Hi again. Hoping I'm not hogging this. When I was told I had A Fib I looked through my family members. Mother still alive 97. Dad died mid 80s but he was a drinker and smoker and it was cancer. I tracked one 1st cousin who said he had it. He id mid sixties. He told me at the time that he knows when its going to happen and only then takes his anti-coagulant. Just met him at a funeral and wanted to compare notes. He says his A Fib is gone. He reckons it was since he gave up work! Had'nt got time to quiz him as it was his father's funeral. Can this happen? He was stressed in his job but it seems a stretch.
A. Fib gone: Hi again. Hoping I'm not... - Atrial Fibrillati...
A. Fib gone
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TillyBoss
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Stress is the biggest antagonist in my view. When we say manage your Lifestyle - Stress is No 1 on the list for me.
I'm definitely going to work on that... I've a stressful personality since teens
All about coping strategies - look at breathing techniques and relaxation and mindfulness mediatation.
Your recommendations work for me when I'm nice and calm, but unfortunately, they don't when I'm in the midst of some personal trauma. I can't seem to relax enough to calm my breathing or meditate!
Absolutely the biggest - it’s what I’ve focused on the most. Not just breathing etc but actually the underlying factors, the why behind the anxiety.
Stress is definitely my BIG trigger, and, for me, exercise works much better than any other method for dealing with stress.
I’m AF free since my ablation though of course the rogue cells are still there so the lifestyle changes I’ve made are permanent. I’m not sure how well I’d have stuck with these changes pre-retirement!
First - no alcohol. Second - stress reduction through meditation, relaxation, breathing techniques. Third - a healthy diet. Fourth - walking minimum half hour a day. Fifth - keeping track of sleep time and increasing average hours sleep a night.
Since retirement I’ve had more free time to reflect, relax, adjust to new routines, cook healthier meals, and I beat myself up less for missing a meditation session and just pick myself up and start again! So yes, retirement can be a great opportunity to keep AF on hold as far as possible - though bearing in mind AF has a mind of its own, we’re all different and no one should feel they’ve taken a wrong turn just cos AF re-visits!
Wish the drugs/cardio industry would invest in research.... I suppose turkeys voting for Christmas comes to mind
Not sure about those turkeys though - where did they come from?
Think poster means the drug companies don't want a cure! Like turkeys unlikely to vote for Christmas to happen
That's it
😀thank you. It’s a pity we don’t have a lot more government funded research but people seem to prefer corrupt corporations making giant profits to paying taxes!
The objective of most people with PAF is to identify and avoid triggers. If you're very good at it does that mean your AF is "gone" or you're just doing a great job of avoiding it. I suspect in most cases it's the latter and it will probably re-surface at some stage given AF is a progressive condition.
I'm sorry if that sounds too negative but it's what I think and no use "sugar-coating" it.
In my 20 odd years of diagnosis of P/A/F it is my opinion that it lays dormant it never actually goes lol
Doctors who say it is progressive are putting negative thoughts in our head and from what I am starting to see, are being taught to sell ablations and watchmen. The it’s definitely progressive is not always the case. There are many people who’ve had a fibs for many years before they started with the ablations and the watchman and are still around to tell their stories. I’m just figuring this all out myself as well, and I’m just stating what I am starting to see. everyone is individual. certain people can tolerate these procedures and want ghrm, and that’s great if they work for them. other people are very sensitive or have complications, and it wouldn’t be a good choice. It’s a very individual issue and I wish everyone the very very best that they can be while making decisions on this difficult journey. It’s a true challenge.
Yes, you'll read it time and time again, we're all different. Your circumstances won't be identical to mine and our journeys with AF are unlikely to be the same. And yes, it is not definite it will progress.
I'll get an update on any changes for me next month when I have an echocardiogram and annual appointment with my cardiologist. I have CHA2DS2-VASc Score of 0, same for Calcium Coronary Score and no structural issues identified in scans.
I consider my Paroxysmal AF to be low burden and reasonably well managed with medications so I'm hopeful everything still looks ok.
That's probably why there's been no suggestion about ablation or need for anticoagulants, let alone a WATCHMAN procedure by my cardiologist.
Most of what I've learned about AF has been on the Internet, including this forum. Sometimes it's a bit scary but mostly reassuring.
