Hi, Last week I spent the night in hospital with AFib. I came home with 2 sorts of medication (beta blockers and blood thinners). It was a very scary process as I have always been healthy, despite my age , 67, and my weight, 17 stone plus. As soon as I came home I knew I needed to lose weight to help lead a better lifestyle but, despite eating hardly anything this week I haven’t lost an ounce. I’m really disappointed and worried about my future. I am struggling to understand how I can go from never taking medication to being told I will be on it forever from now on. The whole thing has left me frightened and worried about my future. I’m for ever looking at my watch to see what my heart rate is. It seems to go between 47 and 90+ for no reason. Before the tablets my resting heart rate was generally in the low 60s. Sorry to ramble on. I just feel so fed up.
new to AFib: Hi, Last week I spent the... - Atrial Fibrillati...
new to AFib
Hi Wilky and welcome to the forum. I think more than anything you should know that at first diagnosis every member here has thought and felt as you are now - and we got through it!
My first post was in 2013 - so ten years writing here and I can honestly say I am in much better shape now than I was then, mentally, emotionally - possibly not physically as in those days I was very fit and I am 10 years older!
It is scary but knowledge is potential power and you have joined a forum with some incredibly supportive, knowledgeable and intelligent people who every day share their experience.
Firstly - read this post of a few days ago from a similarly newly diagnosed member -
healthunlocked.com/afassoci...
Secondly - be informed about AF - go to the AFA website - join the on-line course - read as much as you can so that you can converse with good information to your doctors.
heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
Thirdly - read other posts of people at a similar stage to yourself and learn how others manage.
Ask question here - many experienced people who will be willing to share, we don’t always agree but that enables because we learn that AF is very individual and that there is no one treatment plan which suits all - we are all different.
Know that unless you do something really silly like run a marathon in racing mode you are very unlikely to die of AF, you may die with it from other causes.
Please don’t go all out on a diets to lose weight, doesn’t work. Adopt Lifestyle changes as described in the post - link above. Slow and gradual - cut out all baked goods, sugar, eat plenty of fresh, preferably organic vegetables, take moderate exercise etc etc.
I am sure you will get lots of other replies but hope this helps.
Best wishes
G'day,
Firstly, good comments from CDreamer ......... take note !
Secondly, whatever you don't panic, stress out or screw yourself up mentally by getting into a dark place. Won't help you in the least. Keep calm and carry on.
Great stuff that you've addressed lifestyle and diet. Keep that up. I'm currently a tad over 15 stone.
I was 65 in Jan 2010 when I was first diagnosed (turn 80 in Sept this year ). I was put on same medication programme ---------- beta blockers ( Bisoprolol ) and anticoagulant .... Warfarin. Both for life. And just for the hell of it I still work 30 hours a week part time driving double decker buses on a major college bus service where I live and am employed by a major national bus operator. All DVLA approved.
OK, so AF has mugged you .... for starters read all you can about AF. Many followers on this forum, each with his/her unique experience. Ask what ever question comes to mind. Be prepared though for all sorts of replies .... not a problemo .... thats the nature of the beast , affects all of us differently.
I found that food triggered my AF so I consulted a Nutritionist, who formed a diet/food plan and now haven't had an AF event for about 4 years.
Good luck, and don't forget to ask people questions.
John
Thanks John for taking the time to help me. Can I ask what foods you were advised to eat and which should be avoided? I am going to try so hard to get more healthy but, at the moment, I feel so tired I can’t do much at all and that’s not like me. Thanks again.
Hiya Wilky,
You’ve done the hard yards already, been to hospital, got a diagnosis, got medicated …. now just pause and take a breath ! A deep breath.
I ‘m 5’11” tall and weigh in at a bit over 15 stone. My GP say I should be closer to 13 stone. I just say, yeah, yeah, yeah ! So, that leads us to diet and food. I started my journey with non cardiac symptoms, i.e. diahorrea, intestinal gurgling, burping and massive pain with massive bloating. It was always the bloating that would trip me into AF. At this point I learnt on this forum about the influence of the vagal nerve on the brain, heart and gut … it’s like an information superhighway between these organs. My GP did some tests to check on Coeliac Disease and IBS. All clear. I then referred myself to a Nutritionist for advice on diet.
We started off by her recommending that I get away from … Gluten, Wheat and Oats ….. so progressively I went free from almost immediately. However, she stressed that it wasn’t just food per se, BUT, even traces of ingredients, like Gluten that could set me off. Also, do understand that diet and any alternative food plan isn’t a 5 minute wonder, it takes time but is worth it.
So any food with gluten, wheat and oats …… even traces of that stuff … I gave up immediately. Now, 12 years later I still follow a semblence of diet, although, some stuff I have returned to. So if you love chocolate wheaten biscuits …….. throw them out. But do remember you may be able to return to them in say 8 years time.
The Nutritionist also guided me through the process of keeping a food diary. So, here is a list ( as best as I can remember ) of foods I’ve given away….. Onions, (spring onions/shallots are Ok ), tomatoes, yoghurts, soft cheese ( hard cheese is Ok ), eggs too, depends how they are cooked – fried egg is Ok, not scrambled egg ! ( go figure that ). Grain/wholemeal bread is no good, bog standard sliced white bread is fine. The only fruit I eat is Banana, most citrus fruit is out …. although I occasionally binge on Grapefruit. White Grapes are OK too in moderation. Plums too are OK in moderation. If I regularly followed the so called health mantra of eat 5 or 7 fruit and veg a day I’d spend the day in the bathroom quite ill. Yet I can eat some ( but not all ) fast food from McDonalds and/or KFC without issue. Roast pork with crackling is out … but … roast pork slices, say butterfly steaks are fine. Roast Duck is out … yet … roast chicken is fine. Chinese takeaway meals from your bog standard supermarket, even the up market brand names are out. Yet I can eat out at a chinese resturant and providing I select my meal very carefully I can enjoy it without side effects.
So you see it’s a broad spectrum of foods involved for me and has been very much trial and error over many years. Nowadays it’s about 4 years since I have had a king hit of AF. Each of us may well be different so the start point is a food diary, don’t rely on memory !
Hopes this helps … good luck.
