About
I started this site after I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. The doctors offered me drugs or, if it got worse, more drugs or surgery. I chose to manage my afib and arrhythmias with natural methods—nutrition, supplements, and stress management. This site is a journal of what I’m learning.
Disclaimer
Do not follow any of the advice on this site without first consulting with your physician. I am not a doctor. I’m just sharing what I’ve learned as I’ve taken responsibility for my own health. I invite you to take responsibility for yours.
This web site is for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a qualified licensed professional. This site offers people medical information and tells them their alternative medical options, but in no way should anyone consider that this site represents the “practice of medicine.” This site assumes no responsibility for how this material is used. Also note that this website frequently updates its contents, due to a variety of reasons, therefore, some information may be out of date.
22 Comments, Comment or Ping
Marina
Hi! People,
It’s been a while but I haven’t forgotten about my fellow A-Fibers. I had my Catheter Ablation on January 26th (Tuesday). My Dr. told me I could possibly have episodes again after, the could be worse than before the procedure & he was right. I have experienced several, post Ablation. I had to go back into the hospital on Feb 7th – Feb 9th. They put me on Amiodarone 400mg a day. 200mg in the am 200mg in the pm along with Coumadin which they kept a close eye on me to regulate my dosage which is a rule for anyone on Coumadin. I was going in every week to get my INR Protime done for the Coumadin. Then a few weeks ago it was every 2 weeks & just the other day I was told to come back in a month. I was put on a Heart Monitor called Cardio Net which is rather small in size compared to the Heart monitor they put me on for 48 hours back in 1997. That looked like the original cell phone. Remember them? They looked like size 10 shoes next to your ear. Anyway, I had one episode on Friday, March 12th, that’s 3 weeks (& the Dr. could see/keep track of the event/episode in his office) the longest I’ve been A-Fib Free since about 2 years ago. The Dr. is weening me off the Amiodarone as I write this. I can Breathe & bend over again. I’ve even begun to incorporate foods in my diet I couldn’t eat before. Of course I still have to be careful with what I eat but I can do a little here & there so I don’t feel deprived. I’ve been wearing the Cardio Net Heart Monitor since Saturday, March 6th & I’m sending it back this Monday, April 5th. YAY! My Drs. predictions were pretty spot on since the Ablation apart from sending me out with no medication immediately after the procedure. He said, “I am the eternal optimist & I thought you’d be fine” but all in all he was right about everything else. I feel Great. I feel like God has given me a 2nd shot at life. I owe it to HIM to make Greater things happen for my life & of myself. I walked yesterday for 1hour & 10mins. My 3month window will be up April 26th. I believe I’m going to be good. I feel like I’m coming back to myself. I can say that healing time is different for everyone. Some may heal sooner than others. My surgery was 7 1/2 hours long minus the 4 to 5 hours for the surgery itself. I guess the rest was coming out of anesthesia. I’m not pushing a Catheter Ablation for everyone but for those of you who would make good candidates I would definitely say consider it. It’s made a huge difference in my life. I don’t know how I let myself suffer with it for so long but “you’re ready when you’re ready” & I’m glad I did it. I have no structural damage to my heart (no enlargement due to frequent episodes which can occur) because your heart is a muscle & when it goes through that kind of frequent irregularity it can enlarge which begins to become a problem for some. I had a gig on the 20th of March & I made it through. I traveled by plane form LA to Austin, Texas. So I’m back to playing my congas & bongos, etc. Slow, Steady & easy. I have to pace myself. It’s forced me to be diligent about taking good care of myself. Everything happens for a reason, I believe. I’ll keep you posted & if you have any questions PLEASE! Feel Free to ask. I WISH you ALL Fib Free Lives…Peace & ❤…Marina ;)
Apr 3rd, 2010
Ann Wyatt
Well done, Marina. I am glad that everything is going well for you. Part of your healing comes with releasing the fear around the possibility of having an episode. I still have not have an episode and I put my faith in the magnesium which has been working so well for me. Fortunately, I haven’t had to have surgery. The longer you go without an episode the more confidence you will have in your heart doing what it should be doing.
Happy Easter.
