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You are here: Home / Natural Treatments / 11 Recommendations to Help Prevent An Atrial Fibrillation Episode

11 Recommendations to Help Prevent An Atrial Fibrillation Episode

Travis Van Slooten | 246 Comments

help-prevent-afib-episodes
If you have been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, suffer from rapid or irregular heartbeat, have chest pain or feel anxious (especially at night), consider these recommendations.

Though all of these recommendations should be helpful and safe for almost everyone, be sure to consult with your physician before trying them. If you have not already seen a physician, don’t wait; these symptoms may be indications of more serious conditions.

11 Recommendations to Help Prevent An Atrial Fibrillation Episode

1. Eliminate potential triggers.
Alcohol, caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate), and any stimulating herbs (ephedra, ginko biloba, ginseng, guarana, horny goat weed, etc.) are all potential triggers for afibbers. Try eliminating these triggers to see if you notice a reduction in the number of your episodes.

2. Check for side effects of any prescription medications you’re taking.
Some prescription medications can be potential triggers. For example, asthma inhalers can trigger episodes for some people. If this is the case for you, talk to your doctor about alternative medications. Also, check for stimulants in any over-the-counter drugs you’re taking such as pseudoephedrine (brand names Sudafed, SudoGest, Wal-Phed, Rugby, and Suphedrine).

3. Reduce sodium.
This is difficult since almost all packaged foods contain added sodium. Read the labels. Intake should be less than 2400 mg per day. Sodium depletes potassium which is essential for the heart – and afibbers (see below). Also, replace table salt with healthier pink himalayan salt. This type of salt tastes better than table salt and is rich in minerals! This is the pink salt I use and highly recommend:

4. Increase intake of potassium.
The recommended daily allowance for potassium is 4,700mg. It’s even higher for nursing women who are recommended to get 5,100mg per day. Afibbers can be especially vulnerable to episodes if they have low potassium levels. Try to get as much potassium as you can from foods. Avocados, spinach, sweet potatoes, coconut water, kefir or yogurt, and bananas are all rich sources of potassium. Low-sodium V8 juice is even a decent option. Just one 8 ounce serving has a whopping 900mg of potassium and only 50 calories. Here is a list of foods with the most potassium:

    • Avocado – 1068mg (1 whole)
    • Sweet Potato – 952mg (1 medium)
    • Acorn Squash – 899mg (1 cup)
    • Spinach – 839mg (1 cup)
    • Dried Apricots – 755mg (1/2 cup)
    • Coconut Water – 600mg (1 cup)
    • Kefir or Yogurt – 579mg (1 cup)
    • White Beans – 502mg (1/2 cup)
    • Mushrooms – 428mg (1 cup)
    • Banana – 422mg (1 large)

Source: DrAxe.com

If you can’t get enough potassium from foods to meet your minimum daily requirements, supplements can help. I supplement with potassium gluconate powder every day. I use NOW gluconate powder. It has 270mg of potassium per 1/2 teaspoon. It mixes easily with any liquid and you can barely taste it (I take it with water).

5. Increase intake of magnesium (this is critical for afibbers).
Magnesium deficiency is very common among afibbers. In fact, most afibbers are deficient in magnesium. The EXA test is the most accurate way to know for sure if you’re deficient. The best food sources include dark green, leafy vegetables and nuts, whole grains, and fruits. Here are foods with the most magnesium:

    • Spinach – 157mg (1 cup)
    • Chard – 154mg (1 cup)
    • Dark Chocolate – 95mg (1 square) – afibbers eat with caution
    • Pumpkin Seeds – 92mg (1/8 cup)
    • Almonds – 80mg (1 ounce)
    • Black Beans – 60mg (1/2 cup)
    • Avocado – 58mg (1 medium)
    • Kefir or Yogurt – 50mg (1 cup)
    • Figs – 50mg (1/2 cup)
    • Banana – 32mg (1 medium)

Source: DrAxe.com

The challenge with magnesium is that it can take several months of consistent high intake of magnesium to increase your levels. You simply can’t eat enough high magnesium foods to effectively boost your levels. Magnesium supplementation is almost always necessary. I take ReMag magnesium liquid. It is a highly concentrated and highly absorbable magnesium chloride supplement. You get 150mg per 1/2 teaspoon serving. I try to aim for 3-4 servings per day (450-600mg per day).

The other magnesium supplement I use in conjunction with ReMag is Ease transdermal magnesium spray. Some argue that bypassing the digestive system and applying a magnesium spray is the most effective way to supplement with magnesium. A lot of people cannot tolerate a high intake of oral magnesium supplements as they can have a laxative effect. By using a spray you can get a large amount of magnesium without the potential side effects of loose stools and diarrhea.

I use Ease because it’s a high quality supplement that absorbs very quickly without leaving a white residue on your skin that is common with other spray products. You get about 25mg of magnesium per spray so four sprays on your skin will give you 100mg of magnesium.

Visit my magnesium for atrial fibrillation page for more information on this topic.

6. Take a good, low-dose multi-vitamin (more is not always better).
Again, you should always try to get your vitamins and minerals from a healthy diet but for most of us we’re going to need a multi-vitamin to cover our bases. I take the multivitamin, ProThera VitaPrime.

7. Experiment with other helpful supplements.
We’re all different; what works for me may not work for you. Many afibbers take a variety of “heart healthy” supplements such as taurine powder like this one:

Another popular supplement among afibbers is CoQ10. I personally take 200mg a day of Life Extension’s Super Ubiquinol CoQ10.

L-Carnitine Powder is yet another favorite.

If you haven’t noticed, I take mostly powder and liquid supplements. I do that for several reasons. One, they are always the least expensive. Two, they are the most pure form as you don’t have a bunch of other ingredients included. Three, you can control exactly how much you want in each serving. Four, you can mix them in just about anything – water, juice, smoothies, protein shakes, etc. Five, they are usually more readily absorbed than tablets or capsules.

8. Eat a heart healthy diet.
Simply put, eat more fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. However, if you’re reading this you’re probably looking for specifics. There are varying opinions on what is the best diet for people with atrial fibrillation but one diet I keep hearing about is the Paleo Diet. I’ve never tried it myself but I’ve heard from afibbers that swear by it. The book, “Paleo for Beginners: Essentials to Get Started,” might be a good start.

The diet I read about once and tried to follow for a while was the Zone diet. Everything I read about it makes sense and it’s not nearly as restrictive as other diets. I’d start with the book, “Enter the Zone: A Dietary Road Map to Lose Weight Permanently.”

Finally, the Mediterranean diet is very popular among afibbers. I’d start with the book, “The Mediterranean Diet for Beginners.”

9. Get some exercise.
The good news for those afibbers that don’t like to exercise is that excessive exercise is NOT good. In fact there are studies now that show excessive exercise such as training and running in a marathon can contribute to afib! I was an exercise freak throughout my 20’s. I would lift weights for 30-45 minutes every day and then run (at full sprint speed) for 20-30 minutes afterwards. It’s not surprising I had my first afib episode when I was only 33.

Needless to say, since being diagnosed with afib in 2006, I only power walk now for 30 minutes every day. I also do some light stretching and occasional light lifting. I don’t even think you can call it “lifting” as I only use my body weight or I’ll use my TheraBand resistance bands.

We all need exercise – even afibbers – but the key is moderation! If you have afib and you are a daily runner or heavy weight lifter, it would be a good idea to throttle back. You’re only making your condition worse over the long-term.

10. Drink plenty of water.
Dehydration can contribute to atrial fibrillation. Afibbers are particularly vulnerable to afib episodes in the summer heat. There’s all kinds of theories on how much water you should drink. Some say the traditional 8 glasses a day is enough (64oz). Others say drink half your body weight so if you weigh 175 lbs. you should drink roughly 88oz a day. I personally aim for a minimum of 64oz a day and usually no more than half my body weight.

I always mix my ReMag (see above) with my water so I can kill two birds with one stone; I get my water intake and my magnesium supplementation.

11. Tackle sleep issues.
Not everyone with sleep apnea has atrial fibrillation but most people with afib have sleep apnea. Treating sleep apnea can dramatically reduce the number of afib episodes you have. If you have afib, especially if you are overweight, you would do yourself a huge favor to have a sleep study done to determine if you have sleep apnea.

Lack of sleep over an extended period of time can also contribute to afib episodes. Prior to my successful ablation, I usually had my episodes after a string of days with very little sleep. And while I don’t battle afib episodes now, I do battle PVCs and PACs occasionally. They are always the worst after a few days of very little sleep. If you’re not getting enough sleep, make it a priority to do so!

These are the most important things you can do to help prevent afib episodes. If you address each one of these, you’ll likely experience a significant reduction in the number (and intensity) of afib episodes.

Do you have recommendations or suggestions to help prevent afib episodes? Share them in the comments below!

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  1. ger ( Age: 65 / male / Years with AFIB: 4 )
    Jul 13, 2021

    Hello there, Greetings from the the Emerald Isle.
    For lone afib, I tried Hawthorn tincture? 7 drops twice a day. Very safe and used on prescription in France, but not many other countries. I find it works to reduce severity after about 4-6 weeks of taking it. Also Co enzyme 10 once a day.
    I think after trying all sorts of treatments, except any kind of drug or ablation, like many of you have, it could be a symptom of something else. Especially if you have a normally structured heart and no co-morbidities. I think there is a psychological link to our heart and back to the brain. If we worry, always be thinking about it, (like I do) this stress link keeps it going. It is a bastard job trying to break it. But distraction, for example, typing this note, has slowed my heart down but as soon as I start taking my pulse etc off it goes again. I have had some success with counting a delay of beats in my head and linking the count to my heart beat to slow it down and get it back to SR. But it takes practise, but does work. Stay well and all the best to you.

    Reply
  2. John Tischner ( Age: 85 / Male / Years with AFIB: 5 or 6 years? )
    Jan 18, 2021

    I started to write a response and somehow it disappeared. So here’s a For What It’s Worth. It’s been three years since I has a serious attack in that I had to be cardioverted. Over the past few months I have had mild, but scary attacks. I would stand upright, relax arms by my sides and breathe in and out slowly for around five minutes or so and they would go away. So, recently in one instance they were stubbornly insistent. Determined, I stood up and did the hardest cough I could muster. Instantly they were gone. Now, it works every time. Guess I got lucky. Worth a try?

    Reply
  3. Diane Cerulli ( female )
    Jan 18, 2021

    I have short bouts of afib….10-15 seconds. I also have decreased kidney function, etiology unknown. I am instructed by my nephrologist to avoid potassium and magnesium. Any suggestions what I can take in place of these?

    Reply
  4. Lisa ( Age: 64 / Female / Years with AFIB: Five )
    Jul 03, 2020

    Hello everyone, I am having a very mysterious pattern of afib episodes that I would like to describe, in case anyone has any spiders what might be going on. I have had occasional afib for five years most likely triggered by taking too much t3 cytomel for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, episodes were Occurring 1-5 times a month, usually 6-8 hours in length and pretty unpleasant so I would use metoprolol when an episode started, and metoprolol left me feeling very “ wiped out” exhausted. So a month ago I asked to take a channel blocker instead to se if it would not affect me so much And I tried diltiazem instead. I’ve been taking lots of magnesium ( remap Carolyn dean) and Supplemental mineral mix and electrolyte water too. Since that first dose of ditilizem, I have now had 18 !!!!!!! Separate episodes in a period of five weeks! They occur almost like clockwork, before I lay down, They start about 8-10 pm, and they last about 6 hours on average and I took ditilizem for three weeks, then went back on metoprolol When they happen, and I also take an extra 300 mag, potassium and electrolyte water and eventually they stop…… but I am a wreck.. I have an ablation scheduled ina week but from what I read, is till May have more of these attacks after it, at least for a few months… if anyone has any suggestions or ideas as to what I might be doing I’m all ears ( I eat vegan whole foods gluten and dairy free and am trying to lose weight because I need to) thank you

    Reply
    • Sandi ( F )
      Mar 12, 2022

      Hi
      I had the same thing and then it stopped. I assumed it was Ubiquinol but after a while, the Afib/palpitations/rapid heart beats started up again. If I close my eyes while sitting anywhere and start to fall asleep, Afib shows up! They keep me from sleeping. I only get about 3 hours a night. They are worse at night because you want to sleep so badly, but it’s impossible. I tried everything, diet, etc. but so far Nothing works. They only rarely start up during the day so, that’s something to be grateful for at least. 24 hours of this would send most people to the ER.

      Going to my doctor assures me that Rx will be offered. That may end of being the only solution if nothing else works. I took Beta Blockers once and they don’t really work on this either but it was a small dose. Any larger dose and then it’s got major side affects attached to it.

      National Library of Medicine says in a study:
      ” Taurine restored energy and endurance in one of the cases from a debilitated status to normal. Arrhythmias may also respond to taurine because it dampens activity of the sympathetic nervous system and dampens epinephrine release. l-arginine may have anti-arrhythmic properties resulting from its role as a nitric oxide (NO) precursor and from its ability to restore sinus rhythm spontaneously.”

      Some studies show potassium and magnesium, since the benefit is great, and the possible side effects is negligible.

      I am on a huge potassium diet, I get at least over 3k a day and take 300mg glycinate chelated but it’s not blocking the Afib. The word is, that magnesium mg needs to be higher and why some choose Remag. I bought Remag but it gave me huge headaches, something I’ve never had and never want either.

      Some articles say L-carnitine 3,000 mg/day and Taurine does the trick.

      There’s so many researchers working on this because so many have it. But I don’t think there has been only 1 solution discovered for everyone. If you google it, the studies are all over the map. People’s Afib seems as unique as our fingerprints.

      Hoping there’s a researcher who discovers a real cure for this nightmare. It really steals people’s joy when you are dealing with it for a long time.

      Reply
  5. Nick Page ( Age: 61 / Male / Years with AFIB: 6 months )
    Apr 21, 2020

    Very interesting self help site and thx everyone for your tips and experience. My story is slightly different. My Afib started as a consequence of being walloped by a virus caught through air conditioning systems via hotels and planes – later identified as chlamydia pneumoniae ( not dissimilar to COVID 19 symptoms) – which caused pneumonia in my right lung and attacked the sac around my heart. My BP was at 175bpm for 2 days and I self admitted to A&E. I effectively suffered from heart failure.

    Investigation involved ECG and an Echocardiogram which showed that my left ventricle was compromised functioning at only 25% hence Afib. Treatment involved rivaroxaban (blood thinner) to eliminate any stroke risk, Bisoprolol (beta blocker) to protect the heart and Ramipril to reduce and control blood pressure. I’ve since had a Cardioversion which was successful for about 6 weeks only and am now being lined up for an urgent ablation. The ablation is being preceded by taking Amiodorone, a well documented Afib medication which stabilises the heart’s pumping mechanism.

    I would strongly recommend that you seek a cardiac MRI if you have Afib. This is because cardiologist can then see exactly what your heart is doing using 3D imagery. CT scans are not detailed enough and an MRI can also detect the electrical activity of the heart, which is what Afib is all about.

    It’s been mentioned before but realising your own mortality is probably the most shocking after effect of having to live with Afib. Cardioversion, Ablation or drug controlled therapy can all alleviate Afib to some extent and as we are all different then what works for one doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for another.

    I also tend to go with the science and don’t subscribe to supplements partly because the makers of these products are not regulated and partly because there is no scientific proof that they actually work. Although I would definitely concede that lifestyle is definitely a factor and probably the most important when looking after your heart.

    Good luck everyone and I look forward to reading more about living with Afib.

    Reply
  6. Bertrand ( Age: 49 / Male / Years with AFIB: 12 )
    Dec 06, 2019

    Thank you for your article. It might be too early to claim victory but just one week after i started taking taurine, i ‘m feeling like if i had to describe a cure from Afiib, this would be it. It took just one week of 2g of daily taurine powder.IT also solved my sleep deprivation problem. I read that one might have to take it for life but i don’t mind. Research seem to indicate that 3g/day is safe for life. I weight just about 80kg so my 2g/day might not work for everyone. I’m however very thankful i found taurine.

    Reply
  7. George Stevens ( Age: 70 / m )
    Sep 07, 2019

    I’ve had PACs for over 30 years and was recently diagnosed with Afib. I did a scan through the posts and I didn’t see anything about cayenne. My wife told me about Dr. Christopher and cayenne and how it helps heart attack victims in an amazing way and its other benefits. According to him it feeds the heart for immediate effects when taken as a warm/hot tea. I’ll be trying this with my next bout of Afib. Anyone had any experience with it?

    Reply
    • Travis Van Slooten
      Sep 07, 2019

      George:

      I read something once about cayenne and how it can help but I don’t recall exactly what I read about it. Can you provide more details on this Dr. Christopher person and what he specifically says about cayenne?