John
Wilky, just to add my 5 cents worth - I went through the worst anxiety, fears, panics when first diagnosed late 2021. I'm 76 now and the diagnosis really freaked me out - my mother died from coronary and I thought my life was going to now be cut short quickly! Every symptom I had (and some were very frightening) I thought I was about to have a stroke or heart attack. Try not to worry, as you will get past this reaction. Most of it is due to simply facing the shock of knowing that you now have something that feels like a 'death knell', but you gradually come to realise it's here, it's part of many of us getting older, and you need to accept and then gradually work with your medical people to get comfortable with it. I have to tell you Bisoprolol (I'm on it also) does put the weight on - now medically admitted. You can work with your Cardiologist to see if this may be reduced (very gradually) if you later still wish to, and they feel it is safe - and there are other B/blockers you can change to if it really bothers you. Tiredness is another symptom that plagued me but I still can't work out if it's the Apixaban or Bisoprolol! I couldn't walk more than about 2 metres at first, or even turn my body one way or the other, before AF symptoms began, at the start. I also had a heavy thumping in my chest as if someone was punching me from the inside - and that was very frightening and weird. And of course the anxiety and stress of it all will raise your heart rate. So try to relax and realise it's a process, and things will ease - but don't give up or change your meds without consulting your doctors first on this. One person you'll find truly a wonderful source of comfort is Dr Sanjay Gupta on You"Tube. He is a Cardiology Consultant at York Cardiology, U.K. and his videos are truly uplifting and enlightening. He's now devoted his life to giving free information to clear up much fear and confusion on not only AF but all heart conditions. He is fully aware of the incompetence and truly astonishing instructions being given by many medical treaters, and knows what he's talking about. Many people on Health Unlocked know of and speak highly of his advice. He also will give online consults if you need. I meant to arrange one when this all began - my doctors were simply dreadful - even Cardiologists! Most AF patients have discovered we need to find a reliable and caring doctor to help us get through this! He was the only one talking common sense at the time I was diagnosed, and he removed a lot of my anxiety. I think you'll find him a great help. Just search for his name and his channel will open up with lots of videos to view. Also, stay in touch with everyone on Health Unlocked, as we all are at different stages, but understand what you're going through. Best wishes!
ÖBisoprolol might well be adding to your tiredness. This is a drug that many struggle with especially women. There are also many women who say that it is near impossible to lose weight on a beta blocker . You should forget about losing weight for the moment and concentrate as CDreamer says on eating healthily. Eating next to nothing will just make your body drop it's metabolic rate. Make sure you are eating enough protein and healthy fats and cut back portion size of carbs - things like bread, pasta rice , spuds etc, Do this gradually so you don't feel hungry and deprived. If you have a sweet tooth you will have to work harder but you can swap things like biscuits and cakes for a couple of prunes or dried apricots. You need to find a healthy way of eating that you can stick to . You do not say whether your afib is persistent or if it comes and goes. If the latter then it is not set in stone that you need to take a beta blocker for life or at the dose the doctors at the hospital prescribed. Some people here use beta blockers as a PIP ie just taking them to lower their heart rate during an episode of afib . I take a miniscule dose of Nebivolol daily as my heart rate when in NSR is low normal and I felt like a zombie on a much higher dose of Bisoprolol. I take a much bigger dose as soon as an afib episode starts to lower my heart rate . Some people here have been swapped to other heart rate lowering drugs because they could not get on with beta blockers. The anticoagulant is for life as it lowers your risk of stroke. Do not despair- a diagnosis of afib is upsetting at first but most of us find coping mechanisms and lead fulfilling lives. Many say it was their diagnosis that spurred them on to make the changes in lifestyle that have led to better overall health and thatthey might not have made otherwise.
Hi, when you say you haven't had an a fib event in 4 years what does that look like? Is it remission or cure? If you take anti coagulants does that mean you can drop them as there's little risk of blood clots? Or is it you occasional a fib but you've no symptoms? Sorry for all the questions but a cousin of mine has a fib but he seems to be able to feel when it's coming on and only then takes anti coagulant which seems a bit hit and miss to me. Or maybe he has an apple watch, not sure.
Hi,
When I was first diagnosed in hospital A & E in January 2010 (aged 65 ) the Cardiac consultant diagnosed paroxysmal AF with the tendency to be asymptomatic. This was written into the report to my GP back in the day. For at least the first few years I felt AF mugging me more often than not. I was already taking Simvastatin, Ramipril and Felodopine. On discharge from Hospital the Consultant then prescribed additionally Warfarin and Bisoprolol. I stayed on Warfarin and Bisoprolol until late 2023 when I changed to Edoxaban and Nebivolol. All the other drugs continued and still do.
As a very personal viewpoint I can think of nothing more untrustworthy than AF ... in my view it is all things to all people and will always have its wicked way whenever it feels like it. Because of my lack of trust I would never play around with my doses of medication ... never ! I maybe a thicko, BUT, I do not understand the modern approach of Pill in the Pocket (PIP). It doesn't cure AF does it ?? I might add that right in the beginning in discussions with the consultant I reject cardioversion and ablation ......... preferring to go the drug route to problem solving. I will stay with the drug route ( I'm 80 in September ) and still active with a part time job. I must say since the beginning when I was admitted to A & E I have never had any further treatment in any hospital for AF. Just relied on medication and diet.
Now, I have to be quite honest .... I do not regard that I am cured .... don't trust the rotten thing ...... Not sure I would admit to being in remission either ........ I would say that it is very, very highly controlled via the medium of drugs and diet and types of food I consume following advice from a Nutritionist, and as far as is possible I try and stay Gluten, Wheat and Oats free. There are times when I feel mysteriously unwell which I cannot put a finger on. If I'm at home I'll do a Kardia check and a BP check and see what shows and I do this because I wonder if I'm having a full blown AF event and I'm asymptomatic and just don't feel anything. In doing this I've never had a verdict of AF, usually, NSR or something not identifiable. Nor any issues with BP.
I do not agree to the PIP approach, particularly ( as in my case ) a consultant has already written me up as asymptomatic. That's just playing Russian Roulette which is my view of the road your cousin is going along . Look, just because I feel nothing doesn't matter I'm not in AF !! So the stroke risk is still there !! All that said I can understand why people don't like drugs or like taking my drug route .......... particularly if they are in their 50's or 60's.
TBH, I think your family member is running a big risk and I wonder whether he should have an ECG ( if not already undertaken) to examine exactly the state/condition of his heart. That will truly identify the risk, particularly that bit of an ECG which describes " Ejection Fraction". The Apple Watch isn't gonna do much for him if he has a stroke. Perhaps you should try and get your cousin to research AF and Stroke Risks.
Apologies for the length of this. Good luck.
