Eating after starting an Afib Episode?

[BigArnie]

Note: I am thinking about Paroxysmal rather than permanent Afib. I wondered about this and was surprised not to find anything here. Anyone care to share positive or negative experiences? So if you have made dinner and slip into Afib, would you still eat it? Or eat a snack if hungry? Have you perchance found that eating might even terminate an episode from time to time? Or does it make things worse for you? It struck me that eating pulls blood into the intestines which certainly changes the heart rate and blood pressure and so logically it might have a generally positive or negative effect (or not, knowing Afib as I do!) . Thanks.

[mjames1]

I can't remember an afib episode during a meal, but I do eat during afib once my heart rate is controlled by my rate control drugs.

And yes, I have converted more than once during a meal. And the big -- perhaps only -- bonus of being in afib is that I feel I can eat anything I want since I can't go into afib since I'm already in afib!

So I tend to have coffee and donuts and other goodies which I would never do out of afib! And I think those kind of meals give me the best chance of converting. Now I use flecainide to convert which is faster, less fattening, but not as fun or delicious.

I have, however, had aflutter episodes during a meal. In the beginning I would stop everything, but after awhile I would usually just finish my meal. My aflutter episodes usually didn't last more than 10 minutes but for some reason always left me very hungry.

Jim

[Singwell in reply to mjames1]

Very interesting and similar to mine. I too get fluttery sensations when eating. But my gut is a disaster anyway...

[jedimasterlincoln]

I tend to lose my appetite if the PAF has been very symptomatic. It comes from starving myself in the early days knowing I'd need a DC cardioversion to put me back into NSR.

[Hidden]

I've found that eating during an episode of PAF often makes the heart beat faster-once it went from 85 to 135 bpm on eating some porridge. Eating large meals or sugary meals may initiate episodes.

[secondtry]

Intersting post! A very cold drink gulped down has started and stopped an episode on different occasions. So I guess eating a heavy meal may also stop an episode but because I am symptomatic it wouldn't be comfortable and as Samaz says may make matters worse; so it goes to the bottom of my list of my 'self terminating' list of things to try.

[Singwell]

Interesting question. I don't think I've ever kicked off during eating- before and once or twice immediately after - never during to my knowledge. When I first started getting AF I followed advice of some here to either eat light or not eat when AF visited. Then I noticed a couple of times when in A and E they'd give me extra pills and later bring me a sandwich and cup of tea, and AF would subside. Who knew a tins sandwich could have such power!?

Since then I'll wait 40 mins after my Flecainide and then eat something carby that also has some protein in it. Maybe a bit of pasta, or omelette and potatoes. Not high fat or processed food when at home. This more often than not has seen AF off. If I don't eat, it takes much longer.

I know others' experiences are different.

[MoyB]

I sometimes get PAF after a slightly larger than usual meal. A hearty cooked breakfast would set me off (really annoying when staying at Premier Inn with 'all you can eat'! Lol!) so for me it's one slice of grilled bacon, a bit of scrambled egg and occasionally a few boiled mushrooms is the max. Any heavy meal will do it too.

I haven't experienced an episode before eating so can't answer your question about that, but I know an overfull stomach is my nemesis so food certainly has a part to play in it all.

Have to say, if I had the AF before a meal, whether I would eat it would depend how it was making me feel at the time. I would probably need to put it aside for later.

xx Moy

[Auriculaire]

I eat as normal. I went into afib about 6-30pm yestereday, made dinner as usual and ate normally. This morning I was still in afib after a reasonable night's sleep and had my breakfast about 10am. Went back to NSR shortly after. I have found that if I do not revert in my sleep I often do during or just after breakfast.

[Hidden]

I have found that my afib can be terminated by a meal, yes, it's happened several times including the first episode, when the hospital finally fed me a chicken sandwich after eight hours! I've never known it to be started by one though.

[Snowgirl65]

Unlike most on the forum, some of my a-fib episodes terminated when I ate a meal.

[jeanjeannie50]

I once converted back to sinus rhythm (had been in AF for weeks) by eating lots of Doritos (blue pack) and having a glass of wine. Also many years ago someone on this forum said they could bring themselves back into normal rhythm by diluting some salt (the pink natural stuff) in water and drinking it.

I've found that eating a big meal and then trying to walk anywhere would be a sure trigger for my AF.

Jean

[DawnTX]

Great question because we are all different. As I look back now I realize some of my worst a fib events have been following dinner especially if it was a bit heavier than usual. We used to eat before going out to shop and I realized each time we did that I was unable to continue shopping due to chest pain and breathlessness. The very last time I knew I had over overeaten as soon as I did it because they became breathless. Think about the fact how everything presses against each other and what happens if you add food to that mix. At least for me food is a problem with a fib I must eat much smaller meals now no matter how hungry I am lol

[Ducky2003]

Yes, I have found eating has terminated episodes on numerous occasions.😊.

[Kingsley09]

I’ve been glad to see you bring up about eating and afib as in the last 2 months I’ve had 3 really nasty afib attacks usually mine are quite mild but these latest ones have been a nightmare I feel a tight pain around my upper body that feels like I’m being squeezed by a large iron belt and it’s getting tighter and tighter the first time I had it I thought it was a heart attack the point I’d like to make is that one of the Drs in a&e said it was my afib that caused it but the other time th dr at the hospital said it was gastric but that I was in afib as well but reading your question I’m beginning to think I have to be careful what I eat and how much there does seem to be a connection with food and afib and I think I’ve been lucky up to now I’ve had afib for 4 years but these attacks are really painful

[Christmaspie]

I know that if I have a big meal/ more than usual I am much more likely to go into Afib if other factors also there… tiredness, stress or alcohol..