      Travis

      Reply
      • Sarah Womack ( Age: 74 / F / Years with AFIB: 2-3 years )
        Dec 06, 2019

        Just to reply to all..I fell off a horse last spring and got conked out. On the way to the hospital I told the driver I was in AFib. Easy to tell isn’t it? At the hospital since I told them I couldn’t take the Eliquis etc drugs they just left me off anything while they did a million tests dealing with the fal l(allwas fine by the way other than a mild concussion ). I had one of those awful collars on so couldn’t use my usual ways to get out of the a fib. After 4-5 hours of emergency room BS they decide to shock my heart. I’m thinking …no way in Hell….but they first gave me a shot of metoprolol (sp?) and within 30 minutes I was back to normal. WOW! so I went to my doc after that and got a prescription for it and when I feel an attack coming on I pop that pill. Life saver. Sometimes works quickly but may take an hour depending on how the attack is going. But now I can actually go to work (violinist) without worrying about having an attack . This must be what they call the “pill in a pocket” . My doc says I am not bad off enough for ablation but will probably get worse. BUt no other meds. Lots of potassium and magnesium oil are all I have at the moment since I just don’t take meds well. Beta Blocker …hooray! B ut I don’t drink, eat chocolate (except a cheat every now and then) gave up coffee. no reefer and so far so good. And I agree that lack of sleep is ruinous. I sleep poorly even taking a very low dose of lorazepam. But life continues to be good. Moderation is the key for all. Very nice to see this site pop up on my screed again

        Reply
  8. Herb Martin ( Age: 66 / Maie / Years with AFIB: 8+ )
    Apr 02, 2019

    Excellent site, and an overall excellent article. There’s one concern you should consider, which is new information to me, the RRR-alpha-tocopheral (E) is nicknamed “The RAT” by at least one doc who recommends vitamin E highly. There are studies showing “E causes blah blah” because they used the RAT and not d-alpha-tocopherol.

    Turns out that E is not one chemical but an entire family of chemicals so it does matter which one you use. This COULD be bad information but it is at least worth your time to investigate.

    Reply
    • Travis Van Slooten
      Apr 03, 2019

      Herb:

      Thanks for your comments. Yes, you are correct. You definitely want to take the alpha tocopherol with mixed tocopherols form of vitamin E. Specifically, you want to take d-alpha tocopherol succinate or acetate Vitamin E with gamma tocopherol. This per Dr. Sinatra:
      https://www.drsinatra.com/take-advantage-of-the-benefits-of-vitamin-e

      Travis

      Reply
  9. DJ Aiken ( Age: 65 / F / Years with AFIB: new )
    Aug 03, 2018

    Wow, this is a lot of wonderful information! I had my first AFib episode 3 days ago. I woke up at 3:30 am with what I thought was a heart attack (extreme pain in my jaw, weakness, pain in upper back). I called 911. My heartbeat was all over the place. I was diagnosed with AFib and carted to the ER, then in-patient at the hospital for a day.

    They put me on Eliquis and said if I had another episode to take an additional tablet of Carvedilol (which was prescribed 2 years ago when I did have a heart attack). It seemed like something was missing in this so I searched and found this site. I guess I have done it all wrong. I drank 4-5 glasses of white wine in a week. I drank 3-4 cups coffee a day. I don’t drink enough water and I have difficulty sleeping (even with Melatonin), perhaps 2-4 hours per night.

    I’m trying to turn this around. No more wine. No more coffee. I try for 64 oz of water/day but still can’t sleep at night. I found side effects of the thyroid medicine I was on was chest pain/pressure, fast heartbeat, heartbeat that does not feel normal. Carvedilol’s side effects are slow heartbeat, chest pain so perhaps all this created the “perfect storm.” Now, to get out of the perfect storm! Thanks for all the information!

    Reply
    • Travis Van Slooten
      Aug 29, 2018

      DJ:

      Congrats on your decision to make some serious lifestyle changes to help keep your afib at bay. If after a period of time – say 6-9 months – your lifestyle changes don’t work, you might want to consider having an ablation. That will give you the best shot at “curing” your afib. I wish you the best.

      Travis

      Reply
  10. Joseph ( Age: 55 / Male )
    Jul 25, 2018

    Travis:
    Any any thoughts about acupuncture?

    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3312232/

    Reply
    • Travis Van Slooten
      Jul 31, 2018

      Joseph:

      I haven’t done acupuncture myself but I’ve heard from others that it can be helpful. It certainly wouldn’t hurt to try it. You have nothing to lose.

      Travis

      Reply
    • Sarah Womack ( Age: 72 / F / Years with AFIB: 8 months )
      Jul 31, 2018

      Just to add to this discussion…I followed Travis’ recommendations about potassium and magnesium some time ago and haven’t had any episodes since April 10. I can’t take pills so I am using the magnesium oil/spray which is great. Use it once every day in the morning. I eat a handful of dried apricots every day and drink a low sodium V8 juice.
      So far so good. I do all that I was doing before including walking every day horsebackriding and working as a musician. I am 72. Life seems pretty good for the moment. *.

      Reply
      • Travis ( Age: 45 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
        Jul 31, 2018

        Sarah:

        That is so great to hear! I’m glad the potassium and magnesium are working for you. Have a great rest of the summer!!

        Travis

        Reply
  11. Gary Zimmermann ( Age: 61 / M )
    Mar 14, 2018

    Hi,

    I have just been diagnosed with AFIB, but have had episodes prior only when playing ice hockey. Raising the heart rate above 130 BPM seems to do the trick. I always went back to NSR after 5-6 hours or so. Recently I had episodes prior to getting into a sleep.

    I am anxious by nature so I am sure that doesn’t help me. My cardiologist put me on Sotalol 80 MG but no blood thinners, which I have not taken yet as I prefer not to go that route and try and control this naturally. What are your thoughts on the drug? Can it eliminate the episodes? What is it supposed to do? The odd AFIB episode seems to happen every 2-3 weeks or so. Thank You so much!!!

    Reply
    • Travis Van Slooten
      Mar 14, 2018

      Gary:

      Sotalol, like any of the drugs used to manage afib, is hit and miss. What I mean by that is for some, sotalol works great and for others it doesn’t work at all. People have been on sotalol for years with success – while others don’t have a good experience with it. You won’t really know until you try it.

      Sotalol is a beta blocker so it’s primary role is to slow your heart rate. Some people are very sensitive to beta blockers. In short, they are miserable when taking them. If you do decide to try it and you can’t tolerate it, you might want to talk to your doctor about taking a calcium channel blocker. Another option would be the pill-in-the-pocket approach using flecainide (or even taking a low dose flecainide on a daily basis). These are all options to discuss with your doctor.

      Of all the drug options, I’m a fan of the pill-in-the-pocket approach or a daily low dose of flecainide but I’m not a fan of any of these drugs to be honest. This is why I opted for an ablation.

      I don’t know what your age is but if you’re still playing hockey I’m assuming you’re under 60 years of age so you are relatively young. I’d seriously consider having an ablation if I were you. If you go that route, be sure to check this resource out: https://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/3137/successful-afib-ablation/

      I wish you well!

      Travis

      Reply
      • Sarah Womack
        Aug 29, 2018

        What do you have to do to get an ablation?. Is it only for certain types of A Fib? I had asked my doc about an ablation and it was just no.
        So I have just done what I can naturally .
        Thanks to you and this message board I think I have done quite well. I did have an attack last Tues after none since April but followed all the instructions that you gave and it wasn’t nearly as bad as the last one. Didn’t even have to do the ice cold shower. lol

        But I really miss coffee and chocolate.

        Reply
        • Travis ( Age: 45 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
          Aug 29, 2018

          Sarah:

          You are seeing the wrong doctor! He or she is obviously biased and close-minded (or simply doesn’t have the skills to do an ablation so that’s why you’re being told it’s not an option).

          I would seek a second opinion. Just be sure you see an experienced elite-level EP!

          I’m glad these natural methods are helping you manage your afib better!

          Travis

          Reply
          • Sarah ( Female )
            Aug 29, 2018

            Interesting Travis. It was actually the nurse that told me that. I see the doc again in about 6 weeks. Haven’t seen him since early spring and he told me to come back in 6 months. But I kind of felt the same way when she said that. They gave me the meds (Eliquis and Xarelto) which I couldn’t take and then I started all your suggestions.

            I will definitely speak to him about it. But from what I read it needs to be a “specialist ” .Why worry about attacks if there is a way out. But the nurse did say that I had to be on the meds for 6 months before I could do that. But a young lady I know, 24 or so, just had an ablation and it has worked well so far. She was taking the pill in a pocket deal. I asked the nurse about that too but this was all done on the phone with her. I don’t even know what kind of a-fib I have so I am kind of in the dark except for all that I have read on your site and anything else I could find.

            I’ll be back to let you know what they tell me. I did all that that you said. No chocolate, no coffee, no alcohol, no pot. And, I can’t remember if I said this before, but when I had the attack I drank a V-8, ate 1/2 a banana, laid down on the floor and put my feet up, slathered magnesium oil on, kept track of my heart beat and eventually came out of it after a 2 or 3 hours. Not nearly as bad as the others but still a bummer and depressing.

            And, BTW, what is an EP?

            Love reading other people’s stories. Sure helps. And you were quite the Godsend. It was very nice to have something to try other than stinking meds. I like the natural way whenever it is possible. Cheers to all of us!

            Reply
            • Travis Van Slooten
              Aug 29, 2018

              Sarah:

              EP is the abbreviation for “electrophysiologist.” These are cardiologists that specialize in the electrical activity of the heart. They specialize in heart arrhythmias. Anyone who has afib should be working with an EP – not just a general cardiologist.

              Keep us posted on your journey! I’m glad to hear the potassium and magnesium are helping you keep your afib burden to a minimum.

              Travis

              Reply
      • Phyllis-Marie Hall ( Age: 73 / F / Years with AFIB: Ten )
        Oct 15, 2020

        Hi Travis, just to share my story….
        I grinned when I saw your comment about assuming the writer was under sixty if still playing hockey. I am 73 and still playing. Actually had my first episode while playing. I had to give up playing in our women’s league because it is high speed, intense, competitive hockey – heart rate about 160. Rather, due to the afib, I now play in a less intense, less competitive league designed mostly for beginners. In this league I can scale back my level of play, switched from offensive position to defence which allows me to stand back and skate at my own pace while offence takes the lead. In regards to the afib, I know my triggers and avoid them – for me, sugar especially …haven’t had a dessert in 8 years, make my own sugarless jam out of berries, drink lots of hot water instead of tea, drink only water and low sodium V 8 juice, no sodas, get potassium and magnesium through diet, (bananas, 2 oz daily of unsalted pumpkin seeds, V8, spinach, lots of other green veggies, fruit, fish oil tablet, coQ10 150 mg, fast walk three miles every day, take low dose flecainide daily, blood thinner, bp med, Crestor to prevent plaque even though cholesterol levels low but using Crestor as preventative medication, sleep ok – about five hours per night with a one hour nap during the day, see my cardiologist yearly. Had an afib attack two years ago as result of the flu, (took cough syrup – big mistake), was cardioverted, and fine ever since. Looking forward to hockey starting again in two weeks. All the best to everyone in this afib journey. ❤️❤️

        Reply
  12. Kate ( Age: 66 / Female / Years with AFIB: 15 )
    Mar 01, 2018

    I have been in afib for five hours as I write this, and it is my fault for not sticking to my regimen. I was diagnosed with Lone Afib in 2003 after years of intermittent, short episodes. I found Hans Larsen’s Lone Afib Yahoo support group and began to read what people were doing to control their afib naturally and also what triggered it, and I began to do likewise, after the meds the docs had me on made life so miserable with side effects (coumadin, cardizem) that I wanted to find another way. I was given Rhythmol (propafenone) and used it only when I could not self-convert.

    I am deformed and crippled for life due to incompetent doctors and medical procedures and almost died, so no, I am not real keen on Western medicine or doctors or pharmaceutical drugs. And like many of you, I have encountered MD’s and cardiologists who would not listen to me, were not interested in being educated and would not even begin to consider causes and triggers. I have had to do my own research.

    These are my triggers: bloating and constipation, which put pressure on my vagus nerve, are the big ones. I bloat when I eat too much dairy/sugar too often (i.e., too much ice cream, lol!) and food too high in carbs, i.e., gluten grain products, rice and potatoes. This bloating also occurs as lower leg edema, and poor circulation runs in my family. Most often, fasting and taking prune juice (high in potassium, which I’m sure helps) to move my bowels and reduce the bloat around my middle, will have me out of afib in a short time following. Other triggers, which usually occur along with the bloating, are emotional stress, processed foods high in MSG, vigorous exercise (I ride a tricycle, and that does not cause afib but has done wonders to bring my blood pressure and blood sugar levels down), caffeine (that was what initially catapulted me into my first full-blown afib episode, so I don’t do it anymore) and sleeping flat (I sleep in my recliner with a rolled-up towel behind my neck). I may be eating too much salt, although I eat the pink Himalayan salt, which has all the amino acids in it. I could try cutting down on that, as I’m sure that contributes to the edema. But there is a big controversy about the salt issue, and I have read that commercial salt could be the problem. Not sure on that, and still researching it. Also I don’t drink enough water, so I know I need to do better about that as well, and that could also be somehow tied in with the salt issue.

    So what I do to control afib, and I do stay out of it (I can go more than a year, and probably indefinitely if I’m a good girl) as long as I am consistent with these things: I eat a mostly organic, grain/gluten-free whole foods diet of salads, vegetables, some fruits (blueberries, strawberries and pink grapefruit, mainly) and grass-fed beef, free-range chicken and wild-caught salmon. I have cut down my portions and try not to eat after 8 p.m., although don’t always stick to that. I don’t use condiments with a lot of artificial crap in them (especially foods grown with pesticides and herbicides like glyphosate) but put olive oil and lemon juice on my salads. Supplements I take are magnesium glycinate (this is one of two forms that don’t cause diarrhea) 360 mg twice a day; CoQ10 300 mg at bedtime; turmeric capsules, 2 in the morning to help with digestive issues. I also have started taking kelp for iodine (I know I have thyroid issues and have had a complete hysterectomy, so hormones are out of whack, probably, but I don’t supplement hormones).

    Recent research has done a lot to bring to light digestive issues as being a big culprit in a lot of things. Dr. Tom O’Bryan has a lot of info about the “microbiome” and leaky gut syndrome and things like that, and afib is one of the big problems with digestive issues. Last year I went on a program of herbs and supplements to address these issues, and it helped a lot. I also avoid some foods that I believe are triggers for digestive issues: i.e., nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, eggplant), mushrooms, apples and some other things. I also sleep a lot better than I used to since eliminating these foods and keeping the digestive system working properly.

    This may or may not be a trigger for afib, but I also live as cleanly as possible. I don’t smoke, drink alcohol, take recreational drugs and don’t use chemical products in my home or on my body or in the laundry. I clean my body and my home with essential oil-based soaps (Bronners) and avoid chemicals like fabric softener and dryer sheets, air fresheners, detergents, lotions, etc.

    So, these things may or may not be useful for you. I hope they are. I’m not here to argue about what people do or don’t do or what has worked or hasn’t worked for them. I just offer what I’ve done, and if you find it helpful, great, and if you don’t, then blessings to you and I hope you do find what is helpful for you.

    I’m still in afib (six and a half hours now), but haven’t eaten anything except prune juice, water and a banana and will come out of it once the system gets cleared, I’m sure. Will report back when back in sinus rhythm if I can remember to. Have a great day everyone!

    Reply
    • Travis Van Slooten
      Mar 01, 2018

      Kate:

      Thanks for sharing this! This is great information. I’m sure it will help many people. I hope you’re out of afib by now!

      Travis

      Reply
      • Kate ( Age: 66 / F / Years with AFIB: 15 )
        Mar 01, 2018

        Thanks, Travis! I am out of afib, came out of it an hour after I posted. Not to be too gross, but it was after a second bowel movement (thanks, prune juice!) that cleared out my system and reduced the bloating and, of course, the constipation.

        I would encourage people to look at the vagus nerve connection, and the digestive angle of this issue. It won’t be the answer for everyone, but might be for many. Have a nice evening!

        Reply
        • Travis ( Age: 45 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
          Mar 01, 2018

          Kate:

          Great to hear! There is definitely a vagal connection for many afibbers – although some are adrenergic in nature (exercise, stress, and stimulants trigger their afib).

          Have a good one!

          Travis

          Reply
    • Susan Johnson ( Age: 73 / F / Years with AFIB: 8 )
      Mar 02, 2018

      Kate,
      thanks for sharing your experience. So glad to read below that you converted. I also see a positive response from clearing my large intestines. It seems like one of the things my body does to move on.., so to speak;-) I haven’t had an incident since 11/6/17., knock on wood! Stress is a big contributor.., but i think i remain more resilient to its effects when i watch all the possible triggers as you mention. Sleep is important for me. as are diet [ all you mention; i think msg was part of my first event], exercise and how life is going along. For me, not getting certain things on the table esp w/ my husband, as well as dealing w money issues and understandings/misunderstandings is part of the whole. I find psychological therapy, cranial sacral therapy and chiropractic seem to support my parasympathetc nervous system to do better in these areas. I have been working at being more active in exercise after being set way back by a few months of afib events last Fall
      And what i find now.., maybe because I am 73.., as i get more steps in my day or enjoy being able to exert a schmidge more in the out of doors.., that I can be wiped low for a few days after a ‘step up’ in activity. It’s not a straight uphill climb, and I have to be moderate in exercise and activity even when it seems okay to do more. That has been the only way forward for me. Your sharing is very supportive. Thank you! I’m going to check out the site you mentioned.

      Reply
    • Sarah Womack ( Age: 72 / female / Years with AFIB: 6 months )
      Apr 12, 2018

      Particularly thanks for pointing out the digestive issues. I think that may contribute to my A -Fib also. My stomach was feeling so bloated and hurt yesterday and went into awful afib when I walked up the stairs to get in bed. It lasted about 2-3 hours. It was very scary. I like the thought of dunking your face in cold water that someone mentioned.