John
What you are feeling is all perfectly normal, we’ve all been there at the beginning, you don’t say if you are in persistent AF or if you had an episode of paroxysmal AF.
Here is a link to all the patient information heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
I would start with the AF fact file to understand which type of AF you have and then the FAQs booklet. The more you read, the more you will learn and understand your version of AF as it’s different for everyone.
While in AF the instant heart rate readings on a watch are pretty irrelevant and inaccurate and will just cause you more anxiety. As your heart is beating irregularly then the instant rate is changing with every beat and you should only look at the average by counting beats in 60 seconds or just use the ECG app over 30 seconds.
You will learn that it’s a condition many have lived with for many years so try not to worry. Read all you can and come back here and ask questions and members will be glad to give you reassurance.
Best wishes
Oh man how soon have I come from posting the same thing to now actually replying to someone who's in the same spot.
It's been 4 months since my PAF diagnose and believe me I was in the same place, maybe even worse. I was thinking my life is basically stopped and all I could think about was AF and when is my next episode kick in. Really bad mental place but nevertheless a natural one for anybody experiencing this for the first time.
The thing that helped me quite a bit (this maybe wouldn't work for everyone) is that I became really obsessed to know and learn everything there is about AF, both good and bad. And with time as I knew more and more, I started to accept that this is my current reality and took a lot of proactive steps to at least control what I can and that meant changing my lifestyle. No alcohol, no junk food, regular exercise (at least walking), loosing a lot of weight and keeping my stress low as possible.
I developed anxiety disorder which is here even today but I'm trying to focus forward and dreading my situation as less as possible. What I say to my friends always these days, the irony is that because of AF I will probably be 3 times more healthy than before for the rest of my life.
Be kind to yourself, with time you will emerge from the mental turmoil and slowly put everything into perspective and realize this is not something that should cripple you. Life goes on, even with AF.
Lovely and reassuring comment, NewOne! I appreciated your advice also! 😊
I remember your first posts. Congratulations on where you are now.
Welcome to the forum Wilky - you've had some great replies from other members. I would like to add that your post could have described me when I was diagnosed in 2013, except I was thin - and, I thought a really fit and healthy 69 year old and I was scared witless at what might lie ahead.
The first months after diagnosis are the worst, I think, as you are still trying to come to terms with the condition and there may be further tests and medication ahead. Once you get a treatment plan and realise that your life may be slightly different from before - the medication becomes routine and you adapt to the new circumstances. I'm still a fit old woman - 80 in a few weeks, still do everything I want to - more slowly perhaps and enjoy life.
You'll get there too - take the excellent advice from CDreamer and others. Best wishes.
Thank you all so much for your amazing replies. I will have a good look at all the useful information on here. I’m sure I’ll sort myself out. I am waiting for a 24 hour ECG on 29th February and then I’m seeing a doctor on 7th March. I should know a lot more then. The hospital were excellent but completely snowed under so I didn’t ask any questions. I had a telephone conversation with a doctor because I have felt so ill and exhausted this week. He changed my Bisoprolol from 5mg to 2.5mg so, hopefully, I will feel better now. I also take 2 Apixaban each day. I’ve never taken regular medication so it feels strange. I’m really hoping it won’t be forever though.
I’m so grateful for the help and advice you have all given me. Thank you so much.
Bisoprolol is a Beta Blocker and it wipes most people out for the first couple of weeks, causes apathy, brain fog and fatigue in many. Many people get used to it but some don’t so give it a go but if you are still feeling the same way by the time of your appointment, really stress it and ask if another medication might be tried. Sometimes it’s trial and error to see what suits you. You will get there and we’ve all got your back.
Just to add to the useful replies so far, with particular emphasis that we're all on slightly different journeys. For me the biggest problem has been psychological: "Why me?" It has taken time to come to terms with that and the new situation requiring a slower tempo; not giving up on life but learning how to start slowly and rest when necessary, telling myself I'm not lazy and enjoying the chance to relish life at a slower pace.
Good luck on your journey, you'll find some help here. Cheers CM 🙋
Thanks Czech Mate. I think I’m going to struggle to slow down, without feeling lazy. I retired last year. I’d been a teacher for over forty years and I didn’t really envisage slowing down. I was hoping to lose weight by doing more exercise but, at the moment, I’m not really sure just what I can and can’t do. Thanks for your reply. It’s kind of you.
Bisoprolol slows down your metabolism - some of this will be the AF but some will be the Biso, give your body time to adjust.
Teacher of 35 years plus. Maths & PE. Stopped teaching 12 years ago. Afib started 4 years ago. (57.)
Confused and stunned as most are by diagnosis. Had always been fit and healthy. Never overweight.
Immediately prescribed apixiban for life as almost 65 at the time.
Subsequently also prescribed Bisoprolol 1.25mg and Flecainide 50mg x2.
No longer on Flecainide.
Even on 1.25mg Bisoprolol I feel effect on my energy level but no massively. Just need to remember at times that I’m not 30 anymore!
After reading the wealth of info on this forum over last 4 years I’m convinced that too much work/life stress and over exertion has resulted in my condition.
So what of triggers for me? Not sure exactly but cover all bases by assuming one or a combination of:
Alcohol, Stress, Over exertion, Over eating, Dehydration
Essential for maintaining my NSR: Sleep, Hydration, Exercise, Diet ie eating & drinking right foods.
Essential to calm me: this forum 👌
I'm the same age as you, but had my first Afib situation 33 years ago. I'm also on the same meds. It's absolutely normal to be anxious especially at the start, but anxiety can make it worse. It's a case of lifestyle management and understanding any triggers. But you can have a good and healthy life with Afib!! I don't drink alcohol, don't have caffeine and try to eat healthily. I also walk a lot and go to the gym. Swimming is good. Also good sleep is helpful and lots of hobbies to keep occupied. I knit, read, do jigsaws, bake and am never bored. It's really a case of helping yourself and making the most of your life with Afib and not letting it stop you living well. If you struggle there is lots of help out there. Slimming World could help with your weight. Yoga is good for mobility and relaxation. Walking is perfect and Google is great for finding out the best foods to have. I use an app called Nutracheck to track food and exercise. And it's normal to panic a bit when your heart goes 'funny', but you'll find your own ways to deal with it. Take care.