It’s not always progressive as long as your heart structure is good and no CVD.
Triggers are slippery things, as soon as you think you have it taped, another one pops up. I now ignore any of my previous triggers and after treatments, my AF is down to about 2% whereas 10 years ago it was more like 80%.
PAF = what ? ...... paroxysmal or persistent or permanent .... just seeking to clarify please ? I was diagnosed in 2010 with paroxysmal. No events now for 4 years. Thanks to my BP behaviour I was admitted to A & E where I was diagnosed ...... total time 9 hours from onset of feeling unwell. Treatment started immediately in A & E. I opted for a lifetime drug use and a change of diet.
However, AF is such an untrustworthy demon I'd never regard myself cured .................. definately, highly controlled. I always expect it to return .... so far so good it has kept away, looking forward to more years of freedom.
"The objective of most people with PAF is to identify and avoid triggers."
I often see references in this forum to paroxysmal AF as PAF but your query is a valid one.
So, I was referring to paroxysmal, which is what I have - however now that you've asked, it should also apply to persistent i.e. both groups have episodes that they'd like to avoid if possible. If I had persistent I'd still be trying to avoid episodes.
Hi
Depending what was causing his AF it could have been stress.
Is it stress with you too?
So like him you may lose it in your life time.
My adopted son at 2 years was diagnosed with Asthma. As an adult he says he no longer has it.
But beware of a stroke so I would take the anti-co.agulant. There is talk about researching pip or spray for those who occasionally have AF episodes.
cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)
Personally, I think stress is more likely to be a trigger rather than a cause of AF, noting I'm not a medical professional - just a retired accountant. I probably have AF because of my genes (mother has it and I suspect her late brother had it too). I suspect we all have it because of our genes in one way or another as there's lots of people around with the known risk factors for AF who don't have AF. Otherwise, why us?
I don't think it's genes in my case which is frustrating.... from reading replies I think it's low level stress
Hi
No AF in my family like arthritis. Also further out no Aunties, Uncles, cousins, nieces or nephews.
Mine was caused by undiagnosed Thyroid Cancer and that AF caused the stroke 4.5 years ago.
I was diagnosed with Stroke-Embollic Type, with AF rapid and persistent.
Had Thyroidectomy - papillary type including 12 lymph nodes on right.
Coming up to 4 years with no cancer return.
cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)
Congratulations... I have hypothyroidism but I'm not sure if that has anything to do with it
It doesn't have to be prevalent in your family to be genetic. Unless identical twin, you don't have the exact same genes as any other family members. So it's luck of the draw.
And genetic might just mean you're at risk of getting it rather than guaranteed.
In addition, a lot of cases of AF go undiagnosed because asymptomatic I.e. some family members may have had it but didn't know.
Anyway, it's only what I think..... not what I know
I understand that also trials going on for a monthly?..injection, which is good news for the stomachs. I believe that the reversal antidote, is being looked into, as needed for obvious reasons. Thinners need to be more user friendly for those who are intolerant.
Hi
I have never had problems with PRADAXA 150 then 110mg twice day. I do eat some fruit with it.
But Ihave no gall bladder - mine had disintegrated. Bile drips into stomach undirected.
cheers Joy. 75. (NZ)
Kids can grow out of asthma and eczema
myself, my late father, and 4 sisters all affected by AF (there is a list of genes that can be responsible) My son, an athlete, had an ablation 17 years ago and has had no sign of it since. My eldest sister is 92 and even runs a dancing class, despite the affliction !
That's so positive
Hi
Have you considered that trouble either hypo or hyper with your thyroid caused your AF?
It. is on some lists of pointers, others miss it out.
When the thyroid is addressed your heart could revert. Mine hasn't but the hospital, with no follow up, left me with a rapid, persistent Day H/Rate of 187bpm on Metoprolol.
Can't sue in NZ. Could take it to ACC (ourAccident Compensation Corporation) for negligence.
cheers JOY. 75. (NZ)
Everything seemed to start after the hypothyroidism but it might be a coincidence as the doc says it's settled now with the levothyroxine 75mg. I might research it more. The only time my hb goes up is about an hour after I take in the morning
Hi
So do you take a pill for blood pressure? BP rises early morning.
