Ectopics and steroid cream

[OzJames]

I’m 6 weeks post Cardioversion of Atrial Flutter . I’m getting ectopics most of the day it started to happen the night I took my wife to dinner. Had a zero beer and 1 zero wine but I guess both full of sugar. So far had them for 3 days the doctor gave me ECG to confirm not AF.

Only things doing differently this week are having a large daily home made juice of strawberry watermelon and apple, pulp and all. The other thing is Advantan cream on my neck which has prednisone in it for my dermatitis twice a day. I checked my medical history and saw in 2019 I went to hospital thinking I was in AF and found it was ectopics. At the time I was taking oral prednisone for my dermatitis.

Probably a coincidence, anyone else got ectopics from steroid cream? I’m getting anxious feeling this and trying to do deep breathing…. hoping this goes away soon

[Mrsvemb]

I don’t know about zero beer, but I do know that zero wine contains sulphites which is definitely a trigger for AF so may possibly be triggering ectopics.

[BobD Volunteer]

Three suggestions.

Stop the zero stuff as it still causes problems. The worst hangover I ever had was on alcohol free beer!

Seriously address the sugar issue.

Do the slow deep breathing exercise for the ectopics. It does work if done right.

[OzJames in reply to BobD]

thanks Bob I will address the sugar. Would you know whether the fruit juices are ok?

[Autumn_Leaves]

I was prescribed steroid cream for a skin condition in December and I’m tapering off at the moment. But overall ectopics have been slightly better and no episodes of AF, so I can’t say I’ve experienced the same. However, we’re all individuals and we all react differently so I’d never say there isn’t a connection in some people. It’s always worth remembering that whenever we have an episode of AF or bad ectopics that it’s always going to be just after eating something. There may well be triggers for some people at some time, but I’ve found it interesting how my real world friends (not AFibbers) will pin a particular symptom eg a headache 2 days later on foods that have some kind of “moral” value eg “it must have been the cake!” or something they feel is a “naughty” food — though bear in mind that the diet industry has well and truly F’d over women’s relationship with food. But that’s another subject entirely.

Also, be wary of supplements. Even my cardiologist told me he had ectopics after taking some kind of supplement which stopped when he quit taking it. He didn’t say what exactly, and probably with good reason, but we shouldn’t be giving supplements a free pass.

[OzJames in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

thanks for reply yes I guess it’s a bit much to think topical application can get enough in your system. Mine was around my neck so I thought maybe closer to my Vegas nerve…. anyway the supplements story is interesting, I take 330mg elemental magnesium and 2000iu Vit D3 daily but have not had issues. I did start a different probiotic about 4 days before ectopics started I’ve ceased them 2 days ago but still getting the ectopics time will tell…

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to OzJames]

The Mg and vit D are probably OK as these seem to be well tolerated by most people. I’d be more wary of superfood powders or neutraceuticals, adaptagens etc. Also any herbal remedies or supplements. Ectopics can be horrible especially if they’re happening constantly. I wish there was an easy answer to dealing with them.

[OzJames in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

thanks again appreciate your thoughts

[pusillanimous in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

I lost a lot of weight, I'm an anxious person and we had floods and riots here in South Africa and they really got to me, so I bought some tins of a food supplement that is mixed into a drink and given to invalids, to increase my calorie intake. After a couple of glasses my HR shot up to 120 BP and a short bout of AF. These drinks have every imaginable vitamin and mineral in them, so what the culprit was I do not now. I gave the unopened tins to a mission hospital !

[OzJames]

thanks for that it would explain when I got ectopics when I took the prednisone orally. The article talks about IV or oral delivery not using a cream or gel. I’ve been using the gel this time but not sure if enough can get in my system to cause ectopics.