I find it really difficult to know how to occupy myself when I have an episode. I’m sure this question has been asked many times but I still find it frightening when one occurs and I’m alone.
What can I do in P.A.Fib episodes - British Heart Fou...
What can I do in P.A.Fib episodes
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Botolph
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30 Replies
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I know the feeling well. I've had AF for 18 years, fortunately it's calmed down now.
When you have an attack let someone know by text and ask them to check on you later. If you feel dizzy, nauseous or about to faint then dial 999. For the first 10+ years of my AF I would panic when an attack struck - but anxiety almost feeds AF and makes it a lot worse. Do some deep breathing like six breaths in, hold for six and breathe out for six. Do your very best to take your mind off whats happening with your heart, read a book, magazine or watch t.v. Make sure you drink plenty of water.
Jean
Thanks Jean. Yes I do try to take my mind off it and find that going outside is best but the weather isn’t always kind. Will try the breathing.
I have 3/4 lung function in both lungs from multiple collapsed lungs from lupus, so my deep lung intake is a forceful 4 seconds. I wish I could deep breath more, but can't. The fib is so bad at times I actually lose the feeling in my limbs. very scary.
That sounds so unpleasant for you. Sorry to hear that you have to put up with this.
Jean
There is a forum on Health Unlocked just for people with AF. Find it here:
healthunlocked.com/afassoci...
Jean
yes I think I’m on it but I haven’t seen this mentioned since I started a few months ago.
Here are some tips I've copied from the Atrial Fibrillation forum over the years:
I am a therapist in private practice for over 20yrs. One of my therapies is yoga based. Having quite an accurate knowledge of anatomy, neurology and physiology also having PAF I have found this technique helps me immensely when my heart is fluttering like crazy. Make yourself comfortable either on a bed or lying on the floor, position a pillow under you head, Raise your left arm in an extension position as if you are doing the backward crawl. Stretch as much as you can and imagine that it is stretching your heart muscle...I bend my arm and position my hand under my head palm upwards.. Stay in that position for as long as you can or until the fluttering subsides...At the same time I think of something pleasant. It does not matter what you think about as long as it is a pleasant thought for you. This stops my heart jumping about almost instantly....I also place my right hand over my heart area...Don't panic and just keep calm thinking pleasant thoughts....I do hope this helps you. Kind Regards. C
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As someone else who finds yoga breathing and some positions helpful, I would love to try (xxxx) suggestion, but lying down flat tends to make things worse for me. My most helpful position, taught me by a lovely yoga teacher, is based on a yoga forward bend. I sit up with my legs outstretched in front of me and a pillow under my knees, and then bend forward from the hips not the waist, with my arms relaxed but outstretched towards my ankles, and breath deeply and slowly. It's not so good on a full stomach and is more comfortable with your knees slightly apart, and I guess you have to be a bit flexible to find it comfortable, but it has proved to be a great help.
I agree with (xxxx) that staying calm and focusing on something pleasant is a must, and I've even fallen asleep like this as most of my episodes occur at night. All the best Liz
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Finally, like AV nodal re-entry, some people have recurrent rapid rhythms that are infrequent and easy to self-control by using various methods to increase neural slowing to the AV node (so-called, "vagal manoeuvres"). Using these manoeuvres, one can sometimes stop the arrhythmia. These manoeuvres include:
Bearing down forcefully like you're having a bowel movement for 5-10 seconds, then slowly exhaling in the neck while lying down for approximately 5 seconds
Placing very cold (soaked in ICE water) cloth on the face abruptly.
Coughing forcefully
Rubbing the carotid artery (only one side at a time, never both)
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There's a yoga breathing exercise that has worked for me before. Lie on your back, bend your knees up so they are above your hips and your lower legs are at 90 degrees. Take a breath in for a count of 4 then breathe out for a count of at least 8. As you breathe out, bring your knees into your chest so you curl into a ball. When you think you've got all the air out of your lungs, try and breathe out more! Breathe in again for 4 and release your legs out to the starting position. Repeat several times. It helps to reset the diaphragm and focus should be on a good long out-breath.
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So, after discovering that making myself sneeze stops Afib. I have discovered another novel way to stop an attack. It involves drinking a litre bottle of water while holding my nose. It's especially effective if I experience almost panic as I can't get a breath. I don't always finish the bottle but find that's not always necessary to gain the desired effect. Works especially well if I catch an attack early. Kenny
Please let me know if any of these procedures work.
Jean
I did reply Jean but it seems to have disappeared. I will certainly let you know if any of the above suggestions work for me. Thank you for all your help.
I've just been (finally) diagnosed with paroxysmal AF. My GP told me as I'm on a low dose of Bisoprolol, I can take an extra one if I get a bad episode. Deep breathing helps too.
I’m on the lowest dose too but neither my GP nor my cardiologist say I can take another if I get a bad episode. I shall have to ask.
Hello
I found that going for a walk or stroll and doing a bit of bird watching helped and it would sometimes convert me back into normal rhythm as I was concentrating on something else. I also liked to listen to my favourite music (and hum or sing along) and lastly deep breathing exercises as described by other members always helped to slow things down.
After 12 years of Afib I had a Radio Frequency ablation last year which has so far been very positive.