I take 2.5mg Bisoprolol PM. I have a soft systollic heart murmur diagnosed in 2022. Not diagnosed prior. Among other heart associated structurely abnormal.
OK you take 75mg daily early morning and no food for 1 hour. ???
No milk or iron for 4 hours after. No soy, chlorine or flouride, ever and low amount of greens.
What is your TSH, T3, Total T4 ???
cheri JOY
Sorry.... hb... heartbeat... my blood pressure was always good
Hi
Yes, got that.
But unless you have a monitor aparatus measuring your BP early in morning how do you know?
BPM Beats per minute..
cheri JOY
Fitbit watch
Hi
Oh I thought the high BP or low BP pointed to that.
You forgot to answer...
1. What is your TSH last blood test which you should have regularly say 3mthly until you are on a solid regime of level with eating etc. Licuorice interferes with absorption. I had to add another 25mg Lev so no more of the black stuff.
2. T3
3. T4
Thanx as its very important to not be hypo or hyper regarding the thyroid and its bodily functions.
cheri JOY
Its Valentine's Day and I've had my first Valentine wishes.
Had a monitor attached for 24 hours... all good
👍👍👍
hi, stress is a killer. I believe it brings on most serious illnesses especially cancer and heart problems. Reduce your stress and let your adrenaline reduce, correct your bodies Yong and Yang which is the chemicals that balance your immune system. The body has a marvellous coping system but too much stress overcomes the balance.
AF is very very common, just take anticoagulants to avoid a stroke which is the damaging element of AF.
Stay calm, stay safe.
X
mine was triggered at first by a virus it went away for four years (after two bad episodes). Then it sneaked back..
I was thinking he was being over optimistic but I didn't want to burst his balloon
Mine arrived after a virus too along with chronic fatigue!
Mine hit shortly after a covid vaccine but I think it was coincidence
Mine was the virus - caused a terrible cough which wracked me apparently chest infection and severe coughing can trigger AF if an underlying tendency
I had my last episode of AF over a year ago around the time I must have been infected with covid and only found that out when I tested after my daughter who I’d seen the previous day found she had tested positive. I had no temperature or other symptoms and had had all the jabs. An extra Flecainide ended that episode in a few hours and I haven’t had one since.
I had AF since 1995 when I was hospitalised after a bad attack. After that I was given aspirin and a beta blocker. I got back to work after a month or so, but it was an extremely stressful job and I struggled for years as a teacher with long hours and unrelenting stress. Even so, my AF was under control, but I did have lots of episodes of AF and felt ill half the time.
I decided to retire early when I was 57, even taking a 'hit' with a reduced pension, which was the best decision ever, as an active life style renovating buildings and working a huge garden in France restored most of my fitness. So I had 15 years of good health.
So YES, if you have an all demanding stressful job I think it makes all the difference and giving up, but doing that for many could make things worse if you do not have alternative goals and activity. I know so many people who have retired into boredom, alcohol, and finding it difficult to fill their time.
But removing the stress from your life has to be the right move even if you have to take a financial hit.
Here's my second to how stressful teaching is, especially if you do more than hand out worksheets and use the same publisher tests over and over. I was a second career HS physics, chem math teacher and had my heart attack after I was 'persuaded' to leave the classroom. I now live the glamorous life of a self-underemployed professional tutor. I may not have my teaching pension, but I also don't have the stress of unrealistic expectations from parents and administrators. I cared more than many of my students and their parents did... wasn't worth dying for
Glad you have escaped too and I hope enjoying better health. I am sure that having had the first AF episode (which the hospital at first said was a 'heart attack') after one stressful week, that had I continued to 60 I might not have made it. It used to be said, and is likely to be truer than ever, that teachers who retire at or before 60 have an average life expectancy of 10 or 15 years but that those who go on to 65 have an expectancy of around 5 years! Thinking of what happened to many colleagues, I am sure that is true.
As you say, it is not the kids, but the ever growing amount of adminstrative and bureaucratic demands and everybody demanding that you teach only in the latest prescribed fashion while monitoring your every act and 'progression'. It is significant that so many young teachers fail to stay in the profession for more than a few years now.
Certainly based on my own experience and the wealth of experience on this forum: alcohol, stress, over-exertion, overeating, dehydration are triggers on their own or in combo for many including myself.
Remember, sleep, hydration and exercise are your friends.
