Hi All, I’m a 56 year old male - started getting a fib back in 2015 eventually had a cryoablation late 2020. Was advised by EP to take 100mg of flecainide and 2.5mg Bisoprolol post ablation. About 2 years after the ablation started to suffer with night time fluttering etc which has affected my sleep waking up in the middle of the night difficulty getting back to sleep etc. If I get up and move about the fluttering stops on its own but then go back to sleep and it’s back again!!! Saw my EP he fitted a Zio patch but was inconclusive just ectopic beats. Problem continued saw a second EP had in depth testing came off the flecainide & Bisoprolol but started a 20mg Atorvastatin as had 25% narrowing and he recommended stabilising the plaque and trialing a antihistamine for the sleep disturbances.
No difference so have gone back to original EP who says get back on the flec/bisop which I’ve done but still poor sleep every night. He didn’t offer up much advice and was quite negative. I realise it may take a couple of ablations and that might not cure it, any advice on the meds/sleep/great EP recommendations? Thanks
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Bailou
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Magnesium can help with poor sleep. I take magnesium glycinate and sleep much better now. I try to avoid pills that contain a lot of artificial additives and buy my vitamins and minerals from a company called Vitabright.
Hi Jean! Can you tell me, how many mg is your Magnesium Glycinate ? Mine is 200 mg, but I also take Magnesium Citrate 150mg in the morning. Just a bit nervous if that is too much!
Well looking at the bottle it says Magnesium Glycinate 1500mg providing 300mg elemental per serving. A serving is two capsules but I only take one at tea time as I eat a lot of magnesium rich foods like nuts, bananas and apricots/fruit every day.
Can I ask, do you know for sure what you are feeling is "flutter"? Ectopics can feel like flutter sometimes, and you only detected ectopics I think you are saying? I'm asking because it's a big difference if you are getting ectopics or actual atrial flutter. You sounds like a vagal afibber person, problems at night sleeping etc. Do you get ectopics during the day? Have you tried upping your magnesium and potassium levels? Drinking a low-sodium V8 dailly and/or coconut milk is better than supplements for potassium. Potassium can really affect you ectopics. Magnesium also, best as magnesium gluconate. Also of course eat well before bedtime, and make dinner a small meal, and of course alcohol before bed does not help vagal afibbers. I know this sounds kind of trite, but they work, and IF you are low now on these 2 things, upping your levels can REALLY help dramatically with ectopics, and it is important to start with this in your fight. It is also VERY common to have anxiety with these heart issues, and this can lead to poor sleep also. And once you are tired, not getting enough sleep, this causes more ectopics also. Try to remember that you are FAR from alone, there are SO many of us out there dealing with what you are dealing with, and you can make things improve. There are so many more treatments today for afib now than even a decade ago it's amazing, and while it can seem daunting, you can work this out verey likely for the better.
Bailou, Sorry to hear about this development. You might try one of the many Sleep Powders primarily containing magnesium which helps one sleep. Nature's Calm is one and comes in a few flavors.
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