Atril Fibrilation

[Eater]

I don’t usually get any problems, couple of months I started mild Af ,now coming more often and wondering if blood thinners can be the problem or vitamin D spray? I should not be taking it it has an additive which I avoid but too expensive to t hrow away.

[BenHall1]

In my view it all goes back to when you were FIRST diagnosed and what medication you were initially prescribed ... AND to a degree, who made the FIRST diagnosis, i.e. GP, A & E or a Cardiac consultant.

Personally, I would expect you to have been initially prescribed an anticoagulant and a beta blocker such a Bisoprolol - at a minimum and depending on any other medical conditions you may have. If any.

[Desanthony]

Are you on anticoagulants for AF or another condition and are you on any other medication such as beta blockers for AF? What has your treatment regime for your AF been so far. Are you on other medication for other conditions, or supplements which may interact with your medication. Ask your pharmacist as they know the most about this.

Most people with AF are on an anticoagulant as we are about 4 times more likely to suffer a stroke so need the anticaogulation to avoid clots forming. If your only heart condition is AF it is a progressive disease so over time generally gets worse - episodes get longer and there is less time between them. If the vitamin D spray is a trigger for your AF or the ingredient is contraindicated with either your anticoagulants, other medication or supplements you are on then please stop using it - donate it to someone else who needs it and choose another form of Vitamin D supplement. Best person to ask about this is your pharmacist as they will be able to guide you.

If it's only a couple of months since you have been diagnosed with mild paroxysmal AF do you notice that you have other triggers for your AF? If you have a trigger common ones can be, caffeine; one person I know noticed he always went into AF on Friday afternoons after he had treated himself to a large cappuccino, alcohol or the sulphites in wine - another person I met in the hospital waiting room could drink most alcohol but not white wine as that put him straight into AF. Eating spicy foods - so tone down the curries if you like them hot, and eating large meals, not forgetting of course heavy exercise so take it easy if you exercise a lot but it is good to exercise for your heart health so do some exercise. If you are overweight then try and lose weight and get yourself to a good BMI. Not everyone has a trigger they can identify but always worth looking for one. So try decaffeinated drinks, avoiding alcohol and see if that makes a difference - it may not of course but always worth trying to find one. Another trigger can be anxiety so if you are anxious about this newly diagnosed condition try and relax about it. You are receiving treatment and AF is unlikely to kill you but a stroke from untreated AF may at worst and at best leave you in some way disabled. For this try yoga breathing - in fact try this at the start of your episodes as it may calm you down enough to help get you back into Normal Sinus Rhythm sooner.

How were you diagnosed - was it by your GP? If so have you either seen or been referred to either a cardiologist or better still an Electrophysiologist. If not ask to be referred to an Electrophysiologist (EP) who is a cardiologist who specialises in treating AF and other arrhythmias.

Whatever you do you should notify whoever diagnosed you and any specialists you have seen that your condition is changing in the way you described.

Good Luck and keep in touch so that we know how you are getting on.

[Eater in reply to Desanthony]

I have AF before it was diagnosed years ago. Thanks for confirming my vitamin D it has sulphites ien no m ore sprays.no taking blood thinner today so my life goes back to normal!uu

[wilsond in reply to Eater]

Please DO NOT stop your anticoagulant( wrongly called blood thinners)Very very important

[BobD Volunteer]

Anticoagulanats will not cause your AF to increase. AF is a progressive condition so this is normal. You need to go back to your consultant and have your treatment reviewed.

[Eater in reply to BobD]

2 years ago when I was n hospital thy messed up my medication and don’t feel right ever since .they are reviewing my meds. Hopefully…I am on digoxin for AF

[quanglewangle]

As usual BobD has summed it up perfectly. Af is your lot; it will progress, anticoagulants are important; you don't mention beta blocker so it looks like a medic review is required....

[Fblue in reply to quanglewangle]

Some people are not on a daily beta blocker. I am on propranolol as needed. I have had a fibs since 2007 and I am still in paraysysmal A fibs. It’s pretty negative I believe to tell people that it’s progressive all the time as doctors do. Our mind is very powerful. I’m listening to “you are the placebo”, a book written by Joe Dispenza. Doctors mean well but a lot of what they’re taught is sponsored by the drug companies and a lot of times there’s a lot of negative put in our brains to sell more drugs. They are not taught about nutrition or what supplements or breathing techniques would help our electrical system of the heart. I’m trying to find all of this out on my journey. I don’t want to be on anticoagulants, but I also don’t wanna go through two surgical procedures to get off them so it’s a difficult situation for all of us. I wish everyone well but I really don’t like reading negative things being said to patients it’s not in our best interest to believe the worst. 💜

[Eater]

p.s once I was told I would have to go up to 5 gms of whatever I was taking for AF. Now I am on 1.25 because, I not as active thanks to meds I want to go back to my usual self,is anyone feels like that?

[BobD Volunteer]

I'd love to go back to me ten years ago but without a time machine it won't happen. We get older. Things go wrong with us. Make the most of the current "you".