Ann
Apr 3rd, 2010
Marina
Hi! Ann…Thank You! & Happy Easter to you & yours too. ;) I wish the magnesium would have worked but unfortunately everything I tried failed so I went with it & it turned out to be something that was good for me. I wish I could’ve just taken magnesium. If only it would’ve been that simple but I’ve suffered with this since 1997 & I strongly believe had I not done this I would have been off this planet by now & you are So Right about part of the healing comes with releasing the fear around the possibility of having another one. I was going through that during this 3 month period & it doesn’t help feeling fear or anxiety because that brings on stress & I notice when I’m stressed I have flutters but I’m so Thankful & Grateful to the Man Upstairs. ;D I say Thank You Everyday & every night when I lay down to rest. I can exhale again accompanied by Peace. What a Gift. I Wish & Pray everyone who suffers with this could have Healing. They will. They just have to find what works for them. Again Thank You! & I’ll see you here on LWAF soon. Peace & ❤, Marina ;)
Apr 25th, 2010
louise edwards
Hi everyone my name is Louise Im from England and have been sufffering with AF for 15 months very scarey. I have just had an attack this afternoon but took a beta blocker and went to bed but it took a couple of hours to calm down. But my last episode three weeks ago I was in my car and was passing out and had to call the Ambulance. Im seeing Doc Richard Schilling tomorrow in Barts Hos London about ablation. Im totally wiped out by all of this im 55 and need to be working to run my life. My boyfriend is not supportive and my family dont know what to do. I was so stressed today and I think that what brought it on today. Im going for the ablation but very scared.
Look forward to your replys
Love Louise
May 27th, 2010
ANN WYATT
Hello Louise.
It sounds as thopugh you have a lot of fear around A-fib and this is understandable. It is scary and you certainly feel unwell while you are having an episode. The SA node, which I call the heart’s spark plug sometimes goes off course and the electrical impulses to the heart become confused. This is the time to sit quietly and take slow deep breaths as if you are meditating. Concentrate on a regular heartbeat and will your brain to send this to the ‘spark plug’. It sometimes helps to say to yourself, “tick tock, tick tock” in time with the heartbeat you want. I know this sounds weird but I believe that you can hypnotise the brain into sending the right signal. You are right. Being stressed is the worst thing for you. Look back over some of my earlier comments for ideas about what else might be triggering your episodes. I am a great believer in magnesium, so it’s worth a try. Since I have been taking it, for almost a year now, I have only had 3 episodes.
Good luck. Keep in touch with us all on this site.
Cheers, Ann
Jun 3rd, 2010
Ged
im very interested in how Louise Edwards got on with her ablation with
Prof Schilling , ive been in AF for about three years now , on warfarin as standard , beta blockers , cardioverted but no success
Consultant wants to put me on amiodorone and try to cardiovert again.
Im very nervous about the toxicity/danger of amiodorone , dont know weather to refuse it
Think im only on it for 4 months
Thinking of going to Prof Schilling for ablation , hes has very good success rates for ablation , check out http://www.londonafcentre.co.uk
Any help would be welcome Ged from England
Jun 9th, 2010
mark
Hi. I am a 56 year old wm I ‘ve had a-fib for about 10 years. I was cardio verted 9 times. Then I had an ablation about 6 years ago. It worked for awhile no episodes for about a yeat then they came back. My episodes now are not as severe as vefore the ablation but I still get dizzy, short of breath and sweat profusely. I stopped drinking alchohol,and try to avoid caffeine but still get episodes. I noticed the last two episodes occurred after or during working extremly hard and wonder if I let myself get dehydrated. I live in sw fl very hot and humid..
Jul 25th, 2010
Tom
Aloha All,
My name is Tom. I’m from Hawaii and yes I have had A-Fib for just over 10 years now. It started without any real know cause. I have no family history of heart problems and it was actually discovered during a routine doctors visit for a bout with the flu. I was refered to a Cardiologist who put on coumadin and tried to convert with meds (for around 2 months) but it didn’t work so I needed to get an electrocardioversion that did bring my heart back to normal. My Cardiologist prescribed me Rythmol only as needed if I do experienced A-fib. between my every 3 month check-ups. Was also placed on a low dose daily aspirin routine.
