I reduced my Omeprazole from 40 to 20 mg.

Since diagnosis 20mg Rivoroxaban (Anti Coagulant).

I have taken for years low dose Ramipril (blood pressure) Avorstatin (cholesterol)

and Amytriptyline.

My supplementary tablets.

Magnesium.

Ashwaghanda, this has had a significant effect on reducing stress and anxiety, with

the bonus of improved quality of sleep.

Enzyme Multi

This has reduced belching and burping.

Ordinary Gaviscon, morning and night (20ml, 4 spoonfuls) per dose.

Regarding PPI's (Omeprazole), we need acid to digest food, lets not

reduce the bodies acid production below an adequate level.

Beta blockers, (Bisoprolol) slowing down the heart rate. My normal

resting pulse is around 50bpm, I thought dropping much below that

figure to the mid forties due to medication, could have a negative

effect. I usually do a two and a half mile walk four times a week (10 miles),

eat smaller portions of food, and try to chew it longer.

I hope that my news will perhaps help someone else to improve their condition.

Shyman

[secondtry]

Thanks for posting Shyman. Like your approach and your tips, which I am sure will help many. Would you expand a bit on Ashwaghanda....who put you onto this, how much do you take and were the benefits immediately obvious or over a period of time?

[Ppiman]

That was good to read. Well done for being able to reduce the omeprazole. I wish I could. My attempt led to months of misery. The exercise you do is likely to be very helpful, too. I've never heard of ashwaghanda before. I once tried ginseng and it had weird and unpleasant effects. Is it similar?

Steve

[Buffafly]

Hello, very interesting and informative post.

Please don’t feel insulted but your name brought back memories as we once had a dog called Shyman although as that was a Zulu name probably spelled differently.

[Singwell]

Quietly inspirational. I'm a long term digestive issues sufferer and AF taught me to manage that better. Interested in the Ayurvedic supplement you take!

[BobbyGee]

Many thanks for your input, Shyman. I've had a (not uncommon) disturbed night and I too feel that poor digestion/eating habits have a negative impact on the condition. (I am 74 and have permanent Afib.) Your comments inspire me to be more aware of how and what I eat, and to maintain a sensible walking routine.

[needlestone]

I am so glad you are having success with self management. I was unable to take meds due to adverse side effects, so had to learn to self manage. I did have an ablation in 2016 and continued to have trouble until a naturopath told me to try going gluten free. Just a note, my whole life I had major stomach trouble but did not test positive for celiac, twice. However, after going gluten free and eliminating artificial sweeteners, I am free of all arrithymias and no medications for it. I am also free of all digestive trouble as I have likely always been gluten sensitive and didn’t know. Thank God for my naturopath as I don’t think I would have figured it out on my own.