learning to live again

[Dec60]

taking an occasional glass of wine,

I have lived a very strict life since my visit to resus with arterial fibrillation/flutter I used to have the odd glass of wine 🍷 when out for a special occasion meal but since my episode I live in fear of it happening again

With Christmas fast approaching I would love to say yes please to a glass of red wine and feel that warm cosy feeling inside again but will it send me into a fib

I eat a very healthy diet for example whole meal bread olive oil lots of vegetables and fruit seeds and grains lots of chicken no carbonated drinks or any caffeine at all I’m afraid to do any other but I feel I’ve shut myself down to fun and that’s very sad

[BobD Volunteer]

I really don't understand why people think they have to stop having fun just because they don't drink alcohol. Life is what you make it after all. Enjoy the food and company for what it is if you fear drinking.

[Cat04]

The only way to test this is to have a glass at home and see what happens. Just because you go into af/afl doesn't necessarily mean you have to go to a&e. Hopefully you are now on medications too, so you may find that you don't go into afib.

I have been in afib/aflutter since April but still have a glass of wine now & again, (even had a brandy one day 😯). The only effect was I had a better night's sleep 😴

[Dec60 in reply to Cat04]

hi Cat04

Your so right and I believe it’s something I have to try knowing other people have the occasional drink or salt on their chips gives me confidence to give it a go as for my health it’s been stable I’m on apixaban thinners and amilopidine blood pressure tablets they all seem to do the trick I’m also a stone and a half lighter 11.3 now and feeling good thank you for your advice

[Cat04 in reply to Dec60]

Oh yes, a bag of crisps & a sprinkle of salt on chips. I just try to have everything in moderation, and not everyday obviously. If it contributes to your quality of life without detrimental effects, go for it 🙂

Congratulations on your weight loss too.

[Dec60 in reply to Cat04]

we tend to buy the smiths salt and shake they allow you to add your own I’m such a wuss I throw the little blue bag away crazy I know I’ve since been told that my body needs a certain amount of salt so I will definitely remember that

[Teresa156 in reply to Dec60]

As CDreamer has said, yes, don’t give up salt or reduce it - honestly. You will be surprised how much salt you can have daily and still be within limits.

I know what it’s like with the alcohol though & I’m scared too…but you won’t know unless you try though. I’m able to still drink coffee, but I do have it just in the morning…I also eat dark chocolate with no ill effects and also some carbonated drinks…but you won’t know until you try, but I know how scary it is to try.

[Dec60 in reply to Teresa156]

thank you very much for your comments I’ve not touched the things listed as bad for afib and I don’t feel I have the courage to do it now everyone on the forum have given me wonderful advice including yourself and I will try and move forward it’s encouraging to know I’m not alone in this

[secondtry in reply to Dec60]

Salt like so many other foods is not in its unadulterated form bad news. I can't remember what they do to most salt to make it pour etc but it is bad news and I always buy the high quality stuff.

[CDreamer in reply to Dec60]

Please don’t give up salt - it’s really important to have enough salt in your diet - no more than a small teaspoon per day though which includes all of your snacks. I need to take at least 6g/day to keep my BP up at reasonable levels.

[etheral]

Hi Dec60, While it is true that afib can be triggered by alcohol, caffeine, various spices, etc , this is very individualistic. Have you been in NSR since your stay in resus (I assume this is a monitored cardiac step-down unit)? Are you taking regular medications or using a PIP approach? Many people do not seem to be affected by small amounts of alcohol or caffeine. Unfortunately the only way to find out is to try it. Iam not advising this, but to be depressed and and "shut down to fun" doesn't seem like a great way to live. Perhaps a mental health counselor may be of assistance. If it's very important to you perhaps the occasional glass of wine would not trigger afib. Wishing you a long and fulfilling life,etheral

[Dec60 in reply to etheral]

hi thank you for your reply and yes I am on apixaban blood thinners and amilopidine blood pressure and since November last year my afib has been very good no real episodes at all I’ve heard what you ve said and really appreciate your comments you are of course right I do need to do some trials on what’s ok for me I just need that leap of faith to get started your message has been very encouraging and I thank you again

[CDreamer in reply to Dec60]

I believe that stress hormones are one of the biggest antagonists and by contrast - doing things you enjoy release the feel good hormones and this is really important for our well-being.

If you feel deprived without being able to take a drink without worrying I would be concerned and agree that a mental health counsellor might help you explore how this affects you. Sounds like you have made an association between the 2 incidents so you now believe that if you take a drink you will have AF. There is such a thing as a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I abstained from alcohol for about 5 years - except for the odd glass of champagne which interestingly had no affect. I now take half a glass of white wine diluted with sparkling water and the very odd half glass of a really good red wine taken with a meal no affect.

[Dec60 in reply to CDreamer]

hi there thank you for your advice I’m already on antidepressants so do struggle with mental health the drink really isn’t the be all and end all it was just a question to see if other people with afib still had the odd drink safely my gp stopped my hrt in December so I have that to contend with too my cardiologist believe s my main trigger is stress so that’s something I’m trying to improve thank you for your advice I will try to keep calm and carry on

[CDreamer in reply to Dec60]

I know that keeping calm is much harder to do than to say, hence the suggestion for seeking help.

