AbFib after 2 years free

[AbbyTabby7]

I had my ablation in 2021 and have had 2 wonderful years completely AbFib free - swimming, cycling and Pilates, all ok. Yesterday I swam in a 19 deg. natural spring water 50m lido pool. It was v cold at first and tiring doing the long lengths. On the tenth length I had to stop due to feeling weak and breathless. I didn’t recover and my kardio apps proved AbFib which lasted 6 hrs and now in sinus rhythm. Do you think it was the over exertion or the cold water or both and more importantly can this be an isolated event or back to never knowing when or where AbFib will strike me. Thank you for all your comments, much appreciated.

[Hidden]

Excessive exercise and AF are not good bedfellows and the subject tends to create a lot of discussion because definitions about what constitutes excessive exercise vary enormously, so I will just mention it and move on!

If you have had a Cryoablation, it’s possibly that the inflatable balloon used to treat the tissue around your 4 pulmonary veins may have missed bits, particularly if the tissue was irregular. Again, excessive exercise may not have helped but that’s something you should discuss with your EP. Personally, I would take recent events as a warning and ease off from doing anything which is likely to put your ticker under more pressure. Because getting appointments on the NHS is getting more challenging, I would consider a private appointment to see what your EP thinks. Ablation waiting times are often in excess of 12 month, so nothing significant is going to happen any time soon but it might be better to start the ball rolling sooner than later…….

[AbbyTabby7 in reply to Hidden]

Thanx for that - I really was pushing myself, wasn’t sure though if it was the cold water - no wetsuit

[Peony4575 in reply to AbbyTabby7]

I went two and a half years between episodes and got a bit cocky I thought it was gone. So loads of sugar. A Chinese meal went out for a speed walk really pushing myself and bang into AF. Ten months now , but I now view AF as sleeping not gone and am very careful

[Singwell in reply to Peony4575]

Sensible. I take the same view. The enemy is sleeping only.

[mike1961 in reply to Singwell]

Chinese meals are full of MSG and are a total NO for me.

I had a period of 3 years as a PAFr 2007-2010 during which time I had 3 episodes ALL of which were a couple of hours after Chinese take-away AND I only had 3 Chinese take-aways during that period. And yes, I should have learnt a lot quicker !

I avoid it in all of its forms as best as I can these days - along with all nitrites.

[Jetcat in reply to Peony4575]

Me too. It’s always hanging around in the background I think.? only my thoughts and I could be wrong.!! I still get occasional bouts of AFIB but Iv come to the conclusion that I’ll never be totally free from it even after 3 PVI ablations.! Iv actually one the other night, lasting 3hours and self terminating. I am in Spain on holiday and it’s still very warm so Iv put it down to that. Keep smiling, best wishes.

Ron.👍

[Peony4575 in reply to Jetcat]

Have a nice holiday Ron ! Yep. I think when your body does something, it retains the potential to do it again. Best not poke the sleeping beast with a stick

[Jetcat in reply to Peony4575]

My thoughts too.?👍

[Sixtyslidogirl]

I am quite active, but have had episodes triggered by the cold, both in the water and out, so try always to keep warm now. I saw a sports cardio as they are more realistic about what is appropriate for athletes. He advised 20% reduction in volume and intensity, keeping heart rate below the level at which it starts to skip, in my case 160bpm.

[Boxertwin]

I had a similar experience last weekend. Almost exactly two years out from my ablation, afib free except for some afib that lasted 5 seconds or so a couple of times. Went surfing, was a bit tired going in, I did have a wetsuit. About 30 minutes after, I was driving home and kicked into afib. Now mine only lasted about 10 minutes but it was still disheartening because you never know how long it will last. I did fine in a workout today but my gym workouts are never as hard a workout as surfing. I know to dial it back a bit, be properly hydrated before, and be rested.

[Popepaul]

I think both cold water and over exertion probably brought on the Afib. Your heart has to work harder when you expose yourself to relative extremes of heat and cold. If you swim in cold water the blood has to shunt heat to the viscera and then the skin. The heart has to pump the increase in blood supply to prevent heat loss. A similar process happens if you are in a hot climate.Both these relative extremes make me feel uncomfortable. I tend to get ectopic beats and to my mind they can act as a transition to Afib.

