Firstly I just wanted to introduce myself as this is the first time that I have been on the site, secondly I wanted to share my experiences of AF with you all and see if anyone has had similar issues.
Many years ago when I was 18 (Now 39) I suffered my first bout of what I now know to be AF. I went to the GP and this was put down to drinking too much vodka / redbull on a night out. Roll on many years of numerous undiagnosed instances of AF I finally got the diagnosis from a consultant in 2022, this led to me having a catheter ablation procedure in March this year and be placed onto anticoagulants (Edoxaban). Everything seemed fine post procedure and eventually I came off the tablets. This led onto late November where I picked up this xmas cough/cold/chest infection, ever since this I have started to suffer with continuous flutters and general arrhythmia. I am now awaiting a trip back to the GP to start the process all over again which is a bit disheartening (Excuse the pun) Apparently I'm a bit of an anomaly having suffered with AF since a reasonably early age, i'm just wondering if anyone else has experience of a similar situation.... and if so where did they go next as I feel a little lost with it all now.
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__Ollie__
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Welcome to the forum Ollie. Here are some suggestions that may help relieve your AF:
Having had AF for almost 19 years, three ablations and numerous cardioversions my advice to people who have just been diagnosed with AF is the following:
1. You are most unlikely to die from AF. I used to think that the way my heart bounced around in the middle of the night I would surely be found dead next day. Still here though!
2. Changing your diet to a more plant based one, avoiding any foods containing artificial additives, not allowing yourself to become dehydrated, cutting back on sugar and losing weight (if it's needed) will all have a beneficial effect on your AF. Artificial sweeteners were a sure trigger for my attacks. Wine and some other drinks contain sulphites and these are known to trigger an AF attack (some can get away with one glass). How I wish I'd known all of this before having any of my ablations. Would I have listened if anyone had told me? Probably not, because I believed ablations would cure me - three didn't!
3. This is a hard one, but looking at gadgets that show your pulse and AF will make you anxious and anxiety feeds AF. I was obsessed with what my heart was doing for about the first ten+ years of my AF journey and my attacks were so debilitating I'd end up in a hospital ward, it has taken me a long time to take my mind off this subject and get on with living. The less I think about it, the better I feel. Now I used to feel cross with people who suggested I stop looking at my pulse rate machines, I thought that their AF couldn't be as bad as mine and they didn't understand how unwell attacks made some of us feel. I would get cross with anyone who said they could still go on holiday and carry on life as normal. They made me feel evil, by not understanding how ill I felt!
4. When sitting watching tv make sure you don't slouch, or become so absorbed in what you're watching that you unwittingly do shallow breathing. If you do your heart will protest. Try not to wear anything tight around your torso as this can push the organs inside your stomach against your heart. Also try not to have large meals as they bulge out the stomach and your heart wont be happy with it encroaching on its space, especially when you’re sitting.
5. Try supplementing with magnesium and taurine. I do and feel really well and there's nothing I can't do now, despite being in constant low rate AF. Or at least I think I am, I don't check these days.
As I say I've spent the best part of 20 years with the symptoms but I never did anything lifestyle wise to help. (I was young and stubborn 🤣). But your post has given me an insight of where to start food wise, so thanks again for this.
What you might be experiencing is ectopics, everyone gets them even outside the AF population, I get them from time to time… when I eat too much or too quickly and as Jean said if I slouch on the sofa I can get ectopics. I also sleep with head slightly elevated. Good sleep is so important, make sure you read a book called Breath by James Nestor.. it’s about the lost art of breathing properly, im sure this has helped control my heart rate especially when I exercise or when I’m under stress
Welcome Ollie. .....what Jean said... If you have specific questions then there's probably a post about it, and on AF itself, it's more common than you think, loads of people have it, some like you (were) don't even know.
It is normal for afib episodes to increase with an infection. I am recovering from a very bad cold and cough . In the cold phase I had high temperatures and went into afib 3 times in 4 days . The last episode lasted 22 hrs which is unprecedented for me. I usually revert to NSR after 8-12 hours. Did you test to see if the infection was covid? It might be that this is something that will settle down with time especially if you follow Jean's good advice!
Welcome to the forum, you’ll always find lots of help, advice and support here, for anything troubling you.