After over 40 years of shift work I took the hit and retired at 58 after suffering Afib on and off since 2006 . I was getting atttacks so often I just treated it as a headache and carried on but within weeks the improvement was significant and is now beyond my wildest dreams . I now go many months without an attack record was last year 9 months . I can drink lager within moderation 4 or 5 pints and have an active life.Fatigue was another trigger amongst many others at that time . Through my experience Afib can take hold and becomes more sensitive ie shift work may not normally trigger it by itself but they all seem to mount up causing more attacks if you understand what I’m saying. I’m living proof that it is all reverseable.
I've been in AF on and off for forty years. Stress is a major factor but my heart is now quite damaged (enlarged and somewhat flaccid, keep it clean 😲) I have a defibrillator/pacemaker and I take warfarin and I am still in AF the majority of the time. I try to keep stress to a minimum but that's not how life works, I'm happy for your relative but I'm sceptical about his AF being gone I think it's more likely that he is having a "break" from symptoms and it will arise sometimes in the future. AF doesn't have to be a death sentence, it can be managed (obviously because we are all doing just that in one way or another) and we can live an almost normal life.
I think I agree about my relative but I didn't want to negative
I hope you continue to do well. I was just curious I have not asked my cardiologist, when do they recommend a pacemaker when you have a fibs? For what situation? Thanks so much.
When other options are not possible or when it is shown that bradycardia or pauses are triggering AF.
I cannot tolerate any of the drugs so PM inserted 2018 after AF returned after 2 ablations. From the moment of insert my heart behaved. I had to have a revision to the LV lead in 2019 - as soon as PM removed straight back into AF. I still have occasional episodes, mostly triggered by infections but this week I have had most horrendous chest infection requiring strong antibiotics and amazingly my heart hasn’t flickered once this week. 4 doses of COVID sent it wild as did all the jabs which is why I said no more.
BUT my EP had to fight very heard to get the funding for the implant and my Health Insurer refused to fund privately. Best thing I ever did and for ever grateful to my EP.
My cardiologist asked me if I had been under a lot stress lately when he diagnosed me with AFib. I had been, new home construction with almost 30% in cost overruns, a builder who wasn't responding to questions in a timely manner and wouldn't show up for weeks at a time.
It was driving me crazy! And I believe now that's probably why I have AFib although can't be 100% sure it makes a lot sense.
I agree
Not sure about the "work" aspect. It all depends. Did he do physical work, or was it more white collar work? I find that if I am doing something like carpentry or just everyday house cleaning I feel fine. It is when I am sitting down at the computer trying to get some mental type work done, that I will have palps. As soon as I get up, and start moving around, they usually go away. I know if I am mentally stressed out, I often will get palps.
Holding down a stressful physical job ,looking after my father with dementia then adding looking after my mother, plus trying to keep my relationship going with my partner, boy was i stressed ,every other word i spoke was stress, stress, stress, but the job is gone my parents passed away, still with my partner , nowadays im anything but stressed , i always believed stress brought on my paf, but now without the stress the paf is still there.
The stress could have triggered your p.a.f. but once you have it, it is not going to go away on its own, even if you are not stressed anymore.
what do we do if the stress is from worry about being on the anticoagulant prematurely with a Chad Vasc 2. The guidelines say women should start with a score of 3 but because I have had frequent episodes at times, probably stress related and one or two long episodes for me, 24 hours and one for almost 3 days with a 90bpm heart rate(not high), i’ve had two cardiologists recommend anticoagulation and two doctors that say I’m in a gray area. I couldn’t tolerate the new ones, so am now on warfarin for a few weeks. I am so concerned about the possible bleeds and of banging my head, which I’ve done in the past multiple times that I am not sleeping and I am very stressed out. Also, I have severe osteoporosis and from what I understand warfarin causes bone density loss and I can’t afford that. I could be disabled from fractures as well as from a stroke. I am also dealing with vertigo since I started the warfarin and pain in stomach and down left side as well. I know I will need to be on anticoagulation, but I question is this the time that I need to be. I’m turning 68 this month And a Chad Vasc three wouldn’t come for seven years because I have no comorbidities just female and 65 years old. I’m thinking that if I go off and then reconsider in three or four years, they may have newer medication, have worked out the research they’re doing on only taking when you’re in an episode, and possibly a safer option for a watchman. Anyone else in this gray area getting different opinions?Thoughts?