Exercise is still a significant aspect of my life. For me moderate exercise is fine,rowing cycling, swimming and strength training. I try to avoid a oxygen debt. It is a pity since anaerobic work can significantly improve conditioning. None of us want to limit ourselves but we also have to be realist.

I suspect that if you avoid high intensity work you will be more likely to avoid further episode of Afib.

Regards.

[Morzine]

my cardio said once it’s back it’s back…I got four years free which I’m grateful for. Immediately asked for second ablation . I’d get the ball rolling towards that Abby if I were you just as flap jack said, plus are you back on tablets to keep it at bay?

Sue

[Ppiman]

I often wonder whether the changes in the heart that bring about arrhythmias don't continue even after an ablation. This is because the causes of the original changes are never addressed, and likely could never be found since they will be inflammatory changes caused by such as natural ageing and some other conditions.

A doctor once coined the phrase that "AF begets AF", I recall. Certainly, I tend to think that the bodily changes that bring a propensity towards AF are system wide and complex. Many doctors point the finger at long term obesity, hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnoea and other health aspects but even these are the product of other underlying processes.

Steve

[Ewloe]

After my heart attack cardiac arrest and subsequent AFib ( also cardio version 3 months later), I was told not to swim in water less than 26 degrees as the cold puts more strain on the heart.

[Buffafly]

I read somewhere (don’t ask) that swimming (crawl and backstroke) puts a strain on the heart because it is pulling on the heart. That certainly applies to me. I went to swimming lessons for a while to try to improve my swimming and because a back problem means I can’t safely do floor based exercise. Big failure because I had an episode where my heart went berserk with a mix of arrhythmias including long pauses. So do be careful.

[beach_bum]

I think a bit of research on your part is in order. A doctor can’t tell you. A sports Medicine specialist could, but easier to figure it our yourself. Tech (Apple watch in my case) is a big bonus for monitoring in real time…if you are active, you should be monitoring your HR before during and after.

The Health app is reliable and accurate. In my case I have mine set to alert me at HR over the recommended max HR for my gender and age. I cycle HARD, but witching safe parameters.

Enjoy your swims and stay safe

[AbbyTabby7 in reply to beach_bum]

Thank you BB you are quite right - I have cardio watch and I am always checking my HR analysing what time of day and what I was doing to spike HR - usually stress. Didn’t wear watch in pool or even take it to poolside -‘ IT’ has now found a pathway. All very desponding 🙁

[beach_bum in reply to AbbyTabby7]

You will be fine, just keep your eye on the ball, and you will get there, chin up Also, the Apple Watch is waterproof and recommended for swimming and triathlons, so don’t worry about that. It also has a specific pool lap feature.

[FancyPants54]

My first big, horrible, prolonged and diagnosed attack of AF came after I pushed myself in the pool following about 8 weeks of inactivity due to a broken arm. Everything I did for exercise required the arm so I was stuck. Finally got back into the pool. So happy. Swam for ages. Got out and my legs felt like lead, really badly. I showered, dressed and got into the car. As I drove out of the grounds the most chaotic and frightening AF banged into action. I've barely been into the pool since. I kept up membership for a few years and went occasionally, being very careful. But eventually lapsed membership because it felt to sad.

[cpalmermn]

Sounds like we have similar Afib stories. I’ve also been very active all my life, coming on 4 years post-ablation. I’ve now had a couple attacks triggered by either eating or unusual movement. Most activities - swimming, biking etc have been fine. I think they rarely get ‘all’ the pathways blocked on first ablation and many of us will need a touchup. So, IMO some excercise or not may not have a real effect on the return. Stay fit, make appt with EP and keep at it!

[Bennera513]

I think all the comments regarding a moderate approach to environmental and exercise stressors is spot on. However, I also agree with the comment from   Morzine . "If it's back, it's back". Anything that challenges your body and nervous system could be potential triggers. The ablation was a procedure to 'block' existing electrical pathways and circuits so that Afib could not manifest. Over time, with continued atrial stretching or changes in the substrate, new pathways can present. Isn't this a whole lot like the way we first enter the Afib universe. For me, it started with a lone event due to over reach....Then a full year of silence,...and tiptoe-ing around trying not to over exert. By the third year I couldn't cut the grass without going into afib. Knowing what I know now, if (when?) it pops up again, I will waste no time in getting the ablation train rolling again....at least documenting with EP the fact that it's active again. Best of luck. Hopefully it was a one off.