Take care.
yes, being outside for me has always felt to ease my mind a bit as there is always some distraction. I shall have to practice at deep breathing as kind respondents here say it works for them. Perhaps I don’t do it for long enough. And I haven’t heard of Radio Frequency ablation so that’s something else I shall have to research and ask my cardiologist about. Thank you.
Hello ,
Cryro ablation is generally used for isolation of the pulmonary veins usually under sedation .
Occasionally a touch up is required if the rogue signals are found to be coming from elsewhere in the heart. This is usually a Radio Frequency ablation under general anaesthetic which uses extreme heat to create a scar .
I had the latter first time around.
Keep walking , singing and doing your breathing exercises 🙂. Hope you feel better soon. How long do your episodes usually last?
Take care
’Usually last’ … I wish I could say for definite as that would ease my mind from the beginning but it can be anything from 2hours to 14hours. When I wrote the above question the episode ended after 6 hours although when I check BPM at intervals it rarely goes above 100 although sitting quietly for an hour it can range from 50 to a 120 and everything in between which is why I feel disorientated.
I have just checked out Radio Frequency ablation so I’ll see what the cardiologist says.
I trust your ablation continues to be positive.
Thank you! And I hope you can find some solutions to help you. Are you considering an abaltion with your Electrophysiologist?
I am considering an ablation after reading people’s advice here but when I asked my GP he said I could only be referred to an Electrophysiologist by my cardiologist with whom I have an appointment at the end of May. And then I guess it will take another few weeks to get to see an EP. How long after that before I can have an ablation will depend on the state of the NHS! I’m not expecting it to be anytime soon. Good to talk though.
Great! At least you are in the system now you have your appointment with the cardiologist. I'm sure he will refer you to the EP if you are interested in having an ablation. I think while your episodes are paroxysmal (come and go) you might have a better chance of success - that is what helped me to decide. My episodes became very frequent (every 2 days) and I suppose I was heading for persistant Afib so I took the leap. But obviously many people live very well in permanent Afib and hardly notice it. It just depends if you have symptoms and if your HR is well controlled.
Good luck with whatever you decide - let us know 🙂
Hi, I have been waiting for an ablation on nhs for 7 months now, w list is 18 months here. Have 20% ectopics, think starting a fib, wondering about asking how much private costs?
Whereabouts do you live, or rather, which hospital waiting list are you on? I live near Sheffield and Leeds although the EP I’ve been recommended is in Sheffield.
reply got lost! I’m in Sheffield, NGH, Dr Lee. Collapsed in feb, broke arm twice, were going to do ablation then, but stuck me on bisoprolol1.25 twice a day, pulse went below 30, so stopped. Got 20% ectopics, v breathless. Cheadle costs £6150 to £11500, which is most of a year’s pension. Liz .
that’s not very encouraging Liz . I wonder why they didn’t do the ablation after your arm had healed. I have looked at going privately but I shall wait to see what the EP says when I finally get to see him. I’m only on 1.25 Bisoprolol once a day because, like you, any higher would take my heart rate too low. I wish I could think of a way to help you. Can you not ring Dr Lee’s Secretary and ask when your ablation is scheduled for?
Part of me feels there are people much worse than me, but life feels on hold at mo. Am going for rescheduled follow up app in 2 weeks. If I have to wait another year, I will be so unfit, as can’t walk far now. Am 74, and always been fit, go to gym, but never know how much is left! Should I ring his sec? She has been helpful so far. What about you? When can you be seen?
The suggestions by JeanJeannie are excellent. If my AF is above 135bpm, and all else has failed, then I curl up in a ball and listen to nature or music.
Just after the start of any AF episode, I rehydrate with some electrolytes (any sports mix or Diarolyte will be OK, but avoid those high in Sodium) as well as lots of water. I also take 500 to 1000mg Magnesium Glycinate or Taurate orally.
I also can take a PiP (pill in pocket) - in my case a beta blocker called Sotalol, but this does not appear to work very well.
Gladstone
Interesting that you take supplements and electrolytes. Did your doctor recommend them? I always drink lots of water and have felt I shouldn’t add to those medicines I’ve already been prescribed but I will ask my cardiologist when I see him next month. Thank you.
My Cardio is aware of my supplement intake. He is neutral to many supplements but is supportive of my experimentation. Dehydration is one of the many causes of AF episodes and thus rapid rehydration can be very effective. Many years ago, when I used to go to A&E with my AF, I would always be put on a rehydration drip for a few hours.
Hi Botolph,
Your condition sounds really scary. Are you having treatment and has a cause been identified? I’ve had two episodes of AF - in 2014 and 2022 and corrected by cardioversion on both occasions. I was told that my AF was likely caused by a leak in my mitral valve, for which I am awaiting repair surgery. Having said this, I wasn’t very ill with my AF and could function pretty much normally, including exercise etc. My symptoms included palpitations and occasional light headedness during more intense exercise. My cardiologist put me on medication to help reduce the stress on my heart, including bisoprolol and an anticoagulant (edaxoban). Best wishes with your treatment.
hello Reggaelover
I wouldn’t say my condition was really scary although the episodes aren’t very nice when they occur. I think most people who experience P.A.Fib feel like I do when they happen and I know I’ll be Ok when it stops. As there are over a million people in the UK with this condition I guess I have to put up with it until my consultant advises me to have an ablation etc. I hope your bouts of AFib stay as they are and you can carry on as normal when you have an episode. Thanks for your good wishes.
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