I'm a new member to this forum. Thought I would say hello.
I'm a 51 year old male in New Zealand. I've had AF for just over 2 years. I'm 69kg, relatively fit (enjoy a mountain bike ride).
Last year I was going into AF about every 3-4 weeks. It was a very stressful year, with someone in the household going through terminal cancer, and some work related stress.
This year I went 6 months no AF (the person in the household with terminal cancer died end of last year - Mother in Law). This year has been relatively stress free. I think I am a mix of adrenal AF and Vagal, although I can't be sure. Certain foods that I have identified give me bloating I have removed from my diet as they could have been contributing factors.
Minimal alcohol consumption, maybe a glass or two of wine on a Saturday night with the wife. 2 cups of coffee a day.
I had a cryo ablation 7 weeks ago. Everything was going well, no signs of AF, then 2 nights ago I awoke to AF. I took an extra Diltiazem (120mg) and went back to normal rhythm 2 hours later. Had a busy/bit of stress at work that day, but also went to bed bloated (from something I ate for dinner). I also had a Nurofen 1 hour before bed - a bit of Sciatica pain. I've only had 2 glasses of alcohol in the last 7 weeks and that was 3 weeks ago.
Everything normal last 2 days.
I'm on daily Flecanide (100mg) and Diltiazem (120mg). This gets reviewed in 5 weeks time (3 months post ablation follow-up with the Cardio surgeons).
Anyway just saying hello and that's my back ground.
Blake
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KiwiBlake
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hi Blake, welcome to the forum. Sounds like a successful cryoablation so far (blips are normal during blanking). We really are a global group, 👋 to New Zealand from all the way in Scotland.
Another hello from Scotland! I was diagnosed during a similarly stressful time - it’s amazing what it does to us. Then of course having AF is stressful in itself. My latest episode has lasted two weeks, and I thought it felt like it had settled, but not yet.
Looking forward to a cryoablation next month, if I can really use that term 😂 The AF association website has some great patient information, and other people on the forum are a fount of knowledge.
Just to say welcome to the forum. I haven't been to New Zealand but it's on my wish list. I'll let you know when my flights are booked so you can put me up and show me around heheh (don't worry I'm the nutty one on here with the bad jokes).
On a serious note use the search box to look up any aspect about afib (top right). Personally I have learnt more about afib on here than I have from my medic.
Arrrrgggghh the stress of that thought of that Paul is almost putting me into AF! (I too have a sense of humour) Kia ora x2 to Scotland and to Sussex too.
Apart from anthing else you must NEVER take ibuprofen as this is pro arrhythmic and especially pro AF. This is well known in AF circles. The other point to make is that you are still very early in your recovery process from the cryoablation. Our fact sheet I will link to may help you. It can be another few months before things fully settle but in the mean time pay attention to your diet and avoid late large meals and ibuprofen.
Thanks Bob. I didn't know that about Ibuprofen. I'll avoid. As I said, took about 10:00pm, went to bed, and was in AF at 11:30pm. Seems too much of a coincidence. What's your thoughts on dichlofenac (brand name Voltaren). Is that safe or should it be avoided as well?
ANY NSAIDs are very bad news and MUST be avoided as they are known to cause AF. Try accupuncture or Bowen treatment both of which I have found very helpful.
Thanks Bob. I get sciatica pain about every 6 weeks to the point where its painful to walk. I've got stretches the physio gave me which relieve it, normally resolves in 1-2 days. The Nurofen just takes the edge off it, but will definitely stop taking it.
Only if you combine ibuprofen with anti coagulants
If you have atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat) and are on blood thinners to lower your risk of blood clots and stroke, beware of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). NSAIDs include common pain relievers naproxen (Aleve®) and ibuprofen (Advil®).
“These drugs, which are available over the counter and are used commonly to relieve the aches and pains that all of us have, are also blood thinners,” says Dr. Ellis. “If you combine them with prescription blood thinners, you could have serious bleeding.”
It was interesting that my TRIAGE TEAM in Whangarei DHB put me on 110mg x twice a day.
