after your first diagnosis?

[Guest guest]

For those of you who were diagnosed about my age (38 to 43) did the

episodes continue and how often? My first one lasted 4 days. Is that

unusual?

Also, how do triggers work? Did you get a symptom right after a cup of

coffee or a beer or is there a delayed reaction? I guess I am still

trying to figure out what triggered this.

I'd love to hear about your experiences. Thanks.

>

>

> There must be something about 43, I was diagnosed 3 weeks after by 43rd

> Birthday and possibly had episodes for years.

>

> ine

>

> About the only predictable thing about AF is that it's

> unpredictable..........

> Garrett

> P.S. I was diagnosed with AF when I was 43 also but, looking back, I

> now suspect that I've been having episodes for years.

>

>

>

> Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

> List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

> For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

> send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

>

> Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or

> should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

>

[Guest guest]

, my AF began 16 years ago, when I was 42. My first episode lasted about an

hour and went away, only to return about 5 days later again for a couple of

hours. After that I was started on an antiarrhytmic to which a beta blocker was

later added. In these 16 years I have had plenty of skipped beats and short

runs of AF for say 15 minutes. So far i have only had about 6 runs of about 8

to 14 hrs. Lately I have been having more skipped beats and short runs of AF.

This is just my experience. From reading the posts, the patterns seem to be

unique to the individual, lasting hours, days or weeks. Yours does not seem to

be unusual.

It seems to me that triggers are also unique to individuals. Over the last 6

months for me alcohol, sadly, seems to be a trigger. Two beers now has a price,

and the payback in skipped beats and even AF, seems to come due within hours or

often the next day. Thats my personal experienc. Best wishes,

lisadilillo lisadilillo@...> wrote:

For those of you who were diagnosed about my age (38 to 43) did the

episodes continue and how often? My first one lasted 4 days. Is that

unusual?

Also, how do triggers work? Did you get a symptom right after a cup of

coffee or a beer or is there a delayed reaction? I guess I am still

trying to figure out what triggered this.

I'd love to hear about your experiences. Thanks.

>

>

> There must be something about 43, I was diagnosed 3 weeks after by 43rd

> Birthday and possibly had episodes for years.

>

> ine

>

> About the only predictable thing about AF is that it's

> unpredictable..........

> Garrett

> P.S. I was diagnosed with AF when I was 43 also but, looking back, I

> now suspect that I've been having episodes for years.

>

>

>

> Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

> List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

> For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

> send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

>

> Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or

> should be acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

>

[Guest guest]

All afib is different by it's nature, for example my afib is paroxysmal

and daily, I self convert many times, therefore cardioversions would be

a waste of time. Others have episodes weekly, or monthly and others get

persistent afib that needs a cardioversion. Time will tell how yours is

going to react. What you are dealing with is a heart rhythm that has

gone wrong for some reason or other, the cause may never be found.

ine

after your first diagnosis?

For those of you who were diagnosed about my age (38 to 43) did the

episodes continue and how often? My first one lasted 4 days. Is that

unusual?

Also, how do triggers work? Did you get a symptom right after a cup of

coffee or a beer or is there a delayed reaction? I guess I am still

trying to figure out what triggered this.

I'd love to hear about your experiences. Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

My first 'palpitations' had maybe been going on and off for about 6 months

or so, and only lasting a few minutes each time, before diagnosis, and I was

putting it down to perimenopause but I had a longer bout of heart

palpitations one evening when my heart was really pounding and jumping and I

was

slightly breathless and it didnt abate.

Sleeping usually switched me back to normal, but this time I woke up still

in what I now know to be Afib.

The following morning I felt aching in my chest and my heart was still

'jumpy' and I felt weak and breathless so I called my health centre and I went

for an ECG, from where I was referred to a cardiologist for further tests.

The Doctor told me it wasnt 'anything serious..I wasnt having a heart

attack, or was in risk of dying but that I had a 'slight irregulity' on the

ECG!

