Advice for travelling with AFib

[NewOne2023]

Hi guys!

Tomorrow morning my better half and I are taking a 10 days trip to Morocco. It's a 3+ hours flight.

I'm an PAfib-er since exactly 3 months ago. Currently only taking propafenone twice daily. I stopped with bisoprolol 5 days ago (1,25mg) to stop the dizziness and low hr and possible anxiety.

As far as I know, I didn't have an afib episode since 5th of Decemeber, almost two months ago. Currently waiting for an ablation date, probably in the next 2 months. In the meantime, I decided to continue with my life and that also means a short travel as always in January.

I wanted to hear if someone has some tips for the trip and overal afib precautions.

I'm taking with me enough propafenone, bisoprolol (as PiP), magnesium glycinate and some Rehydromix (our brand of electrolites in small dosage bags). Also I'm taking a small bp meter to check my blood pressure since I stopped with bisoprolol. And planning to take one anxyolitic before the flight. I'm not greatly scared of flying (travelling regularly) but enough that I can't relax to have a short nap. And of course, I will keep enough water by my side.

Any more tips besides what I wrote?

[BobD Volunteer]

Stay well hydrated at all times, keep all meds in hand luggage and make sure you allow extra time at airports to avoid any stress, Also a good idea to take prescriptions for all you meds just in case local laws may require them.

[mjames1]

Good prep, you got it! Keep the meds in carry on and hydrate more than normal, including pre-hydrate prior. Sports drinks are great for that unless you can't tolerate them. I also do a little research ahead of where a good hospital is at my destination, just in case.

Jim

[OzJames]

I’ve done 2 trips 5 hours and currently in Fiji after 4 hour flight. Stay hydrated and if feeling nervous on plane just practice some slow breathing in and out through the nose. I’m on metoprolol and AF free since September but have travelled before with AF. You should be fine I think sometimes it’s the anxiety that sets us off so go and enjoy yourself, think relaxing and adventure and don’t drink too much alcohol and go easy on caffeine. I’ve been enjoying the zero beers and decaf coffee and a sip of my wife’s wine every night!

[Sewnknit]

I'm probably too late here but how is your travel insurance when waiting for a procedure.

Also, are your electrolyte doses in manufacturers packaging. I'd hate to read about you being thrown in jail for little bags of white powder.

[NewOne2023 in reply to Sewnknit]

Just boared. Yeah, my electrolytes are fabrically sealed bags with description. I didn't get the insurance, it's far too expensive in my country.

[Budken in reply to NewOne2023]

I am curious what country you are in. When I first traveled here to Germany, I had travelers Health Insurance and it was very inexpensive. Also some countries require you to have it. You would not want to be caught in need, without it.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Hello,

Please ensure you have all your medication for the trip in your hand luggage, should you become temporarily separated from your luggage upon arrival at your destination.

Keep hydrated during the flight and avoid or limit alcohol to avoid dehydration

Set a timer on your phone to ensure you take your medication at the same time each day, taking into account any change to the time zone.

Try to keep to your "routine" as much as possible, keeping hydrated, eat a good balanced diet and avoid any activities that could trigger an 'episode of AF'

For reassurance and piece of mind, find out where the medical facilities are located.

If you are interested in seeking travel advice, please visit the AF Association webpage for a listing of reputable insurance companies: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Finally, have a wonderful holiday!!

Kind regards

TracyAdmin

[Budken in reply to TracyAdmin]

When I took a nine hour flight, my Doctor told me to simply skip one dose of my medication and then take the next at the regular adjusted time.

[Cookie24 in reply to Budken]

That's interesting. What meds do you take?

[TonyB1972]

My only tip is just make sure you eat lightly and carefully in Morocco. The food is delicious but it can be heavy and they may add MSG in some dishes depending where you eat (Also known triggers for Afib) Couscous is very light even though it is not gluten free and can be bloating. Just eat moderately and drink lots of water and most important tip is have a great time and forget everything. Don't let Afib take over your life, fear not, Morocco is beautiful.

[TonyB1972 in reply to TonyB1972]

Also don't get angry or frustrated with the market stall guys who try to haggle you to buy something. Don't let that bother you or stress you out, laugh it off.

[Jetcat]

I tend to just arrive at airport really early and don’t rush around. If Iv had a Afib episode on aircraft etc I just do the norm and sit it out.👍

[NewOne2023]

Just got back in our riad room. Exausting day, but everything is ok. Got a light headache the whole day but that's from 3 hours driving + 3 hours flight and barely 5,5 hours sleep last night due to early flight. And we walked the whole afternoon around Marrakech. But it's good. I'm 40, I shouldn't complain.

The interesting thing is as soon as we arrived here, I got a call from the main nurse telling me that when I get back in ten days, I should start apixaban and that 15 days on it will be enough, so basically end of February is my ablation date.

Talk about interesting start of vacation.

[7ebr]

I've been on bisoprolol for three years now. At first I was prescribed 2.5 mg twice a day. Fortunately for me, I wear a heart monitor (Polar chest strap) throughout most of my waking hours, and I quickly noticed my heart rate reaching alarming low figures (50 bpm which I now find is nearly my new normal, so lol). I self-managed my medication first to 1.25 mg twice a day, then, when my hr began reaching the low 30s!, to 1.25 once a day.

My hr still goes low, but about six weeks ago I began experimenting with natural herbs and spices to help boost my metabolism. I found I react badly to turmeric (it makes my hr shoot to over 200 bpm at the slightest activity!), and coffee is a bad idea because it upsets my heart and brings back afib, vpb, missed heart beats and so on; in short, a riot in my heart that is heartbreaking for me because I love the darn stuff but I'm forced to give it up. 😔

Turns out that staying away from store-bought carbs like bread, bagels, biscuits, and chocolates, etc, but sticking to the occasional small portions of rice whilst depending mostly on vegetables and proteins fish, chicken, and meat, gives my hr bumping along quite happily. 🤞

I am also about to begin experimenting with gentle walks and a regimen of consistent exercise on my indoor step machine (which has been sitting in a corner of the room glaring at me for months for my careless neglect of it).

Anyway, all the medical staff I've encountered, including my cardiologist, have urged me to stick with the bisoprolol and counsel weight loss and exercise as the healthiest response to concerns about the medication's use, so I would consult your heakthcare professional before you take yourself off it entirely.

I hope everything all works out for you whichever route you go. Take care.

7ebr

(PS. There was a time when I was taking 1.25 mg ever 36 hours, but that phase didn't last for long. I suppose you just have to see what works best for you - taking medical advice into consideration, of course.)

[NewOne2023]

Just got back home tonight. Wanted to say that the trip went fine, besides a cold & subsequent fever I got due to being too long close to air-condition in the train. I was burning up for 2 days taking almost 4000mg paracetamol daily to lower the temperature. I was kinda worried that this inflammation would trigger afib episode but luckily it didn't. I got through it and continued our travel across Morroco. It's been more than 2 months from my last afib and currently waiting for my ablation set for one month from now.