After 4 days and improving they wanted my bed so I was discharged but transferred to Kaitaia closer but 40kms from home.
I never saw a doctor but was discharged with a 150mg x twice ogf PRADAXA. 2 years 3 mths when I happened to put the 2 discharges together I immediately rang my Dr for a change.
What right without discussion etc. I was 70 yrs at the stroke timing.
I had clear carotid arteries. The triage team made their assessment and I had an Ecrinologist amongst them.
I can get no explanation from DHB as the Dr in Kaitaia who discharged me is no longer there.
ManageMyHealth in NZ is great if I can be informed and able to make my own decision.
I have found out that PRADAXA is being monitored because of the research that 33% of those taking PRADAXA have had a heart attack. Not counting strokes in this study but they have made excuses.
That's why we need to keep uptodate with research.
Hopefully I'll be taken off the Pradaxa next month at my 3 month post Ablation check up with cardiologists who did the op. Was only supposed to be on Pradaxa for 4 weeks pre op and 12 weeks post op. I'm also hopping I'll be able to stop the daily Flecanide and Diltiazem, and have PIP.
I see there are so many different types of ablation. They have levels of risk.
You were brave.
My adopted daughter has lots of cysts on her thyroid. She is not so brave. But I try and put her mind at rest as I have been through it all. No problems with the intelligent, kind and understanding of my surgeon. This is the second op by him and I didnt get to see him last time.
Br positive YES and change your habit of anxiety. Human lives are special and on a limited time. My first jusband was given a time and it changed him.
Hi Bob. Been on this site for several months now but never saw comments about Ibuprofen before and never advised to avoid by the medical staff either - shows you have to keep reading and researching. Presumably that applies to Naproxen too? I’ve had to take a course of opioids last year - are they considered ok? Do you know if there are any issues with paracetamol?
Any NSAIDS are bad I'm afraid. There was a research paper published in Denmark some years ago which showed that these drugs caused AF and should be avoided at all costs. I think if you drill down you will find that many people with AF used such drugs for pain relief over many years thinking them safer than paracetamol. I know I did. If you use the search box there will be plenty on this.
My post op in March they gave me PARACETAMOL AND AN OPOID normal. As I had a Canadian cousin aged 21 die of an overdose I took it for 3 days only. I have some over!
Ifuprofen worked for me so I'm a bit kniffed that it is no longer.
I take codeine and paracetamol.
I forget why now but limited greens, no soy, seaweed, NSAIDs.
I've been in NZ for 44 years so nearly accepted now. I had my first AF at the age of 52 and still managing at the age of 78. No ablations, survived on meds only.
I've found this forum very good as we're all in the same boat.
If you need support please send me a personal message. I live in Matamata but get around in my campervan.
Approx 2 years ago when I had my first episode I had never heard of AF. Honestly I thought I was having a heart attack, my wife rushed me up to A&E emergency department. I've never meet anyone else with AF, I don't know of anyone else in the extended family. So it's comforting to know I'm not the only one. I might take you up on the offer, next time I'm in Waikato area, have a coffee and chat (I know coffee is a risk but I need some enjoyments in life!)
Ah coffee ! Love it but it’s a trigger for me but then I discovered sugar cane decaf which tastes suspiciously like real coffee without the after effect.
Shame that whatever is done to it a dealcoholised wine is plain nasty …. so after a lifetime’s work in the wine I can only read the labels with interest - love the kiwi Pinot noir
Blake, re your coffee habit, to reduce the risk of AFib you should drink the decaffeinated form to lessen the risk of an attack. It is a well known fact that caffeine, together with alcohol, are two of the main triggers re an AFib attack. Made the decision some time ago to become teetotal and only drink decaf lattes. Good to have you on board. Have travelled widely in the last 20 years from the UK, including NZ which is my favourite destination!
The jury is still out on caffeine. For some it is a trigger, others not. Most recent studies conclude that moderate consumption is good for heart health. Personally I don't drink more than 4 cups of caffeinated coffee in a day and never after 6pm.