      Reply
      • Travis Van Slooten
        Apr 14, 2018

        Sarah:

        Taking a freezing cold shower can sometimes work too.

        Travis

        Reply
  13. John T. ( Age: 82 / male )
    Feb 21, 2018

    I have had afib for quite a few years, but not on a regular basis. Mostly I converted on my own after a day or two. I have had to go to the emergency room two or three times because of afib. Once I ended up in a hospital in Philadelphia from an episode in the airport there on a trip to the Northeast to visit relatives. Maybe that wasn’t scary.

    The last episode was around 2 1/2 years ago when I was hospitalized and electronically cardioverted shortly after. It was then the doctor permanently put me on xarelto and multaq. I don’t like either. Have had external bleeding episodes even with a minor scratch or cut and bloody noses from the xarelto. Since that time I was suffering irregular heartbeats almost daily. So, a couple of months ago, I decided to take myself off the blood thinner and the multaq and carry the pills in my pocket, including a low-dose aspirin.

    Strangely enough, or coincidentally, my irregular heartbeats disappeared. I am on cholesterol medication (Crestor 10 mg and have been for quite a while) and my last tests showed a total cholesterol of 128 with an LDL in the 50s. I monitor my BP daily and I get readings regularly like 125/71, 118/72, 116/65, 123/64, 120/52 with pulse rates in the 54 to 70 range.

    I also have sleep apnea, do not have a CPAP, but use a tongue retainer in place of CPAP. It is quite effective. I also have an oximeter with telemetry at home and monitor my apnea regularly. I work out a couple times a week in the local fitness center (no free weights) and get in a round of golf at least once a week. I am very aware of my body. Additionally, in 2012, on the Ides of March, I had a triple bypass. I take two senior multiple vitamins daily and monitor my fat intake. I am trying to get off some extra weight.

    Reply
    • Travis Van Slooten
      Feb 24, 2018

      John:

      Thanks for sharing your story. Glad to hear you’ve found a game plan that works for you!

      Travis

      Reply
      • John T. ( Age: Approaching 84 / Make / Years with AFIB: 25 )
        Apr 03, 2019

        Here it is 2019 and I haven’t had a full blown episode in around two years. However, over the last couple of months I have been getting what seems like mild starts of afib when my heart gets out of sync. So, I found something by accident that works very well, but I do not know why. Whenever I start to get one of these episodes I stand up, put my hands down by my sides, get myself relaxed and take 10 to 15 deep breaths and exhale each slowly. The symptoms just disappear and I am back in rhythm immediately. Figure that one out.
        I mentioned it to my cardiologist and he said he cannot explain it and the only way to find out is for me to wear a monitor. Haven’t done that yet.
        I work out two or three time a week in a gym, do no cardio or free weights but I use a recumbent bike, some upper body (machines) and manage to bike around 40 miles a month.

        Reply
    • Colette Davis ( Age: 61 / female )
      Feb 27, 2018

      Hi everyone, I have afib and had a cardioversion about 9 months ago. I also just had an ablation about a week ago. I am 61 year-old female. If anyone has any questions I would be glad to answer. I was also in the hospital last May due to heart failure for 8 days and had to wear a life vest for 3 months. I’ve been through the mill.

      Reply
      • Travis Van Slooten
        Feb 28, 2018

        Colette:

        Thanks for sharing your story. I hope you’re doing well today! What is a life vest? And are you no longer having heart failure?

        Travis

        Reply
        • Colette Davis ( Age: 61 / Female )
          Mar 01, 2018

          A life vest or a defibrillator. I got my AFIB under control, yes am no longer in heart failure.

          Reply
          • Travis ( Age: 45 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
            Mar 01, 2018

            Colette:

            That’s great to hear! God Bless!

            Travis

            Reply
  14. Delores Roberts ( Age: 71 / Female / Years with AFIB: Just this last 2 yrs )
    Feb 15, 2018

    I had heart cath today. There was no blockage and my heart looked fine but no one can tell me why my heartbeat is irregular or why it goes into Afib. Please help me. Thank You!

    Reply
    • Travis Van Slooten
      Feb 21, 2018

      Delores:

      If anyone knew why people went into afib they would be a hero and probably a millionaire to boot! The truth is, we don’t know why people get afib. Although, I suspect it’s a defect in our genes. Asking why we go into afib is like asking why does someone get Parkinson’s. It’s a rather complex and loaded question that unfortunately we don’t have a lot of answers yet.

      If you’re willing to share more details about your specific situation we may be able to provide some tips to help keep you out of afib or lessen your overall afib burden.

      Travis

      Reply
  15. Maureen Butina ( Age: 71 / Female / Years with AFIB: 10 )
    Feb 03, 2018

    What do you know about hybrid ablation? I have had two cryoablations and am once again having episodes a year after the last. My electrophysiologist has suggested one.

    Reply
    • Travis Van Slooten
      Feb 06, 2018

      Maureen:

      The hybrid ablation is using a combination of an EP and a surgeon. The EP works the inside of the heart and the surgeon works the outside of the heart. I would not go that route just yet. Cryoballon ablations have their limitations. You simply can’t ablate all the potential trigger areas in the heart with cryoballon. My guess is your initial ablations either weren’t done thoroughly (so you’re having break throughs) or you have triggers beyond where the cryoballon can be used.

      You would be better off seeing an EP that has extensive experience doing complex ablations (i.e. doing ablations on persistent afibbers). EP’s with this kind of experience will be able to identify and ablate trigger sources beyond the pulmonary veins.

      If you have more questions, please contact me directly via the contact page on this blog and I can explain more.

      Thanks!

      Travis

      Reply
      • Maureen ( Age: 71 / Female / Years with AFIB: 10 )
        Feb 25, 2018

        Thanks for your insight. Before my first Ablation, I interviewed several Electrophysiologists and chose one who had extensive experience with a-fib in UPMC Shadyside’s cardiac group. Presently I am trying to rule out other possible triggers before deciding about another Ablation.

        Reply
        • Travis Van Slooten
          Feb 28, 2018

          Maureen:

          Good to hear you interviewed “several” EPs and didn’t just settle with the first one you went to. That’s great! I always tell people to search for the most experienced expert EP they can find!

          Travis

          Reply
  16. DAve ( Age: 80 / M / Years with AFIB: 19 )
    Jan 08, 2018

    Regarding eating Himalayan salt, I found that salt is an acquired taste and once I weaned myself off, I no longer need it. I enjoy the real taste of my food much more now.

    Regarding your diet recommendations, I suggest you read Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn’s great book, “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease” for the ultimate heart diet, which really works.

    Reply
    • Travis Van Slooten
      Jan 09, 2018

      Dave:

      I don’t use table salt anymore as we’ve been using pink himalayan salt in our house for the past several years. I have low blood pressure so as my doctor told me, “salt is your friend,” so I actually need salt. Plus, pink himalayan salt has the added health benefit of containing essential minerals.

      Thanks for the tip on the book. I’ve provided a link to it for others to check out. I’ll be sure to put it on my reading list!

      Travis

      Reply
  17. Lennie ( Age: 71 / male / Years with AFIB: 1 year )
    Oct 31, 2017

    I’ve had Afib for about one year. I’ve always been a long distance runner/hiker for 50 years (many marathons, 30+ mile day hikes). I tried lots of really good magnesium (Dr’s Best and magnesium with heart healthy Taurine) for months taking 600-900 mg daily with no improvement. I can still walk 60 minutes but when I do a steep hill a-fib kicks in and I can’t catch my breath.

    I finally gave up on magnesium and started taking what my cardiologist prescribed, Cardizem. It helped right away. I take 60mg 2-3x a day. I’ve read that it’s not good to take magnesium if you’re on Cardizem (Diltiazem). Has anyone taken both and what was your results?

    Reply
    • Travis Van Slooten
      Nov 03, 2017

      Lennie:

      I haven’t heard of the potential negative reaction between magnesium and diltiazem. You might want to reach out to Dr. Dean’s company (ReMag). They are usually pretty good at replying to questions like that if you send them an email. You can send them an email here: https://rnareset.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

      Travis

      Reply
    • Sarah Womack ( Age: 72 / female / Years with AFIB: 6 )
      Apr 12, 2018

      What is Cardizem?

      Reply
      • Travis Van Slooten
        Apr 14, 2018

        Sarah:

        Cardizem is the brand name for the generic, diltiazem. It’s a calcium channel blocker. It helps control your heart rate. Specifically, it lowers your heart rate. It does NOT convert you to normal sinus rhythm but instead just lowers the overall heart rate.

        For example, you might be in afib and without the drug your heart rate is pounding away at 180 beats per minute. With a calcium channel blocker it would lower it to say 140 beats per minute or whatever. You’d still be in afib but your heart rate would be lower. I hope this helps.

        Travis

        Reply
  18. Matt ( Age: 41 / Male )
    Sep 29, 2017

    Hello, this is a wonderful resource. Thank you so much! I am new having just been diagnosed this week. I have not seen calcium listed on things I should avoid. Should I stay away from dairy and anything with calcium? Thank you so much for your help!

    Reply
    • Travis ( Age: 45 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
      Oct 03, 2017

      Matt:

      The short answer is no. All things in moderation:) Having said that, if you drink a couple glasses of milk or consume a lot of calcium-rich foods in a given day and have an afib episode, you may need to cut back. I wouldn’t cut them out completely.

      What you want to avoid as an afibber is taking calcium supplements – but even that isn’t true all the time. Calcium is an electrolyte so if you have some serious electrolyte imbalances, you may need to take a little calcium to balance things out.

      Bottom line, don’t worry about having a glass of milk or some cheese. Just don’t go overboard with calcium.

      Travis

      Reply
      • Sarah Womack ( female / Years with AFIB: 6 months )
        Apr 14, 2018

        Thank you.
        I was wondering the same thing. Trying to get my diet together and get the magnesium and potassium in.

        Reply
  19. Wendy Flett
    May 03, 2017

    Has anyone had experience with direct cardioversion treatment for AF when they have to take cortisone (Prednisone) on a permanent basis?

    I know this medication can ramp up AF episodes prior to treatment, but I need to know if the treatment can be successful whilst taking the medication.

    This info is for my Mum. She is 77 and has had AF for approx 4 years and it has been quite debilitating. Her doctors don’t like her asking too many questions. She needs to decide whether or not to have the procedure. Unfortunately she has many other health issues which complicate the treatment for her AF.

    Appreciate any feed back or experience that you guys may have. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
      May 04, 2017

      Wendy:

      I don’t have any experience having cardioversions while taking prednisone but here’s what I can tell you. It’s possible the prednisone will continue to trigger your mum’s afib after the cardioversion but here’s the thing…cardioversions don’t really “treat” afib any way.

      If your mum has a difficult case of afib, she’ll like go into afib eventually after her cardioversion even without the prednisone.

      I don’t know your mum’s other health issues but if she can, she should look into having an ablation. That is her best shot at a cure. Otherwise she’ll be stuck with taking meds to manage the afib and having the occasional cardioversion. I wish her the best!

      Travis

      Reply
      • Wendy Flett
        May 05, 2017

        Thank you so much Travis for getting back to me so quickly, much appreciated. Everything that you have said makes perfect sense. I wish that she would have/could have had an ablation years ago. It hasn’t been what you would call easy for her, a very long story. She has had so much to deal with, mainly because of totally incompetent doctors and years of mistreatment or no treatment. She has a very difficult case to manage, but I sincerely doubt she would have the ablation, there is nowhere for her to have it done in the state she lives in and the closest facility is away from family and support, a plane trip, etc etc, she just won’t do it. She is so worn down and lives with a lot of pain. Fibromyalgia, osteoporosis, AF and lower leg vein with circulatory issues, many meds that clash. It’s a mess but she battles on.
        I will pass on to her your advice and comments and keep communicating here when we need info, advice and or support.
        Take care, thanks again.
        Wendy.

        Reply
        • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
          May 05, 2017

          Wendy:

          So sorry to hear about all of your mum’s health struggles. It breaks my heart to hear these stories. I wish I had better answers for her. I wish her (and you) the very best. If you have any questions, let me know.

          God Bless.

          Travis

          Reply
          • Wendy Flett
            May 08, 2017

            Thanks mate, appreciate that.

            Reply
      • Barbara ( Age: 35 / Female / Years with AFIB: 2013 )
        May 25, 2017

        Hi I’m a 35 year-old female with normal structural heart and no other issues. I was getting episodes every two years now this year (Jan, April, and May) episodes last 11-15 min. I lay on the floor sit up a little bit and blow it breaks it. I had episode yesterday very scary heart rate 215 at one point. I shoved a beta blocker propanol down my throat and a baby aspirin. So far ok today. Mine seemed to start the week before my menstrual cycle. It starts when I get runs of pacs. I’m just so scared. My Dr said use the meds as a pill in the pocket. What do you think?

        Reply
        • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
          May 25, 2017

          Barbara:

          When I was battling afib (prior to my ablation back in 2015), I was doing the pill-in-the-pocket. At the time, my doctor prescribed Flecainide as a pill-in-the-pocket. It worked great for me. I wasn’t on a beta blocker, however.

          Given your very young age and normal structural heart, I would strongly encourage you to consider having an ablation. You’re too young to be confined to drugs the rest of your life. An ablation is your best shot at a “cure” without meds. If you go that route, be sure to contact me as I have some important info to share.

          I wish you well.

          Travis

          Reply
        • Anne B ( Age: 39 / F / Years with AFIB: 3 )
          Sep 15, 2020

          Barbara, if you are out there, thank you for sharing your story. If I can ask what you ended up doing and how you are feeling now? After reading your story, it sounds very much like my own. I am 39 and the a fib episodes seem to be mostly related to my menstrual cycle / come on before that, and they only come on when I am relaxing in bed right before falling sleep, so vagal in nature. They are coming more often now, First two episodes were a year apart, more I can get them back to back nights then be ok for a few weeks. PACs/pvcs during the day usually mean I will have a rough night and eating poorly/drinking tends to keep them away -I am always trying to lose weight (need to) but it also seems to bring them more frequently. I am scared about an ablation. My mom has had three or so and she’s permanently in a bad rhythm/they didn’t work (her afib came in In her 70s, not 30s like me). Dr has me on daily metoprolol and rhythmol as need.

          Reply
  20. Joseph ( Age: 53 / Male / Years with AFIB: 8 )
    Apr 28, 2017

    Travis:
    Looks after my ablation (12/20/2016) I have new type of arrhythmia – atrial tachycardia episodes. Any advice? Can AT trigger AFib?

    Reply
    • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
      Apr 29, 2017

      Joseph:

      It’s very possible these tachycardia episodes will settle down. You’re just outside your blanking period so it’s possible to have episodes like this still.

      To answer your question, any arrhythmia can potentially trigger afib. The hope is that the ablation holds. Meaning, you hope the ablation was a “durable” one so that these arrhythmia’s don’t trigger afib.

      I still battle PVCs and PACs on and off and I know for a fact that prior to my ablation these would have triggered afib all day long. Fortunately, my ablation has “held” so they don’t trigger afib.

      If your tachycardia episodes don’t settle down in the coming weeks and/or start triggering afib, you may need to have a touch up, second ablation.

      Travis

      Reply
  21. Joseph ( Age: 53 / Male / Years with AFIB: 8 )
    Mar 08, 2017

    I had an ablation for AF almost 11 weeks ago, for the first 8 weeks everything was perfect and then 2 times, on the 8 and 10 weeks I had a 1 hour each episodes of AF. Has anybody else gone through this and come out OK after the 3 month blanking period?

    Reply
    • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
      Mar 08, 2017

      Joseph:

      Are you still on amiodarone or did your doctor take you off of it? To answer your question, it is possible to come out o.k. after the blanking period even if you’re having afib episodes. However, you obviously don’t want to see a lot of afib activity and you want the episodes to be very short.

      If you start having a lot of afib activity and/or the episodes start lasting longer, then it’s possible you may need a second touch-up procedure (if you decide that another ablation is the best option for you).

      Travis

      Reply
      • Joseph ( Age: 53 / Male / Years with AFIB: 8 )
        Mar 09, 2017

        Travis:
        My doctor take me off amiodarone after 9 weeks, so first episode I had when I was on Amiodarone and second after stoping it. Currently I am taking only Xarelto and will stop it after 2 weeks (3 month after ablation). I am confused about duration of blanking period: some doctors believe it takes 2 month others- 3, I am wondering why healing of damaged areas needs such long time?

        Reply
      • dave ( Age: 56 / male / Years with AFIB: 3 )
        Mar 11, 2017

        thanks for your advice Travis, I had posted here several months ago and when my afib came back almost 24/7 after 6 months post cardio-aversion, I pushed the idea of getting an ablation based on your experience. About 1 month ago, I had an echo and it showed my fraction down below 30%, and they agreed to go ahead with it. They put me on Amiodarone and Dicarz and Pradaxa for blood thinning. Have to be on that for at least 4 weeks. The amiodarone really made a difference, i’m now back to episodes instead of 24/7, so I’m on the waitlist to get it done by early May, will keep you posted. Cheers Dave from New Zealand

        Reply
        • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
          Apr 29, 2017

          Dave:

          I’m sorry I didn’t see your comment earlier. It’s approaching early May. How are you doing these days? Are you still moving forward with an ablation? I hope all is well.

