I rejoined recently under a new username having left the forum about six months ago because of all the posts about the pros and cons of Covid vaccination that were appearing in the forum at that time.
I'm a male in my late 50s living in the UK and I've recently gone onto the waiting list for an ablation as my paroxysmal AF is not adequately controlled with medication. I plan to post updates about my experience with ablation in due course.
I could have gone onto the ablation waiting list 18 months ago, after my AF suddenly increased in frequency, but I opted to wait and to see if I could eliminate or greatly reduce the episodes of AF using lifestyle changes and medication. Despite my best efforts though, short episodes of AF have continued to occur about once every 10 days or so.
The only things that seem to have helped with reducing the frequency and length of episodes are: good sleep, not getting worked up about things, avoiding dark chocolate, not lying on my left side, and cutting alcohol out except for half a glass of wine on special occasions.
Welcome back again ! At least you have tried the lifestyle changes. I agree that good sleep is so important and avoidance of stress as much as possible.
Hopefully you won't have too long to wait for your ablation.
It sounds as if you've done all that can be done. Let's hope the ablation does the trick! It should.
I have come to believe that - in general - lifestyle interventions are something that need to be done well before any AF sets in, and best of all when we are young and fit, i.e. avoiding ever becoming too overweight, remaining active, and attending to any thyroid, sleep apnoea, BP and diabetic issues. Once the heart has changed, it seems it doesn't often want to change back. I also believe that genetics has its part to play but that isn't an area that seems well understood.
I'm a little overweight but generally fit otherwise. I began to have very occasional AF in my 40s, occurring once every few years initially, and easily managed with "pill in pocket". No underlying cause could be found. Then in 2021 (in my mid 50s) the PAF worsened markedly over a six month period - happening monthly, then weekly, and then every few days. At that stage I was referred to an EP and started on regular medication. I've been hoping that the PAF would go back to being very infrequent with medication and further tightening up my lifestyle, but it hasn't happened. I have frequent atrial ectopic beats and they are continuing to trigger episodes of AF a few times a month.
It’s hard to know what is best except to follow your doctor’s advice. When I first had troubles in 2019 (that I knew of), I was told I had persistent atrial flutter with a fast rate (155bpm); no tablets would really help me from feeling truly debilitated but the best was digoxin.
Luckily an ablation came along and that solved the flutter; but, since then I’ve had a few AF episodes, with all boy the awful first one at a much lower rate. Much more often, though, I get multiple ectopic beats with slight racing of 85-120bpm, along with mild chest discomfort. I cope with it by taking a bisoprolol as needed but it’s not at all pleasant.
Very best of luck. I eat two squares of Dark choc a day as i am in permanent Af and never had paroxysmal - to my knowledge diagnosed about 6 years ago with persistent low rate AF I don't really have triggers. I try not to get worked up too but that's another big challenge.
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Finally a member of the ablation club as of yesterday at st barts 
New Member Question
QOL or The known benefit of ablation 
Reply to kind comments from other members re my post on breathlessness etc
HOW MANY MEMBERS HERE TAKE COQ10 WITH APIXABAN DAILY APPROVED BY THEIR DOCTOR OR NOT.
