Can a combination of non-exceptional factors start an AF episode?

[secondtry]

I am fairly convinced back in 2008, when I had, unknowingly then, my first AF experience that the cause was a combination of some big personal and business stress factors all coming in one year with some general poor lifestyle choices contributing in a lesser way to tipping me over the edge.

The solution for me has involved overcoming stress on all fronts, many corrections to lifestyle....and of cause some pills, in my case Flecainide. I have religiously followed every aspect for the last 8 years since formal diagnosis/treatment and all has been good. I am not really a creature of strict habit but have found this works when you have vagally mediated Lone PAF.

However, very occasionally I lapse concentration and start accumulating non-exceptional negative factors without thinking. That happened yesterday...... I had a late night long Gatwick airport visit the previous day to pick up family, only 4 hours sleep, tired and for some reason in the evening instead of relaxing, unusually I decided on a bike ride to wake up. Then it started that pre-AF feeling with a higher than normal pulse....jumped off the bike walked home with several stops for deep breathing and pulse checking, relaxing bath and straight to bed. No AF & fine in the morning but still scary when you haven't had an episode for a long time!

The morale of the story: don't get complacent, if you think you have pushed it or likely to, make sure no other contributing factors occur for at least a couple of days. It may not be the same for you but I mention it just in case!

[mjames1]

Great post. Yes, complacency may be my number one trigger these days. But when I forget, I prophylactically take extra Flecanide and then cross my fingers

Jim

[jwsonoma]

Thanks. That is a great reminder. I always carry Bisoprolol and Flecainide as a PIP.

If I know I am going to be dealing with something stressful I'll take an extra 1.25 mg of Bis to keep me level. Just having the PIP with me at all times reduces stress.

[Geoffa1]

Good story. And sounds familiar.Ooh discipline!

[Hidden]

Your story is v similar to mine - although I’ve never had Flecainide ……yet

[Threecats]

That’s a very useful reminder, thank you.

[Singwell]

Absolutely agree with this. I reckon this is why it's so hard to pin down individual triggers. It's more an aggregate of factors. Mine are eating later several nights in a row, rushing food at lunchtime, going to bed late + pushing the envelope with my worklife. Add any one of those factors to being stressed (and my worklife can cause stress anyway), then I'm heading towards an episode. Learning to notice earlier and just darn well stop. Things. Can. Wait.

[secondtry in reply to Singwell]

Yep, I have started having my last meal relatively light at 5pm. Late afternoon, evening and during the night have historically been my AF danger zone. I then don't eat again until 7am mainly because I understand intermittent fasting gives the body chance to heal all issues and maybe this also contributes to keeping AF at bay.

[Singwell in reply to secondtry]

I'm OK so long as my meal is finished by 7.30 at present. It needs to be 3 hours before bed and I usually around 10.45 - 11.00. I have a gap of between 13- 15 hours before breakfast. Seems to suit me as I meditation in the mornings and usually drink about a liter of water. Husband think it's weird and eats breakfast separately but hey!

[belindalore]

Anxiety and stress are such big problems with Afib. Hang in there.

[likestosing]

When I feel like an episode is likely, I eat extra potassium in food or drink: banana , orange juice or low sodium V8. I also take Pepcid whether I feel any accompanying heartburn or not. Seems to usually work for me.