Update

[Guest guest]

Here's what I have learned or experienced lately.

I took rhythmol briefly last fall, gradually went into persistent atrial

flutter, then stopped and went back to cardizem. Things went back to normal for

me. When I saw the cardiologist, he explained that rhythmol does create

persistent atrial flutter for some people. Anyone have an idea why that is?

When I eat a banana every 4 or so days, my heart is much less excitable. I've

been trying this for a while, seeing whether the effect is real or just

coincidental. I do the banana plan for a month, then a month without. Bananas

rule! Afib starts less often, and I can get it to stop more quickly, within a

few minutes, with the bananas.

I've discovered another method to get atrial flutter to stop -- looking up at

the ceiling. Usually if I do this for about 10-15 seconds, there start to be

interruptions in the fast regular beats which gradually slow down into afib and

then go back to NSR. I've added this to my list of interruption methods which

include breathing out slowly, holding my breath, leaning forward over pillows,

and leaning to the left. I have no idea why any of this stuff works. One

person suggested that I'm stimulating the vagal nerve -- ?? Anyway, afib for me

is turning out to be a lot like hiccups.

You can think this is crazy and superstitious, but I'm going to keep doing it

because it works for me.

Doris -- 3 years with paroxysmal afib taking Cardizem LA 360mg daily