Advice please on paroxysmal afib

[Karendeena]

Hi all, I was diagnosed with lone AF in 2020. I think most of you are familiar with my story.My episodes (very symptomatic) were about every 4 months lasting up to 36 hours before reverting back to NSR.

I have started to have them more frequently so went for an ablation which was scheduled for this week after waiting 12months. I now have a nasty virus so it's not going ahead and will be possibly February next year now

I have had an extremely stressful week with mum in and out of A & E and I have not been eating and sleeping properly. I came home (long drive) and got in at 2am Sunday morning, I woke at 4.15am in afib and still there as we speak at 9pm Monday evening. My heart rate is hovering between 75 and 100 (just over a couple of times) but feel reasonably ok apart from this virus and cough.

My GP says I should be reserved about that heart rate continuing so I called 111(in the UK) and the medic there said to take paracetamol for the virus as this could be affecting the heart rate and to go on how I feel not the numbers as she says under 100bpn is reasonably well controlled.

No dizziness, breathlessness or pain, what are your thoughts 🤔

[Buzby62]

My PAF is not usually very symptomatic as long as I take it easy. Episodes are roughly monthly and once gone are gone. When I’ve had a virus or heavy cold that has triggered my AF, is much more symptomatic and reoccurs in a short time while I still have the illness. My guess is the virus is not helping and maybe prolonging your episode, hope the paracetamol helps.

I had a cryoablation postponed the beginning of this month by the hospital and rescheduled for beginning of next month. Hopefully yours won’t be too long.

[BobD Volunteer]

Yes normal heart rate is considered anything between 60 and 100 so the advice you have been given is good. Any inflamation will exacerbate AF so hit that hard, stay well hydrated and try to relax. If you have any chest pain of fainting then seek medical attention.

[Karendeena in reply to BobD]

Cheers Bob so pleased you responded. I feel ok apart from this damn cough!!! I was getting more concerned because my heart is still jumping around and I have normally reverted by now. This episode is going on a bit longer but the cough is driving me nuts

[CDreamer]

A virus is always a trigger for any AF episodes - along with stress so you have had a double whammy. Rest, hydration and paracetamol sounds like good advice. If you can suppress the cough it will help - have you tried hot lemon in water with a teaspoon of honey? Be really careful with any OTC cough suppressants though - I was reading an article in Which? Magazine saying many cold and flu remedies are in short supply and prices have trebled because so many products have had recalls recently because of several ingredients which have proved to be very questionable for both lung and heart health.

There is a lot of this cough doing the rounds - I know several friends with similar.

Hope you recover soon.

[Karendeena in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks CDreamer, do you know this is weird. I have just sat down and read your message with a cup of hot water, fresh lemon juice and some local antibacterial honey. Great minds think alike ☺️This cough is just awful!!

[secondtry]

Sounds like you have adrenergic Lone PAF vagally mediated and have had good advice. Start working on reducing stress, appreciate that it will be difficult with your mother's situation, but one small step at a time eg keep to regular eat and sleep routines and/or reduce commitments elsewhere. All the best.

[OzJames]

stress and inflammation can make it worse as well as dehydration if you have a virus. The best advice i've got here from Bob is to relax and breath.

Try slow nasal breathing and just hold at the top and bottom for an extra second. I find this helps the anxiety and i can come back to a calm state

[Ppiman]

From what I understand, a heart rate that is high when caused by AF, even for several hours is safe even though it feels the opposite.

Coughing pulls hard at the diaphragm and that can easily pull the heart. I've read that any stretching of the heart muscle can bring on ectopic beats and, in prone individuals, AF.

Steve