In the next 8 years, I only had maybe 2-3 bouts of A-Fib per year. At first I would not even know I had it but realize it when checking my pulse which I do about 3 times a day. When I did discover the A-Fib, I take the prescribed Rythmol and for the most part the A-Fib went away after a few hours or so. If it went over 24 hours, I was instructed to contact my Cardiologist. That only happened once but converted before the 48 hour mark. For the most part, my life seemed relatively normal outside of the bouts I had and it didn’t interfere with most daily routines.
However, after 8 years I began experiencing more frequent bouts of A-Fib. At first it was once or twice every 3 months and then once or twice every month and now, it’s almost once or twice every day. It has kind of turned my daily routines into difficult tasks that is hard to do especially if it is physical. I have shared this with my Cardiologist who has suggested doing research on Heart Ablation. He said that there are only two surgeons here in Hawaii that would do it and it’s not something they do as a routine so it’s not always something they would take on. If I do elect to get that procedure done, I may want to do some looking on the mainland.
To put it all in a nutshell, I am convinced that eventually, I will need to get this procedure done. However in the mean time, I’ve tried to live a healthy lifestyle to minimize the instances of the A-Fib. I don’t drink alcohol and have cut caffene down to 2 cups in the morning. These are just a few of the things that I now do to keep from getting episodes of A-Fib.
Would like to get any thoughts on supplements as the internet is so subjective and not sure which ones are safe. Of course I will share with my Cardiologist before taking on any kind of regiment. Most importantly, I would like any recommendations on doctors who perform the procedure and of course any thoughts anyone has on the types of procedures available. Thank you for your time.
Nov 12th, 2010
Jude
Have just read about calcium being exitatory (scuse my spelling!) to the heart! I have recently been prescribed with calcium and vit d to address my bone density being osteopanic – maybe I need to query this with my doctor!!
Jan 3rd, 2011
Robert Ellis
Jude, the problem is not with the calcium but with maintaining the proper balance with magnesium. If you’re taking more calcium, you probably need to take more magnesium. Even if you’re not taking calcium, you probably need more magnesium. Of course, you should always talk with your doctor before making changes to your supplementation.
Jan 3rd, 2011
Jude
Thanks Robert, I am now taking a magnesium supplement – maybe I should give the calcium/vit d another go AND talk to my doctor!!
Jan 17th, 2011
Pamela
Greetings, I am 51 and have had episodes of A-fib for over 12 yrs. It usually occurs in the middle of the night, I wake up in it. I have been cardioverted once and was placed on Rythmol which worked for a while and then I had break through episodes about twice a year. I started to notice that I was aching all over and after a few days I asked my cardiologist’s nurse about it and she assured me that that was not a side effect of the Rythmol so I continued to take it and feel the same way until I had a visit with my cardiologist and he offered to switch me to Flecainide. After a couple of days the aching went away. Maybe it’s a coincidence but I thought I would share this info in case anyone else goes through that.
I have tolerated the Flecainide pretty well. He has also mixed in some Cardizem. I have had 3 bouts with A-fib within the past 2 months so I made an appointment with the ablation specialist here in Charlotte, NC. We are lucky to have one of the best Heart Institutes in the country. I am very confident in my doctor’s ability but wanted to try other options before commiting to the proceedure. I have been going to acupuncture off and on for several years and will see her on Wednesday. I will keep you posted.
Also, thanks so much for the info here, it is nice to be able to hear other people’s experiences. Take Care!
May 9th, 2011
Norma
I am 72 years old and have just been diagnosed with AF. I have a stent and a pacemaker. I take meds for high blood pressure. I also take calcium, vitamin D, Potassium, Atenolol, Plavix, Aspirin, Simvastatin, Hydrochlorothiazide, Amlodipine, Lisinopril, a multi vitamin, and Fish oil. Seems like a lot to me, but I have been doing fine up until now. My cardiologist immediately put me on Coumadin. I am scheduled for a blood check in a week and also have an appointment with an Electrohysiologist in about a week. I am scared! I don’t know much about AF and how it will affect my life. I and my son have been on the internet looking for ways to deal with this and we are finding lots of information. A lot of it seems to be around diet, so I will focus on that as well as the medication I need to take. This is a very scary thing for me. I don’t want to have a stroke. I understand that the coumidan is a very good medication for stroke prevention, so I will be deligent about taking it. However, I don’t know exactly how to recognize the episodes everyone talks about. Any help for me would be so appreciated!
