I guess I'm sort of similar in that my many episodes typically last 10 hours or so, especially if I'm able to self-terminate them - see my earlier reply to a post. Why was I getting episodes every 2 to 3 days, regular as clockwork in the early days. Why has an episode never lasted more than 22 hours? How do Valsalva manouevers or excercise, for example , enable some sufferers to self-terminate an episode? I suppose its not surprising that we patients don't have answers to all those sort of questions but it seems to me that the medical profession don't either. It's surprising to me just how little research there has been into these fundamental questions and I don't think it's just to do with the lack of a profit motive for the pharmaceutical companies either. Better stop here, I sense a rant coming on 😏
My last episode started in Oct 2022 and is still going on, even through mitral valve repair surgery 3 weeks ago, so I assume my burden is 100%. And believe me, I know it!
My episodes last for about 5 hours. They tend to come on during the night. I once went 7 months afib free. I have had periods when I have had several episodes per month. I once had 2 episodes in 3 days. I keep a log, I have had 22 episodes in 2 years.No particular pattern. During most episodes I experience indigestion and acid reflux. There seems to be a 50% probability of afib if I eat late in the evening or if I eat white starch ie potatoes, rice and pasta. I seem to do best with a strict diet and timed eating.
As many have noted on this platform it is a mongrel of a condition. The causation is multi factorial and there are almost inevitable changes to the structure and functioning of the heart which tends to exacerbate the condition.
Before flecanide I had an AF event about every 5 days and they lasted 12-36hr, about 25% load. Now less than once a month and they last 4-8hr. Roughly 1% load.
After I was prescribed Flecainide 100mg to take as a PIP ( pill in pocket when episodes occur) they never lasted more than a few hours and now I take it regularly, I hardly ever get episodes but these are ended with another 100mg Flecainide so reaching but not exceeding the maximum daily dose., And now I have reduced the first dose of the day to 50mg, retaining the 100mg for the evening to ensure a peaceful night’s sleep!
Mine nearly always last between 9 and 12 hours. The longest was 22 hours but that was when I was ill with a virus last Dec . I always know when they start and if sleeping they wake me up . They are becoming less symptomatic and the last one I did not even have the frequent trips to the loo. Towards the end of an episode I have to feel my pulse or check with the Kardia to see if still in afib . Sometimes I get a dizzy sensation as I go back to NSR. My burden is just over 2% this year.
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