The Cardiologist did all the tests on a 3 day admission, that I have heard

of on this board and I also had a 3 day holter monitor after coming home and

an event monitor after that (where you press to record when you can feel your

heart skipping beats etc) and then phone them into the hospital where they

are recorded down the telephone and they analysise them and call you back if

its anything to worry about..this was very reassuring to have when I was newly

diagnosed!

I was 42 yrs old.

I would say that first 'really noticeable' attack lasted a few hours. When

I was in the hospital for the tests though, I was in Afib nearly all the

time..(3 days) maybe the stress..maybe the antihistamines they gave me..as I

have

an allergic reaction to metals (including surgical steel) so they gave me IV

Clarityn before my tests.

I also didnt sleep well as I was so alert (no doubt stressed and tired but

felt Ok, just in Afib).

They tried to sedate me for the TOE (TEE) and I had up to the max dose of a

combination of 3 sedations by IV and I just didnt sedate..was bright as a

cuckoo, and the Cardiologist couldnt understand it, so they went ahead and

froze my throat and proceeded to push their camera head down my throat for the

TOE examination prior to the angiogram. I was totally alert through all...and

in Afib.

After the angiogram I was given the good news that my arteries and heart

were in great condition, and the only problems were the Mitral valve prolapse

and tricuspid valve leaks (mild to moderate) which was likley contributing to

the Afib although for reasons he didnt disclose, my Cardiologist told me that

he didnt think the valve problems 'in my case' were causing the Afib. (I must

ask him why he thought that when I see him!)

The Afib started up immediately again as soon as I began the stress test on

the treadmill, so, basically, I was in Afib 3 days approx 90% of those 3

days. I was given Sotalol, and then Flecainide and the Flec worked but for some

reason, my temperature rose and kept rising.

The ward sister said I couldnt be discharged from hospital (They started me

on it in hospital) with a rising temperature but my cardio said it wasnt the

Flecainide, and I was OK to go.

However, my temp did keep on rising after I got home and when it was 102, I

decided to stop the Flec. My temp was back to normal within 24 hours and so

I called the cardio who asked me if I wanted to try another drug, a beta

blocker, but I was through with drugs for then (Had also had Atenolol, and that

had made the Afib change but worse for me..I kept getting short fast runs of

arrythmias) and he said it would be OK to see how I went without 'to begin

with'.

Immediately I joined this group and started reading up! I decided to cut out

of my already low fat diet, all known Afib triggers. I began with a full

sweep! I was intending to re-add them one at a time, which I have.

I am 49 now, (Ugh!) and havent had a rate control or anti arrythmic since

then, though my Cardio gave me Cardicor ( Metoprolol-Beta blocker) as a 'pill

in the pocket', so I have something to take should my heart rate go too high.

Initially I had a lot of bouts of Afib, daily, lasting a few minutes to an

hour at a time.....then I had gradually less and less and I wasnt sure why,

except that I had started magnesium and calcium at the Recommended Daily

Amounts and Cod Liver Oil, and Vitamin E every day., and was also avoiding

things

such as tea and coffee, chocolate, monosodium glutomate.. food preservatives,

flavourings and colourings, alcohol. I started drinking grape juice and

unsalted tomato juice and making up fruit smoothies and vegetable blended

drinks

in the liquidizer.

I started using pottassium salt substitute and what had been a no red meat

diet, became a low fat, nearly vegetarian diet. I ate more fish, less meat,

and lots of organic fresh foods. I tried to eradicate all processed food, or

food that may have additives, or chemicals in them, and bought organic

whereever possible..and for those in the UK, Tesco is the best place for Organic

food

at reasonable prices that I have found!

I was so pleased I was having less Afib, that I kept this diet going with

supplements (as stated) along with a few pieces of root ginger daily, and I

would say that I was down to an occasional bout of Afib (One a week lasting a

few mins) after only a week on it..after about 3 weeks I was down to no Afib.

