Thoughts on alcohol post ablation

[NewOne2023]

Hello peeps!

I have a specific question about alcohol.

Diagnosed with afib in Oct'23, went on meds, stopped drinking and cleaned my diet losing 24kg's. No episode since early Dec'23 and in early March'24 had a cryoablation. All good for now except (still) some headaches and pulsatile tinnitus in one ear.

So for the last few days, I'm contemplating about having a beer, up untill now I was enjoying non alcoholic beer, but as you know it's not the real deal. So I'm currently alchohol free for 7 months almost. Now I'm considering the risk if I have a beer or two (nothing close to getting wasted prior to my afib diagnosis) and in what amount it will impact my good period of no afib for the last few months.

I know that for some it doesn't make a difference and for others it's a major trigger. So it would be nice to hear if someone started a beer (or wine) post ablation and if it made an impact.

I do contemplate to try and see, but on the other hand I have no problem to come in terms with not drinking again. Like if someone told me that 2 beers are going to screw up my effort so far, than that's it, no alcohol. And even if I try it and go into afib, will that erase the good progress so far and the ablation success or is it going to be a one-off untill I stop with alcohol again?

I don't crave alcohol that much but I enjoyed a few beers all my life so now I'm thinking about it and weighing.

In the end I don't want to risk all the good that happened in the last few months, over a few beers.

Do you have some personal expirience you can share?

[pottypete1]

I know that we are all different.

Here is advice for what it’s worth having endured 7 ablations.

Up until ablation No. 7 I continued to drink socially but not excessively.

Approaching ablation No. 7 I decided I had to give my EP every assistance and stopped drinking any alcohol.

After the last ablation my incidences of AF slowly diminishing over a period of 5 years.

The AF stopped 2 years ago and I continue to enjoy an AF free life after suffering for 35 years.

I really did used to enjoy a drink but enjoy an AF free life significantly more.

Pete

[NewOne2023 in reply to pottypete1]

Wow, thanks for your story.

[BobD Volunteer]

As a leaseholder of a vineyard, giving up alcohol back in 2004 was painful. Who was going to help my wife drink our 300 bottles per year dividend?

Well 10 years after my third and successful ablation I tried the odd glass of wine (chilled medium dry white) and it did cause some issues so I left it a few more years. I'm happy to say that most evenings now I can enjoy a half glass aperitif without problems and a decent Flurie at Christmas. Softly softly catchy monkey.

[CDreamer]

I was alcohol free for about 10 years as even a sniff would trigger AF. Now my AF burden is down to 2% I have the occasional half glass of white wine or low alcohol beer without affect.

Keep minimal and occasional. Only way to know is to experiment.

[Buzby62]

I had no alcohol for 3 months before and 3 months after my cryoablation, like you I wanted to give the procedure it’s best chance. It was never a trigger as such for me but having too much leading to a hangover could be a trigger the next day. So I started having the odd beer 3 months after my ablation, no problems. I’ve just returned from a 10 day holiday in Spain and had a few small beers and some wines with food every day, didn’t get drunk but enjoyed and all ok. I did wake up hot one night with a faster heart rate than I was comfortable with but no AF thankfully and settled back down when I cooled down. My Heart Rate Variability has been constantly much lower than it was prior to ablation except for a couple of episodes in the blanking period.

I guess you won’t know unless you try it but softly softly to start with as BobD says.

Best wishes

[baba]

There is life without alcohol, but I still got AFib.

[Iamfuzzyduck]

I drink light beer, not every night but often. No more than a couple of them or a third of a bottle of wine (but only wines I know and very rarely) or a mini vodka and soda at the weekend, no problem if I dont go over a certain amount. I am sensitive to sulphites and so I don’t drink wines I don’t know. Actually I think I have only had wine once since my ablation 7 weeks ago. But light beer is my go to drink but not more than two. …

[BenHall1]

Hi,

I have recently started with a Consultant Cardiologist and in the initial interview he asked .... did I drink alcohol ? I told him I did and we discussed amounts and types. He went on to advise me to cut it out or at least cut it back.

I started this processon 30 April and I am reducing my BP, but not affecting my HR. I do not plan to return to my OLD alcohol habits. Just see how it goes.

I might add there are no plans for any surgical intervention on my heart ....... yet !

If you have had such a great success without alcohol then why spoil things ............ let it go and stay alcohol free or (as best you can ) close to it. Be silly to spoil things.

[OldGrit]

I spent 40 years moving wine and spirits around the world and drinking many of them was in my job description. I never thought I’d stop.

When PAF happened and I recognised alcohol was one of my triggers I called it a day.

I don’t miss it, I know I’ve tasted more than many (and to be frank I had my life’s quota before I was 45) and the added bonus was that with no wine I lost about 15 kgs.

The only slip I made was a sip of raki and I knew I had been stupid within minutes …I confirmed that for me, health trumps alcohol any day.

If you can get away with a glass now and then good luck - enjoy !

[50568789]

I was a regular beer drinker all my life but slowly cut back when diagnosed with diabetes. For several years it's only been an occasional beer, but instead have been a daily red wine drinker, one glass every night with dinner, keeping to the 14 units a week guideline. It's never been an AF trigger except once when I started on an empty stomach, and learned a lesson. I always abstained during an AF episode, usually 2 /3 days. My latest and current episode has lasted so far 2 weeks and I think I may have progressed to persistent/ permanent. Not touched a drop during this episode, and in view of an upcoming first ablation in June I'm loathe to jeopardise things and am resisting very strong temptation. Hate to think I may have had my last drink but right now and at least until the ablation has settled well and proper, and in the interests of self preservation, it's what I'm doing.

[Morzine]

hi new I get what you’re saying totally.

My last ablation I waited about three months till I tentatively tried a a beer. It was fine. I then gor five years was able to have a couple of beers or couple of reds when I wanted. Thrn afib came back.

I’ve recently had ablation, well 11 days ago, do I’m not drinking. But in the summer after my three month I will certainly try a beer again and see how it goes. I think it’s try and see and if not you have tried.

Sue

[CliveP]

It’s just poison. There is no upside.

[Cookie24]

I drink a beer or two most days.