New to Club

[boatdog]

Hi folks. It is quite a dubious honor to join the a-fib club this week. Good thing there is an abbreviation because I can't spell this and didn't really know how to pronounce it until this Tuesday. Since I don't know much about a-fib I'll busy myself with asking dumb questions and reading up to learn how life is now going to be lived. Thanks for having me, forums with like-minded people are the best tool on the internet.

[Paulbounce]

Morning Boat Dog.

Welcome to the forum you don't want to be a member of!

I'll busy myself with asking dumb questions

There's no such thing as a dumb question. Ask anything on your mind ~ It may seem dumb to you but it won't to other forum members. As newbies, they most likely asked the same question.

reading up to learn how life is now going to be lived

It's the same as you've always lived it. Make a few lifestyle changes and carry on as before. There are far worse conditions to have than AFib. You'll have your ups and downs but you'll get through it OK.

Enjoy your weekend.

Rgds Paul

[CDreamer]

Welcome - see you are in US - I live in SE of UK. I’ve been a member here since 2013 and found it so useful, many people with good knowledge and experience here to help, if we can.

Where to start? First understand what AF is and how it is very different from cardiovascular disease. The simplest analogy is AF is electrical, CVD is plumbing. Would you employ a plumber to fix the electrics? Cardiology is the same - there are specialities within cardiology so go see an Electrophysiologist who is a cardiologist specialising in electrics of the heart.

Literally translated Atrial = upper chamber of the heart - Fibrillation = rapid, irregular, and unsynchronized contractions of muscle fibres in the heart, leading to a quivering or twitching effect.

Good starting point would be to head over to heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

to learn a lot you may find helpful in your journey.

Know that AF is often life disrupting but very, very rarely immediately life threatening. Members here are from many different countries but predominantly UK, then US, Australia, Canada + rest of the world so what is available in one country may not be accessible in another and all health systems work VERY differently.

We do our best to answer questions or signpost you to where you may find answers but know that not everyone agrees with the answers, both doctors and patients!

Best wishes

[boatdog in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for the encouragement. We spend the night in Deal which is SE of London. A very pleasant experience for us rookie travelers from USA. We loved the whole trip to UK and plan to go back. Now, on with the AF... soon as I get done scaring myself I'll start to figure it out. Thanks again.

[Buzby62]

Hi, you can busy yourself reading on the following USA Patient Resources link

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Read as much as you can and ask any questions back on here.

Best wishes

[boatdog in reply to Buzby62]

Yall are the best, thanks for the tips.

[Wolfwinter1]

Welcome I am a newbie as well only a few weeks, this site is very helpful and has been very reassuring. I also have afib, similar to you I was diagnosed out of the blue and only knew what it was because my twin sister had been diagnosed. I was shocked though as always thought I was ok with my heart, I now have fluid round the heart which is not right, I told my grandson I had AFib and he said you shouldn't tell lies at your age. Which I thought was funny. Good luck with your journey and if you have any questions then good people on here will have an answer. Cate

[Lynden63]

Hi, I am newish to the forum as well. Diagnosed with PAF (paroxysmal afib). It is where they appear randomly. I don't have them often, but my heart does go up to around 160 (hard to get an accurate reading as it is seems to get so out of rhythm). They usually settle in 2-3hrs. But I do find them scary and usually have to rest while they are happening as I tend to get dizzy. I am not on meds for mine yet as wanting to try lifestyle changes first, but I am looking into it.

[Sixtychick]

Welcome to the club no-one wants to belong to.!!! The people on here, are very helpful. Ask any question and you’ll get an answer from someone. AFib is a nasty beast and the diagnosis takes some getting used to. I had an ablation in September 2023 and I’m just hoping my AFib stays away, but there’s no guarantees. Advice is to avoid caffeine, (I have decaffeinated tea and coffee.) spicy food, dehydration and lack of sleep. Avoid or limit alcohol. Don’t smoke and try to keep to a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet and try and do some moderate exercise every week, they suggest 150 mins a week. Also, when you go to the dentist, ask for an adrenaline free injection. Also try and avoid stress. You can get relaxation tapes from the internet, which I find helpful. I stay on here, because I like to be able to help people, if I can. I hope you get on ok.