Can I just ask how old you are now and how often you get an episode please
I'm 67 now. I've had a few prolonged episodes over the years, but now they are intermittent and more frequent if I am stressed or tired. If my heart goes very wobbly I tend to cough hard to get it back in rhythm. I've learnt to live with it and to not worry about it. It's just a part of me and it's up to me to manage it and still enjoy life.
hi. The same happened to me a few weeks ago. I
Know how you feel as it has scared the hell out of me. Did you know what triggered yours? Mine was a glass too many of orosecco. It happened again three weeks later. The only thing I can link it to on that night was over eating and four cans of Diet Coke. I too am struggling to know how to deal with this mentally.
Diet Coke, indeed any fizzy pop like that, is loaded up with artificial sweeteners, which are a very well-known trigger for arrythmias. Definitely to be avoided.
In addition, most AF sufferers (including myself) find that not being adequately hydrated is a major trigger. Drinking water instead of what is basically a poison for you is my advice! Then there is gastric bloating, another trigger which carbonated drinks are bound to add to.
Hi Nantoone. Thanks for your reply. I have stopped drinking wine until I feel a lot better. I don’t really know what started my AF though unless it was being a nervous passenger when we were driving down to Wales. My heart was racing so I went to A&E and ended up staying in. I really don’t want to stay on Beta blockers because they are making me feel so ill but I will keep taking them until I see a GP on 7th March, following a 24 hour ECG this week. I’m usually so healthy despite my weight but this has knocked me sideways. I think the forum is wonderful and I am so grateful for all the advice I have been given. I hope you find answers too. Take care
I had to come off the beta blocker which was bisoprolol. Omg I had anxiety on them that was going through the roof. It took a couple of weeks before I felt like me again. Still
On 30mg of blood thinner. Keep in touch
I really hope I can stop taking them too. I don’t understand how they are supposed to help me. I don’t have high blood pressure or anxiety in general. I understand why I’ll need blood thinners. I take 5mg of each at the moment because that’s what the hospital gave me last weekend. I think I’ll phone the doctors and ask if I could reduce the dose until I have seen a GP in a couple of weeks. Thanks for your help.
Hi Wilky and welcome to the forum. You have had lots of good advice about Afib from people and pointed in the right direction to where you can read lots of information about it. I too know how hard it is to lose weight. Sadly a lot of people think if they hardly eat they will lose weight but it doesn’t work like that and you could harm yourself eventually from lack of nutrients etc. Speak to your GP and they can prescribe you 12 weeks free at Weight Watchers (and I believe Slimming World now.) you will then have the tools you need and the company of likeminded people to help and encourage you on your weight loss journey. WW worked and still works for me.
We've all.been there at this point in the a fib journey.Lots of listening ears and advice now you have found this forum.Best wishes.
Try intermittent fasting...
Don't panic. You will get to know your af and settle into a routine in time. I don't know about the BBs but you will likely be on anti coagulation for good as I have been since your age now 74. Losing weight is aways a good thing to do if you are heavy but I know how difficult it can be. All the best.
Welcome to the forum! You're in the right place - this forum is wonderfully supportive and informative. I was in your shoes 2 1/2 yrs ago and I'm still working on living with this condition, but a lot calmer about it than I was back then!
You've received the best advice already but I would just add, please don't go crazy cutting down your food intake. That will stress your body and the most helpful thing you can do for your AFib is reduce stress of all kinds. I'd suggest that you subscribe to one of excellent weight loss/food education apps there. I'd personally recommend Noom and Second Nature, both of which will not only help you lose weight but perhaps more importantly educate you on how to eat healthily and live a healthy lifestyle.
Losing weight is certainly a guaranteed way to reduce your 'Afib burden' and improve your overall health.
hey Wilky you didn’t say whether you are still in AF? Yes the initial diagnosis is confronting especially when we look on Dr Google! I’ve heard of people into their 90’s who have AF. It’s about managing the symptoms as best we can. I was diagnosed 31 years ago and only got it once every 4 or 5 years until 2022 and since then 3 times but managed with drugs then cardioversion to get into sinus. I’m looking down the track to maybe ablation or mini maze. Now 66, think positive… you might not get another episode for a long time.
Hi OzJames. I don’t know! I have a Samsung watch and I could do an ECG but I’m too frightened to do it. My heart rate is all over the place. It can go as low as 47 and as high as 97. My resting heart rate used to be in the 60s so I don’t know why it has changed so much. I’m taking beta blockers which are making me feel really ill but I’m going to ask the GP to explain their purpose when I see him. I don’t have high blood pressure and, until now, haven’t had problems with anxiety. Thanks for your help
As others have said maybe book a private appointment. Your HR could be anxiety and or ectopic beats which everyone gets and they are benign. Take some slow deep breaths this will help make sure it’s in through the nose and stay well hydrated. I’ve been in your shoes just try some breathing. If you are in AF and your rate is under 100 it seems that you are someways controlled. The drugs took a few days before I saw some clear improvements.
Hi
I had my first episode 2 weeks ago. They were just about to shock me back into normal rhythm when my body did that by itself.
I was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism in January so was already .
I don’t have a GP appointment for another 2 weeks so referral to cardiologist is likely to be ages.
A and E say go straight back if it happens again but I don’t really know if I should wait a bit to see if it settles 🤷♀️
Have bought an Apple Watch for peace of mind, joined the gym and stopped drinking.
I do need to lose weight but face more change immediately.
It’s quite scary isn’t it.
Hearing others on here managing the condition really helps.
Should read already on Apixaban
You might find it helpful if you're feeling worried about the wait to go and see the cardiologist privately. Worth looking into as they can access your notes and put in recommendations for specific treatments if needed. Usually costs around £250
I contacted our local Spire hospital but I need a GP referral in order to see a cardiologist. Luckily my GP is excellent so I can talk it through with her. I am anxious as my family history of heart issues is significant and I want to understand what I am dealing with.
Very wise. And if you haven't been seen by cardiology yet, that's why referral from your GP is needed I think. Your GP can also request notes from your hospital visit, and ECG and results or bloods etc, which you can take with you to your appointment.
Welcome to the forum! Of course you feel fed up - it's confusing, worrying and frustrating to have AF. Lifestyle changes often make a significant difference and you've identified your weight as a target. Is your thyroid functioning properly? They should have checked when you were in A and E. Have a look at your bloods results from the discharge notes. Thyroid problems can often go hand in hand with AF.
For weight loss the recommended way now is changing what you eat, rather than how much. The Zoe Programme is really good for finding out more about how YOUR body responds to food. But it's moderately expensive. Their general advice btw is rather simple: eat at least 30 different plant foods each week (you can still eat meat, fish and eggs if you like them) and try some probiotics in your diet (keffir, sauerkraut or kmchi) - as these improve your gut health which in turn helps with food absorption, so we feel less hungry.