          Travis

          Reply
      • GEORGE MITCHELL ( Age: 72 / male / Years with AFIB: three )
        Apr 28, 2017

        MY SECOND ABLATION WORKED MUCH BETTER THAN THE FIRST ONE .A-FIB EPISODES SHORT NOW .NITRO TABLET BRINGS IT DOWN PRETTY FAST .

        Reply
  22. Joseph ( Age: 53 / Male / Years with AFIB: 8 )
    Nov 17, 2016

    Hello, Travis!

    Thank you very much for your support. I would like to ask about ablation. Have you had any episodes of atrial fibrillation after the ablation? I was diagnosed with lone atrial fibrillation 4 years ago. In the beginning I seldom had episodes (about 1 time in 6 months), but since April I have them almost every month. I live in Georgia (country) and the doctor told me that it’s impossible to cure but if the episodes occur less frequently it is good success. Do you agree with my doctor and do you recommend me to have an ablation, or stay on the “pill-in-pocket” (600 mg propafenone)? It works good.

    And one more question, if I do decide to have an ablation, at least how many days before the procedure should I start taking blood thinners?

    Many thanks in advance.

    Reply
    • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
      Nov 17, 2016

      Joseph:

      I have not any afib since my ablation in March 2015 (knock on wood). I disagree with your doctor that afib can’t be cured. I know people who have been afib-free for 7-15 years after their ablation. The key, however, is having the ablation done by an experienced EP! You want an EP who has done many ablations for complex cases of afib. I highly recommend you read this article:

      https://www.livingwithatrialfibrillation.com/1980/considering-an-ablation-to-treat-your-afib/

      The decision to have an ablation is one I can’t make for you. You’ll have to do your own research and then make your own decision. For me, it was a no-brainer. I did not want a life of prescription drugs and I didn’t want my afib to get worse so I had an ablation as soon as my afib got worse.

      If you have an ablation, your doctor will advise you what blood thinner to take and when to start taking it. My doctor had me taking a blood thinner about 2 months before my ablation and then about 2 months after my ablation. Some people have to take them longer. It depends on your own situation and what your doctor’s protocol is for the ablation procedure.

      I wish you well!

      Travis

      Reply
      • Joseph ( Age: 53 / Male8 / Years with AFIB: 8 )
        Nov 18, 2016

        Many thanks for helpful response.

        Reply
        • GEORGE MITCHELL ( Age: 71 / male / Years with AFIB: 2 )
          Nov 18, 2016

          I take warfarin …some don’t like warfarin ,but warfarin has a antidote vitamin k for excessive bleeding .”other” blood thinners have none .keep that in mind you will be taking this “not” your dr. remember this .

          Reply
      • Joseph ( Age: 53 / Male )
        Dec 02, 2016

        Travis,
        My doctor told that before ablation I have to make transesophageal echocardiogram, But I made my research and found out that it is not recommended in case of Lone atrial fibrillation. Your opinion is very interesting for me. did you make transesophageal echocardiogram before ablation?
        Thank you!

        Reply
        • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
          Dec 02, 2016

          Joseph:

          I did not have to have a TEE before my ablation. I understand that some EP’s do them as a general practice but my doctor doesn’t. Instead, he puts his patients on an anticoagulant for a period of time before and after the ablation to prevent the risk of blood clotting. He may do TEE’s for some patients but for the majority of them I know he doesn’t. If you’re on a blood thinner, a TEE before an ablation *usually* isn’t necessary.

          Travis

          Reply
          • Joseph ( Age: 53 / Male8 / Years with AFIB: 8 )
            Dec 13, 2016

            Travis,

            Many thanks for your comment, it encourages me to discuss this issue with my doctor an he agreed that in my case (Lone AFIB, duration of episodes 2-5 hours, I am on anticoagulants) it is not necessary. I scheduled my ablation on 20 December. I will share my experience.

            Reply
            • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
              Dec 14, 2016

              Joe:

              Terrific! I wish you a successful ablation! Keep us posted.

              Travis

              Reply
              • Joseph ( Age: 53 / Male / Years with AFIB: 8 )
                Dec 22, 2016

                Travis,

                I had ablation before yesterday. It was without any complications. Special thanks to Travis! You helped me to avoid such unpleasant procedure as TEE.

                Recovery is going fine. After procedure had skip beats. Today frequency decreased by far. My doctor put me on Cordarone (amiodarone) and Xarelto for 3 months. Also prescribed Nexium, allegedly for ulcer prevention. But I am not sure if it is necessary. What is your opinion about Nexium?

                Reply
                • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
                  Dec 22, 2016

                  Joseph:

                  Congrats on your ablation! And it’s great to hear you didn’t have to do the TEE and that your recovery is going well so far. That’s terrific!

                  As for Nexium, it’s a proton pump inhibitor that decreases the amount of acid produced in the stomach so it helps to reduce acid reflux and thus ulcers. Being on it for a period of time is fine. However, I personally wouldn’t want to be on it long-term (more than 6 weeks). Some people take Nexium for years!

                  The problem with long-term use is that we need a certain amount of stomach acid for proper digestion. Here is an article I found about a woman’s experience with Nexium. She does a good job of putting its use in perspective:

                  http://www.jolynneshane.com/how-i-got-off-nexium-for-good.html

                  Again, being on Nexium for a short period of time is fine. I just wouldn’t take it long-term:) There are better ways to tackle acid reflux as Jo-Lynne discusses in her article.

                  Have a Merry Christmas!

                  Travis

                  Reply
                  • Joseph ( Age: 53 / Male / Years with AFIB: 8 )
                    Jan 30, 2017

                    Travis:

                    Many thanks for your support and very helpful advice. 6 weeks past my ablation. I have no AFib episodes. I am still taking amiodarone and xarelto. Moderately exercising (brisk walking, stretches). My doctor told me that I can increase physical activity, however I have read that it would be better to limit physical activities for the whole blanking period. In your opinion what is the optimal physical allowed after 6 weeks? Thank you!

                    Joseph

                    Reply
                    • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
                      Feb 01, 2017

                      Joseph:

                      I was extremely conservative with my physical activity during my blanking period. In fact, I didn’t do any physical activity until after the blanking period. I’d have to look over my notes but all I did during the blanking period was walk – and not even brisk walk either – just leisure walks.

                      I didn’t want to do anything during the blanking period except leisure walks just to be safe:)

                      Travis

                    • Joseph ( Age: 53 / Male / Years with AFIB: 8 )
                      Feb 03, 2017

                      Travis:
                      I would like to ask how long was for you ,,Blanking Period” and how long time did you take antiarrhythmic drugs after ablation ?

                    • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
                      Feb 03, 2017

                      Joe:

                      The blanking period is technically the same for everyone – 3 months. However, some people take longer to heal so their blanking period may be 4, 5 or even 6 months. Generally speaking when we talk about blanking periods we’re talking about the 3 months after the ablation.

                      I was very fortunate in that I didn’t have to take any drugs after my ablation except Eliquis (blood thinner) for two months. It’s important to note I wasn’t on any drugs prior to my ablation either except Eliquis for a month or so.

                      Travis

                    • Joseph ( Age: 53 / Male / Years with AFIB: 8 )
                      Feb 03, 2017

                      Travis:
                      Our conditions before ablation are very similar: I also wasn’t on any drugs. Just during Afib episodes I used Pill in pocket (propafenon 600mg) and usually I converted to NSR after 2-4 hours.
                      I will discuss with my doctor to stop taking amiodarone. Thank you very much!

      • Sarah Womack ( Age: 72 / female / Years with AFIB: 6 months )
        Apr 14, 2018

        Travis I haven’t been able to take the blood thinners yet. So far have tried Eliquis and Xarelta. I have been on baby aspirin while I try to figure out what is best . They meds make me feel horrible../stomach ache, headache, weak and fatigued, chest tight etc. I only took one tablet of each and then couldn’t make myself take more. I have been in touch with the nurse from my doc’s office (she is wonderful) . She mentioned Coumdin but I have read up on that and really don’t think I can tolerate it. So far the baby aspirin (2x a day) has done pretty well for me. inbetween the day of Eliquis and day off and then Xarelto had an a fib attack . Lasted about 2 + hours and it was after that that I found this site. So I assume I can’t do the ablation. Bummed about that. Wonder what I can do?

        Reply
    • GEORGE MITCHELL ( Age: 71 / male / Years with AFIB: 2 years )
      Nov 18, 2016

      I HAVE HAD 2 ABLATIONS ..AFTER THE FIRST I HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH A STILL RACING HEART ..AFTER THE SECOND I WAS VERY MUCH BETTER ..LOSING WEIGHT HAS HELPED TOO . IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIND A GOOD DR . I HAVE SEVERAL I CAN RECOMMEND IF YOU LIKE I LIVE IN NORTH ATLANTA .

      Reply
      • Joseph ( Age: 53 / Male8 / Years with AFIB: 8 )
        Nov 19, 2016

        Thank you for recommendation! But I live not in US. I live in Georgia-country :)

        Reply
      • Eddie Watson ( Age: 82 / Male / Years with AFIB: 13 )
        Apr 03, 2017

        Hi Georgia Boy, I too live close to Atlanta and would like to know the names of some good doctors in and around Atlanta, I have had afib for 13yrs and had my 2nd ablation 2 wks ago and hopefully this one works. I am 82yrs old and sure would like to be afib free for the rest of my time with my family. would appreciate it if you can give me the names of your doctor’s, thanks in advance Eddie Watson

        Reply
    • Grandma of 4 ( Age: 78 )
      Dec 09, 2016

      I had an ablation a year ago. Since then I was in the ER twice for afib. Once was due to my eating habits during Easter – ham with salt and sides. Second one was caused by stress. I have to learn to control my stress and maintain a healthy diet. I do walk as much as I can.

      I am on warfarin and I was told by my EP I would be on it for the rest of my life. I am on a small dose of Betapace twice-daily. I carry Cardizam with me if needed. Good luck. Remember everyone is different you have to see what works for you. I am glad that I had the ablation. Before then I felt like my heart was ready to jump out of my chest quite often.

      Reply
  23. Melanie ( Age: 53 / Female / Years with AFIB: 1 )
    Sep 02, 2016

    I have also been prescribed Ranitidine 300 mg X11 daily
    As since the ablation , whenever I swallow food or drink , a little pocket of air comes up as I feel my food/drink go down , my GP doesn’t want my stomach acid/ reflux/ wind to cause an irritation in my stomach so it might bleed !!
    Another scary situation.
    I go back to my cardiologist on September 23 rd .
    Another 3 weeks yet !!!!
    Any one else our there experience think wind type thing
    Kind regards
    Melanie

    Reply
    • Annie ( Years with AFIB: 3 years )
      Nov 19, 2016

      I too get atrial fib with a very bad attack of indigestion. I think the vagus nerve is obviously involved. Doctors do not investigate the triggers that cause afib attacks. All they do is tell you to take more beta blockers etc. but it’s not addressing the root cause.

      Reply
      • Martha ( Age: 64 )
        Mar 08, 2017

        Agreed. They should find the root cause of things. Everytime I ask, they treat it like it’s some huge mystery.

        When I asked my first cardiologist who did my first cardioversion, why this happened to me, he said,

        ” WHY IS THERE AIR? ”

        Ridiculous. This man is the HEAD of an award winning cardiology department of a very good hospital. He is Columbia Presbyterian and Mass General Harvard trained!

        Furthermore, I know the answer. It was STRESS. Pounding, prolonged pressure. A lifetime of worry and anxiety that drove my heart to quivering. But everytime I tried to talk about that, about the bigger picture, he wouldn’t listen. Finally, he fired me as his patient. Thankfully I now have a wonderful, young woman cardiologist who DOES stop look and listen to me as a whole person. She gets that I have severe PTSD as a result of severe childhood abuse and also that I am a highly sensitive empathic creature who feels things deeply. and takes everything to heart.

        Things don’t happen out of the blue. Quite often they happen out of the oblivious. A good doctor should also be a good detective in order to ” get to the bottom of it” as my mother would say.

        One thing my new cardiologist told me was that once the heart has been Afibbing for awhile it tends to like to do that. She said the electrical system of the heart is very complex and that they don’t really understand it. I said this is a field of medical research that needs to be pursued. She agreed.
        Travis, thank you for your invaluable suggestions in this article. It’s an arsenal of support that every AFIBBER should know about.

        I take 120mgs of Sotalol 2x daily and feel it has eroded my vitality over the last 3 yrs I’ve been on it. I don’t want to be on anything. But I don’t necessarily want to have an ablation either. My mistake was I walked around with AFIB for 6 mos before being hospitalized in 2014 because I didn’t have insurance and was terrified of doctors. That was dumb. Had I gone immediately to an ER they could have converted me and I’d have been good to go. Being the adult child of two alcoholics with a history of severe abuse, my learning curve is self love and self care. As an empathic soul, when it comes to other people’s crises, I am positively heroic. I’m tuned into other people’s needs, I’m wise and clever and strong, and I spring into action like Mighty Mouse. But when it comes to me I tend to neglect myself. I’m learning to do better but it hasn’t been easy.
        Life here on Earth and especially now with what we are facing in America is not easy.
        I wish everybody reading this peace and love ~ especially kindness toward self on your heart journey.

        “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – John Watson

        ” The heart has reasons of which reason knows nothing..” – Blaise Pascal

        Reply
        • Patricia Nippell ( Age: 63 / female / Years with AFIB: 29 )
          May 07, 2017

          Martha your comments mirror many of my own experiences. I have been discouraged when asking my MD, cardiologist and now new young EP what is causing my afib and the universal answer is “we don’t know”. Their solutions are ever higher dosages of pharmaceuticals that fail over time and have debilatating side effects, or invasive ablation(s) that may or may not be a cure, and may trigger new problems. I feel we all need to let our Heart & Stroke foundations, (that are giant fundraising machines), know that more research is urgently needed in this area as SVT’s and afib are on the rise …. and it’s affecting young, middle aged and older persons alike.

          Reply
        • Susan Johnson ( Age: 72 / f / Years with AFIB: 8 )
          Dec 11, 2017

          Martha, I so agree! I’m almost 74 and had my first afib event Dec 2009 after a few months of high stress. It was lone, and I was told it would return. I had immediately changed my diet: no choc, butter, cheese, sugar, very little meat.., and increased veggies, fruits and beans. I lost weight easily on this eating plan.

          I also walked daily, but that not fast walking. I returned to meditating 2x/day, doing yoga. My bp lowered to normal on this plan. I slowly regained the weight over a few years and had a repeat event 2-3 years ago. After an extreme period of stress, afib events became more regular. I had also stopped meditating regularly. This past year I have realized the events are like a ptsd.

          I’ve increased magnesium w/ CALM, mg glcyinate, and Dr Sheley’s mg lotion 2x/day. I’m seeing a therapist 2x/month and she is helping me to revamp some of my habits about money [yeeks!] w/my husband. I also see a sacral cranial person 2x/month and a non force chiropractor as needed. My ‘valium in my pocket’ is homeopathic remedies: Hyland’s Calm during the day, and Calm forte at bed, and ignatia amaura for nervousness as needed. I also take taurine, co Q10 and a bunch of other supplements, including Phosphatidylserine 2x/day.

          I work on getting best sleep. It’s better, but I still wake at night often, but take a 1/2 of hyland’s calm forte if I do. Lately I take Calm and Ignatia amaura less and less, and some days not at all. I have not had an event since 11/6 this year. I had started to have events 2-3 x/wk or more, and had severely curtailed my activities as I never knew what would set them off. feeling hopeful.

          I wore a cardio vest 7 yrs ago when I had the first one, and they noted nothing but some pvc’s. I now have an occasional ‘blip’, and that is when I stop and slow down and may take a homeopathic. I’ve increased my mild exercise, and think that is part of my solution; walking daily. I have a mini trampoline w/a bar to hold onto so I am not dependent on getting outside if the weather is not supportive. I am exerting more w/ less ill effects. Stress is a major part of this occurrence for me, and being less resilient w/ age to change is also. Meditation and ignoring the ‘stuff’ that happens is big help. Thanks for this forum and all the info here!!

          Reply
  24. Melanie ( Age: 53 / Female / Years with AFIB: 1 )
    Sep 02, 2016

    Hi it’s me again …
    Update on my ablation , which I had 9 th August 2016 ,
    So I am 4 weeks post op on Tuesday next week.
    Today ( Friday 2nd September , I have been having little periods of fast heart rate , throughout the day , maybe it’s because I am tired or emotional ,
    Little argument with my sister , which brought on an episode , and announcement of a couple of dear friend s pertentially parting .
    I had a fitful sleep last night .
    Also I think I am worried about taking Xarelto , rivaoxaban x 20 mg a day
    I have read the leaflet and it says 1-10 people can bleed into the brain, stomach etc
    It fills me with fear .
    I think I have to take this blood thinner for 3 months post op!!!!!!
    Any one else had this scenario?

    Reply
    • Nick ( Male / Years with AFIB: Three )
      Sep 03, 2016

      Melanie, I had an ablation in June. Horrible recovery in the three weeks that followed. The heart is pretty mad at all that burning so it’s trying to establish a regular beat again. 3 months out I have had three more afib episodes.

      I am scheduled for my second ablation next week. My docs and others that suffer with this condition have indicated that two are usually necessary for a 94% cure rate. I am actually looking forward to it so I can get back to a normal life.

