Should have learned my lesson. - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Should have learned my lesson.

Snowgirl65 profile image
34 Replies

After my last ablation in December 2022, I had one afib episode 8 months later triggered by a hornet sting. After reading so many posts here about the dangers of food preservatives and eating too close to bedtime, I binged on snacks and pastries yesterday too far into the evening, and woke at 3:30 a.m. in afib. My Kardia reading showed 146 bpm which I pdf'd to my EP for my file. I ate an early breakfast and by 5:30 a.m. I was back in sinus rhythm. Of course now I'm beating myself up at my stupidity!

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Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65
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34 Replies
mjames1 profile image
mjames1

Be assured, if it wasn't the snack binging, it would have been something else. If the pathways exist, afib will find a "friend" to eventually open the door. I also had an afib episode seven months after my ablation. Triggered by reflux, so yes, I'm more careful of what I eat and how I eat and decided to go back on PPI's, but I have no illusion that the door may be opened from time to time again by another afib friend. One ep I spoke to said do not expect 100% freedom from afib after an ablation. His definition of success was a significant reduction in afib burden. It seems that at least for now you have met that criteria.

Jim

Lilypocket profile image
Lilypocket in reply tomjames1

Love that description Jim 😄 I can just imagine Afib and his friend opening the door to him. I have had no problem drinking a glass of red wine from time to time at dinner. But a bit of Champagne was my downfall and resulted in 1 hour of Afib. But I still consider my ablation was a success when I compare that to the 6 hours I suffered from every 2 days. I know it's not a cure but what à difference the ablation has made to my QoL. Just hope the load remains light and there aren't any other pals with door keys!

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575 in reply toLilypocket

Funny how individual we all are. I have had a glass of champagne twice in the last year and been ok . Seems to be such a wide range of triggers and susceptibilities

Lilypocket profile image
Lilypocket in reply toPeony4575

Well actually I had some champagne at my son's wedding with no problem. But at New years eve I don't know what happened. 😄

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575 in reply toLilypocket

Ah . My last episode was New Year’s Eve a year ago. Although I didn’t have anything I hadn’t had before , I had certainly had a lot more “treats” consistently over the holiday weeks and the Chinese food I had on New Year’s Eve was the tipping point that pushed me into AF . They don’t call it holiday heart for nothing . I was very good this year . I did have a glass of champagne on Christmas Eve but no chocolate mince pies etc etc . I think I seem to get away with very occasional one offs but not cumulative insults. Am wary now over holiday periods . Indulgence is in the past

Lilypocket profile image
Lilypocket in reply toPeony4575

Well at Christmas I had a glass of Champagne, a glass of red wine and some Christmas pud with no problem. I think Afib appeared on New Years Eve briefly as an " old friend" seeing out the old year and as a reminder it still has a key 😄

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575 in reply toLilypocket

It’s one “ old friend” I wish we could block !

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65 in reply toPeony4575

Agree wholeheartedly!

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65 in reply toLilypocket

Unfortunately, I've had to swear off all alcohol 😪

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65 in reply toPeony4575

I'm wary of holidays -- too many treats abound. Strangely I did indulge this year somewhat, but to no ill effect. Sounds the same with you.

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575 in reply toSnowgirl65

Exactly . I do have treats. A piece of cake or small pudding, but there are weeks if not months in between . 2 glasses of champagne drunk slowly with food months apart last year. No chocolate etc for 13 months. I made the mistake of thinking I could handle it because I didn’t seem to react…,,, until I did. So cautious now, but you have to live your life 😊

NewOne2023 profile image
NewOne2023 in reply tomjames1

Sorry for offtopic but this sentence "If the pathways exist, afib will find a "friend" to eventually open the door. " should be framed somewhere.

Brilliant! :D

wilsond profile image
wilsond in reply toNewOne2023

Yes I thought very apt too!

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65 in reply tomjames1

Thanks for your reply. Yes, afib begets afib!

