WHY WHY WHY

[Janith]

Suddenly my afib is visiting me a lot more frequently … it used to be every six months … now it’s every three weeks but it only lasts an hour or so and it converts to nsr. Today it happened when l returned from the gym and l was carrying very heavy bolders to put into a plant that keeps falling over from the wind. It started as l was lifting them. It feels as though l can’t do anything for fear of afib. I work out daily … and l also noticed that my stomach is gurgling today … l see my cardiologist in a few weeks … should l see him sooner? Is my heart deteriorating from these frequent afib visits? I just used my oximeter … my oxygen level is 99, heart rate 55 (normal for me). Any ideas would be appreciated. Best, Jan

[stoneyrosed]

What is happening to you also happened to me. I would be a regular visitor to the gym thinking I was aiding the health of my heart, but over time af became more constant until eventually I stopped going to the gym. This did not stop af, in fact my af got worse, after eating, after walking, even resting and relaxing would sometimes bring on af. I think the point I am trying to make is that when you have af you will get af, no matter what you get up to during night and day.

I have had two ablations since all that was happening to me 2-3 years ago, and since my second ablation I am much better, I get the odd blip now and then but no sustained af as yet. I think it is maybe time you considered speaking with your cardiologist about an ablation or speaking with your doctor regarding meds to control your af. Personally speaking I would go for an ablation but we are all different and do whatever suits you. Time for action, good luck.

[BenHall1]

Hiya Jan,

Just read your post and my immediate reaction was ........... vagal nerve !

Then I looked back to posts you made two years ago and many wise folk on here pointed you in the direction of food/diet and vagal nerve.

So here is a short reminder - and these are extracts from your own original posts and your own words in italics ...... 1) It seems that I can only eat small portions rather than larger portions throughout the day and at dinner time etc etc etc then another post 2) using your own words ......2) Today l started feeling strange … my stomach started bothering me … kind of bloated … and just had a “feeling” that afib was about to start … palpitations … need to go to the bathroom.

Hope you are now following ........... in my non scientific/medical view your vagal nerve is being aggravated by food, which is causing some magical/mystical inflammation of the vagal nerve. Further you are not calming your vagal nerve in the least by gym work outs and the heavy lifting you referred to.

I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AF back in 2010. Many months later after things calmed down a bit and I was back at work I realised each AF event followed food. Once my GP had checked out the possibility of IBS and Coeliac Disease and got the all clear I consulted a Nutritionist. In the States you may call them Dietician. She advised to go gluten free, wheat free and oats free ( even traces of those grains too). She advised on keeping a food diary and build up a list of foods and onsets of AF ........ cause and effect, so to speak. Certainly gym work and heavy lifting isn’t ever gonna cure you.

I have been on this forum for 14 years now and if I had a $ for every post I have read that connects AF with food/diet/exercise ( gym work) and athletics/extreme sport then I’d be a wealthy guy, a very wealthy guy.

I followed Nutritionists advice and have been AF free for about 4 years now. Even so, I still have digestive issues but not troublesome and definately no AF. But now I know my limits. I was 65 in 2010, and turn 80 in September 2024. I live an unhealthy lifestyle, don’t exercise, definately no gym work ( tried it years ago and bored me to death ), and still booze on ............ then of course there is the influence of family genetics too - often very overlooked.

Anyhow suggest you research vagal nerve and it’s links with food/heart and gut and look up a schematic diagram of the vagal nerve within the human body.

Good luck.

John

[Janith in reply to BenHall1]

Thank you so much John … l seem to forget so much thinking that l am so strong, fit and invincible… well apparently l am not. I am POSITIVE that the Vegal nerve is at play … how annoying. My goodness l have given up martinis! What more does it want? I am incapable of giving up exercise but l will take care with lifting those heavy objects. 😘

[secondtry in reply to Janith]

However tempting moderate the exercise; remember AF can turn 'incapable of giving up' into 'have to give up'. I had to give up tennis and skiing - 2 loves of my life - and replaced with basketball (the walking version!) and daily walks with Nordic poles. Maybe doesn't give me the same buzz but 11 years and counting (now 70yo) virtually AF free is more than welcome!!

[Janith in reply to secondtry]

Yes … l fear that you are correct. I thank you so much for caring … l think that l will do more walking and less workouts at the gym. Congratulations on 70 years and zero afib. Keep up the good work. Best, Jan

[CDreamer]

In addition to John’s excellent suggestions - you are surprised your AF started when picking up a heavy object after going to the gym? Really?

Bending over and lifting heavy objects is something almost guaranteed to start our hearts twittering and complaining if sensitive to vagal stimulation.

I know you get very anxious about stuff but hopefully you would also by now have taken on board that AF progresses with time and that although there are treatments it is also up to ourselves to be proactive and sometimes that means doing less, eating less and worrying less. Adaptation is essential.

Look at and discuss ablation. Look at your Lifestyle and adapt.

If you have an appointment booked in a couple of weeks anyway unless you are feeling very unwell or especially symptomatic I personally would wait until that appointment and try out the suggestion with eating smaller meals, exercising less and put in place some meditation classes instead of exercise maybe?

[Janith]

Yes … good advice. Thank you!

[FraserB]

My paroxysmal AF had visited approx every 6 months, then the beginning of December it suddenly switched to once a week, then twice a week, each one for approx 1/2 hour, until end of January and up to today there has been nothing. Will it come back? If anything it will and the thought always lingers as to will it still be 1/2 hr in length or go for the 6 hours or more of rapid flutter in emerg. when first diagnosed. Some days I'm relaxed about it but to be honest it is in the back of my mind. It won't harm but it sure can play a big psychological trip on your mind if you let it stop doing what you enjoy. What helps is a plan, learning about AF, how your AF happens to your body (everyone is different), the medications for AF, lifestyle changes (you sound healthy that's a plus) and also surgical options, going forward what fits for you, your quality of life and your tolerance level. And seeing your cardiologist is a good plan. I know I will eventually too.

[OzJames]

are you sure its AF. It maybe ectopics? i can get Ectopics which are benign that feel like skips and hops and can last hours or days.

[Janith in reply to OzJames]

Yes … whenever it happens, l immediately go to our emergency room … five minutes away … the last time it happened, l converted before they finished my ekg and l was released. However when l walked in l was in afib. I am very symptomatic . It cannot be mistaken. I do, on occasion have ectopic beats. Thank you so much for your reply.