In and out of AF during the night.

[Shazmoz]

I was diagnosed with AF in April 2019, and had my first ablation a year later, which was unsuccessful. I am currently on the waiting list for a second. I take regular flecainide which has been working most of the time, but have had a few random episodes lately, no apparent triggers. Last night, a strange thing happened. I was almost asleep when I suddenly went into AF. I breathed deeply and it went back regular. It only lasted less than a minute. This happened twice more within 15 minutes.

Has something like this happened to anyone else? It's really worrying me, going into AF is all I think about.

[Bagrat]

Yes it can happen but it is sometimes difficult to know whether it is AF or a run of ectopics unless you have a Kardia or similar. Whatever it is it can be very unnerving. So pleased the controlled breathing worked for you. Before have your episodes happened during the day?

[Shazmoz in reply to Bagrat]

Thanks, it is unnerving. Most episodes have been during the night.

[mjames1]

I've had similar in's and outs once, but it lasted minutes not seconds. I was also on daily Flecinide at the time. When off Flecainide my episodes are longer. However, I have had short runs of aflutter exactly as you describe when off Flecainide.

And as Bagrat said, hard to know if such short episodes are afib, aflutter or runs of ectopics, unless you are able to record them. I've sometimes recorded episodes under a minute on the Apple Watch. With my Kardia, usually takes me longer than a minute because I have to get it out, then open the app, and then start recording.

Jim

[Singwell]

I too used to be focused on whether or not I would have an AF episode. Mine were once every 2 months as a rule. Different now post ablation #2. I recommend getting a Kardiamobile as suggested because it now detects ectopics together wuth normal Sinus Rhythm and AF. For me, it provides information that helps with my anxiety about AF. If the slow breathing helps with your sleep events, that's a good thing. Slowing down to 6 breaths a minute is recommended for dealing with ectopics.

If you have vagal AF (it sounds like you might have) then look into eating earlier and lighter in the evening and do a search on this topic here. There are others who get might time AF and lots of tips shared.

[Shazmoz in reply to Singwell]

Thank you so much for the info. I have watched Dr Gupta's YouTube video on vagal AF. Yes I believe this is what I have, it explains a lot. Certainly in early stages when I was prescribed beta blockers this made it worse. No one would listen to me when I suggested this though!

[Barb1]

Why do you say that the ablation was not successful?

[Shazmoz in reply to Barb1]

Because AF episodes have continued, and the doctor at Papworth says I need a second one.

[Barb1]

This is often the case. I had 4 giving me about 8 years of SR. But the 5th one he couldn't get my heart into SR, so that one failed.

[DawnTX]

A fib will come and go and meditation sometimes will help an event. By the time you have constant a fib your doctor should be right on top of things. I just had my third ablation six months ago I was still doing great. It seems that a fib does what a fib wants. I was blessed to moved to Houston. My doctor did a procedure that is actually reinvented but made much much better from what I hear. If you find you have a doctor complacent then that’s the wrong doctor for you. I have never had one of those. If you want to find something interesting read up on the vein of Marshall. That’s where it turned out my a fib both flutter and pounding seems to have been coming from and it’s not an area everyone looks at first or even second. Don’t give up because there’s many new things being worked on even now. I only came home two nights ago and I can feel the difference for the better. Do not let your a fib scare you so that you become afraid of even moving. There is no real cure for it yet so yes most of us will occasionally get an a fib event. I am living my life and hopefully this last ablation done with alcohol by the way, he’s going to give me some of the energy I want to have. For the last three months I have not been able to do more than shuffle across the room in pain because of lack of oxygen. Today I’m not perfect but I have taken my dog out back twice. It’s like trying to eat an elephant do it one bite at a time and be patient