Should have learned my lesson.

[Snowgirl65]

After my last ablation in December 2022, I had one afib episode 8 months later triggered by a hornet sting. After reading so many posts here about the dangers of food preservatives and eating too close to bedtime, I binged on snacks and pastries yesterday too far into the evening, and woke at 3:30 a.m. in afib. My Kardia reading showed 146 bpm which I pdf'd to my EP for my file. I ate an early breakfast and by 5:30 a.m. I was back in sinus rhythm. Of course now I'm beating myself up at my stupidity!

[mjames1]

Be assured, if it wasn't the snack binging, it would have been something else. If the pathways exist, afib will find a "friend" to eventually open the door. I also had an afib episode seven months after my ablation. Triggered by reflux, so yes, I'm more careful of what I eat and how I eat and decided to go back on PPI's, but I have no illusion that the door may be opened from time to time again by another afib friend. One ep I spoke to said do not expect 100% freedom from afib after an ablation. His definition of success was a significant reduction in afib burden. It seems that at least for now you have met that criteria.

Jim

[Lilypocket in reply to mjames1]

Love that description Jim 😄 I can just imagine Afib and his friend opening the door to him. I have had no problem drinking a glass of red wine from time to time at dinner. But a bit of Champagne was my downfall and resulted in 1 hour of Afib. But I still consider my ablation was a success when I compare that to the 6 hours I suffered from every 2 days. I know it's not a cure but what à difference the ablation has made to my QoL. Just hope the load remains light and there aren't any other pals with door keys!

[Peony4575 in reply to Lilypocket]

Funny how individual we all are. I have had a glass of champagne twice in the last year and been ok . Seems to be such a wide range of triggers and susceptibilities

[Lilypocket in reply to Peony4575]

Well actually I had some champagne at my son's wedding with no problem. But at New years eve I don't know what happened. 😄

[Peony4575 in reply to Lilypocket]

Ah . My last episode was New Year’s Eve a year ago. Although I didn’t have anything I hadn’t had before , I had certainly had a lot more “treats” consistently over the holiday weeks and the Chinese food I had on New Year’s Eve was the tipping point that pushed me into AF . They don’t call it holiday heart for nothing . I was very good this year . I did have a glass of champagne on Christmas Eve but no chocolate mince pies etc etc . I think I seem to get away with very occasional one offs but not cumulative insults. Am wary now over holiday periods . Indulgence is in the past

[Lilypocket in reply to Peony4575]

Well at Christmas I had a glass of Champagne, a glass of red wine and some Christmas pud with no problem. I think Afib appeared on New Years Eve briefly as an " old friend" seeing out the old year and as a reminder it still has a key 😄

[Peony4575 in reply to Lilypocket]

It’s one “ old friend” I wish we could block !

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Peony4575]

Agree wholeheartedly!

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Lilypocket]

Unfortunately, I've had to swear off all alcohol 😪

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Peony4575]

I'm wary of holidays -- too many treats abound. Strangely I did indulge this year somewhat, but to no ill effect. Sounds the same with you.

[Peony4575 in reply to Snowgirl65]

Exactly . I do have treats. A piece of cake or small pudding, but there are weeks if not months in between . 2 glasses of champagne drunk slowly with food months apart last year. No chocolate etc for 13 months. I made the mistake of thinking I could handle it because I didn’t seem to react…,,, until I did. So cautious now, but you have to live your life 😊

[NewOne2023 in reply to mjames1]

Sorry for offtopic but this sentence "If the pathways exist, afib will find a "friend" to eventually open the door. " should be framed somewhere.

Brilliant!

[wilsond in reply to NewOne2023]

Yes I thought very apt too!

[Snowgirl65 in reply to mjames1]

Thanks for your reply. Yes, afib begets afib!

[Singwell in reply to Snowgirl65]

You know, I've chosen not to say that to myself. I prefer to say- "damn it - I need to pay attention and take care of myself" And then I pick myself up and get on with my life. Taken me 4 years to learn this though.

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Singwell]

You're so right. Here I am now, the day after, vowing (yet again!) to take better care of myself. I'm picking myself up and getting on with my life -- again. Best wishes to you, Singwell!

[Ducky2003 in reply to mjames1]

Love this 😁.Sometimes my "friend" has shown up with his whole bloomin family. 😁.

[wilsond in reply to Ducky2003]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to Ducky2003]

Yeah, and looking for a party!

[Ducky2003 in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

And finally clearing off when they realise there's no alcohol 🤣

[Singwell in reply to mjames1]

Yes, I was told this too Jim and I think it's good to be pragmatic about it. Enjoy the spaces in-between is my approach these days. I had a blimp after 19 months recently. A flying visit from an unwelcome guest. 6 mins in all...

[secondtry]

Second post today about the dangers of complacency once in NSR for a good period.

I suspect we've all done it as we yearn for those bad habits!! Stay strong, my partner thinks I am a bit OTT with regard to my precautions when after 11 years in remission it seems like I don't need to be so careful; her contrary opinion helps me stay honest 😂.

[Snowgirl65 in reply to secondtry]

It pays to be OTT with your precautions. I depend on this forum that comes to my In Box every morning to remind me to stay alert -- but it sometimes doesn't always work!

[Singwell]

Sounds like a blood sugar spike followed by a crash Snowgirl. I get morning spikes if I have maple syrup on my morning oatmeal 😞. Don't beat yourself up about it. Maybe something was going on for you so you felt the need for that binge- I often find it's a stress or emotional response plus the food trigger that sets me off. Point is it's gone now. I found that it's OK to have my sweet treats in the day after lunch. That way I know I'll be active afterwards and can process the glucose.

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Singwell]

Such a good reply, and true to form for you. I never thought of the sugar crash, but indeed that's what it was. I recall feeling unreasonably tired that evening and went to bed early, of course from a sugar crash. The snack-binging I think was caused by an emotional response to our recent Arctic deep freeze here in Ohio -- it went down to 4f one night -- about -16c.

[Singwell in reply to Snowgirl65]

Oh crikey - yes that's cold! And u guess you worried about the animals round and about.

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Singwell]

Such a good memory -- yes, my two feral cats living in heated houses I constructed behind the back bushes; and then there are the deer, raccoons, opossums, etc. I do worry for nothing, don't I!

[Singwell in reply to Snowgirl65]

😆 I wish my memory was as good with names of colleagues...I can picture them, their demeanour and usually recall their voices but names 😞

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Singwell]

Same here. When I run into former colleagues when shopping, I can recall scenarios with them from the past so I bring that up instead of mentioning their name -- I hope they don't catch on!

[Ppiman]

You've read many posts on here about food preservatives causing AF. Well, heaven preserve me!

I would rest easy concerning food additives unless you have a very rare sensitivity to them. They are safe. That said, I avoid them for other reasons (e.g. I won't eat meat preserved with nitrates and nitrites).

Steve

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Ppiman]

It's good to be cautious but not obsessive. Everyone has their sensitivities, don't they.

[Ppiman in reply to Snowgirl65]

I suspect it's a minority of people overall. The biggest trial on triggers for AF I found once, in Holland if I recall, showed that most people with it didn't think there was a trigger. I can't find anything at all.

Steve

[Jajarunner]

Don't beat yourself up, you were having a life. Having AF is horrible but you still deserve pleasures. Now you know for next time 😄

[Snowgirl65 in reply to Jajarunner]

Yes indeed -- I felt crappy yesterday, but today's a new day and all that! Thanks for your reply.