I am 49 now and rarely get Afib..I dont take any drugs for it except Plavix

(Clopidogral anti platelet) and have been able to enjoy the occasional bar of

chocolate and occasional coffee and I drink weak tea all the time again, and

also peppermint tea.

I take a Hofels ginger root tablet every day (helps with blood thinning and

is said to be anti inflammatory). My crystalized ginger supplier stopped

selling it so I have started taking ginger root in capsule form.

All in all.. I would say I have only had Afib when I have had a cold

starting, or when I was pre menstrual after about 3 months of being on this

diet..and in the last few years, I havent had it at all.

I have also taken a less aggressive approach to work and tried not to get

stressed unnecessarily.

I work out on a bi lateral stepper daily and try and not worry! (Sometimes

easier said than done!! I live with a husband with Aspergers syndrome and

Attention Deficit Disorder and daughter with ADHD and Aspergers syndrome and

run my own business)

I think everyone is different and as someone has said, the only

predictable thing anyone can say about Afib is that it is unpredictable!

With me, triggers tend to not cause immediate effects but seem to maybe

have built up over time? I'm not sure! I know I can drink orange juice and it

will give me a migraine, so that is a more or less immediate trigger on the

blood vessels maybe for me..and I am sure there are those on this list who have

said that they have had reactions to cups of decaf and caffeinated coffee and

taking an alcoholic drink, and it will affect them immediately, or even next

day.

I was never a huge drinker of alcohol and have found I can still drink

occasionally and it doesnt give me Afib if I am not overtired and the rest of

my

diet is OK..but I think if I was overtired, had a few drinks, had a cup of

coffee and ran up 6 flights of stairs, I might be able to trigger the Afib..I

just dont want to try it, to prove a point!

Sorry this is long and repetitive in some respects for those who have read

my mails before!!!! I just feel so much better with no drugs for the AFib

slowing me down or poisoning my system, and I realise this approach that I have

wont work for everyone but maybe its worth trying if you dont get along with

the drugs too well, or you have an interest and desire to better your diet

or change it at all.

Cant guranteee it will work but it can't harm to try, is my philosophy!

on this list also has a lot to say in more technical tems about his

wholefood diet and he came back from heart failure to where he is now.

recommends the anti inflammatory diet approach which is not too disimilar to

mine but is maybe a little more rigorous, in that it requires maybe bigger

changes.

I like to fit my diet in with feeding the family so it helps to be able to

just keep in a bit of dairy and some non red, meat.

Again everyone is different but my diet still gives a slightly alkaline

urine PH reading which is also anti inflammatary.

I hope maybe you will find that your episodes of Afib will be shorter or

even not happen at all in the future, whichever route you choose to try as a

treatment .

Take care,

Haze in UK

lisadilillo lisadilillo@...> wrote:

For those of you who were diagnosed about my age (38 to 43) did the

episodes continue and how often? My first one lasted 4 days. Is that

unusual?

Also, how do triggers work? Did you get a symptom right after a cup of

coffee or a beer or is there a delayed reaction? I guess I am still

trying to figure out what triggered this.

I'd love to hear about your experiences. Thanks.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Haze, that was very informative and interesting.

[Guest guest]

Hi again!

I just wanted to mention also that for those already taking drugs for their

AFib, particularly Warfarin, some of the supplements I have mentioned, that I

take, may not be advisable without consulting your EP or cardiologist. I

think in the past it has been pointed out that ginger didnt combine well with

Flecainide? It is always a good idea to consult your EP or Cardiologist before

taking supplements or making radical diet changes.

take care,

Haze

In a message dated 22/05/2006 03:08:12 GMT Standard Time,

whisper2Uxxxx@... writes:

Hi ,

My first 'palpitations' had maybe been going on and off for about 6 months

or so, and only lasting a few minutes each time, before diagnosis, and I

was

putting it down to perimenopause but I had a longer bout of heart

palpitations one evening when my heart was really pounding and jumping and

I was

slightly breathless and it didnt abate.

Sleeping usually switched me back to normal, but this time I woke up still

in what I now know to be Afib.

