questioning plan of care

[Linesteps]

My AFib usually starts with a few ectopics and the an irregular HR but usually low 60/80 I’m running out of triggers !! Mostly it just happens randomly , I’m seeing my ep cardiologist on Friday and I’m going to ask if there is a plan of care or do I just carry on till it gets worse . I am on apixaban . I have had AF for about 6 years and have managed quite well , any suggestions what to ask .

[secondtry]

Suggest you work on zero AF episodes, as otherwise likely to become more and more frequent.

Recommend an all out effort on lifestyle changes; using this Forum's past contributions & Dr John Day's book ''The Afib Cure'.

Your EP/cardio may not be of much help here, he or she will probably limit themselves to advice on pills or an ablation.

[Linesteps in reply to secondtry]

Thankyou I’m listening to Dr johns book at present and feel quite motivated to improve diet . I am a very active person but have been in the obese category for most of my life and have been lying to myself really re what I eat , I’ve stopped alcohol for the most part , a project in hand . I’m fighting letting the AFib control my life and try my best to just ignore the arrythmia, I’m lucky I suppose that I have no other symptoms and heart rate is always 80/100 and no higher always self reverts after longest period 12 hrs . The very worst symptom is the expectation of when AFib is going to start even when I’m in SR I’m thinking all the time when !

[secondtry in reply to Linesteps]

I have for sometime thought that the Mind & the right thinking has an important part to play particularly for vagally mediated AFers. I happened to listen to this talk today, which has got me excited to look more into this area drtesslawrie.substack.com/p...

[MarkS]

I agree with what secondtry said, try and find out what is causing the inflammation that causes the AF. I think if you're just looking at triggers then you'll just go round in circles. I spent about 10 years trying to find mine with no success before opting for an ablation and reducing the rather excessive exercise regime I was on. That fixed it, more or less.

[OldJane]

Request consideration for an ablation?

[Linesteps in reply to OldJane]

yes it is part of my questioning I’m just listening to Dr Johns book as advised and feel quite motivated to improve diet , and lifestyle thanks

[ozziebob]

My experience points to the importance of Vitamin D levels for AF, especially as a deficiency is not unusual in the older population. Have you had yours checked?

Here's a related interesting research article about Vitamin D ...

medscape.com/viewarticle/98...

You might need to join Medscape to read the article, but it's free, and I've had no follow-on issues after joining. Highly recommended.

[Linesteps in reply to ozziebob]

Thankyou will take a look sometimes feel overwhelmed with all the information 😂

[Finvola]

Allowing AF to exist unchallenged will probably result in more frequent and longer-lasting episodes. My first question to an EP would be along the lines of 'how can we suppress the signals which cause the arrhythmias?' and I would be clear that I want a care plan. His/her answer is likely to be either drugs or ablation.

I spent years looking at triggers for AF and found a few - anxiety, artificial anything, sugar, chocolate, alcohol etc, etc. I modified my diet to exclude anything with artificial ingredients, alcohol and junk and limited red meat - a sort of modified FODMAPS diet to suit my lifestyle. I agree with you that waiting for the next episode is awful - and likely to bring it on. I found mindfulness meditation very helpful in coping with my now short runs of ectopics (I take Flecainide).

Best wishes with your EP - have a plan of your own with questions ready - such a consultation should be a two-way street and you shouldn't have to suffer AF or risk it getting worse.

[Linesteps in reply to Finvola]

Thankyou so much very helpful will post what happened

[Morristhecat]

Consider the benefits of magnesium taurate on the excitability of muscle nerve fibers in the heart.There are many different causes of heart inflammation & resultant scarring.

Eliminating inflammation is a great start, but taking mag to calm the excitable nerve is is another tool in the toolbox to help fix the the pump rhythm

Good journeys!

[Linesteps in reply to Morristhecat]

it’s a question on my list magnesium supplements Thankyou

[Morristhecat]

Good luck!