[boatdog in reply to Sixtychick]

I'm trying to figure out how the meds make me feel. It's only been a few days on Eliquis and Cardizem so I don't have a good measure of all this. I play a lot of tennis so now I need to figure how much activity is OK with may parts and with the doc. Is one cup of coffee OK, that's my daily routine. But I love that red wine.... that must be on the chopping block, so sad.

[Sixtychick in reply to boatdog]

I’ve only drunk decaff coffee and tea, since my Afib started, to be on the safe side. I only know they said to avoid caffeine and alcohol. I haven’t touched alcohol for many years anyway, long before I started with AFib.

[ozziebob]

You will have to find your own unique set foods and activities that are more likely to induce your AF events.

For example, coffee doesn't affect my AF, and that seems to be also the case for many others on the Forum. And when coffee is reported as good for heart health, it would be a shame to miss out unnecessarily.

As for me, I had an unknown Vitamin D deficiency at the time of my AF diagnosis, and that deficiency was definitely a causative factor for me. So you will need full blood tests to ensure there are no obvious hormone, mineral, vitamin, or electrolyte deficiencies involved.

And remember you can use the Health Unlocked Search 🔍 tool at the top of each page to find previous Posts on a particular subject.

Good luck.

[FitnessGotFibbed]

usa fibbers represent! people on this forum giving all care and support and knowledge you'd wish medicine would provide, but never will.

[OTP56]

Hi Boatdog, from Hampshire UK.

I joined this forum last week having just been diagnosed with Heart Failure. I have lived with AF for last fifteen years since diagnosis and maybe much longer. I had a TIA (mini stroke) ten years ago and was put on blood thinner tablets to reduce risks mainly because I have AF.

AF has so far not restricted my lifestyle at all. Recently high blood pressure has crept up and now this diagnosis of Heart Failure as well has nesseitated addition medication.

Having processed the latest information with help from comments on this forum, I shall make a few lifestyle adjustments now, healthier diet, less alcohol and more exercise (already a regular gym goer and walker), less stressful things and just carry on enjoying life as far as possible.

Good luck, only you know AF affects you, but hopefully you can find the right remedies to continue a normal and hopefully good life.

[boatdog in reply to OTP56]

Good to know. We met so many nice people in UK, it has been a favorite trip for my wife and I. I never had a bad meal at any pub, and I can't get enough fish-n-chips.

[Brianbongo]

thank goodness you know about your Afib - you will manage it with your physician and keep on trucking! Many people, like myself, are asymptomatic and the first sign of Afib can be a stroke…not a good outcome. Work with your physician and develop your response for a normal life.

74 yo cyclist with Afib 👍🏻😎

[DawnTX]

hi there I’m also in the US I’m in Texas yes this is quite a club we have, but I will tell you it’s amazing people in here just always remember. We are all different. None of us for the most part. Our doctors there are a few around in here, but when it comes to a fib, number one rule talk to your doctor I also say don’t mess with your meds. You are not a doctor. It’s nice to compare notes get feedback so you know you’re not the only one feeling a certain way.

living with a fib is certainly an adventure because there is nothing normal about it. It does what it wants when it wants. I have a pacemaker it no longer can damage but does the things that are annoying like thumping, etc. it’s OK if you feel it after the pacemaker because that’s all you’re doing is getting the feeling it’s having a temper tantrum on the other side of the AV node wall lol do not let it run your life because it will and if you get so wrapped up in having it, you won’t have time for anything else, including that large, beautiful family of yours.

oh it’s gonna make you tired it’s going to do things you don’t like as you proceed on the journey with meds and whatever else your doctor has in mind for you talk to him. many variations. Only he can give an idea and I hope he told you there is no cure but they have meds and procedures to give you a break from it. Unfortunately, they are Band-Aids and they don’t always work. I have not had the but I know with my other ones you have a healing process because your heart has been through trauma think about what they did to that little thing between trying a cardioversion, etc. that’s a lot to do and yes, it could take months because we are all different, but I will tell you I never found as much as I just wanted to get better. If I really want to do something, I get it done usually but fatigue can be hard. Side effects of meds are gonna be hard possibly there is nothing definite. You’re gonna hear me say it a lot. We are all different. At least it sounds good. Your doctor is telling you it’s gonna take time. Some don’t tell you that and people wake up thinking they are instantly cured. Just remember. We are getting a break from it.