Singwell profile image
Singwell in reply toSnowgirl65

You know, I've chosen not to say that to myself. I prefer to say- "damn it - I need to pay attention and take care of myself" And then I pick myself up and get on with my life. Taken me 4 years to learn this though.

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65 in reply toSingwell

You're so right. Here I am now, the day after, vowing (yet again!) to take better care of myself. I'm picking myself up and getting on with my life -- again. Best wishes to you, Singwell!

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply tomjames1

Love this 😁.Sometimes my "friend" has shown up with his whole bloomin family. 😁.

wilsond profile image
wilsond in reply toDucky2003

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Autumn_Leaves profile image
Autumn_Leaves in reply toDucky2003

Yeah, and looking for a party!

Ducky2003 profile image
Ducky2003 in reply toAutumn_Leaves

And finally clearing off when they realise there's no alcohol 🤣

Singwell profile image
Singwell in reply tomjames1

Yes, I was told this too Jim and I think it's good to be pragmatic about it. Enjoy the spaces in-between is my approach these days. I had a blimp after 19 months recently. A flying visit from an unwelcome guest. 6 mins in all...

secondtry profile image
secondtry

Second post today about the dangers of complacency once in NSR for a good period.

I suspect we've all done it as we yearn for those bad habits!! Stay strong, my partner thinks I am a bit OTT with regard to my precautions when after 11 years in remission it seems like I don't need to be so careful; her contrary opinion helps me stay honest 😂.

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65 in reply tosecondtry

It pays to be OTT with your precautions. I depend on this forum that comes to my In Box every morning to remind me to stay alert -- but it sometimes doesn't always work!

Singwell profile image
Singwell

Sounds like a blood sugar spike followed by a crash Snowgirl. I get morning spikes if I have maple syrup on my morning oatmeal 😞. Don't beat yourself up about it. Maybe something was going on for you so you felt the need for that binge- I often find it's a stress or emotional response plus the food trigger that sets me off. Point is it's gone now. I found that it's OK to have my sweet treats in the day after lunch. That way I know I'll be active afterwards and can process the glucose.

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65 in reply toSingwell

Such a good reply, and true to form for you. I never thought of the sugar crash, but indeed that's what it was. I recall feeling unreasonably tired that evening and went to bed early, of course from a sugar crash. The snack-binging I think was caused by an emotional response to our recent Arctic deep freeze here in Ohio -- it went down to 4f one night -- about -16c.

Singwell profile image
Singwell in reply toSnowgirl65

Oh crikey - yes that's cold! And u guess you worried about the animals round and about.

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65 in reply toSingwell

Such a good memory -- yes, my two feral cats living in heated houses I constructed behind the back bushes; and then there are the deer, raccoons, opossums, etc. I do worry for nothing, don't I!

Singwell profile image
Singwell in reply toSnowgirl65

😆 I wish my memory was as good with names of colleagues...I can picture them, their demeanour and usually recall their voices but names 😞

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65 in reply toSingwell

Same here. When I run into former colleagues when shopping, I can recall scenarios with them from the past so I bring that up instead of mentioning their name -- I hope they don't catch on!

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman

You've read many posts on here about food preservatives causing AF. Well, heaven preserve me! ;-)

I would rest easy concerning food additives unless you have a very rare sensitivity to them. They are safe. That said, I avoid them for other reasons (e.g. I won't eat meat preserved with nitrates and nitrites).

Steve

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65 in reply toPpiman

It's good to be cautious but not obsessive. Everyone has their sensitivities, don't they.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toSnowgirl65

I suspect it's a minority of people overall. The biggest trial on triggers for AF I found once, in Holland if I recall, showed that most people with it didn't think there was a trigger. I can't find anything at all.

Steve

Jajarunner profile image
Jajarunner

Don't beat yourself up, you were having a life. Having AF is horrible but you still deserve pleasures. Now you know for next time 😄

Snowgirl65 profile image
Snowgirl65 in reply toJajarunner

Yes indeed -- I felt crappy yesterday, but today's a new day and all that! Thanks for your reply.

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