      I have been on Xeralto for the full time, so you should be fine. Don’t worry, it’s your best friend right now. I hope you are in the 74% that only needs one! It’s a terrible condition but there’s hope for a full recovery and that’s very good news. Stay strong and take it very slow for that three month window.

      Reply
      • Melanie ( Age: 53 / Female / Years with AFIB: 1 )
        Sep 07, 2016

        Dear Nick ,
        Yes it is a horrible condition….I am relatively fit , slim 53 year old , controlled blood pressure .
        I am not sure if I had heat or cold to be honest as when I came back from theatre , I was so cold . My friend told me they had to chill me right down . I was sure my consultant said heat .
        Will find out on 23 rd sept .
        I agree with the problematic recovery afterwards.

        I had 2 ablations 12 years ago on my right lower for eptopic beats, and my recovery was brilliant , driving after a week , no bleeding from my wounds , although I realise I was 12 years younger and not on blood thinners then .
        Thank you for your positive feedback , I appreciate that
        Especially about the blood thinner.

        All the best with your 2 nd ablation next week.
        Kind regards

        Reply
        • Nick ( Age: 68 / M / Years with AFIB: 5 )
          Nov 13, 2016

          Hi Melanie,
          Had my second ablasion 5 weeks ago, and recovery has been excellent. I believe he got it this time and I’ve been off All meds including Zeralto. Doc has some concern so he told me to keep it close just in case, if an episode occurred. Heart race is elevated, 85 -90 at rest, 105 normal activities, but he says it’s normal and it will take some time for it to return to a slower rate. I feel blessed and hope that my experience will resonate with you to give you a new hope for a complete resolution of your a- fib. Best wishes….

          Reply
          • Melanie ( Age: 53 / Female / Years with AFIB: 1 )
            Nov 17, 2016

            Well, an update…I went to see my specialist on 23rd September, my 6 week post op. I had an ECG and I was in sinus rhythm (90 bpm). However, as I had been experiencing fast heart rate episodes, one lasting an hour, I had a 24-hour tape fitted. The results showed I was having fast atrial beats but no atrial fibrillation so all good.

            Fast forward to this week I had my 3-month post op check. I have been having fast episodes every day since my 24 hour tape so my specialist says he thinks it’s AF and to have a second ablation for a touch up. I am unsure as I haven’t had any check or tape done to confirm I have AF again. When I asked him he said it’s most likely as I am over the 3 month post op! What are everyone else’s feelings on this?

            Melanie

            Reply
    • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
      Sep 06, 2016

      Melanie:

      I had the same fears as you about taking a blood thinner leading up to my ablation. I had to take Eliquis for a few weeks prior to my ablation and then for another 2 months after my ablation. Don’t dwell on the potential negative side effects. The majority of the people that experience brains or stomach bleeds often have comorbidities or are older – and have been on these blood thinners for years. You’re only 53 and I suspect otherwise generally healthy and will only be on these temporarily so you should have no worries!

      The best thing you can do is pray for strength and healing and think positive and talk positive!

      I wish you well!

      Travis

      Reply
      • Melanie ( Age: 53 / Female / Years with AFIB: 1 )
        Sep 07, 2016

        Thank you Travis , although I hate taking the blood thinners , I do understand that the alternative could be much worse .
        I also understand that my blood thinners , all being well, are temporary , as a precaution too .
        Kind regards

        Reply
    • GEORGE MITCHELL ( Age: 71 / male / Years with AFIB: 2 )
      Nov 18, 2016

      warfarin has an antidote vitamin k ,that’s why I take it .

      Reply
    • Martha ( Age: 64 )
      Mar 08, 2017

      Melanie,

      This sounds like anxiety. Worry is fear. ( Believe me, I know :)
      I tend to obsess about the meds too. In your case, it’s just a short run. i would just do what they say knowing you’ll have an end date. .

      You sound like an ultra sensitive. If you can find ways to self soothe this will help alot. Soft music, receiving massages, sunbaths, ocean swims, walks on the beach, mountain hikes, drawing, painting,mreadinga good book, snuggling with your significant other, children, puppy, kitty? walks in nature, naps, calming nutritious foods ( I like to make soup) lighting a candle, hot bubble baths, meditation and prayer and anything you love that makes you feel good are all ways to self soothe.

      Wishing you peace,
      Martha

      Reply
  25. Ianm ( Age: 75 / Male / Years with AFIB: Not sure )
    Jul 11, 2016

    Hi

    This may be a bit long but, hopefully, instructive/reassuring/helpful.

    In February 1989 I suddenly experienced irregular heartbeat which went on for a couple of weeks (was suffering from a reasonably high degree of anxiety at the time). Saw the Dr who gave me an ECG and had me in hospital for three days. When I came out I was on a medication called Kinidin. Subsequent visit to a cardiologist and a battery of tests revealed no apparent cause and after about six months I stopped the medication and had not further trouble for a few years.

    Subsequently, after about 10 years, I began to have episodes of irregular heartbeats, which were diagnosed as ectopic and of no concern. 24 hour heart monitors showed “normal sinus rhythm”.

    This was monitored regularly and eventually, about four years ago, I was put on low dose beta blockers to help control them.

    The only untoward thing that happened was about twelve years ago when I had an attack of vertigo that lasted for about three days and was eventually settled after I saw to Doctor who gave me some seasick pills.

    Then, in October last year I had an attack of food poisoning (I thought) and went to the ER. A multitude of tests and a CT Scan later I was told that I had had a stroke, was low on potassium and had AF.

    An MRI showed that the stroke was old (I never knew about it and now think that may have been connected with the earlier vertigo. My cardiologist thinks that I may have been suffering from sporadic, undiagnosed AF for years and that a blood clot thrown off from my heart caused the old stroke.

    Now I am on Sotalol 40mg bd, daily Micardis, daily Crestor (Statin) 10mg and Eliquis (anticoagulant) 5md bd.

    Still have the occasional mild attack of AF, never for long and usually y an hour or two after more than one alcoholic drink (I don’t drink much or often these days)

    The thing that made me tell this story was the comment earlier from someone who doesn’t want to take anti coagulants.

    The cardiologist told me that if you have AF then some blood is not moving through your heart as it should. Blood that doesn’t move can form clots and clots can break off, lodge in your brain and cause a stroke.

    That’s what happened to me but I was really lucky and dodged the bullet, it could have been far worse!

    So, whatever else you take or don’t take, do take the anticoagulant if it is recommended – the alternative is potentially far, far worse.

    Sorry if this went on a bit long but I hope that it helps someone.

    Reply
    • David G. Johnson ( Years with AFIB: 15 )
      Jul 15, 2016

      I most “heartedly” agree. If you have had AF, you should be on a anticoagulant all the time so as to not have a stroke when your go in AF.

      I used to be on Coumadin but now I am on Pradaxa that does not require finger sticks.

      I started getting AF after a benign tumor was removed from inside my heart.

      Many people it seems get AF in their 50’s and older, and some scientists think it may be from a deficiency in Magnesium that has a lot to do with heart rate.

      Many Magnesiums on the market are junk, and they give you stomach upsets and diarrhea. The best Magnesium to buy is one that has been chelated with an amino acid. Magnesium L-Threonate is good for cell health and Manesium Taurate has a calming effect that is good for heart rates.

      I buy my Magnesium on-line at Swansons Vitamins. I am in no way associated with this company. When a new nutrient is found to be benificial, they are usually selling it, and explain in detail about their products.

      Dark Chocolate, Caffeinated coffee and dehydration are my triggers and I stay away from them.

      Reply
      • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 10 )
        Jul 15, 2016

        David:

        Thanks for the tips on magnesium. I disagree with your comments, however, that if you have had AF you should be on an anticoagulant. It is never an automatic that AF=anticoagulants.

        What ultimately determines if you should be on an anticoagulant is your CHAD score and the frequency of your atrial fibrillation. If your score is 0 or even 1 and you only have an episode occasionally (yearly, monthly or even weekly), a blood thinner may not be needed.

        This is important to point out because people newly diagnosed may feel they automatically need a blood thinner. That is simply not true. Blood thinners should be considered and prescribed on a case-by-case basis.

        Travis

        P.S. I hate citing anecdotal evidence but I will here. I had afib for 9 years. At one point I was having weekly episodes. I was never on an anticoagulant. My father had persistent afib where he was in afib more than he wasn’t for almost a decade and he was never on an anticoagulant. Neither one of us ever had issues. Again, blood thinners should be prescribed on a case-by-case basis.

        Reply
        • David G. Johnson ( Years with AFIB: 15 )
          Jul 15, 2016

          Hi Travis,
          For me I would rather be safe than sorry. What can you lose? Only your life if you are wrong.

          It’s like saying, “My father smoked for 60 years and he never got cancer and lived to 100 years
          old so why should I not smoke?”.Because you got away without having a stroke in AF does not mean you, are completely in the clear forever.

          If someone else that takes your comment (a blood thinner “may not” be necessary) to mean they too have the choice not take a blood thinner because it is on a case-by-case-basis with their doctor and they do not like the finger sticks, or taking the medication, it could cause that one person to regret that decision. Patients have been known to persuade doctors to make certain decisions, and also doctors are not always 100 percent correct on their case-by-case decisions as we all know.

          I agree that If a person had just one bout with AF, went on a blood thinner, and then had no more AF for a year, I could see them not taking a blood thinner. But blood pressures should be taken every day as AF does not always show symptoms and I would want a blood thinner until my heart rate has been under control for some time. This is just my viewpoint to give to all the readers of this forum.

          David

          Reply
          • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 10 )
            Jul 19, 2016

            David:

            Taking these powerful blood thinners isn’t like taking a daily multivitamin. These drugs come with potential serious side effects. In addition, a lot of people don’t tolerate them well. We also don’t know what the long-term side effects are of taking NOACs as they haven’t been around that long.

            It’s never a good idea to put a young person on a blood thinner for the rest of their life IF it can be avoided.

            My simple point is that I don’t want people newly diagnosed with afib to think they are automatically condemned to a life of blood thinners. AF does not automatically mean blood thinners. In many cases they can be avoided.

            Travis

            P.S. I would also add this…if a person has to be on a blood thinner the rest of their life, the Watchman device should be a serious consideration. This device eliminates the need of a blood thinner all together.

            Reply
        • Ianm ( Age: 75 / Male )
          Jul 15, 2016

          In the end we have to rely on the advice of our physicians but, as I said earlier, I had a stroke about 12 years ago when my AF was very infrequent and being diagnosed as something else.

          Fortunately for me the infarct occurred in an area of my brain that caused no recognisable symptoms so I was unaware of it until a recent CT scan. So I dodged the bullet – the infarct could just as easily left me a vegetable!

          It only needs one small blood clot to cause irreversible, catastrophic damage so to be aware that you have the risk and not take appropriate precautions is to play Russian Roulette with your health.

          I have had no side effects from the blood thinners; I even had a back tooth extracted recently with no special precautions and no abnormal bleeding

          Reply
          • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 10 )
            Jul 19, 2016

            Ianm:

            I’m glad to hear you survived your stroke and are doing well today! Like I said, the use of blood thinners is a case-by-case basis. You had infrequent AF and obviously had issues.

            My dad and I had “frequent” AF and never had issues. We were both relatively young when our AF started – I was 33 and he was 51. Our CHAD scores were both 0. Neither of our doctors thought blood thinners were warranted.

            The idea that you’re going to put a 30, 40 or even 50-year old on a blood thinners for the rest of their lives is ridiculous. There are so many things that can be done first before resorting to this option. Mainly, having an ablation to stop the afib and/or having a Watchman device implanted.

            And if I’m being perfectly frank, it’s lazy medicine for a doctor to just pat you no the back and send you on your way with blood thinners. The goal should be to stop what causes the blood clots in the first place. You need to stop afib and stop the blood from pooling in the left atrial appendage (LAA). If you stop the afib (ablation ideally) and then remove the LAA from the equation by having a Watchman device implanted, you avoid the need to be on a blood thinner for life:)

            Travis

            Reply
            • Ianm ( Age: 75 / Male )
              Jul 20, 2016

              I think we are debating apples and oranges here. My comments were specifically directed at some people who have been advised by their physicians that they should be on anti-coagulants but were worried about taking them.

              Obviously if your Doctor says you don’t need then then you needn’t take them

              Ablation isn’t indicated for everyone

              I can’t comment on “lazy doctors” except to say that my experience (in Australia) has been anything but.

              Reply
              • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 10 )
                Jul 23, 2016

                Ianm:

                Thanks for the clarification but I think we are talking about the same thing. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people contact me via email or phone where they were prescribed a blood thinner after being diagnosed with afib for the first time. They contact me because they question the logic of their doctors. Why would a healthy 28 year-old who has had ONE afib episode be prescribed a blood thinner for life?

                These are the types of cases I’m referring to. If you’re healthy and have had only one afib episode and your doctor puts you on a blood thinner, I would get a second opinion and do some research on the topic.

                Travis

                Reply
          • GEORGE MITCHELL ( Age: 71 / male / Years with AFIB: 2 )
            Nov 18, 2016

            just remember warfarin has an antidote vitamin k ..ok .maybe excessive bleeding will affect one in a hundred ,but what if you are that one? warfarin has an antidote ! other newer blood thinners do not .discuss this with your dr. but make you’re own decision .

            Reply
        • Nick ( Male / Years with AFIB: 2 )
          Sep 03, 2016

          You’re very lucky Travis. It’s like playing Russian Roulette, just my opinion.

          Reply
          • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
            Sep 06, 2016

            Nick:

            Lucky? Not really. Again, I was only in afib once a year and each time I was only in afib for about 6-12 hours. When I was having bi-weekly episodes they would only last about 6-12 hours as well.

            Again, and I can’t stress this enough…afib does not always automatically equal blood thinners. If that mentality gives people peace of mind and they want to go on blood thinners, more power to them, but for those that would like to avoid prescription drugs as much as possible, you can take a more calculated approach.

            Why would you want to subject yourself to the potential side effects of a drug if you’re not in afib on a regular basis?

            I should also point out that I never let my episodes last more than 12 hours and that I was taking various supplements that help thin the blood as well. Now if I was having episodes every other day and/or each episode was lasting 18+ hours, then I would have taken a different approach. I would have gone on blood thinners.

            Travis

            Reply
            • Nick ( Age: 68 / M / Years with AFIB: On and off 5 yrs )
              Sep 06, 2016

              Travis after an ablasion, I was put on zeralto. Hated the side effects but appreciated the insurance factor it provided. Two months out my cardiologist took me off it and replaced it with aspirin. I’m just saying that if I go into afib, I take zeralto and stop it after the episode. The real drug that I believe to be one of the most caustic is Toprol. It created more episodes and side effects. Withdrawal from it is even worse. Cardio guys not happy with me for getting off them. Getting my second ablasion next week, and hope that I’m in that 94% success group! Best wishes to you and all that suffer from this life altering condition.

              Reply
              • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
                Sep 07, 2016

                Nick:

                I think we’re basically on the same page. I agree with your protocol. I sincerely wish you total success with your second ablation! Keep us posted.

                Travis

                Reply
            • June ( Age: 86 / Female / Years with AFIB: 12 or more years )
              Apr 30, 2017

              You say you never let your episodes last more than 12 hours. I am wondering how you are able to stop them, and if you can do it at will, why let them go on that long then?

              Reply
              • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
                Apr 30, 2017

                June:

                Great question! I would take Flecainide whenever I had an episode. I’d usually take that within 15 minutes of an afib episode. I would normally convert within 6-8 hours.

                Prior to taking Flecainide, however, I would go to the E.R. and have a cardioversion. When I relied on cardioversions to get me out of an episode, I would make sure it was done within 12 hours just to be safe. Technically, you can safely have a cardioversion within 24 hours of an episode but I never wanted to wait that long.

                Long story short, if I could have terminated my episodes quicker I would have. It’s just that the Flecainide would often take 6-8 hours and sometimes by the time I got to the E.R. and actually had the cardioversion done it was 6-8 hours or more as well.

                Travis

                Reply
        • Bea hirst ( Age: 60+ / Female / Years with AFIB: 2 )
          Nov 12, 2016

          Hi Travis iv just read your post about blood thinners and it’s given me food for thought, I have had 4 afib episodes in 2 years stopped after a hour at most with no intervention but they put me on Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) for 6 month awful bleeding of gums etc and no antidote so now on warfarin which is unstable if on antibiotics etc.

          It rules my like really this med , one specialist gave me flecainide the other said ablation? But after stopping alcohol, caffeine, etc. and having more water magnesium and potassium I’m much better regarding the irregular heartbeat I also have a heartbeat of 47/53 bpm….breath lol so I’m wondering if I actually need the blood thinner as it causes so many problems 😑 I’m going to approach my doc again after reading you post, worth a shot 👍

          Reply
          • Travis ( Age: 44 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
            Nov 13, 2016

            Bea:

            Without knowing everything about you and your health history it’s impossible to say but I will tell you this…

            I had afib for 9 years and never once used a blood thinner. At one point I was having weekly episodes that were lasting around 6 hours each. I never used a blood thinner.

            The risk of stroke is only present if you’re in afib. If you only have a couple episodes per year and they last less than an hour, I don’t know why you’d need to be on a blood thinner but you may have other risk factors your doctor is taking into consideration.

            Do you have silent afib or do you know when you’re in afib? If it’s the latter, then that would be another reason why I wouldn’t think a blood thinner would be necessary as you would know when you are in afib.