The following morning I felt aching in my chest and my heart was still

'jumpy' and I felt weak and breathless so I called my health centre and I

went

for an ECG, from where I was referred to a cardiologist for further tests.

The Doctor told me it wasnt 'anything serious..I wasnt having a heart

attack, or was in risk of dying but that I had a 'slight irregulity' on the

ECG!

The Cardiologist did all the tests on a 3 day admission, that I have heard

of on this board and I also had a 3 day holter monitor after coming home

and

an event monitor after that (where you press to record when you can feel

your

heart skipping beats etc) and then phone them into the hospital where they

are recorded down the telephone and they analysise them and call you back

if

its anything to worry about..this was very reassuring to have when I was

newly

diagnosed!

I was 42 yrs old.

I would say that first 'really noticeable' attack lasted a few hours. When

I was in the hospital for the tests though, I was in Afib nearly all the

time..(3 days) maybe the stress..maybe the antihistamines they gave me..as

I have

an allergic reaction to metals (including surgical steel) so they gave me

IV

Clarityn before my tests.

I also didnt sleep well as I was so alert (no doubt stressed and tired but

felt Ok, just in Afib).

They tried to sedate me for the TOE (TEE) and I had up to the max dose of a

combination of 3 sedations by IV and I just didnt sedate..was bright as a

cuckoo, and the Cardiologist couldnt understand it, so they went ahead and

froze my throat and proceeded to push their camera head down my throat for

the

TOE examination prior to the angiogram. I was totally alert through

all...and

in Afib.

After the angiogram I was given the good news that my arteries and heart

were in great condition, and the only problems were the Mitral valve

prolapse

and tricuspid valve leaks (mild to moderate) which was likley contributing

to

the Afib although for reasons he didnt disclose, my Cardiologist told me

that

he didnt think the valve problems 'in my case' were causing the Afib. (I

must

ask him why he thought that when I see him!)

The Afib started up immediately again as soon as I began the stress test

on

the treadmill, so, basically, I was in Afib 3 days approx 90% of those 3

days. I was given Sotalol, and then Flecainide and the Flec worked but for

some

reason, my temperature rose and kept rising.

The ward sister said I couldnt be discharged from hospital (They started me

on it in hospital) with a rising temperature but my cardio said it wasnt

the

Flecainide, and I was OK to go.

However, my temp did keep on rising after I got home and when it was 102,

I

decided to stop the Flec. My temp was back to normal within 24 hours and so

I called the cardio who asked me if I wanted to try another drug, a beta

blocker, but I was through with drugs for then (Had also had Atenolol, and

that

had made the Afib change but worse for me..I kept getting short fast runs

of

arrythmias) and he said it would be OK to see how I went without 'to begin

with'.

Immediately I joined this group and started reading up! I decided to cut

out

of my already low fat diet, all known Afib triggers. I began with a full

sweep! I was intending to re-add them one at a time, which I have.

I am 49 now, (Ugh!) and havent had a rate control or anti arrythmic since

then, though my Cardio gave me Cardicor ( Metoprolol-Beta blocker) as a

'pill

in the pocket', so I have something to take should my heart rate go too

high.

Initially I had a lot of bouts of Afib, daily, lasting a few minutes to an

hour at a time.....then I had gradually less and less and I wasnt sure why,

except that I had started magnesium and calcium at the Recommended Daily

Amounts and Cod Liver Oil, and Vitamin E every day., and was also avoiding

things

such as tea and coffee, chocolate, monosodium glutomate.. food

preservatives,

flavourings and colourings, alcohol. I started drinking grape juice and

unsalted tomato juice and making up fruit smoothies and vegetable blended

drinks

in the liquidizer.

I started using pottassium salt substitute and what had been a no red meat

diet, became a low fat, nearly vegetarian diet. I ate more fish, less meat,

and lots of organic fresh foods. I tried to eradicate all processed food,

or

food that may have additives, or chemicals in them, and bought organic

whereever possible..and for those in the UK, Tesco is the best place for

Organic food

at reasonable prices that I have found!