Many people don't realise the 5 cups of decaf they drink gives them the same amount of caffeine as the one cup of standard coffee they used to drink! It's not caffeine free!
Re the coffee, this year has been relatively stress free, only been in AF twice (January and July), both related to stressful work situation. Then last week following Ibuprofen for Sciatica (covered this in previous post). Rest of year no sign if AF despite having 2-3 cups of coffee a day.For me stress is the big thing. I really enjoy a coffee, puts me in a good frame of mind. Got to have some enjoyments in life. I don't want this AF to dominate me. Thinking too much about it creates anxiety, which can bring it on. Can be a viscous cycle.
As I am only 51 years old, and at this stage I appear more of an adrenergic AFer than Vagal I'll continue to continue to drink coffee in moderation. If in a few years or decades coffee becomes a trigger I will give it up.
Likewise I want to try and reintroduce a glass or two of wine on a Saturday night with the wife. I may give that another month or so more post Ablation however.
Hi there from wet and windy Kent in the UK.I lived in Wellington for 2 yrs and bought home a kiwi souvenir from there , I named her Kiri, after Dame Kiri Te Kanawa 😘
Had a fabulous time there and met some lovely people. Did lots of exploring and packed in as much as we could.
Only there on a 2yr secondment and missed family here ( although we did travel back and forth a fair bit and managed to stop off in some great places, Fiji, Hawaii, Singapore etc, so cant complain) but I loved life there, both the country and it's people.
Anyways, you'll find lots of help and advice on here and it's nice to hear from people who are going through something similar.
My Dad was born in Bristol so I've got a UK passport. Haven't been to the UK, but it's on the bucket list, once our youngest has left home and gone to Uni, in 3 years time.
My daughter is in reverse, she has both UK and NZ passports.Unusual to find a Kiwi who hasn't done "the trip" first before settling down? Seemed to be the thing to do ?
just listened to a short BBC podcast promoting the benefits of the 14 hr nighttime fast - eat evening meal early, breakfast late and help reduce the harmful inflammatory impact of sugar on the heart (amongst other benefits)
Thanks Speed. I was just commenting on another thread that I get bloating if I eat anything processed e.g jar of curry that you add the meat to, sausages, etc. I think it's the preservatives they put in to extend shelf life. I agree going to bed on a full or bloated stomach is asking for trouble.
Hi and welcome from Shropshire. I too have sciatica and varying degrees of pain in my right leg most days. I take paracetamol or Co-codamol (8mg Codeine & 500mg paracetamol - available over the counter here in Britain) when pain is really nagging or bad. Have found that yoga really helps too. Tried using a TENs machine but didn’t work for me. I have Vagal triggered Afib, nearly always comes at night when asleep, usually caused by dietary indiscretions. Good luck with your ablation.
Hi Blake and welcome to the forum. You are in the right place. Ask any questions and someone will sure to answer it or at least point you in the right direction. Hope you have a good day.
From Frances, in a wet, misty and grey West Yorkshire U.K.
Hello from Scotland. I find this site useful especially when feeling stressed and in AFib. Mine is definitely stress and vagal related. If I’ve just eaten and I lean to the left, off it goes! Was well managed until after a mild Covid when it was really troublesome for three months. Accessing cardiology advice at that time was difficult. Went private but not really any more help. Hopefully I’m back on an even path now although ablation is not being ruled out.
good to hear from you. I appreciate your time to reply and the information you’ve provided. It gives me hope to think I might be able to be treated and or return to a normal sinus rhythm. Today I see a cardiologist and explain how I’ve been feeling and what’s been going on with me over the years of symptoms I’ve had. I’m still in AF albeit within normal heart rate ranges I think my Af is persistent and has been like this for years. Still very depressed and fall into a panic about ether or not my hearts got something structurally wrong with it. In my mind it’s something like cardiomyopathy and it’s terrifying. Thanks again. I wish you the best of luck with staying out of af.
Hi Blake,When I joined a while back, I was very pleased to be given (probably because of my Vitamin D concerns) a link to the online testimony of Steven Carr and his unique AF journey.