            Just my two cents. Definitely talk to your doctor about it though!

            Travis

            Reply
      • Sheila ( Age: 68 / female / Years with AFIB: around 4 )
        Aug 12, 2016

        Hi David,

        Thank you for your comments about afib. I suffer from it. Have changed to decaf coffee but I do tend to eat a good bit of dark chocolate. Will try staying off it now. Will also try the magnesium.

        Reply
  26. pamwilkison ( Age: 66 / female / Years with AFIB: 7 yrs )
    Apr 30, 2016

    About seven years ago a cardiologist diagnosed me with afib. He said my heart looked good and he didn’t want to put me on medicine but he did put me on Xanax. About 2 years ago I had to go into the hospital and had to withdraw from Xanax. I struggled and struggled and wanted to try something natural. I found the natural thing that helps me and it’s called motherwort. There are no side effects so you might want to give it a try. It’s equivalent to Xanax – only natural. I’ll be praying for everybody.

    Reply
    • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 Years )
      Apr 30, 2016

      Pam:

      Thanks for sharing! I’ve heard about Motherwort and how it can help calm the heart. Thanks for the reminder. I may need to look into it myself as I battle heart palpitations from time-to-time. Thanks!

      Travis

      Reply
  27. Jodie Leather
    Oct 11, 2015

    My mother-in-law was just diagnosed with afib. My problem is this she is an alcoholic and drinks everyd. Im backing her off but does it effect her condition and does anyone have any advice.

    Reply
    • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
      Nov 09, 2015

      Jodie:

      That’s a hard one, as I’m sure you know. If your mother-in-law is an alcoholic then seeking treatment is going to be her best option. Short of that, I have no idea how you help an alcoholic on your own. I wish you luck and I wish your mother-in-law well!

      Travis

      Reply
      • warren sjoberg ( Age: 82 / male / Years with AFIB: 24 )
        Nov 09, 2015

        I’ve fought afib for some time. I’ve taken every anti-arrhythmic drug there is, the last was amiodrone, this is a bad one since it can ruin your eyes in time. All can actually bring on afib.

        Discovering I had sleep apnea helped some, afib would come on during sleep when I quit breathing, I’d advise any afib person to get checked for sleep apnea, 8 out of 10, you’ll have it.

        Right now I’m doing better than ever before and here’s how: I take a strong daily regimen of all vitamins and minerals, it included fresh raw fish oil. I take the full recommended dose per day of HAWTHORNE, also COq10, both L supplements, cayenne pepper and four times daily 4 drops of oil of goldenrod under the tongue, this I think the ultimate answer.

        I’m 82, still working on the farm, very busy but I avoid being in a hurry or getting excited, high adrenaline is the last thing we need. I have one cup of half ‘n half coffee each morning. Avoid Coke or other caffeine drinks, a little might be OK but it pays to keep it very low. Avoid loud radio or TV, get a full 8 hours rest each night.

        Also, Pradaxa is a better idea than coumadin if you need a blood thinner, see your doctor about this, it saves having needles poked in your arm every week.

        Best of luck to all,

        Warren Sjoberg

        Reply
        • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 Years )
          Nov 28, 2015

          Warren:

          Thanks for sharing your afib experiences (and solutions). Glad to hear you’ve been able to find ways to keep the beast at bay and live your life! I wish you well.

          Travis

          Reply
          • Sue ( Age: 70 / Female / Years with AFIB: 2months )
            Mar 11, 2016

            What about anticoagulants, my doctors are pressuring me to take them, I have only had one attack of afib? I am presently in NSR. Why the hurry for the Xeralto? I am on 81 mg. of ASA daily. This is all new to me. With the anticoagulants it suggests, no Garlic, no Q10 or Cammomile, all the things that are so healthy and relaxing, I don’t know about this. . . I have a history of SVT episodes since I was 19 though, does that factor in?

            Reply
          • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
            Mar 13, 2016

            Sue:

            I don’t know your whole health history but generally speaking, most doctors are quick to put people on anticoagulants because quite frankly it’s “easier” and it protects doctors from potential liability. Having said that, I don’t want to paint a broad brush here either. Blood thinners are a good idea for many people.

            If I were you I would encourage you to voice your reservations about going on a blood thinner with your doctor. I also wouldn’t hesitate you get a second opinion. If you’ve only had one attack and aren’t having any more – and you’re not having any SVT or other arrhythmias – AND you have a low Chad Score, then there is a strong argument to be made that you don’t need to be on a blood thinner. Again, these are all things to discuss with your doctor.

            If for whatever reason you are indeed a good candidate for blood thinners, there are other options today such as the Watchman device.

            I wish you well.

            Travis

            Reply
            • Carol ( Age: 69 / Female / Years with AFIB: 6 months )
              Aug 14, 2016

              I am 69 and was diagnosed with afib in February this year. I had an ablation 4 weeks ago. I have mild hypertension and have been on a cpap since I was 50. I have no medical problems, not diabetic, and am 60 lbs overweight (5′ 9″ / 250 lbs.).

              I’m taking Lopressor and Eliquis. I’m still having bouts of erratic heartbeats but a slower rate than initially. It comes on at rest and feels like an alien is in my chest and wants out. I know I am fairly new at this but I am sick of it!!

              Reply
              • Nick ( Age: 68 / M / Years with AFIB: 5 )
                Sep 06, 2016

                Carol, I’m 68 and just had my first ablasion in June. Recovery window is 3 to 4 months. During that period afib, erratic beats, palpitations etc are common and expected according to my electro cardiologist. Unfortunately my first didn’t work and I’m now scheduled for my second next week. The stats are 74% for the first, 94% for the second. I pray your in that first stat. I’m actually looking forward to the second as I’m tired of not knowing when the next afib episode will occur. There is another procedure that is 99% effective. It’s for those that are in continuous afib, and where ablasion hasn’t been successful. It’s also minimally evasive. Bottom line there is hope. Hang in there, things should improve drastically in you 3rd month if it was successful. Above all don’t over exert, take it slow and easy. Regards

                Reply
          • David G. Johnson ( Age: 68 / Male / Years with AFIB: 14 )
            Mar 21, 2016

            Travis,
            I too have once a year bouts with A-Fib. My Cardiologist put me on Pradaxa after I requested it (got tired of all the blood tests on Coumadin). Now I can eat broccoli and other healthy foods
            I couldn’t on Coumadin. Your Kidneys and Liver have to be in good shape before you are allowed to be on Pradaxa though. And like Coumadin you have to avoid blood thinners.

            The only drawback on Pradaxa is that if you get into an accident and are bleeding, Vitamin K injections will not clot the wounds. You need a blood transfusion in order for your blood to clot, so make sure the emergency doctors know you are on Pradaxa.

            One cup of real coffee or a piece of dark chocolate will trigger my A-Fib. Also dehydration is known as a trigger too, and coffee is also a diuretic. I take Magnesium (Mag-Tab SR) tablets, Hawthorn Standardized Extract capsules, Potassium Chelate capsules and Standardized Grape Seed capsules to keep my A-Fib under control.

            Reply
            • GEORGE MITCHELL ( Age: 71 / male / Years with AFIB: 2 )
              Nov 18, 2016

              no antidote =possibly dying ,bleeding to death is not a good option .that’s why I am on warfarin .

              Reply
          • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
            Mar 21, 2016

            David:

            Thanks for sharing your experience. I see you’ve had atrial fibrillation now for 14 years. You’re fortunate that you only have bouts of it once a year!

            Pradaxa does have an antidote now so you can be at peace knowing you’re covered if you get into an accident.

            I wish you well.

            Travis

            Reply
    • cynthia ( Age: 41 / female / Years with AFIB: 1 yr )
      Jan 12, 2016

      Hi all my name is Cynthia and I have severe anxiety and I am on 5mg of Xanax. I’m drinking green tea and I just wondered if it was ok that it was safe to drink the green tea with taking my Xanax. Thanks, Cynthia

      Reply
      • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
        Jan 14, 2016

        Cynthia:

        I’m not familiar with Xanax but doing a quick search online seems to indicate that moderate amounts of caffeine while taking Xanax is fine but I don’t know for sure. You’ll want to talk to your doctor about this concern. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.

        I wish you well.

        Travis

        Reply
  28. Justin
    Oct 02, 2015

    Hello guys
    Im a 26 year old male i was diagnosed with afib in march and they are still looking into if it is WPW or something else. I keep hearing from nurses and doctors that im to young for this and bla bla bla…. Which i agree with them but i just hate hearing it. Anyway ive only have gone into afib a couple times but eveytime i do my heartrate goes up to 250+ which is pretty scary. Ive had a cardiac ablation done but they couldn’t find a problem so that was disappointing… Anyway im mainly writing to try and vent and to maybe talk to about it. Im finding that im getting scared to live life and enjoy life. I have 3 young kids and hate the fact that im scared to do anything. I feel like im getting more and more depressed. I heard talking about it helps and my wife tries but not knowing what im going through she doesn’t get it sometimes. Anyway just hoping to hear back or at least vent a little bit.. Thanks guys and gals

    Reply
    • RICHARD PURVIS ( Age: 56 / M )
      Nov 06, 2015

      HI, my first episode was at 23. then I did not have another one for 27 years. This pattern is crazy, I have had two in the month of October, two in the month of March and one in December last year. I just had a 3 day episode last week, each time I have converted within 2 to 3 days. I do not take any medications !

      Reply
      • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
        Nov 09, 2015

        Richard:

        That is a crazy pattern! If it starts spiraling out of control, you might want to looking into having an ablation sooner than later. I wish you well!

        Travis

        Reply
        • Mike Pendergrass ( Age: 55 / M / Years with AFIB: ~13yrs. )
          Jan 31, 2016

          I would tend to agree. The longer you’re out of rhythm the harder it is to get your heart to stay in rhythm. So give your cardiologist all the facts of your case.

          Reply
      • GEORGE MITCHELL ( Age: 71 / male / Years with AFIB: 2 )
        Nov 18, 2016

        I have a defibulator /pacemaker ,discuss this with your dr. it’s insurance and has saved my life .

        Reply
    • BILL
      Nov 08, 2015

      Hello,

      I haven’t visited this website for a while. I’ve now gone through most things to keep the afib down to a minimum. I do get it several times a month.

      Here’s what I do…this is going to sound funny so bear with me:-) First of all, I sleep on my right side. I dress with very little clothing at night and with only a sheet often to keep the heat down.

      I stopped coffee because of the heavy caffeine in it although I drink green tea up to 2 in the afternoon. I still take “Calm” which has magnesium, potassium, vitamin D3 and boron in it. It does help.

      My afib seems to start in the evening when it does. I do sleep with a bare tummy to further keep the heat down. If I get afib I take flecainide, but only at night since it makes me dizzy and only before going to sleep. I also keep carbohydrates to a minimum.

      Hope this helps. -Bill

      Reply
      • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
        Nov 09, 2015

        Bill:

        Thanks for sharing your experience with atrial fibrillation. Good to hear you’ve come up with a protocol that works for you!

        I wish you well.

        Travis

        Reply
        • Eddie Watson
          Jan 27, 2016

          I am 81yrs old and have had a fib for 11yrs have had an. Ablation, 7 stents in heart, and have been on every medication made for this condition but have had better results from magnesium taurate than anything else you can find it on the web at Swansonvitamins.com and also magnesium malate also helps and I am not associated with this company in any way . You can also find this at Amazon. Com.

          Reply
    • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
      Nov 09, 2015

      Hey Justin. Sorry to hear what a tough time you’re having. If you’d like to chat privately, please contact me. You can click on the “Contact” link found in the upper right hand corner of this website and shoot me an email. We can arrange for a time to talk on the phone if you’d like (or by email if you prefer). You’re not alone!

      Travis

      Reply
      • Linda Hickman ( Age: 71 / Female / Years with AFIB: 2 )
        Jul 28, 2016

        Has anyone tried using co-enyme Q-10? Our bodies make it naturally but the production slows down as we age. It is fuel for the heart muscle. I wish I had been taking it on a regular basis before getting Afib. Also, Taurine, an amino acid, is good for the heart.

        Reply
        • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 10 )
          Jul 28, 2016

          Linda:

          Very good tips. CoQ10 and taurine are definitely supplements all afibbers should look into. I take 200mg/day of CoQ10 myself. I used to take taurine too but for whatever reason I stopped taking it. I should look into it again!

          Travis

          Reply
          • Linda Hickman ( Age: 71 / Female / Years with AFIB: 2 )
            Jul 28, 2016

            Also, I had a lot of wrong things done. I think in 2014, after I had been hospitalized for two days, I was sent home taking the blood thinner, Xarelto, for 10 months. Then 2 weeks after my hospital stay, my doctor at the time put me on beta blockers, Metroprolol, which I think was robbing my body of minerals.

            By the way, no one noticed that I was supposed to be on blood pressure medication twice a day. I was only taking it once a day and kept having triple digits on the bottom number. When I went to the ER I was told to either take more blood pressure medicine or increase the beta blocker. That’s when a light went on.

            It was at that time that I remembered being on blood pressure medication twice a day for at least 17 years. Of all the medical and home health nurses involved, no one ever asked how often I took my medication. I don’t even know why I forgot. I had gone into Afib in July of 2014 and finally saw a heart doctor out of town. By this time I had lost most faith in these doctors here so I underwent a cardioversion in February 2015. It has been a long-haul and I have survived so far.

            Reply
        • GEORGE MITCHELL ( Age: 71 / male / Years with AFIB: 2 )
          Nov 18, 2016

          if you take a statin you should be taking coq 10.

          Reply
  29. Phyll Healey
    Aug 11, 2015

    Great to read the experiences of others. Let me share mine – had my first episode of Afib in 2011 at age of 64. Was playing ice hockey – did my shift and of course, heart rate high due to the skating – and while on the bench waiting my turn to go back on the ice I noticed my heart rate had not slowed down. Normally, it would return to normal rate within a minute. I sat out my shift hoping my heart rate would decrease. It did not so I left the arena.

    Within an hour SR returned to normal. Long story short, since then, the afib has gotten worse. Won’t go into detail here but the worst part outside of the tiredness is the fear. I don’t know what others have experienced in the ER but in my last trip to the ER at 5 a.m the attending doctor rudely asked me why I was there and essentially told me to leave. My heart rate was 90 and beating erratically. My normal heart rate is 45 so a 90 heart rate is excessive for me.

    As well, I did not know what my heart rate was before going to hospital because my heart was beating so erratically that I could not count the beats. I now feel I can’t go to the ER and am more fearful because I don’t know where to go if this hits me in the middle of the night. I am on flecainide and it is working well for me – 50 mg twice a day and am on xarelto.

    Anyway, thanks for listening. I guess knowing others are experiencing the same, especially the fear, is comforting even though I don’t wish this on anyone. All the best to one and all.

    Reply
    • Travis ( Age: 42 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
      Aug 20, 2015

      Phyll:

      You’re definitely not alone. “Fear” and “worry” are the most common emotions us afibbers struggle with every day. Even though I had an ablation and it’s been working so far, a minute doesn’t go by that I don’t think about having an episode. The emotional toll afib takes on a person is staggering.

      That sucks you had such an awful experience in the ER. I wouldn’t let one rude doctor prevent you from going to the ER again if required. Screw him! Chances are you won’t get that doctor again anyway. You might also want to let the hospital know about your experience. They need to know what is going on in the ER.

      I’m a little confused about your comments, however, when you say flecainide has been working well for you but you said your afib is getting worse. It sounds to me like it’s NOT working well. You might want to talk to your EP and come up with a different game plan.

      Whatever happens, I wish you the best and I sincerely hope you find a way to keep your afib at bay!

      Travis

      Reply
  30. Gerald R Taft ( Age: 72 / male / Years with AFIB: one year )
    Jun 19, 2015

    I am glad to have found this web site to provide some options beyond drugs for afib. I was diagnosed with afib a year ago based on an ekg prior to surgery. Military doctor did an echocardiogram (no afib noted) and put me on Pradaxa. Six months later a VA Nurse Practitioner gave me another ekg (no afib) prior to another surgery and changed my med to Xarelto.

    Five days ago my urine turned a dark brown and as this was one of the warnings for the side effects of Xarelto so I called the VA to report this. They did not seem to know what to do, ordered lab tests and I have not heard anything from them. I still can’t figure out what caused the brown urine but I did stop taking Xarelto and in two days my urine color came back to a nice straw/yellow. I fear I had some internal bleeding? Scary stuff and as my provider is rather unprofessional and uncaring I feel better trying some natural treatments.

    Reply
    • Travis ( Age: 42 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
      Jun 19, 2015

      Gerald:

      Sorry to hear about the issues you’ve had with your medications and your doctor (being unprofessional and uncaring). Brown urine is definitely a potential side effect of Xarelto. This can be an indication of internal bleeding (this per the Xarelto website.

      Even though your urine is “back to normal,” you should still report this to your doctor. You should also ask your doctor about the possibility of taking Eliquis. This is another new oral anticoagulant. I don’t hear as many people having issues with Eliquis as they do with Xarelto. Eliquis also has to be taken twice a day vs. once a day for Xarelto. This is actually a good thing in my opinion as you run a lower risk of bleeding (since the dosage obviously wears off that you have to take it twice per day).

      Eliquis also has a low dose option for those that are at risk of bleeding where you take 2.5 mg twice per day instead of the usual 5 mg twice per day.

