AF is back after nearly 10 months…

[Samazeuilh2]

Yesterday evening, the day after my CT angiogram, I had intermittent chest pain which seemed to be related to angina. The GP insisted I go hospital to the AMSDEC (Acute Medical Same Day Emergency Care) ward. On arrival I did a troponin test (which turned out to be normal) and all the usual tests. The verdict was that I would have to wait for the verdict of the scan: I might well have angina but the current chest pains were probably not cardiac in origin. I was duly discharged after about 4 hours. I went to bed as usual, but woke up at 5.30 am with that old familiar feeling: AF at about 80 bpm. This was the first episode I’ve had since February. I’m wondering if the stress of the last few days was responsible, or perhaps the colder weather. I also ate two packets of biscuits given to me by the hospital, as well as a chocolate bar from a vending machine which I wouldn’t normally do. As always, the worry is if/when the AF will terminate as well as the disappointment of once again succumbing to AF- this time with, probably, angina on top of things.

[meadfoot]

All you mention in your post is sufficient to trigger your episode so is the likely cause. It is so disappointing and upsetting, I know that dread when AF rears its head again its awful. I hope things settle very soon and the results of your CT scan show all is ok. Best wishes.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to meadfoot]

Thanks. I seem to be in back in sinus rhythm after taking an extra half of sotalol, but I’m still getting lots of ectopics so I have to be careful it doesn’t go back into AF.

[meadfoot in reply to Samazeuilh2]

I know that feeling only too well. I am in the midst of it my self this morning. Not fun. Best wishes.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to meadfoot]

I hope you manage to get out of it soon. I’ve found that it’s best to eat only a minimal amount during AF episodes as that seems to make the heart rate faster.

[meadfoot in reply to Samazeuilh2]

So pleased things appear to be settling for you at last. Oh yes I agree re eating. My gastric issues are my main AF trigger, my gastric problems are not good currently so I am sure that is my current issue. Hope we can both have things settle and enjoy our weekend.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to meadfoot]

Yes, good luck to both of us!

[CDreamer]

So sorry to hear that. Probably a combination of all the things you mentioned triggered your AF. I have learned that now AF comes and goes in my life and taking care of myself in the best way I can is the only thing I can do.

It does annoy me greatly though that all this money on research to tell us that diet is so important and not to eat sugar and the only offerings in hospital are sugars!!

Stay warm and calm and look after yourself over the week-end and do something you enjoy and let things settle and hope that CT results will settle your mind that nothing is amiss, apart from pesky AF.

[Samazeuilh2 in reply to CDreamer]

I seem to have gone back into sinus rhythm, but am still getting lots of ectopics. It was a really stupid thing to do to eat a chocolate bar and biscuits at the hospital- I’m still kicking myself over that. I think it’s very likely I’ve got angina - it was actually diagnosed on an earlier visit to the hospital, but according to the consultant the CT result will be definitive. It’s likely I’ve got it because I get chest pains on walking a few hundred metres which is relieved by using spray. It’s more a question of what if anything they will be able to do about it , and how advanced it is. Just over 12 months ago I could walk unlimited distances without problems, now it’s a very different story. Thanks for replying.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Samazeuilh2]

Please don’t punish yourself for eating the biscuits and chocolate. You haven’t done this to yourself. If you have AF it is always going to happen at some point and unfortunately it’s not possible to predict. Going through something like that is hugely stressful on top of a situation that is incredibly stressful to begin with, so there’s a major culprit. It’s probably a combination of many factors. You need to take care of yourself, not chastise yourself over something you ate. Good luck with the scan results, I hope something good comes out of it.

[secondtry]

I am with CDreamer 'probably a bit of everything' tipped you over into AF. So take it easy, do something interesting and scale down ALL AF risk factors.

[Ppiman]

Bad luck. It might yet prove not to be angina, well, of the kind we most think of (i.e. caused by hardened arteries and similar). I get chest discomfort whenever I get AF or even runs of ectopics. My heart rate is often like yours, maybe peaking at 135bpm. The discomfort goes into my back, also, and under my left ribs. I've had it since my atrial flutter days in 2019 before and after my ablation. I don;t know what causes it but the cardiologist I saw and my GP are not concerned at all. Taking bisoprolol seems to make it worse, oddly.

Steve

[bassets]

Sorry you have the AF back - here's hoping this clears again and you have a positive outcome re your scan. Best wishes

[Singwell]

Very much hope things have stayed settled now. If its any use for the future - I always request a sandwich. Even though nutrition wise they're not great you get a mix of cards protein and fats that seems to be less of a trigger to our systems than biscuits and poor quality chocolate. I'm guessing you had a combination of stress response - perfectly natural - and a blood sugar spike flowed by a dip. May you be well.

[kocoach]

Had a vege burger and fries yesterday from a drive thru at about 1:30 pm and around 3 pm went into afib which I am still in so I know that the Vagal nerve and food (too much or wrong kind) is one of my triggers going into afib, it usually converts within 24 hours though. About your chest pains have you been checked out for chostochondritis? I have had it for about 50 years now and it feels just like a symptom of a heart attack or angina pain, tremendous pain in the sternum area and the rib cage. After many, many trips to the ER I now am able to discern when it is chostocondritis causing the chest pains, but it can really freak me out at times and I still have to call the para medics to come over and reassure me that's all it is, I'm 76 years young by the way. The body and it's working's are such an amazing thing. Hope this might help, have a GREAT Day!