I see you’ve had lots of good advice here, but as for your recent flutters, I do agree with OzJames, in that they might be ectopic beats resulting from your recent infection? I had covid for the first time in early Oct and developed a cough, for a few weeks after which resulted in annoying, strong ectopic beats for the first time in my life. They’re only starting to subside more now, after nearly three months.
Do you have anything that you wear that can determine what your heart/pulse rate is doing when you feel these? I.e fitbit, or applewatch? Many of us have these or additional items like things called a Kardia device which you can do an ECG on in the comfort of your own home….though I’m aware, as Jean says these devices can heighten anxiety in some. However, I do find mine useful, even though I do look at it probably too much 😳.
You are very young and the theory is that an ablation is therefore more likely to be successful. The fact that it wasn't and a relatively modest level of cold set it off makes me think the real culprit is either very genetically prone, many contributory unbeneficial lifestyle choices or the C-jab.
AF is quite often difficult to treat successfully so my advice would be throw the kitchen sink at it & keep learning from here and elsewhere.
To end on a positive note, some are fine after 2 ablations and the alternative drug route can also work.
When I got diagnosed with AF, I reached out to these great guys and gals on here and everyone has been so helpful. You are not alone and there are ways to manage this condition.
You are young so there is plenty of time to find out what can be done to help your AF…diet is a great place to start, as everyone says here.
Welcome Ollie. You've come to the right place to explore lifestyle changes and others' experiences of these, plus kindness and support when the going gets rough. It's worth reading the book The AFib Cure by Dr John Day and his colleague. Although they talk about the healthcare service in the US, the clinical and self care information is good, and relevant to any Afibber.
Hi … someone on here mentioned flaxseed mixed with prune juice to keep the bowels moving daily … if l don’t “go” each and every day, l can come down with afib. Alcohol is a culprit for me … darn! I have refused all requests for an ablation … just the inner voice screaming NOOOOO … I seem to have an attack maybe every six months … lasts maybe one hour after going to emergency and given a medication intravenously. So now, l happily live with the condition and consider it a mild inconvenience.
I've had various ectopics/flutters/odd heart sensations since I was a teenager. I was diagnosed with SVT and AF when I was 27 (I'm 43 now). I've had 2 ablations, one for each of the aforementioned arrhythmias. My heart still feels unsettled once or twice a day, but I never seem to have any arrhythmias that go beyond a few seconds. Flecainide, combined with a low dose of Bisoprolol, works for me if my ectopics get a little too bothersome.
Providing you have a structurally sound heart, I'd recommend trying Flecainide to reduce your AF/ectopics burden. Despite the odd negative comment occasionally posted about Flecainide on this forum, I've had no issues with it and it has really helped with my quality of life.
I am a lot older than you, and haven't had any surgical ablations yet, so perhaps you might easily dismiss my suggestion, but I hope not.
In addition to jeanjeannie50 's recommendations, plus a blood test to ensure your Vitamin D level is at the higher end of the normal range (or above), I would take some time to examine the various treatments available for AF, especially the Mini-maze procedure, invented by Dr Wolf in Houston, but which is increasingly becoming available in UK both in NHS and privately. Time is in your side in this regard. A search on YouTube will find many live videos by Dr Wolf on the Houston Methodist DeBakey channel on multiple aspects of the treatment of AF. Here's just one titled "Frequently Asked Questions about Lone AF" ...
Again... I'm overwhelmed with all the comments and lovely advice. Thanks ever so much, it's comforting to know there are others out there.
I was back at the GP yesterday who gave me a half hour slot which was nice. He tends to agree that although there's a lot of them constantly they are indeed ectopic beats. As if my heart is threatening AF without actually going into it. I've always been healthy with a resting heart rate at 50ish however the last 2 weeks have been resting rate of 100 which was captured by the GP. Luckily as someone suggested earlier the GP has taken bloods and basically testing me for everything going!
Once again thank you for each and every reply, I've taken the time to read and consider them all. Hopefully I can do the same for the next newbie in here 😃. Oh I think someone asked if I used a monitor like a smart watch etc.... I've just treated myself to the new Samsung Watch 6 (For medical purposes obviously) and it's absolutely amazing for capturing heart behaviour and general health. Id highly recommend.
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Are statins essential if you are suffering from AF and/or past strokes? And how much is 'good'?
