after the cold

[Lellibet]

really disappointed that the cold has gone but the AF is back. Thought I was doing so well after giving up all the pleasures ie alcohol and food I shouldn’t eat . As I said before AF was becoming less. It seems most days or nights now it appears and I’m starting to dread them again. I was so hoping they would stay less as the more I read and hear I am really not sure I want to try flecainide or have ablation. Just thought I could cope with PAF and take the drugs I am on

[HollieAdmin Administrator AF Association]

Hello,

Thank you for your post. I am sorry to hear that you are feeling disappointed. Having a cold can trigger AF episodes but it is important to remind yourself that you have still been doing well with lifestyle changes that you have mentioned as this can aid in the management of AF.

It may be a good idea to book an appointment with your doctor/cardiologist to discuss the frequency of your episodes as well as medication. They have full access to your medical records and will be able to advise you personally.

If you would like any support, advice or information, please do reach out to our Patient Services Team via Patient Helpline or via email, please visit: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

We are always here if you need us.

Kind regards,

HollieAdmin

[Lellibet in reply to HollieAdmin]

Thank you so much Holly for your reply. I am waiting to have ct scan at the John Radcliffe. Once I know there is nothing else wrong I will have appointment with cardiologist to discuss options again. So I guess I’ll wait till then. I think a lot of my worries are because this is all so new to me. X

[HollieAdmin Administrator AF Association in reply to Lellibet]

You are very welcome. I hope the CT scan and appointment with your cardiologist goes well. It can take time to adjust to a new condition so it is important to be kind to yourself. We are always here if you need us.

Take care,

HollieAdmin

[MrBinks]

AF seems like a completely random problem to me, but that's not to say that cutting out certain vices aren't helpful.

I've been reducing alcohol since being told a year ago, and this year I have barely touched a drop. Has it helped? Possibly, but I've still been having episodes. That said, I've lost quite a bit of weight just by abstaining from weekly wine, beer and rum. So it's already doing noticeable good.

I thought I'd cracked it recently. I'd had a naughty takeaway one weekend followed by a week long afib/arrhythmia. My apple watch said I spent around 35% of the week in AF.

I also noticed that I would often get a high rate after lunch, so took cheese away from the equation. I had a clear week! (Oh boy, aren't clear weeks hugely noticeable!)

I thought I was onto something good, but then this week AF was triggered at 3pm one the school walk in cold conditions - so the flipside of eating badly - exercise!

Such a frustrating thing to live with.

I'm 45 in the UK, currently on Apaxiban, 10mg Bisoprolol and 150mg Fleccanide.

[Lellibet in reply to MrBinks]

It certainly is so frustrating and you so young. Take care I really hope things improve x

[Colutd in reply to MrBinks]

My surname is also Binks. Maybe it’s in our genes? 😂

[Lellibet in reply to Colutd]

😂😂😂😂we certainly need to laugh best medicine ever x

[Vonnegut]

Flecainide works very well for me and has put an end to episodes so I wonder what you have against it?!

[Lellibet in reply to Vonnegut]

Hi there, I think I’ve read too much about flecainide and side effects. I am so good at telling other people not to read all the side effects of medications and then I go and do it . I have gone back to having daily or nightly AF so I think I have to listen to what I’m told is best and get on with it. Still waiting to have scan done and if all okay will go ahead as I can’t stand having this all the time . It’s impacting on my life and mental health x

[Vonnegut]

Soon after my paroxysmal AF was finally diagnosed I was given an echocardiogram which showed there was nothing structurally wrong with my heart and after the lowest dose of Bisoprolol proved too much for me to take daily after three days and my surgery didn’t come up with anything else, we found a private EP through the AFA and after he had introduced me to having a smart phone and Kardia and app and I had sent him a reading of my heart in AF, he sent a prescription for Flecainide to my surgery for me to take as a PiP with instructions to add the Bisoprolol if my heart rate exceeded 140 twenty minutes later, which it hardly ever did. It always stopped episodes in a few hours but as they happened more often I was told to take Flecainide regularly and now take 50mg am and 100mg pm and it has virtually put an end to episodes for me though it might have messed up my digestion a bit. I have a healthy diet and have never been overweight but I did acquire chronic fatigue with the heart condition following a virus but have made it to 81. Guess it was a good thing I never read the stuff you have!

[FibChick]

Hello Lellibet. My situation may be a bit different. My PAF has (so far) responded well to a pulse field ablation, but afterward I was still deviled by spikes of high heart rate and waves of PVCs. After cycling through a list of antiarrythmics and various blockers, my EP put me on Acebutolol and Flecainide which has helped the most, though not completely eliminated PVCs. I was very concerned about Flecainide as well, but really haven't had any issues after taking it for 5+ weeks. Discussing a 2nd ablation that is specific for PVCs. The other meds/combos had me feeling horrible throughout the day, so this is a welcome change. Any discussion or thoughts on an ablation for AFIB?