It's really important for our well-being to be able to socialise and a sad reflection on our society that we believe it needs to revolve around drinking but the alcohol issue is SO individual. I think the general advice in this thread is important to note ie:- that sometimes it's not the alcohol per se that triggers AF for us but additives so as with your food, quality and moderation and keeping well hydrated is key.

Best wishes

[Hidden]

G'day,

After a number of years of dealing with food as a trigger for AF I've learned to be cautious until I'm totally confident. So, here we go, why not abstain between now and the run up to Christmas experiment with your red wines............ so read the ingredients on the bottle. If necessary go online - I think you'll find quite a few differences between Aussie, Californian, Chilean, Argentianian, French, Spanish and SAF red wines ..... remember they are all travelling quite a distance and the wines most likely will be travelling in steel tanks in a 20 ft. container frame on a container ship till they get here then the red goes for bottling and labelling.

Then try and relate the onset of AF or Flutter to a particular Manufacturer/label or whatever and examine ingredients. Its just a thought, might be a waste of space .... you'll find out soon enough.

Good luck...... I'd be totally gutted if I were in your situation. 😢😢😢

John

[Dec60 in reply to Hidden]

hi there I like your advice i may give it a try thank you very much

[Hidden in reply to Dec60]

No worries - I forgot to mention you'd be looking at preservatives as well as other junk. I found with food it wasn't the food initself that was the issue but also the ingredients nobody understands - like preservatives etc.

John

[Dec60 in reply to Hidden]

thank you il take that on board to be honest I do cook from fresh since my condition started so hopefully I’ve got that one covered

[Dec60]

hello BobD

I know I can enjoy life without drinking you are right there, it’s just I’ve shut myself off from many things and now beginning to feel stronger and more positive about life and my condition I appreciate other people’s advice on how to move forward and yes I would like to go out and have a glass of wine with my meal or toast a happy couple at a wedding hearing from people like yourself and others let’s me begin to move forward into the future with confidence again I truly believed back in November that was it for me and now I know it’s possible to get back to normal and live and I thank you

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Dec60]

Its the sulphites in wine that set the AF off. I've bought sulphite free wine in Sainsburys and I'm sure other large stores probably sell it.

[jeanjeannie50]

The only time I have a drink is at Christmas. I can get away with one glass of red wine, any more and my AF will kick off. I always take along a game I bought in M&S a few years ago called Double Act Charades (was only £4). You have two sets of cards an adverb pile and an action pile. You have to take one of each and act out what they say e.g. bravely walk like a robot. This is all we need to get us into fits of laughter.

Jean

[Dec60 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

wow that’s. very interesting do you have a name of wine I could look out for that would be great thank you very much

Susie

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Dec60]

Just ask instore for the sulphite free wines. I think there were about 4.

Jean

[Dec60 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

that game sounds familiar I think we ve played that in the past too when the children were younger

[secondtry]

Personally I restrict myself to only a sip from my wife's wine glass. If I was going to have a glass I would start with organic wine, which I understand has no added sulphites.

[Hidden]

I spent 40 years in wine shipping and believe me I love wine. I used to joke that I had enjoyed my whole life’s quota before I reached 50 - and that probably was true ( except I should have said 40!). I now value feeling well before a glass of wine and although I’m still interested in all aspects of wine I’m no longer tempted to indulge. I totally agree with Bob’s response.

ps. I still have lots of fun

pps I still have 150 bottles approx in my cellar which are slowly being consumed by guests and I get to sniff the cork if I think it might be interesting…

[Dec60 in reply to Hidden]

what a wonderful job you had I’m a cook have been for many years it seems to me the majority of other afib people think it’s best to go out have the best time ever all without the drink to be honest I’ve done it for ages now so I’m thinking I may just continue the way I am maybe one day il be brave but people are so right my health is the priority thank you for you reply

[Dolly1234567]

same boat as you .. I can enjoy a few glasses occasionally but never ever get drunk again. It’s hard keeping yourself so regulated if you were a free spirit like myself, I was a party girl … and I feel out of the loop every time I am out as I know can’t let loose and have those few extra drinks m. Some people don’t become affected by this and there’s people like me who do… I am working on getting over it .. as we all need to fun in life and not rely on alcohol to do this. The answer is working to get over relying on alcohol for fun in social situations. Not easy for those who really loved a drink 🥃 but I think it’s possible to change x

[Dec60]

my husband and myself used to go out to our local club to have a dance and meal on Saturday night probably twice a month I do miss that my dancing definitely improves after a wine but I know I don’t need it however I do need to keep fit and well thanks for your input I totally agree with you

[anxiousgran]

Like you, my paroxysmal AF seems to be triggered by alcohol so I started off with a few sips and now I'm able to have nearly a glass of wine very occasionally without any ill effects. (Whoo hoo!)

I use to love wine tasting with my other half -one of life's great pleasures in my books- but now everything is in moderation. A dance and a meal on a Saturday night however sounds fun and should definitely continue.

Good luck! Sheila

[Dec60 in reply to anxiousgran]

thank you so much for your honest view on nights out no one goes out on a rave at 61 I doubt but just to go out socially with my other half a dance and maybe one day a small glass of wine would be just delightful enjoy your life too