I also have friends who've successfully lost weight using Michael Moseley's Fast 800.
For general well being I'd also suggest making sure you go for a 30 minute walk 5-7 times a week. It'll help your blood pressure and your mood.
Hang in there! We're all worried and upset at the start of our AF journey, but we learn to manage and live well.
I see others have provided great information regarding AFIB. I just want to add that if they gave you fluids in the hospital you may not notice any weight loss for as much as a week or more. That was my experience and my doctor assured me that those fluids can stay with you for quite some time. She was correct. I had the same experience; didn’t eat much of anything for days and gained weight. That fluid weight dropped after more than a week and I had lost several pounds.
I have just been diagnosed with AF as a result of my Apple Watch giving me a warning of repeated irregular heart beats so glad I wear one. For years I had suffered skipped heart beats and palpitations which I put down to stress and having a tendency to get very anxious. Had ECG's and heart monitors which never showed any issues. In any stress situation my heart would be all over the place. I suppose years like that have taken its toll on my heart.
I am reasonably fit, don't smoke and eat a healthy diet. Perhaps I drank too much wine at times!!
I think constantly looking at your heart beat on your watch is something I have done but I try not to now. I have set my watch to look at AF over a week and see what feedback I get.
As my diagnosis is only recent, AF is still foremost in my mind. Hopefully over time I will accept it and get on with life as it used to be. I expect your reaction is exactly the same as most people when they first get told. I think it's important to know that there are plenty of people in our boat and can pass on advise and support.
Firstly, welcome. I can likely add no more than the many other replies you've received so what follows might not be much use.
It's always a shock to realise that what we had previously hardly given hardly a thought to isn't quite up to scratch. When that organ is the heart, the mind is programmed to ensure that the shock will feel all the worse since it's such a vital part of the body's normal functioning. Anxiety is a part of everyone's life, but it's much worse when the heart plays up, and you'll find lots of sympathy for how you feel, and lots of advice on how best to cope.
You will, however, be fine. Yes - that is almost certainly the reality (even if that word hasn't quite the same meaning as it had before). Life will go on and likely for as long and almost as well as it otherwise would. An elderly friend turned 90 in August and the top of his heart hasn't stopped "fibrillating" for very many years; and my son's 76-year-old colleague's heart is much the same.
Atrial fibrillation is one of those increasingly common illnesses whose bark is worse than its bite. Luckily for us all, the two rooms that are the downstairs of the heart, its ventricles, are those that truly matter; the upstairs, the atria, the ones that are now twitching instead of rhythmically pulsing, luckily, much less so. When they twitch, the downstairs often responds by beating erratically and sometimes too quickly, but the tablets you have will help. There are other tablets and a small operation or heart procedure called a catheter ablation that can help if need be.
Regarding losing weight, do persist in eating healthily and adopting an "everything in moderation" lifestyle. It will most surely help, given time. Unless you are storing excess fluid because of other health issues, weight loss must happen if the calories you consume are fewer than the calories you burn. The science can't be altered on that. Slow but sure is the way for that is how the weight crept on and how it will stay off. Keep at it. You truly cannot fail to succeed. Maybe buy a set of scales that keep you informed of various vital bits and pieces. My wife uses a set made by Withings and she swears by them and her health app that comes with them. For your heart, you might get an Apple Watch which, with the phone, really can help to keep you fit and keep a check on your atrial fibrillation and heart health. A home ECG from Kardia or Wellue might be useful, too? I have two from the latter company as one can run for 24 hours and both use AI to help determine whether what they find is normal or otherwise.
Regarding you heart, you'll eventually be given a special ultrasound scan called an echo-cardiogram. That is an important step as it gives your doctor a lot of information about the health of your heart. If anything shows up on that, other tests will follow. For the vast majority of people, however, atrial fibrillation feels like it's far more serious than it is. It seems to be an illness that is the result after many years of indulging in a Western lifestyle; it's said to be linked to many other aspects of that less-than-healthy lifestyle such as lethargy, weight, blood pressure, blood sugar and sleep apnoea. Keeping those all within healthy limits is the target and way forwards from now on.
Steve
I'm sorry you're feeling so low just now. Things will change and you will have good support and advice from this group. I have nothing to add to the advice already posted, but would just like to tell you that one thing that triggered my AF was sitting slumped after an evening meal, especially when I had eaten more than usual. I now have smaller portions in the evening and no pudding, eat at around 6.30 and nothing after that. All the best and don't panic, you will get it undercontrol.
Hi Wilky, first off , dont expect weight loss so soon , you could try intermittent fasting which i found very effective , give it a few weeks and the weight will start to shift, lower carbs from bread and biscuits and pastries , once you get used to it you will wonder why you didnt try it sooner, you are on anticoagulant treatment, so you are protected to a high degree, im soon 64 all been well and have afib 30 plus years, you learn to live with it ,try not to worry , i know its hard but it doesnt help, keep on this forum and you will find much good advice.
Hi Wilky, welcome to the forum. Lots of good advice given so far by other members. Like you, I was obese when I first developed AF. I lost 5 Stone over the course of about 16 months. My initial aim was to lose 1 lb each week for a year, which I did, so I just carried on.
Don't starve yourself, eat proper food, just less, mostly plants.
I always started the day with a slice of toast, no butter, with ginger preserve so I had a sweet treat to start the day. Then it was mostly fruit and veg, chicken, fish, eggs.
I focused on low fat and low carb. Nothing forbidden but I planned my treats, for example, losing half a stone, I'd have a small treat.
Buy a pair of jeans in the next size down and keep trying them on, it's a great feeling when they fit. Keep doing that with each size. Thars called a non scale victory. I was size 22 when I started, now 12/14.
I also found a great weight loss support thread on Mumsnet, so you might want to look for one. Writing down everything you eat also helps to keep you on track.
Losing a lot of weight will help enormously in keeping the AF away and it will make you feel amazing.
Lastly, if I could do it, so can you. Good luck.
Thanks Ecki. That is so inspiring. I am determined to lose weight this time. I am hardly eating anything at the moment but I’ve actually put weight on. I think the beta blockers are to blame, together with my lack of exercise but it’s early days and I will get my head round it all. I’m hoping to reduce my beta blocker from 5mg to2.5mg and see if that makes me feel better. Well done for all you have achieved
Your weight loss advice is spot on.My husband had been overweight all his life and he lost five stone in his 60s by eating healthy and smaller portions. He lost a pound a week and had a small treat every week. Some weeks, if we had been out to dinner or away, his weight would stay static so he could see how it made a difference.