[Abbyroza]

You could try using Flecainide as ‘pill in the pocket’. That means you only take it when AF breaks through, 200 to 250 mg should convert you to sinus within 1 to 4 hours. Good luck!

[CarolinaRabbit]

hello Lellibet, I just thought I would throw my two cents in here. I’ve had afib for at least 15?years in various forms of severity. I’ve been on Flecinide for ten years in various doses. I’ve had two ablations and it’s been a year since my last afib episode. I feel wonderful. I also want to stress that I’ve been taking magnesium for a year and I think it really really helps. My understanding is Flecinide has to be prescribed along with blood pressure meds. I have slightly shaky hands and when I was on high doses of Flecinide there was neurological issues. ( shaky legs, weak legs, fuzzy brain) but now I’m on low dose of it and I just have shaky hands. For me, I think the abrasions and Flecinide were worth it but magnesium really helped as well. Good luck.

[Nanny01]

Hello

What magnesium do you take?

[Paddbear]

Hi lellibet,

Many things affect afib.

It's good that you tried to adjust your diet to see if it helps.

For some it does, others makes little effect. Personally, I think , worry/anxiety is the worst, not matter how much you worry, it will only make it worse.

For me , stop monitoring, you know when it's good and when it's not so good.

I have taken flec for 10 years , it works for me , not perfectly, but does reduce afib or reverts it quicker

Why wouldn't you see if it works for you?

Good luck

[Lellibet in reply to Paddbear]

Thank you for replying. You are right as I am a worrier and definitely known for feeling anxious. I will try flec after reading all replies. I still have to wait till I’ve had scan. Take care

[healingharpist]

Flecainide taking only as PIP (pill in pocket) has been great for me. I take 200 mg of flec when an episode starts, and it ends in 2-4 hrs, sometimes sooner. I have never had any side effects from it as PIP. I take a little bit of metoprolol also. I am careful not to eat too much, or too late, and I avoid acidic food that causes indigestion, which triggers AFfor me. You could try flec PIP and see how it works for you. Best wishes.

[Lellibet in reply to healingharpist]

Yes I have noticed a rise in indigestion. I will go along with what cardiologists suggests as obviously they know best and thanks to everyone for sensible advise x

[healingharpist in reply to Lellibet]

However, Lellibet, I must add that unfortunately, cardiologists do not always know best--they know about meds & ablations, but they do not know about our personal triggers such as indigestion, what foods to avoid, etc., or what works best for us to stop AF episodes, such as walking, singing, breathing exercises, etc. They can't keep up with all that nutritionists, pharmacists, researchers, etc. are discovering. So it's wise to keep searching out information. I am a research dr who has had AF for 15 years, and while we respect the advice of our cardiologists, we have to keep educating ourselves because it is a complex, very personalized condition (some call it "rogue") which is still not completely understood by cardiologists or anyone else. (I have had 7 cardiologists over the years, many disagreed with each other, so I've had to keep my own instincts handy!) All best wishes.

[secondtry]

I am biased as Flecainide 100mg x2 per day kept me happy for 11 years.

[Autumn_Leaves]

Viruses can be quite the culprit, so give it time and it could settle of its own accord. Covid triggered my AF after a lengthy period of zero AF and very few ectopics. I’m talking about the infection not the vaccine, just to make it clear. My consultant said he has saw a lot of patients whose AF was made worse by Covid but said it typically settles by about 6 months. He also went on to say that viruses of all kinds can kick off AF. I’ve recently recovered from flu and thankfully no AF but A LOT of ectopics, so there’s definitely an effect of some kind.

Alcohol is not good for me. It can cause AF and/or a lot of ectopics but I was never much of a drinker so it’s no big deal to me. I’m not a big believer in avoiding foods or food groups, so I don’t. Prior to AF I was already following a mostly whole foods plant based diet for many, many years and that hasn’t changed. It neither prevented AF nor has much impact on it. It’s important that we take care of ourselves and our overall health regardless of AF, and it’s more about what is sustainable over the long term and whether it’s helping us with our health goals eg BP, hbA1c, cholesterol levels etc.

Don’t be too afraid of a treatment that might help you. It doesn’t necessarily have to be forever. It could help you get through the next few months and then you could review it with your doctor. The PIP approach may not work as well if you’re having daily/nightly episodes, but please discuss this with your doctor/arrhythmia nurse or whoever you deal with as to how often and at what dose. There’s also the BHF helpline who are very good. Please inform your doctor/nurse if you are taking any supplements because they can interact with medication.