I was so pleased I was having less Afib, that I kept this diet going with

supplements (as stated) along with a few pieces of root ginger daily, and I

would say that I was down to an occasional bout of Afib (One a week

lasting a

few mins) after only a week on it..after about 3 weeks I was down to no

Afib.

I am 49 now and rarely get Afib..I dont take any drugs for it except Plavix

(Clopidogral anti platelet) and have been able to enjoy the occasional bar

of

chocolate and occasional coffee and I drink weak tea all the time again,

and

also peppermint tea.

I take a Hofels ginger root tablet every day (helps with blood thinning and

is said to be anti inflammatory). My crystalized ginger supplier stopped

selling it so I have started taking ginger root in capsule form.

All in all.. I would say I have only had Afib when I have had a cold

starting, or when I was pre menstrual after about 3 months of being on this

diet..and in the last few years, I havent had it at all.

I have also taken a less aggressive approach to work and tried not to get

stressed unnecessarily.

I work out on a bi lateral stepper daily and try and not worry! (Sometimes

easier said than done!! I live with a husband with Aspergers syndrome and

Attention Deficit Disorder and daughter with ADHD and Aspergers syndrome

and

run my own business)

I think everyone is different and as someone has said, the only

predictable thing anyone can say about Afib is that it is unpredictable!

With me, triggers tend to not cause immediate effects but seem to maybe

have built up over time? I'm not sure! I know I can drink orange juice and

it

will give me a migraine, so that is a more or less immediate trigger on the

blood vessels maybe for me..and I am sure there are those on this list who

have

said that they have had reactions to cups of decaf and caffeinated coffee

and

taking an alcoholic drink, and it will affect them immediately, or even

next

day.

I was never a huge drinker of alcohol and have found I can still drink

occasionally and it doesnt give me Afib if I am not overtired and the rest

of my

diet is OK..but I think if I was overtired, had a few drinks, had a cup of

coffee and ran up 6 flights of stairs, I might be able to trigger the

Afib..I

just dont want to try it, to prove a point!

Sorry this is long and repetitive in some respects for those who have read

my mails before!!!! I just feel so much better with no drugs for the AFib

slowing me down or poisoning my system, and I realise this approach that I

have

wont work for everyone but maybe its worth trying if you dont get along

with

the drugs too well, or you have an interest and desire to better your diet

or change it at all.

Cant guranteee it will work but it can't harm to try, is my philosophy!

on this list also has a lot to say in more technical tems about his

wholefood diet and he came back from heart failure to where he is now.

recommends the anti inflammatory diet approach which is not too disimilar

to

mine but is maybe a little more rigorous, in that it requires maybe bigger

changes.

I like to fit my diet in with feeding the family so it helps to be able

to

just keep in a bit of dairy and some non red, meat.

Again everyone is different but my diet still gives a slightly alkaline

urine PH reading which is also anti inflammatary.

I hope maybe you will find that your episodes of Afib will be shorter or

even not happen at all in the future, whichever route you choose to try as

a

treatment .

Take care,

Haze in UK

lisadilillo lisadilillo@...> wrote:

For those of you who were diagnosed about my age (38 to 43) did the

episodes continue and how often? My first one lasted 4 days. Is that

unusual?

Also, how do triggers work? Did you get a symptom right after a cup of

coffee or a beer or is there a delayed reaction? I guess I am still

trying to figure out what triggered this.

I'd love to hear about your experiences. Thanks.

[Guest guest]

I understand that ginger interacts with warfarin - enhancing its effects.

> For those of you who were diagnosed about my age (38 to 43) did the

> episodes continue and how often? My first one lasted 4 days. Is that

> unusual?

>

>

> Also, how do triggers work? Did you get a symptom right after a

cup of

> coffee or a beer or is there a delayed reaction? I guess I am still

> trying to figure out what triggered this.

>

> I'd love to hear about your experiences. Thanks.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>