He no longer needs to make an effort because it has become his lifestyle. He has never put the weight back on and feels better for losing it.
That is so good to hear. The doctor told me my weight hadn't caused the AF but losing weight would be so beneficial in so many ways. I am very determined this time. Thanks for your story. Well done to you husband
If he could do it you can do it. This little tip might be helpful.
I emptied the house of anything that would tempt him to go astray - biscuits, cake, chocolate etc, because I knew if he weakened he wouldn't get back on the horse so to speak.
And there were times, after the first few weeks, when he said 'I'm losing weight so it wouldn't do any harm' and he would complain and even sulk. If we had had goodies in the house he would have given up, but we didn't, and I would remind him that he wanted to lose weight to enjoy life to the full as we got older instead of finding moving around difficult etc, and that he was doing well.
So my tip is to get rid of as much temptation as possible and, if you can, have a relative or good friend who you can call when you want to give up to give you encouragement.
It's not easy and will take time, but I know my husband feels the benefit each time he stands up from a chair without having to lift the extra weight, his legs and back don't ache and he can run around with our grandchildren.
Good luck!
Hi
Have a look at the British Heart Foundation website for information on healthy eating and recipes.
bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...
Good luck with your journey.
Welcome. Lots of good advice here, it's a shock but you'll come to terms with it. On the upside you now have something you share with these people...
Elton John
Dr Xand Van Tuleken
Gene Simmons (from Kiss)
Roger Moore (RIP) had it
Barry Manilow
Tony Blair
Billie Jean King
Miley Cyrus
Last but not least
Joe Biden
Welcome.
hi Wilky 57 I am in the same boat as you - first afib episode last November spent the night in hospital and given meds to take, I had another episode earlier this month and again ended up in A&E. others more experienced in these episodes have given you (and me before) some good advice and I found the links to the documents really helpful. I have my first appointment with the cardiologist on Friday and have lots of questions. It is absolutely terrifying I agree and I think only time will help you come to terms with it, good luck and welcome to the forum
If a doctor recommends a pacemaker be sure to get a second opinion first from another cardiologist in another medical group, and don't be afraid to ask all your questions. Doctors like everything else are not all created equal.
Hello Wilky57, I'm 65 and was first diagnosed in 2009 but imagine I have been susceptible to AF all of my life. It would explain a lot.
The thing to realise is that a cardio can induce AF in anyone, and they do routinely as part of some procedures. So, the fact that we get AF is just because we have a lower threshold than others for a variety of reasons.
Like you I was pole-axed by beta-blockers and since gave them up as other than a pill-in-the-pocket adjunct to flecainide for cardioversion from LPAF.
In the course of my journey I have cut my weight from 88 to 72kg. Latterly by adopting something of a paleo-keto diet. But as others have observed you don't have to go nuts. Just make exercise routine and cut out a lot of sugars, carbs and processed foods. If you can't live with your new regimen it won't work. Take it slow.
However, my main contribution is one that I think it is vital to impress upon anyone new to an AF diagnosis and that is that unless you have some demonstrated cardiac or haemodynamic problem your AF may not be a 'heart condition' so much as 'a condition affecting your heart'.
It is an important and liberating recognition, because many of us here are what's known as 'lone afibbers', aka 'idiopathic affibers'. Medical wisdom has it that we are a small and problematic part of the overall AF universe. But it does not seem so small. And it is important to recognise early that 'idiopathic' is Ancient Greek medic-speak for 'search us'.
So, if you get consigned to the 'heart problem' silo by you GP etc., you will run the gauntlet of all sorts of heavy-duty industrial strength solutions to knock off what it may be better to see as an 'alarm call'. And it will be tempting at some point to reach for that solution to make it stop.
However, you would not deal with a fire in your house just by knocking off the alarm. Nor should you with AF. Your body is a system. And AF is a sign it is out of whack.
It may very well be worth you checking out some of the sister sites here for e.g. adrenal, renal, thyroid and stomach (pernicious anaemia) issues, and take some tests to rule them out. All these things are joined up. And beware that the formal medical criteria and ranges for things that may actually be of significance for your diagnosis can be dismissively high.
I can particularly recommend taking a thyroid test privately, because if you get something like Medichecks Advanced Thyroid finger-prick blood test (about £80, look for discounts) you will have insight to key vitamins too, like Vit D and your active B12 status (something frequently overlooked by GPs, who seldom test it), Ferritin, Folate, and the all important freeT3 - the hormone that literally makes you 'go'. Problems with mitochondria are to my mind quite likely to constitute part of what cardios regard as the 'AF substrate'.
You never know, the condition that concerns you now may conceal some other elementary and unsuspected but common dysfunction that might not otherwise have shown up for years.
Unfortunately, our public medicine works on a "Good news, Sir/Madam. It's SERIOUS" basis. So, best avoid going there before you have checked out the circuit e.g. from adrenal to thyroid to stomach etc.. And that may include things like trying to cut down your food intake to 8 hours per day - a long fast, not eating anything substantial before bed, and ensuring your stomach acid and digestion/absorption of vitamins is OK - GERD and sleep apnea are associated with AF. So, regard this as a '67,000 mile service'. And don't panic. You are not alone. And, as mentioned elsewhere, no one dies of AF, they die of stroke and heart failure, things that can be averted.
Aging itself is often detrimental to the functioning of natural feedback loops in our bodies that we too easily take for granted, and serious, silo-ed medics don't give a moment's thought to such issues that cut across specialisms when you present with something which is on their radar, they will naturally assume you are just in line for their favourite treatment. It is quite pessimistic and to a child with a hammer...
I had my ablation in 2014, it did not 'work'. My personal adventure of discovery has led me to find that I have a common snp affecting my conversion of T4 to T3 (who knew?). And, perhaps not coincidentally, I have enjoyed a long spell of remission from AF, including during a very trying personal spell, during which I have been taking OTC adrenal and thyroid glandulars. After all, if BBs make us feel about 90, probably our whole system is already on 'go slow'. Things like elevated cholesterol, for instance, used to be a sign of hypothyroidism rather than an invitation for a knee-jerk statin scrip.