While his situation is different to mine and yours, his example is truly inspiring, and shows what is possible. Highly recommended ...
Hi Blake - welcome to the forum . This is a great place to learn of other people's experiences with afib and plenty "old timers" who give good advice and show that you can still live a good life with this condition. Sometimes it takes a while to come to terms with it. My own personal exoerience is that all pain killing drugs have problems even Paracetamol and I try to avoid them as much as possible, preferring to put up with the pain rather than suffer the side effects.
A big Hi and Hello from Hampshire in UK Blake. Welcome to the forum. They are a good bunch to have on your side. Early days for you re post ablation. Try not to panick and try (easy to say) to keep stress at bay. Your in good company. Be well 🌻
Hi there Blake I am also a new member and have a very similar story. I am a 55 year old male who was first diagnosed with AF back in 2016. This was out of the blue resulting in a blue light ambulance ride to Accident and Emergency. Like you this episode was at a very stressful time with my mother passing away suddenly and then funeral arrangements etc afterwards. Everything in time seemed to calm down with only very short blips of "oh no here we go again" but these didn't amount to anything. I kept myself relatively fit going to the gym at least 3 times a week. Roll forward to Setember 2021 and again like you there was a terminal cancer diagnosis given to my father and a stressful period until January 2022 when he passed away. During that period I cared for my father and my AF returned and with a vengeance. Which in mind would tend to suggest my main trigger is stress. This resulted in a few trips to A+E and being prescribed Apixiban and Bisoprolol.
In March 2022 and after another trip to A+E the doctor indicated that I may have a sensitivity to the Bisoprolol as my heart rate dropped significantly. I am now on a calcium chanel blocker Verapamil although I don't feel quite as secure/stable as I did on the bisoprolol.
My symptoms now seem to be more regular and varied.
I am from Scotland and my experiences with the NHS in North Lanarkshire, other than A+E haven't been that good I'm afraid. I seem to be left in limbo with nothing proactively being done to reduce the symptoms or curing them. No sign of being offered any form of intervention like ablation.
All of this has had an impact on my physical health but I imagine like others there is an impact on mental health which in turn does not help AF.
Like others I have learned a lot more from this site than I have from medical professionals and its comforting to know that you're not alone.
I appreciate all of the information posted on here and given the festive period is approaching I wish everyone a happy, prosperous and above all a healthy Christmas and New Year.
Emotional stress is definitely a trigger for me. Last year when we had the mother in law with terminal cancer move in with us, I went into AF 19 times in 10 months, (went to A&E three times). I have no regrets taking her on, it was the right thing to do (the father in law passed away the previous year, so she was on her own), but it took an emotional toll on everyone else in the house. It was tough on our 3 teenage daughters as well as the wife. Since she passed away life has been far less stressful. I've only been in AF 3 times this year, January, July and last week (7 weeks post ablation and 1 hour after taking a Nurofen). The January episode, I was on summer family holiday, having a nice relaxing time. I got two phone calls regards work, with a problem I could not resolve over the phone, and we were in a different part of the country. That was at 9:00am. I could feel the stress build up in me instantly. By 10:30am I was in the A&E of the local hospital. Extra Diltiazem and 3 hours later I was discharged, back in normal rhythm. The July episode was work stress related as well. I had a team of 15 waiting on me and I had a piece of machinery fail, which stopped everything, once again I could feel the adrenaline and stress hormones kick in, and within the hour back in AF. Extra Diltiazem, contractor to fix the issue, calmed down and back to normal.
Anyway I find you can't underestimate what the subconscious part of the brain does when you are confronted with a situation beyond your control. And it's tough watching loved ones suffer emotional pain.
All the best and take it easy. Yes Christmas is round the corner, the days are getting longer, the sunny days, the Christmas decorations are on sale in the shops along side the beachware and BBQ's (Southern Hemisphere summer Christmas!).
Welcome to the forum, this is a fabulous place for advice and support. Lots of very friendly, helpful folk, who have certainly helped me on my AF journey.
Take care and get plenty of rest. 😴
From a very soggy Dudley in the West Midlands.🙋🏻♀️
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