Yes, I believe it. I have been saying this for some time. I keep digging to learn more and more and maybe what I have learned isn't going to work for everyone but it is working for me. So many areas of our lives we have been lied to. The biggest one and I myself also fell for the calories in, calories out lie. Here is where we can tend to stress ourselves without the proper amount of food intake to balance the delicate dealings and processes that go on in out systems. When we have a stressful job or dealing with stressful situations we have no reserves to deal with it because we are creating our own stress hormones. Our brain controls it all. Here is a quote from from Simple Phycology,
" Stress
Studies suggest that acute and chronic stressors are strongly associated with neuronal activity within the amygdala (Correll, Rosenkranz, & Grace, 2005).
Similarly, synaptic plasticity (the ability for synapses to strengthen or weaken over time) within the amygdala is implied to be affected by exposure to stress (Vouimba, Yaniv, Diamond, & Richter-Lerin, 2004).
Another article I read talked about brain Inflammation.
We don't realize that our brain needs good nutrition along with the body. Whatever that is for each of us we have to experiment and figure out. All holistic doctors agree on 2 things. that is, bad oils and grains both are damaging. Any oils from a seed, get rid of. Any grain that is Wheat, Rye or Barley don't eat. Yet these are the very things that traditional doctors will tell you to eat.
I went with my husband to a nutritionist and the first thing he told us was to switch to canola oil. I was so shocked by that answer that I blurted out, I won't feed that crap to my dogs.
I didn't hear another thing in that 1 hour appointment. I know that oil creates tons of inflammation in the body and brain.
Sorry for the long response, don't believe me, research the key points and draw your own conclusions.
doctors admit that they don’t know the cause of AFIb or PVCs . If they don’t even know the cause , they probably don’t know the cure either. Doctors were wrong about COVID too or they straight up lied to us . This is all coming out now . Why should we believe Big Medecine or Big Pharma about anything if the profit motive prevents them from being honest ?
I am sure that AFIB and especially PVCs are caused by psychological factors . I think all of us have suffered from anxiety attacks before we had PVCs or AFIB . Now why is that ? Anxiety attacks are accepted as a psychological condition because there was no money in it for medical doctors .
Just like the old Lobotomy in the days of your, the experts didn’t know the cause of the mental problem , so they killed off a part of the brain . So too are todays cardiologists resorting to killing off , or lobotomizing your heart because they don’t know the cause of your AFIB
My advice is spend your time dredging up what ever subconscious “ deep sorrow” or dread or trauma that you have been harboring and laboring under for most of your life and set it free . Then you will see relief from these symptoms called AFIB or PVCs
I might try CBT, that seems to be goof
Selling ablations to keep the cathlabs running is one of the biggest problems in the treatment of AF, according to my friend cardiologist.
TracyAdminPartner
Hello TillyBoss
AF is not life-threatening as it stands alone, however, unfortunately, there is no permanent cure either, so medications and procedures are treatment options to manage AF.
Anticoagulants are prescribed for AF to help minimise the risk of experiencing an AF-related stroke and should be taken every day, this is due to the medication being quickly administered into the body, but also quickly dispersed. Taking an anticoagulant upon the onset of an AF episode will not have any effect on the pain or symptoms.
Many individuals are prescribed anti-arrhythmic medication to help manage symptoms and to try and maintain the irregular heart rhythm into a normal sinus rhythm once again. With guidance from their doctor, many take the medication everyday or as a 'pill-in-the-pocket'
I would recommend registering for the online 'Living with AF' for an overview of the condition: To register online: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
Alternatively, contact our Patient Services Team: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
Thank you for that. I have seen 2 books on amazon written by cardiologists about a fib. Both maintain it can be cured. I bought 1. It seems to be about lifestyle changes. Will let you know when I finish.
Anybody else have good response to giving up processed foods and most grains and all sweeteners and losing weight? I get emotionally stressed these days like before, and notice more ectopics, but no aFIB. (I realize it will probably come back as I get older)
Ectopic? I'm a newbie.
Ectopic beats
yes severe stress is a major cause of A fib and other heart ailments. When you retire and relax more your heart is better able to rectify itself.
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