Others have found similar things about themselves and other ways to ameliorate them and their AF. The left atrium is millimetres from the oesophagus and closely bound up with vagus nerve enervation and the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. There are lots of things to consider as part of this rite of passage.
I have really enjoyed reading your information. It is so interesting. I have to admit I haven’t understood it all but I will do some research. My mum lived with a thyroid problem but, because we weren’t that close I don’t know much about her health history. I was treated so amazingly well in hospital last week but it was at a weekend and everyone was so busy so I didn’t get much of a chance to ask anyone any questions. I have been so lucky so far in life to stay so healthy so this has come as a massive shock. I do know that it’s up to me to make changes to my lifestyle, including diet, exercise and alcohol. I can’t thank you enough for spending time to give me so much to think about
You are welcome.
Many of us were not especially conscious of our heart rates before our AF diagnosis, and may well have been slipping into and out of AF for a while before getting stuck.
Some of us are relatively asymptomatic, until we know the signs. And in my case practically everything was going slow - including my heart rate (bradycardia), which can still be as low as 38 bpm. So, no wonder BBs did me no good at all.
I am inclined to associate this now with a sub-clinical thyroid condition in converting T4 to T3. T3 is the only thyroid hormone that matters, but GPs can be a bit ignorant of this and slow to measure it, or grasp what it says if it is to their minds 'in range'.
Besides which, measuring blood levels of T3 to ascertain cellular levels, like everything else, is a bit like tasting the gravy to assess the quality of the dumplings.
And I think the point is that when my heart rate cratered, typically resting after exercise, or meals, or reclining or going to bed (vagal stuff, you will come to appreciate), a sort of 'escape rhythm' cut in (the heart has a sequence of pace-makers in case one drops the ball) which sometimes triggered AF. This can account for your heart switching from regimes of bradycardia to tachycardia, and there is a tachy-brady syndrome and sick sinus syndrome.
However, it is perfectly likely that your heart is just 'hunting' to find its optimal rate, a bit like an engine that has had a bit of a knock and finds something funny in the 'petrol' too.
If you have ever had any flirtation with chaos theory and the way pre-chaotic series exhibit a sort of doubling effect, with distinct runs of rhythm, you may recognise the idea.
Getting a monitor will be key for your own comfort and understanding, and as evidence.
Others here will know better than me (I use a Chinese device and app - SnapECG for under £100) whether a Kardia is the way to go for you.
Like you I always figured I just shouldn't have this AF. And half the battle is a psychological one if you don't immediately find a medically significant 'smoking gun'. Because every medic knows that AF is a medical emergency and the balloon will go up.
So, on the one hand you suddenly have all this heavy attention. And the temptation is to assume that a serious outcome must have a serious cause and you have a big problem.
But on the other, while the solution to your own riddle may be quite complicated it also can be quite banal and below the radar in medical terms. Two things: 1. Sub-clinical and 2. cross-disciplinary, that medicine does not routinely handle well. Rather like trying to find a wiring fault on a vehicle, it can be hard to unravel and easily mistaken for other things.
I certainly hope your own brush with AF falls into this tricky but relatively manageable, patient category. I'm not suggesting that AF should ever be taken lightly but that you should check things out before allowing yourself to be branded, or categorising yourself as, some sort of 'heart case', in line for ablation etc., etc.,
It takes time and a bit of confidence to have the courage of your own convictions and do your own research. However, I'm sure you will soon get back on the straight and level.
In the meantime, why not get into the habit of taking an Epsom salts (Mg Sulphate) foot bath? It's not easy to absorb magnesium (Mg Citrate is what I take orally every day) but a bit of pampering in front of the TV before bed is in order too - get a sack of salts from Morrisons (or the local garden centre), at £3 or so for a kilo, and chuck a handful into a bowl of warm water. It's cathartic!
Hi Wilky
There’s lots of information on here, either the leaflets you an download from AF Association or others on this forum. I imagine we all felt the same way when first diagnosed. As far as diet is concerned, you don’t have to starve! Eat plenty of protein (lean meat and fish) and vegetables. Fruit is good but remember it does contain fructose, a form of sugar. Carbs are the things, together with fats and oils that tend to pile the weight on. It’s difficult, I know. I’ve been on a lifetime healthy eating plan but do go off it dramatically at times when I just have to have cake!!!
Don’t beat yourself up, be kind to yourself and address one thing at a time. You can still lead a perfectly normal life with AF, just try to keep to a healthy lifestyle. You may find caffeine affects you, I’ve been on decaf drinks for ages. You can get some really nice decaf ground coffee these days!
All the best to you.
Welcome to this discussion board, Wilky57. I'm 78 and have had AF for about 29 years. You should know that AF is not in itself life threatening, though once you've had AF you are 5 times more likely to have a stroke, hence the importance of taking an anticoagulant for life. Because I am asthmatic I didn't go down the beta blocker route but was prescribed Flecainide which worked to reduce the episodes to one of two short episodes a year. Between 7 and 8 years ago my AF became persistent, but asymptomatic, so I have it all the time but can't feel it. As medical interventions are unlikely to return my heart to its normal rhythm i have agreed with the medics that I have Permanent AF.Some people search for triggers. I know that coffee, but not caffeine, made my AF worse, as did soy and miso, so I avoided them.
The easiest way to lose weight is to eat fewer calories than you use, but even a daily walk if 30 minutes will help.
I was shocked into losing weight when a blood test showed my blood sugar levels in the pre-diabetic range, despite not buying sugar for years. It's the added sugar in processed food which is the culprit .
I have never had a smart watch, or monitored my heart rate. I am not convinced that such gadgets are of any help. I go on how I feel, which is good most of the time.
Nowadays I eat a pescatarian diet , eating around 7 vegetables a day, most days. I still enjoy the odd chocolate bar, but eat more fresh fruits than in my pre-AF days. I still enjoy wine, but a bottle of wine , normally lasts me several weeks, as I tend to sip it, now and again. I have never gone out for meals, and so can control more easily my sugar intake.
Don't worry about your AF, but respect that you have it.
Thanks Thomas45. I wonder whether I should take my watch off as I am becoming obsessive about my heart rate. Thanks for the tips
Hi Wilky,
You got replies from everyone!!
I just wanted to add my support. I was diagnosed about 10 months ago, I had been having episodes for about a year prior to that. I went through all sorts of tests, and had all sorts of anxiety.
After understanding I was not dying, and what some of my treatment options are, my anxiety settled down after about 6 months, and I have gotten to a relative equilibrium.