      I don’t know your medical history and I’m not a doctor but based on what you’re telling me, I’m a little perplexed why you would even be on a blood thinner to begin with. Unless you are having afib on a regular basis, you may not even need a blood thinner. You might want to ask your doctor about having a heart monitor for a week or two. Then you’ll know how often you’re in afib.

      If you have specific questions, feel free to contact me directly via the contact page on this site.

      Thanks,

      Travis

      Reply
    • Pavel Gurvich ( Age: 79 / male / Years with AFIB: 25 )
      Jul 26, 2015

      I found the first time anything about AFib when my mother got it. I do not know how deep in mother’s family it existed but apparently it was in the family. She got it at the age about 55.
      It happened in Soviet Union at around 1960 and she was given bunch of medicines that did not really helped.

      Then happened the same with her brother who eventually died of a stroke at the age of 58. I immigrated to United States in 1975 and 8 years later my mother had stroke and died of it in Soviet Union.

      I began to experience AFib at the beginning of 1990’s. I was going to gym in the morning before going to the office and having breakfast. I discovered that my heart before the breakfast skips every fifth or sixth bit. I complained to my doctor but every time I visited him he checked my pulse and said that everything is normal.

      I had this problem for few years before I run my first NY City marathon at the age of 60. It seems to be totally vanished after two marathons 1996 and 1997. It came back 10 years later. I got it again in 2007 and found on Internet that it can be caused by the the lack of potassium. I purchased OMRON AUTOMATIC BLOOD PRESSURE MONITON MODEL BP762 that also reported AFib. I also immediately switched from regular salt in my diet to potassium chloride replacement “No Salt”.

      It worked partially. I had no AFib problem during the day but in the morning my heart beat was about 32. I also found out that my cousin (son of the uncle who died of AFib) in Houston TX experienced the same problem. He was brought to the hospital with heart beat 32 got stroke and got installed a pace maker.

      I have ran another NY City marathon in 2009 and luckily ate a bad whild mushroom after. I was brought to the hospital in Norwalk, CT and got 24 hour EKG in which for few seconds AFib was noticed. The hospital immediately called Norwalk, CT cardiologist from Cardiology Associates of Fairfield County who asked me to visit his office after I will get out of the hospital that I did.

      Cardiologists made few test including nuclear scan that showed my heart to be in normal condition. I still had 32 heart beats in the morning with indication of AFib. I had physical in 2011 where my doctor saw AFib on EKG and suggested me to go back to cardiologists. I told him that I had fasted for test and this may be the problem. He suggested me to come for another test in two weeks that I did. This time the EKG was perfectly fine.

      I thought about it and realized that time period between my evening meal and morning meal sometimes equal 10 to 12 hours. I have decided to take potassium gluconate pill before I go to bed. I started to do it in June of 2011 taking 100 mg pill and switched later to 545 mg. I keep my health diary since 2007 and checked up and found that the last time I did have heart beat 32 was in June 2011 and never after this. So I assume that I do not have AFib anymore.

      I should say however that it is not necessarily cure for everybody. I had few cases when I went to restaurant and had salty meal that gave me some AFib returns. I found also that caffeine and alcohol are giving me the same effect. I certainly am lucky to have good heart. As some doctors said my AFib incidence may be caused by the fact that my body has inherited the ability to loose potassium to urine that caused its deficit.

      I know that many people have AFib due to defective hearts. I however suspect that there are some people who can benefit from my experience especially if they are ready to prepare their food themselves avoiding sodium based salt.

      I am 79 years old now and have very little or no AFib occurrences in my daily routine.

      Reply
      • Travis ( Age: 42 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
        Jul 26, 2015

        Pavel:

        Thanks for sharing your experience! Potassium is a supplement I always recommend afibbers. Along with magnesium, potassium is very important. Good to hear it’s working for you!

        Travis

        Reply
        • Pavel Gurvich ( Age: 79 / male / Years with AFIB: 25 )
          Aug 20, 2015

          Thank you for your response Travis.
          I was quite successful until last few days. My daughter warned me few times about taking too much potassium and I try to figure out whether I take too little or too much potassium. So far I was only taking potassium in the pill before I go to bed for night sleep. It was working fine. I did not have any problems until last few days.
          I normally had rare incidence of AFib. in the pattern bit–bit–missed–bit etc. Potassium pill normally did cure it.
          However recently the pattern changed. I now have bit– bit–bit-bit–bit–bit-bit. Couple very close to each other bits inserted between normal bits.
          I thought that this may be the reason my daughter warn be about too much potassium. I tried however to take extra 100 mcg pill but this does not help.
          Do you or anybody knows anything about it?
          Please let me know.
          Thank you very much, Pavel.

          Reply
          • Travis ( Age: 42 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 )
            Aug 20, 2015

            Balancing your electrolytes can be a tricky thing to do. Too much of any one of them can cause issues if you are particularly sensitive to them. It’s all about trial and error. The other thing that makes things challenging is the supplements themselves can make a huge difference.

            I wish you well.

            Travis

            Reply
        • Sandy ( Age: 48 / Female / Years with AFIB: My mummy five years. )
          Feb 29, 2016

          Hello Travis,

          Please excuse my nervousness I’ve never used a site before. I was just reading yours and thought I could get some support here which I am so grateful for. I try so hard to understand about AFib and I do worry. It’s my mummy who is 83 years young who has A-Fib, on oxygen 24/7, arthritis in knee joints, and has had congestive heart failure a few times previously.

          I’m an only child and I am my mummy’s carer, we live together along with my very understanding partner. I was bullied by hospital staff a few years ago, long story which they got away with, so I am very afraid sometimes and try my best to help keep mummy well.

          Mummy’s A-Fib can go from 50bpm and go up to 120bpm all within two minutes. Is this what happens with AFib?

          Mummy is on bisoprol fumerate the lowest dose every morning, warfarin, Metformin 500mg once a day, iron tablet 210mg twice per day, and spironolatone 50mg once in the morning. furosmide (water tablets 80mg in morning and 40mg afternoon. And at night simvastatin.

          Would you happen to know if mummy would benefit from potassium or anything natural to help AFib?

          I just worry if anything would interfere with the list of tablets I’ve just mentioned. I feel inspired by some of the helpfulness on this site. I’m a very nervous shy person so please forgive me for asking and if you can help about anything extra to help mummy. I pray to Jesus every day for healing and I’m so grateful for finding this site but would like to know if A-Fib can change on a daily basis giving lots of different bpm readings, I do have an oximeter machine too.

          Reply
          • Travis ( Age: 43 / Male / Years with AFIB: 9 Years )
            Feb 29, 2016

            Sandy:

            Thanks for sharing your comments! No need to be shy as nobody will be able to identify you:) I’m sorry to hear about your mother’s health challenges. I know it’s hard to watch someone you love “suffer” or not have ideal health.

            I’m not in a position to provide any recommendations as I’m not familiar with all the drugs your mother is taking. And given her complex health issues it makes it even more challenging.

            However, I do have some resources to recommend. Steve Ryan of a-fib.com provides afib consulting that you might want to consider. You could also post your same questions over at the afibbers.org forum. That forum has some of the smartest and most experienced people with afib. Here is a link to their forum: http://www.afibbers.org/bulletin.htm

            I wish you and your mother well and I will say a prayer for you both!

            Travis

            Reply
          • David ( David G. Johnson )
            Feb 02, 2017

            Hi Sandy,

            Do you keep track what your mother eats before her A-Fib jumps to 120bpm? Maybe there is something in her meals (like regular coffee or a chocolate dessert?) that might be stimulating her heart. Start writing down what she eats. It make take one or two mealtimes for the A-Fib to show up so it may not be breakfast that caused it instead of dinner. Also make sure she is drinking plenty of water too, as dehydration can be a trigger. Keep track of what she eats for a week to see if something in her meals may be triggering her A-Fib.

            David

            Reply
        • John Tischner ( Age: 80 / Male / Years with AFIB: three or so incidents over 8 or 10 years. )
          Mar 28, 2016

          Travis:
          I noticed in your earlier post you recommend potassium for those with afib problems. I would like to take a potassium supplement in particular to help ward off leg cramps but also for potassium being heart healthy. However, I am on multaq for atrial fib but after doing some research found that taking potassium along with multaq can be dangerous. Any comments on this?

          Reply
        • Melanie ( Age: 53 / Female / Years with AFIB: 2.5 )
          May 01, 2017

          I am interested in all these supplements … how do you know if you are lacking in them ? A blood test?

          Reply
  31. Brett ( Age: 41 / Male / Years with AFIB: 2 )
    Dec 11, 2014

    Hi. It’s great to read about others trials and tribulations with their A-fib experiences. It’s given me confidence to try new things to see if they help. I’ve had a_fib for 2 years now and have always reverted to normal rhythm within 24 hrs sometimes with the use of some magnesium supplements, rehydrating, rest, beta blockers recently flecanide and sometimes without anything extra. Two weeks ago things changed I went into a-fib and haven’t been able to revert with any drugs or techniques and am waiting for electrical cardioversion ( first one) once I have had a period of anticoagulants . I have tried most of the recommendations above including diet, avoid triggers, magnesium. I just tried doing some exercise (reps of sit-ups) to see what happened to my rate and rhythm ,not a blip changed pulse stayed at 125. Tried pouring gallons of freezing cold water over my head & body ( one of the tricks to try recommended on this site was head in cold water to shock body) , again heart rate didn’t even change a bit. I am a bit worried now that there may be something else going on on top of the A-fib . I have been put on a small dose of metoprolol to bring the hr down but this hasn’t had a dramatic effect like this before. anyone else had experiences like this with A-fib?

    Reply
    • Travis ( Age: 42 / Male / Years with AFIB: 8 )
      Dec 11, 2014

      Hey Brett! Thanks for stopping by! One of the frustrating things with afib is that it tends to get progressive. It could be your afib is to the point now where it’s not responding to natural things or drugs. Hopefully it’s just an exception this time around but if the afib gets more stubborn you may need to consider an ablation. I’m a year older than you and I’ve had afib for 8 years now. I have an ablation scheduled in February 2015 for this very reason – my afib has gotten progressively worse.

      Don’t sweat the electrical cardioversion. I’ve had four of them over the years. They are completely painless. Hopefully it converts you and you stay in NSR for a long time!

      How often do you have episodes?

      Travis

      Reply
      • brett ( Age: 41 / male / Years with AFIB: 2 )
        Dec 13, 2014

        Thanks for the encouraging comments Travis. After reading your story I too have come to a decision point or a fork in the road where I need to take action to whats happening as I also want to be healthy and to avoid a lifetime of drugs.
        FYI, I started having around one severe episode every month when they began 2 years ago, but a cocktail of metaprolol and magnesium helped reduce them to one mild episode every few months until 7 months ago when metaprolol basically stopped helping and I started getting several severe episodes a week until I was put on Flecanide. Flecanide was great, as it appeared to have no adverse affects (metaprolol made me tired, dizzy and could even make me feel so vacant sometimes I felt I couldn’t drive or go to work). With Flecanide I was able to started sport again (I had break through episodes when on metaprolol almost every time) without breakthrough episodes. It felt great for a few months but then two weeks ago it seems Flecanide also has stopped working and I have been in a-fib ever since then. So it has been very encouraging to read others who are also getting worse and to see what they are trying to do to combat it to get their quality of life back. Its depressing trying to deal with this on my own but since reading posts and forums like yours, I have become much more positive. So I have set about developing a plan of my own based on what I have learned.
        My plan (so far):
        Step 1) Reduce stress as much as possible – all the major progressive steps in my a-fib have been during very stressful periods in my life , family health, work, new born (sleep deprivation). So, I have just resigned from my very stressful job and will access our nest egg to take time off de-stressing with family. My family and I will move to Southern France in Jan 2014 to live with friends in the countryside for 3-6 months to get away from everything stressful.
        Step 2) Diet change. I have tried the Paleo diet before and it helped so I will do this again once in France where good food is more affordable and accessible ( currently I live in arctic Norway where good fresh produce is rare and very expensive).
        Step 3) Wean myself off drugs during this period (I was on holidays in October and went off all drugs and had no episodes due to low stress levels even when climbing up those thousands of ancient ruin stairs).
        Step 4) keep investigating (reading the net , possibly consult a Naturapath etc) other positive things to add to plan. I am considering the chelation therapy along with vitamin and mineral supplements .
        Step 5) If all the above lifestyle changes do not help or have any impacts I will consider heading down your road to ablation surgery.

        As you can see from my actions “STRESS” is my main issue (cause , trigger etc), whether its physical or metal , I believe it is the key (in my case) to licking this thing. Is this something you can relate to as you have mentioned you have been having more episodes the closer you get to your surgery, which is somewhat stressful no doubt.

        Again thanks for your comments and I am keen to hear how you ablation goes in February.
        Best of luck to everyone with their battle.

        Reply
        • Travis ( Age: 42 / Male / Years with AFIB: 8 )
          Dec 14, 2014

          Brett:

          Thanks for sharing your story! You have a solid plan and I have no doubts it will help, but as you mentioned, if your afib spirals out of control as mine as despite your efforts, don’t hesitate to consider an ablation. You’re far too young to be on drugs for the rest of your life!

          If you’re going to be in France, the Bordeaux team there are literally the founders of ablations. The center there is considered one of the best, if not the best, in the WORLD. I would definitely check them out if your lifestyle changes to make a difference in your afib.

          I wish you the best. Please keep us posted.

          Travis

          Reply
    • Jo Ann ( Age: 62 / F / Years with AFIB: 2+ )
      Jan 11, 2015

      Hello, Isn’t it amazing that you can hear stories from all over the world! Norway is one of my wanna go destinations. Thanks for your input.
      Well, here is my story. I found some of yours to be so helpful that I thought I would share at least one thing that I haven’t seen out here. This ‘brief history of my AFIB’ started on Dec. 12th, 2012. My 1st 2 episodes were in the middle of the night. The first was probably triggered by a large diet coke, Sudafed 3 days in a row and ice-skating outside in the cold. The 2nd was probably triggered by stress at work. The 3rd and final happened 5 minutes after playing badminton after sitting in a car for 1 1/2 days. I had also been stressed out the whole way there. So I spent the vacation in the hospital. My episodes all lasted about 20 hours before conversion occurred. That last hospitalization happened in September of 2013. I still have AFIB flutters almost every day, but I’ve been able to literally shake them off. There have been just a few times that they have been a little more prolonged, but there is usually some environmental stress involved, like a bad storm or tornado warning.
      Now here is why I am writing. For the first 9 months, I had butterflies and anxiety every day. That was worse than the hospitalizations. 1 week before my last trip to the ER, I started taking an adrenal supplement called Adrenal Health from GAIA. I continued it for another week and a half after that, and then one morning I woke up without the usual anxiousness. It was quite sudden, and I’m happy to say that I haven’t experienced the jitters since that day. I started with 2-3 pills a day, and now take only one in the morning and another if I know a stressful situation could come up. This supplement is supposed to help your adrenal respond in a more controlled manner to stress. My whole life changed at that point and within about 6 months my confidence had really started to increase. For medication, I take 1/2 (12.5mg) of Metoprolol Tartrate at night only(it’s only a 12 hour form) as I feel most vulnerable then. It makes me too lethargic during the day and what’s the point of that? I do take a baby aspirin at dinner, but I also take another supplement that probably protects me, so I’m not sure I will continue the aspirin as I’m low risk for other heart disease. I also supplement with magnesium and potassium 4 times a day. I’ve researched enough that I feel I’m not overdosing on either. I use different forms such as bananas, coconut water, Calm, a magnesium lotion by Biogenics(on Amazon), and a supplement by NOW that has magnesium, potassium and taurine. I also meditate daily. I love the Deepak Chopra/Oprah Winfrey 21-day meditations. I put them on my phone so that I can do them any time. I’ve been exercising more than I ever have before, just to keep my heart strong enough to endure an attack if I do have another. That’s pretty much it. Thank you for all of your stories, and good luck!
      P.S. Be careful when you lean over. No down dog for me.
      P.P.S. I’d also be cautious with cough medicine. I took ½ dose last April and my heart seized up 3 times in 5 hours. That was after the cardiologist said I could take it. I don’t see him anymore. Also, my internist said coughing was good for an AFIB attack. I guess that’s why I didn’t have one when I was so sick!!

      Reply
    • dana ( Age: 67 / m / Years with AFIB: 15 )
      Dec 01, 2015

      whenever my afib exceeds 2 or 3hrs. , I will take one 25 mg sennosides equate brand laxative. within 30 minutes my afib will stop and everything will be normal and I have a happy high.

      Reply
  32. Alice Frick
    Jan 23, 2014

    Hi. My name is Alice and I was diagnosed with lone Afib on September 11, 2013. I am only 31 years old. I have been to the ER 5 times since then. I was laying in bed trying to fall asleep when my heart started racing. I changed positions hoping that it would help but it did not. After about an hour, I woke my husband up and we went to the ER where they did an EKG and proceed to scare the life out of me. Click here to read the rest of Alice’s story.