I have come to feel that a fib when I know it’s not dangerous. It’s not so bad compared to many things others have. Just keep on top of it. I am hoping you have an anticoagulant. I can’t imagine being here in the states not immediately getting one it seems to be the way here and I like it.

keep in touch. Let us know how you are doing. You sound like you have a great attitude about it. You are not freaking out. That’s one of the most important because emotions and anxiety can be one of your biggest enemies.

[boatdog in reply to DawnTX]

Hey Dawn, we used to live in Galveston TX but we returned to Ohio be closer to the larger family. Freaking out, ha ha ha! I'm kinda calmed down now that my HR is steady like it has been.

[Hugheart]

Hi Boatdog

I believe I may be the only resident physician in this forum. My story may be called a miraculous remission who was fortunate to be the only human to have experienced it. However, I don’t believe in miracles just science as I have trained as a physician scientist that equates to a mix of clinical and scientific research. I have spent years involved in over one hundred drug studies based on the gold standard called double blind to obtain objective data. Knowing my background I was surprised to find myself developing a protocol that focused on several components: choosing magnesium (Mg) supplements based on science; potassium (K) supplement because I am on a diuretic; adding foods fortified in Mg and K; importance of hydration; close self monitoring my EKGs 3-4 times a day; and understanding some very underappreciated observations from articles in the AF and Mg literature. The net effect was I converted 2 years of AF to sinus rhythm now close to 19 months . I have written 62 peer reviewed medical articles in prestigious medical journals but I could not get my data published after a dozen attempts. I felt compelled to tell my heart story because I am now an octagenerian , lost two brothers from AF and want medical professionals and others with AF to know my story . My only choice was to write a book about it.. I don’t know if my protocol will help anyone else but being low- risk if anyone is interested in it they need to discuss it with their health care professional to be sure they are a candidate before implementing it. You can learn more by reading my BIO.

‘Hug your heart and someone who needs a hug’

Hugheart

[boatdog in reply to Hugheart]

Wow, its good to hear people still embrace real research instead of voodoo. I'll look into the book. Diet is important and we think ours is pretty good so far, but I've now sought out foods for a specific substance like magnesium or potassium.

[Jetcat]

hi boatdog and welcome, please feel free to ask any questions mate. There’s no such thing as a dumb question if you require information. The folks on here are fantastic and have answered plenty of my questions. 👍

[Nakesero]

After Afib diagnosis, in retrospect, I caused myself far more stress over analysing and recording my symptoms such as HR and BP - and then getting stressed about the results, creating too much worry over things that will never happen, worrying about terms and conditions that did not actually apply to me or I didn't fully understand and feeling like the world was going to implode. It didn't. Take as much control as you can by reading about your condition from reliable sources only, read what people experience on this excellent site, don't be passive in your treatment by telling medics what does and doesn't work and don't worry, there are many people for whom Afib is brilliantly managed and very many people with the skill and empathy to control it. The sun still shines and you still get to enjoy it - make sure you do!Good luck

[Peacefulneedshelp]

Welcome to you and many of the new members. I have been on this group for a couple of years but have dealt with AF for many years. I am one of those people always digging deep into the aspects of health. I look for natural ways to feel good and I think I got on a right path for me. All paths are different as many have already said. My recent discovery has been fish oil causing me to go into AF. Others don't have that problem. You will experiment with your health and lifestyle and find what works for you.

I have been 11 months AF free which is a new record. I do eat fish however and learned that it contains taurine which fish oil doesn't have. Is that a missing link? don't know but am experimenting with that theory.

I am following Dr. William Davis and recently learned about all the microbiomes we need to have and are missing because of our modern lifestyle and anti biotic use. I was on tons of anti biotics in the past due to many different issues. I joined his Inner Circle and we have info available to us. Know that he too is a cardiologist and knows a lot about heart health. I read his books, Wheat Belly years ago and got off grains and especially wheat and found that to be a god send. Anyway, in our discussion with him last week he said that any organ issue including heart and AF is SIBO related, which is Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. which is misleading because the bacteria flows into the blood stream and affects all our organs. His book Super Gut is extremely fascinating read with a path to getting rid of SIBO.

All the best in you discovering a new lifestyle.