I lost about 17lbs, cut out caffeine, I still drink Diet Soda and eat lots of things with sugar, not ready to give up either. I did figure out that 3 out of my 9 episodes are related to excess Parmesan (tyramine) and have cut back. I also cut out the Powerade electrolyte drinks as the amount of salt is insane. I drink just water to hydrate. I also have a glass of milk at night as who knew it, milk is a great hydrater.
I also now take Magnesium twice a day. Scheduled for a Wolf Mini-maze in August.
Good fortune on this unfortunate Journey we share.
Thanks AustinElliot. I have so much to think about now. I was considering taking magnesium because it has cropped up quite a bit in what I have been reading. Good luck in all you do
We all felt the same at the outset. It’s a scary thing. But research will calm your nerves.
Also, double check with your GP or cardio Dr to confirm that beta blockers are the best fit for your personal condition. I had the same issue, and after, went for my 1 week checkup with my GP, and he immediately confirmed the ER dr had put me on the wrong meds. He switched me to the correct channel blockers, and my energy came roaring back, and have been good to go ever since. Sometimes it’s’ the little things.
Inform and ask.🙂 You will be fine.
Thanks beach_bum. I really hope I won't need beta blockers. I just can't function normally. I've just given up trying to pot a rose bush in the garden! I'm so exhausted. I love gardening normally
Hmmm. Strict diet with no weight loss? You may be retaining fluids. Check your ankles-poke your finger into the ankle and then see how long it takes the “dimple” to go away. If >2 seconds, report to GP for possible diuretic scrip.
JimF
Hi
If you drinking heaps water and other types of hydration just be patient with your weight.
Yes, I like you went from no meds except B12 Solgar 1 sublingual nugget 3 days week to a Beta-Blocker Metoprolol and PRADAXA.
Since, Metoprolol ditched - horrid med to CCB Diltiazem 120mg AM and Bisoprolol BB 2.5mg at night.
I lost 6kg over a year. Down to 60s H/Rate Day. My 47avg at night.
It takes time to regulate meds and levels Wilky57.
I can visualise you losing weight.
Take care, JOY. 75. (NZ)
Thank you so much. Everyone has been so supportive. I am very grateful
Dont intend any massive long replies to you,
We all have a time when first diagnosed i did last year after hospital Ambo took me in with h.r. of 165 fluctuating, never had it before. My Mum , her Brother and my own brother died sudden death all around 45 years old, no warning heart attacks.
As long as you take your meds, no need to panic or worry, AF is a very very common complaint as we age. I now am diagnosed with Angina too, again, waiting for more Cardio appts. but worrying about something wont make it go away and will make things worse.
Just take a day at a time, I dont know if you have the permanent type of the PAF, either way i am sure they have told you how to deal with further episodes. BUT stop worrying, my cardio told me AF in itself wont kill you. 😍😍
Thank you Nightmare2. I think im being too impatient. I'm not actually seeing a doctor until 7th March, following my hospital stay. I'll know more then. I'm being childish to hope I could just go back to how I was 2 weeks ago. I'll get my head around it eventually. Thanks for your help
Yes afraid this is how it seems to work, one gets taken off to A & E with very fast heart rate, my own experience was that this happened before but i ignored it, once in A & E. bloods etc, then given 2 Bisoprolol tablets as one was doing no good. then after 4 hours h.rate went down to into the 90's and they said i could go home. My natural h.rate is always around 50, very slow, so 90 was still very high for me, but once the hospitals decide they shuv one out. My GP put me on Apixaban and Bisoprolol. but they are not specialists, so when i saw Cardio at hospital he changed the Bisoprolol and when to TAke it as i have the PAF type, very infrequent. Over xmas i had two episodes in one week but you dont need to call ambo again, just take the meds prescribe d. Even the Cardio at hospitals play AF down and dont seem too worried over it as long as we take the meds.
I have been getting increasingly breathless of late, thought it was just the ageing process, but now diagnosed with Angina and given meds by GP. Am waiting for 3 hospital appts now, but wont hold my breath waiting. All any of us can do is plod on, there is always 111 if worried, but again, the last time i had to ring them for my husband who has h.failure and severe COPD, there was a 45 min wait for answer so ended up ringing 999 and he was hospitlised.
What a life, but as they say where there is life there is hope, 😁 Keep your chin up.
Thank you. You too!
I’m also newish to this group and Afib .
This is an amazing source of advice and comfort.
My anxiety has got the better of me on several occasions and it’s totally understandable, like you I thought I was fit & healthy and Teflon coated , I immediately gave up caffeine and alcohol and that really helped. The weight loss will happen when you are less stressed that’s for sure . Give yourself some grace and time to adjust to all this information . Don’t be afraid of exercise like I was for a couple of years , I walk nearly every day for an hour and that helps with the anxiety as well .
Good luck on your journey and let us know how you get on .
Hello Wilky. Your 1st positive step has been finding this forum. I have been a member for a long time now and I know I can post any question and get encouraging and supportive help from fellow sufferers. Let's not beat about the bush, PAF and AF are unpleasant conditions and that first episode is scary but they are not a death sentence. It isn't going to kill you, even though you feel it might. There are some very good short videos on You Tube by Sanjay Gupta, a cardiologist from York, who covers all heart related matters. I was like you when I was first diagnosed. l was always checking my pulse and panicking about every missed or racing heart beat but learning about AF has calmed me down and given me a better understanding. It would be helpful to lose some weight and I also know that can be difficult. 'Eating hardly anything' as in your post is not the way to lose weight. You need a nutritious eating plan which includes all the food groups. If you don't like the idea of a slimming group, try The British Heart Foundation's website. You can apply for a free quarterly magazine which is full of information including healthy eating tips and their website has lots of useful information on coping with all things heart related. Welcome to this group, Wilky. I wish you well. Never worry about posting a question on here. The lovely people on this forum always come up trumps. X.
Thank you sarniacherie. I have found the forum so helpful and I have calmed down since my AF episode. I had been taking 5mg of Bisoprolol which was making me feel quite ill. This meant I didn't feel like eating but, instead of losing weight, I put on 4 lbs. I emailed the doctors to ask if I could reduce my dose to 2.5mg a day but I'm still waiting for a reply. I decided to reduce the dose anyway and I feel less tired and ready to follow a sensible eating plan to help me lose weight. I know how important it is for me and I will definitely do it this time. Thanks so much for your help
Afib this afternoon 
Advice please on paroxysmal afib
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