May 15th, 2011
Ann Wyatt
Hi everyone.
It is distressing to me to read about so many people experiencing A-fib. Even though the cardiologist told me it would get worse as I get older, I continued to take my magnesium orotate and I haven’t had an episode now for a year. In fact, I don’t even think about it any more. I used to go to bed at night, fearful of having an attack during the night. I am 70 years old and am lucky to enjoy excellent health. Since New Year I have lost 16 kilos (35pounds) and I am convinced that this has helped me to get rid of my A-fib.Weight gain has been cited as a possible contributor to A-fib. I wonder if the “cocktail” of medication is sometimes too much for the heart but of course you should always be guided by your doctor. It wouldn’t hurt them to look at more natural alternatives as much of today’s medication is based around natural ingredients. I wish you all well.
Ann
May 15th, 2011
Ida Blalock
Hi all,
I am very happy to read all of these comments. I am 67 and have been diagnosed with afib. I have had episodes about once a year since 2004. At which time I was placed on Toporal 25 mg. at first and then 50 mg. I recently had several episodes right together and my cardiologist doubled by blood pressure medicine (100 mg). My episodes seen to occur when my BP is high. My cardiologist also wants me to take Pradaxa. I am having a problem with this because of the risks. I don’t want to have a stroke, but am really afraid of the blood thinner. I have read and cried for several days trying to decide what to do. There are no orther issues with my heart. I have been doing weight watchers for 3 months and have lost 30 lbs. I was hoping this would improve my chances for afib. Please keep the comments coming. It helps to know I am not alone. I wish I could find a support group meeting for people with afib.
Ida
May 27th, 2011
John Bedson
A lot of you seem to be suffering from vagally mediated afib. See how I control mine at: http://beatloneafib.blogspot.com/
Also see a novel way to track your afib and ectopic heart actvity using a sports heart monitor at: http://www.network54.com/Forum/669782/
May 28th, 2011
Mike Lipp
A-Fib is considered a beat without a P wave. I had cardioversion and went into A-Fib again when I was going in for Hernia surgery. Correct me if I am wrong, but A-Fib is a heart beat without a P wave. even if the pulse rate is in the eighties or low nineties, you could still be in A-Fib? Also, like everyone, I am constantly trying alternative herbs, etc. However, not sure if they are working, since A-Fib cannot be diagnosed without an EKG. Checking the pulse does not show a P wave, etc. It only can tell you if your beats are under a 100, etc.
Jun 6th, 2011
Cathy Henry
Hi nice to know that their are people who are going though the same thing. I had an abalstion 2 yrs ago for svt, now Iam going for another one on July 5th so scared they dont know if its the svt or A-fib probably both. three weeks ago when this started I had to be cardio verted it hurt so bad I was so scared now Iam on meds but am very depressed and my anxiety is making me crazy,I read that metropalol can have these side affects drs. say no I just want to feel normal again.I prayer for my saviors help,Dear Lord Jesus be with all these people give them rest and peace In Jesus name Amen
Jun 24th, 2011
Ian A
Thanks for creating this site! It’s great to be able to exchange information and understand atrial fibrillation better.
In my case it was mostly about potassium, and when I was taken to hospital with AFib they immediately gave me some potassium to drink. (must have been strong because it tasted terrible!).
There is a particular disease process which causes high blood pressure and low potassium levels (Conn’s Syndrome). Combine these two factors and you have a strong potential for Afib.
So there’s one more potential solution to consider – eat potassium-rich foods like vegetables (chard, potato, tomato) or tropical fruit (banana, mango, papaya). Not a substitute for surgery, but it could help in some cases.
Jul 18th, 2011
Bill H.
