Hi there all you lovely people. After posting a happy new year to you all earlier, I now find myself in AF again. This has happened three times in the last two weeks. It seems if I have been sat down in the afternoon relaxing , when I get up this is when it occurs. I wonder if any of you experience this?
I really need to talk to you all about this.
Many thanks and please reply. I am so worried.
Jenny. X
Yes, I have had similar experiences, when relaxing in my early AF days. I had to avoid rushing around and then collapsing on the sofa or into bed in the evening but more evenly paced my day. I also read up a lot about the Vagus Nerve here and elsewhere. My flecainide was also increased from 100mgs per day to a medium dose of 200mgs per day.
I have flecainide as a pip. I take 1.25mg bisoprolol once daily and blood thinners. Maybe these need looking at. I should read up on the Vagus Nerve to be able to understand. Many thanks for your reply.
This is a very low dosage of bisoprolol which may need revising, so would advise you to seek an appointment asap with your GP. Since my afib was first diagnosed some 12 years ago my dosage has gradually increased from 2.5mg to the current level of 7.5mg, plus blood thinners. I am fortunate in only suffering a very occasional episode, a situation I attribute to this dosage-strength. Worth noting that you can ride up to 10mg in any 24 hour period to help stabilise your heartbeat. This was recommended by a cardiac consultant when my condition first became apparent.
Many thanks for your reply. A consultant here increased my Bisoprolol to 5mg a few months ago and this reduced my blood pressure to the point that my GP was concerned and so I returned to my 2.5m. I have been fine and only having an episode once or twice a year. But on moving to a new house do wonder if this has caused these recent episodes. My anxiety is sky high and counselling is on the cards. But I need to have my medication adjusted as well. It is interesting about the increase in Bisoprolol when needed. I was never informed of this. How do you take your Bisoprolol ? I take mine at night. Do you have any effects from it?
Have experimented taking my 7.5mg dosage both at night and first thing in the morning. The latter time has worked best for me over the last few years. If you read the information leaflet, under section 3, How to take Cardicor [the most popular brand-name], you're actually advised to 'take the tablet with some water in the morning, with or without food.' Taking my dosage, shortly after waking up, has become a daily routine for me over the past number of years. Finding the right balance in terms of the dosage that suits you is a question of trial and error; if you only suffered a couple of episodes in a year, I would suggest your current 2.5mg dosage is probably correct. As you suggest, the increased levels of stress resulting from your house-move may have led to the increase in your arrhythmia episodes. In the event of this happening again, it should only be necessary for you to take an extra 2.5mg tablet to help stabilise your heartbeat as soon as possible; riding up to a maximum of 10mg is more appropriate for me, given that my regular dosage is 7.5mg. Using this strategy allied to checking my BP and PR, episodes don't last for longer than 16-24 hours, and I also avoid rushing off to the local A and E, the last place I want to visit in the current climate of 'flu and Covid admissions! Graham
Thank you for this Graham. I have now seen my doctor and he has advised an increase of Bisoprolol. So now 1.25 morning and evening. So onwards and upwards though hopefully not to A and E ! Jenny.
Jenny, to address your issue with anxiety, have you tried deep-breathing exercises? Breathing is an important way in which to manage all types of stress. Standing or sitting with your back straight, then take a moment to relax your shoulders and breathe in slowly through your nose to a count of 4. After inhaling, hold your breath for another count of 4, before exhaling at the same speed through your mouth to a count of 4. Then repeat the process, as before. Other triggers to avoid re onset of Afib episodes are no alcohol (total abstinence!), no caffeine (both tea and coffee) and spicy food. Finally, would recommend reading The Afib Cure by John Day and Jared Bunch (pub by Benbella Books) which should be available through Amazon. Despite its misleading title - I would contend there is no actual cure - the book is full of good advice on how to live with the condition without it undermining your quality of life. Hope this helps. Graham
Thank you so much for your advice Graham. I do use breathing exercises. Don’t drink and rarely drink coffee. I do drink tea and often have green tea. I am careful about food and like to think we eat healthily. I will certainly have a look at this book. Thank you again Graham.
Anxiety can be a trigger so take things easy.
Thank you. That’s what I have been doing. Anxiety is hell!
I have read that "vagal AF" is a reasonably well supported theory that tries to explain how, in some people, when the balance of their autonomic nervous system favours the "vagal" or parasympathetic side (as opposed to the "active" adrenergic / sympathetic side), such as when they are "passive" such as relaxing, sleeping, and after a meal, then their AF is more likely to start up.
This is nothing to do with the more contentious idea (which was roundly dismissed by a cardiologist I saw) that some kind of vagus nerve "pressure" or "irritation" can set off AF.
Steve
Hi there. This sounds interesting. I need to look into the Vagal nerve. This does seem to make sense. Many thanks Steve.
From a pathophysiologic perspective, the vagal/adrenergic tug of regulating or dysregulating the electrical balance of the hearts ryhthm makes sense.
Absolutely!
It does make much sense, yet the root cause is left unexplained. I suspect genetics is a strong part as my mother was forever complaining about "palpitations" and I, too, have had these since my mid-twenties. I recall a cardiologist I saw back then telling me I might be lucky and grow old without any further troubles. He didn't explain back then what he meant, but it was presumably the increased ectopic load, AFl and AF that eventually did come my way in my mid sixties. Such is life!
What an unusually wet start we in the UK are having to 2024, but I hope it turns out to be a healthy year for us all!
Steve
Such is life! Here in France it is wet and windy. They say here they can’t remember such a wet time over the last few months. Dull, dull,dull.
That weather must be over much of Europe, then. We have some significant flooding.
Steve
We have lived here for 21 years now and it is the wettest Nov and Dec we have ever had! Fed up of never seeing the sun and being stuck inside doing housework instead of being outside in the garden. The only break was Christmas day and Boxing day 2 lovely sunny days .
hi Jenny,
I think you are in thebtriws if it just starting and I got lots to start.
I just sent you a message to your last post. Are you on tablets yet?
Sue
AF after the ablation
Lightheaded after AF episode
No energy after being in af 