My a-fib started ten years ago after taking two SSRI drugs thanks to a less-than-knowledgeable phsyician. The beats were wild and irregular. I didn’t have health insurance and I started taking olive leaf extract after reading it was used in Europe for arrythmia. I had only two or three mild episodes over a course of seven years. Fast forward. I didn’t realize how much protection the herb was giving me, so I decided to get off the olive leaf for a few days. Big mistake. The a-fib came back immediately, with shortness of breath as well. I couldn’t get back on the olive leaf because my body had suddenly grown allergic to it. For the next three years, I had infrequent moderate episodes, and then when my wife announced she was leaving me in January of 2011, my heart went haywire and the episodes grew painful and uncontrollable. I was finally officially diagnosed with a-fib and put on metoprolol, which helps only slightly. Rythmol and Multaq were nightmares. I talk to people all the time who have had ablation, and it never seems to have lasting effects, except for a new form called convergenet ex maze pioneered by Dr. Andy Kiser. Slound waves are used to immobilize the bad atrial spots instead of causing scars through burning or freezing. Too bad it is only available in a few states. It is highly effective and a virtuaL cure. In the meantime, I could kick myself for getting off the olive leaf–no I am not a health store salesman–but I am very disappointed that the drug therapies tend to be so ineffective. I have daily episodes, but I currently am refusinfg ablation since I do not see any studies showing long-term effectiveness. Many supplements I also used to take are now off limits because my cardiologist inserted a drug-eluting stent in my LAD artery, which mandates a blood thinner like Plavix, and many natural supplemebnets good for the heart, like garlic and hawthorne berry, cause me to start bruising very badly. The olive leaf took a few weeks to work and I had to take four caps a day, but it allowed me to lead a normal life and was superior to the drugs on the market today. Now, my family says “Just take your meds and be quiet.” They have no idea how uncomfortable a-fib is or the risk it poses for congestive heart failure. I have also found that most cardiologists today don’t want to really listen to my triggers or sit down and talk with me about supplements or my particular set of symptoms. For example, alcohol is indeed a trigger for most, but red wine shuts down my arrythmias in the evening. Every patient is different, but I get passed off to the Nurse Practioner, and when I have questions, I get called back by a nurse or tech. I have a certain amount of daily depression now, and sometimes envy people who can simply have a bypass and then return to regular life. This form of heart disease is awful.
Oct 26th, 2011
Joy
Bill
Yes it is a horrible condition. I once tried to explain this to my Cardiologist. I said it is probably the only condition that makes you so afraid of dying you wish you were dead :) and he got all tight lipped and red faced and said I was exaggerating.
Well I would like him to try living with something that on a daily basis scares the p*** out of me. My heart can jump, skip flutter bounce, go so slow it feels like it’s going to stop, be so soft I cant feel it and go so fast I can’t distinguish between the beats. It also makes me dizzy , light headed, off balance, nauseous, depressed and extremely fatigued. I am afraid to do most of the things I love as they may bring on an attack. Note I said may, and that’s the fear, the fear of starting an episode.
I know my Vagal nerve has a huge bearing on my condition but try telling your specialist that. Eating can bring on an episode very quickly, but also eating (I think it’s the swallowing reflex ) can help stop one if it is just threatening to start.
When I fly, the minute we get up in the air I’m away. Afib for the whole journey, so now I limit those trips to see my Gran kids.
By the way I am 70 yrs old still working full time but really, as my episodes are increasing, currently 2-3 a month I am finding difficult to say the least.
I challenge any of the so called specialists out there to live with this for six months, they would quickly come to see the implications of this on a persons life.
If there is a young researcher out there looking to make his name in finding a cure for this complaint he could do no better than gather the millions of comments from people who actually have the condition and see just what makes this condition tick.
This information is all fact from people that have the problem and are not getting any relief from the drugs that usually stop working after time and are dangerous to say the least.
Bill, the most important things you need to do are to be master of your own destiny, to keep your blood thin, to read what others have found helpful.
You need to be in charge of your own health, it’s your one and only life…be proactive, look after it, nurture it and be your own carer.
Good Luck and Take Care
Oct 28th, 2011
Don Wooldridge
Agreed. My complaint is with PVS, but I’ve also had a-fib several times now, for the first time. It’s frightening and disturbing, and it generates a feeling of high anxiety that prevents sleep or being able to relax. Only my cardiologist understands this fully, since he’s 72 yrs old and suffers himself from daily PVC and PACs.
What a downer this has become for me!
Nov 12th, 2011
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