    Reply
    • GEORGE MITCHELL ( Age: 69 / MALE / Years with AFIB: 5 )
      Jul 17, 2015

      ALICE ,
      METOPLOL HAD HORRIBLE SIDE EFFECTS “FOR ME” .BUT IAM ABLE TO TAKE CARVEDILOIL ,IT’S CHEAP TOO .I AM PRESENTLY TAKING 12.5 MG 3 TIMES A DAY .I HAVE HAD TWO ABLATIONS BY A WELL EXPERIENCED ELECTRO-DR .DON’T FEAR ABLATION BUT FIND A DR. WHO DOES NOTHING BUT AND YOU’LL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF HAVING A SUCCESSFUL ONE .I HOPE THIS INFO HELPS YOU IN SOME WAY ..GEORGE

      Reply
  33. steve
    Aug 13, 2013

    Ultimately folks there is a fix if you are willing to crack your chest open. I tried everything from Flecinide, Multaq, Amiodrone (couple times) and two others (tycosine sp?) that didn’t work. Had at least 10 electrocutions (cardioversions), endured 2 ablations, ate magnesium, all since I found out in 2008 that I had afib 10% of the time. Within 3 years of taking all of the above I was persistant afib 100% of the time. I talked to Dr Patrick McCarthy at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and he gave me a 95% chance of whipping this thing with a procedure called classic maze. He cracked me open in mid-May and am constantly sinus once and for all. was a big decision but am happy as a church mouse that I met him!

    Reply
    • GEORGE MITCHELL ( Age: 69 / MALE / Years with AFIB: 5 )
      Dec 07, 2015

      How long for recovery? Thanks. -George

      Reply
  34. Neville Greenwell
    Aug 05, 2013

    Thanks Bill,

    Calm contains magnesium. I’ve started using a similar product, Blackmore’s Magnesium Compound. It works.

    I’ve never heard my cardioligist mention magnesium or potassium. Could that be because there’s nothing in it for them?-Neville.

    Reply
    • David ( David G. Johnson )
      Feb 02, 2017

      Neville

      Yes and no. There is no money in it for Big Pharma. They control the medical boards and do not recommend that doctors tell you to buy over-the-counter nutrients rather than their drugs. Some doctors have been told they may be fired if they recommend nutrients that have not had years of costly scientific studies. There are not too many “Nutritional Cardiologists” operating in the U.S. Try googling one for your area and if you find one you will have the best of both worlds.

      David

      Reply
  35. BILL
    Aug 02, 2013

    HELLO,

    INTERESTING WEBSITE… A FEW YEARS BACK I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL WITH A-FIB ALTHOUGH FOR THE MOST PART IT WAS GONE EVEN THOUGH THEY KEPT ME 5 DAYS…LAST NIGHT I HAD SOME HIGH CARBOHYDRATE FOOD AND GOT A-FIB IN 20 MINUTES… IT WENT ON FOR 2 HOURS AND THEN I TOOK A HEAPING TABLESPOON OF A POWDER CALLED “CALM” IN WATER … THE A-FIB WAS GONE IN 10 MINUTES…I NORMALLY TAKE CALM ON A DAILY BASIS… IT SEEMS TO WORK WELL—BILL

    Reply
  36. Neville
    May 31, 2013

    Hi All, I’m 71, have had AF on and off for about 4 years now. Once I had it continously for eight months and was scheduled for a cardioversion when it suddenly stopped.

    I’ve tried limiting caffeine, alcohol and chocolate. Eliminating any of these doesn’t work for me but I have found more than a couple of alcoholic drinks to be a definite trigger. Also, for me, flecanide doesn’t work at all.

    I had an experience yesterday which may help. I had had AF for a couple of weeks fairly badly and was playing golf. (I have played golf with AF before without too many problems). I had several dizzy periods but didn’t mention it to my playing partners as I didn’t want to alarm them. The dizzy spells got worse and at the 11th tee I had to sit down for a few minutes. Nobody noticed because we had to wait to play anyway. I didn’t think I’d be able to finish the game but after playing on for a few holes I found I was OK.

    I even got to the 19th and had a couple of beers and I was still OK. In fact, my AF was gone!

    I was mystified! I thought back to what I had eaten; cerial with a banana at breakfast and a raisin and banana sandwich for lunch. Then I trawled around on the net and found this site: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/askdoctor/afib_potassium.aspx.

    I hope this is not a coincidence and is helpful to others.

    Reply
  37. Donna
    Apr 27, 2013

    Have you been checked for hypoglycemia? You may want to if you have not…..good luck!

    Reply
  38. Sandra
    Apr 27, 2013

    Hi. I have been reading all the posts here and no one seems to experience passing out. I was diagnosed with AF three years ago and put on Cardizem, which seems to work well until last month.. I have had episodes of getting extremely weak, sweating, trembly, anxious, unable to record a blood pressure reading, never have pain, and it builds up to a point where I pass out / faint. It has happened over the years and finally diagnosed as AF three years ago. However one day last month, March, I felt bad all day and finally went to the the ER, had an EKG which was normal, and returned to the waiting room. After a short wait, was called to the registration desk, and while standing there felt suddenly weak, sweaty, etc, and told them i was going to pass out. They brought a chair out for me and I woke up inside on a gurney, with doctors and nurses standing around me. One said ” you really scared us for a minute”. I don’t know what happened in the ER, but my heart became totally normal again, and I felt fine again. This really scares me because I feel like I am “melting” or “dying” but have no pain whatsoever, and feel no palpitations or anything unusual in my chest. Has anyone else had a similar experience? I am not sure that my diagnosis is correct. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Sam
      Oct 24, 2017

      Hi Sandra,

      I’ve never been on this site before so apologies if this is way too late to matter. My wife has afib and was also experiencing dizziness and actually passed out one time. No one seemed to know why until she had an echocardiogram while she was experiencing the dizzy symptoms.

      Turns out her heart was “pausing” for up to 6 seconds at a time. She had also experienced episodes with a slow heart rate along with the afib. Mayo Clinic installed a pacemaker to prevent the pauses and slow heart rate. It was pretty much an instant fix and has she has experienced none of the symptoms since.

      The lucky thing for her was being tested while the symptoms were occurring. An earlier echocardiogram missed it because she was in NSR that day. If no one has suggested it, a Holter Monitor should also reveal if “pausing” is the cause.

      Reply
      • Travis Van Slooten
        Oct 31, 2017

        Thanks for sharing your experience, Sam. A Holter monitor is definitely a smart thing to do if you’re experiencing dizziness, afib episodes, etc. and they can’t catch it with an ECG or echo. I’m glad to hear your wife is doing better!

        Travis

        Reply
  39. Brenda
    Mar 20, 2013

    Tonight was a good one meaning this last Afib/RHB was scary dizzy bp 147/103 pulse 84 it was quick though and so was the rate of my anxiety. I’m on metropolol and Coumadin . Who can live with the fear of having a bleed anywhere. I will have a heart ablation soon I want it done , I can not remain on these drugs the side effects are worse than the disease . I hope for me and others find the answers to their Afib for this is not a way of life filled with fear and anxiety.

    Best of luck to everyone

    Reply
  40. Jo
    Mar 14, 2013

    Hi can any one help me? My Mum has Afib but it’s a slow version. Her heart doesn’t beat fast but it gies into Afib. Docs have told us she will never get rid of it and will have it for the rest of her life.
    We are v upset. I’m going to buy magnesium tomorrow and get her to drink more water.
    By the way, her Afib started after docs prescribed her Prednislone steroids too.
    Thanks, please help us.
    Jo

    Reply
    • GEORGE MITCHELL ( Age: 69 / MALE / Years with AFIB: 5 )
      Jul 17, 2015

      HAVE YOU CONSIDERED A DEFIBULLATOR/PACEMAKER COMBO ?

      Reply
  41. judi
    Feb 19, 2012

    Wow what a nice letter/so positive considering what you went thru. I learned a lot. I didn’t know you could be out of afib and still have the high heart rate. Scarey
    I often wondered about when your heart rate is high and you are resting,
    Why is not good if the same heart rate is good exercising?
    If that makes sense.
    I used to do water aerobics 2 or 3 times a week. Now I’m afraid to.
    Anyway bless your heart for the great attitude.
    Judi

    Reply
  42. Pam
    Feb 19, 2012

    Donnah…and all,
    Thank you so much for the nice note. It meant so much to me. I woke up last Monday morning at 4 am in afib. After taking a valium.. (lol..doctor prescribed!) and 25 mg of toprol..after three hours the afib seemed to go away but the rapid heatbeat did not. I was at 130 to 150. So in the afternoon i called the cardio doctor…In I went for an ekg….they told me my heart would once again have to be probably shocked…so off to KU med center I went…pillow in hand (after all who cant sleep ..let alone rest with a hospital pillow!) I was admitted and in the evening they decided to try to convert me with cardozam…it did work and I was told I would not have to be converted in the morning..(yipee!!! Since last time they did the echo down my throat..before the shock..to check for clots first….well..I woke up in the middle of that test…mouth clamped open and all….so this little hospital gown wearin’ momma was a happy camper not to have to be shocked again) Besides..if they leave those pad marks when they shock you I have suggested the pads be cut heart shaped or at least skull and cross bones…so for at least a short time of my life I could have a tatoo!!)….anyway….the doctor came into the room tuesday am..(nice valentines day by the way!!)..and she said my heart could not keep going into this fast rate and keep beating for ever (really I thought>>>where is that dang energizer bunny when you need the fuzzy little fellow!!)………..so I asked her what she would do If I was her mother?
    She said she would start her on tikosyn and if that didnt work would put in a pcemaker for rate control…then eventurally if need be remove the av node. (shoot…I knew that is what keeps the ticker going I thought to myself)…as she left the room I had one more question for her….”Do you Love your mother?”
    So after discussion with my hubby..we decided on the tikosyn …which required a minumum of three days in the hospital to closely monitor your heart. (It didnt help the stories I had heard…or the fact that from the hospital room for three days my little Iphone gave me access to info on the drug. But I found good and bad things…as usual….
    I was relaeased yesterday..and as I wirte this there have been no side affects…and my heart is still beating..(at a normal rate)…so this is a very good day
    The future I do not know…the fear still comes and goes.
    But while i was in the hospital I had the chance to talk with some doctors and social workers…that there indeed needs to be support groups started.
    I told them I even found one on line for breast reduction surgery…what!!!!?..Yes seems you can get emotional support when you choose to lop “Off” some of the “girls”…but yet there is nothing for us fibbers!!! So My hope is to be able to get a group started…each one of us has things that work for some and others it does not….but you know what…we are all in this together…we know how scary it is…and when I started having this a few years ago…if someone would had just entered my hospital room who had gone through it…had felt the fear…well it would have helped me to just talk to them….So here is my email address..for anyone interested in chatting…..oh by the way..I am a writer and there are funny stories in the making right now..of my hospital stays and dealing with this little humming bird in my chest.
    And there is a letter on the way to wieght watcher…I’m trying to find out just how many calories I burned after my heart was beating at 150 for 18 hours!!! …..and some people think running a marathon is soooo special…well we fibbers can run circles around those skinny little long legged blondes. !!!! …smile everyone..and have a wonderful day…Pam
    jpdawoods@windstream.net

    Reply
  43. Ann Wyatt
    Feb 14, 2012

    Hi everyone.
    This site seems to have a gremlin in it. The people I was communicating with seem to have disappeared into the ether. However, from reading the previous recent posts, what appears to be a common thread is the anxiety and fear experienced in just about every case. It’s true that food additives are a trigger, especially if they contain sulphites (preservative 210, 220 etc). 220 is found in wine and just one small sip would set off my AFib. Monosodium glutamate, found in Asian food is also a culprit. While restaurants may not use it in their cooking, it is found in the sauces that are imported from China. It is certainly important to be hydrated. I have been taking magnesium orotate tablets for over two years now and I have not had an episode for two years. The orotate is more easily absorbed by the body.
    Those who have been reading my posts over the last couple of years will know that I am a great believer in the Emotional Freedom Technique for eliminating anxiety and fear. I have been able to restore a normal heartbeat using this method. It’s particularly helpful in the middle of the night when you can’e sleep. Just Google EFT atrial fibrillation and the explanation will be there. There is quite a lot of information about it and it has been very beneficial in restoring the regular heartbeat. EFT (tapping on acupressure points), is used by accredited practitioners and many psychiatrists now who report that it has cut down their patients’ recovery time by at least 50%. Always tell your doctor what you are doing. He/she might dismiss it because they tend to favour drugs but stand your ground because it is something you can do for yourself and it doesn’t fight with any medication prescribed for you. Some doctors even believe in it. My cardiologist is converted even though he resisted. My medication wasn’t working well and he had to agree that there seemed to be some benefit from the EFT. He evn wanted to know how to do it to get his own blood pressure down. So, good luck everyone. Keep up your support of each other.
    Ann

    Reply
    • Robyn ( Age: 51 / f / Years with AFIB: <1 )
      Nov 12, 2014

      Hi Ann,
      I was diagnosed with AF in April. Since then l too have discovered that additives 200-228 and MSG bring on my AF- there are short times when l am unsure what has caused it, so am still discovering my triggers. Havent heard of EFT but will check it out. How have you been getting on since 2012?
      Robyn.

      Reply
  44. Judi
    Feb 14, 2012

    HAPPY VALENTINE DAY Y’ALL

    Reply
  45. Judi
    Feb 14, 2012

    Donna,
    I would love to correspond by email with you, thank you for the invitation.

    I am not sure if we are close in age, I am 69 and will be 70 this May (holy cow) But age does not matter.

    I am feeling better, this is day 8 and I finally got the courage to take Robotisin DM recommended by my Dr because at night I cant stop coughing.
    The other thing I didnt mention is that since I have been having frequest episodes as apposed to once a year , my Cardiologist wants me to double the Flecinide (anti arithmia) so I am terrified. This drug is serious and potent. They usually start you on it in a hospital setting.
    I will look in to the homeopathic solutions, Thank you.
    Judi

    Reply
  46. DonnaH
    Feb 13, 2012

    Judy, I am in California also and we are close in age…maybe close in location as well? My email is amegachi@hotmail.com if you care to write and we can compare notes or at least maybe find some solutions …

    I appreciate each day that I feel good and that hasn’t been too often. After the AFib I got a horrible cold and was afraid to take anything. There are some good homeopathic products. I took oscillococsinum, oil of oregano and mucinex without the DM. Hope you are feeling better.

    Reply
  47. Judi Neto
    Feb 13, 2012

    Donna, I am afraid the Dr is right, try not to take your BP too often. It just makes you more anxious. And taking an anti anxiety med is not a bad idea.

    Cumadin is nasty but the new drug, Prodaxa? does not have an antidote.
    I do take my BP more during AFib, however. It determines when I should go to ER. But I take it based on how I feel. My previous story (above) about being in ICU last January 2011 was 24 hours, not 2 hours. I just knew the numbers were really bad and they were not going down. I was right.
    It is not easy to not take your BP often, it’s like me getting on the weight scale everyday!! hard habit to break.
    I used to take my BP several times a day when I was told I had a blocked carotid artery (60%) and they would not do surgery until it was 80%. I felt like a time bomb. Gradually, feeling no different, and researching a lot, I got over it. You have to try and consider your quality of life. I hate living n fear. But some of the time I do. And I get depressed thinking about the future. “what future” my negative self asks?
    AFIB is more scarey then a blocked artery because you can feel it, and you feel helpless with no control over your own body.

    My triggers are not what I thought. Chocolate, for sure, any caffeine, maybe acid reflux (?) and stress. But not always. The last 8 days I have had a horrible cold and can’t take conventional cold meds. So I am sneezing, eyes watering, swollen face, headache, miserable, and then coughing all night, sleeping maybe in 2 hr increments. Why didn’t the coughing (violent at times) cause AFIB? OH No, I’m sitting quietly knitting a baby hat and Boom! there it is
    So now I am dumbfounded as to what the trigger was. I went on line and did the check off list, are you dehydrated?, could there be potassium loss, etc. I did get up and use the rest room 5 times the night before.
    So I ate a banana. I cardio converted in 1.5 hours. Go figure.
    So what I learned was …..stay calm. you have to find a way, Donna
    Oh it still scares the bejesus out of me but I’m still here and I’m OK. That doesn’t say much but it is what gets me through the night. I pray a lot too
    Find a way to accept Afib and your own method to calm down and you will see a change in your quality of life. AFIB is something you have, it is Not who you are. Good luck and
    Bless you

    Reply
    • GEORGE MITCHELL ( Age: 69 / MALE / Years with AFIB: 5 )
      Dec 07, 2015

      I read your post questioning if there was an antidote for a new blood thinner. As far as I know the answer is no. I take coumadin because it has an antidote. It’s vitamin K. I have to get blood tests but that beats dying by bleeding to death. Do your homework and decide for yourself. Hope this help. -George

      Reply
  48. DonnaH
    Feb 13, 2012

    Pam,
    You are not alone. Ever since I had this happen, Dec. 5th, 2011 I have only slept through the night two times. I have been terrified to think it is coming back. Have gone to ER three times since then, only to find it is elevated BP and my anxiety gets so bad that it makes my pulse go even higher. I called the cardio Dr. one night and he said, take a xanax and go to bed and quit taking your BP all the time. No compassion!

    Getting through the fear of another episode is so unsettling. I have given it up to God, but then I keep taking it back! It is a horrible feeling and I don’t feel like I want to be let alone.

    I have noticed that if I drink plenty of water during the day and do qi gong and some like exercise that I seem to feel better. Do you get enough water during the day?

    Just knowing that I am not the only one that feels like you makes it a little easier to accept the fact that it does happen to other people and we are pretty much at the mercy of our Dr. I hate drugs and have been told to take metprolol twice a day 25mg.

    Will the fear ever go away, I don’t know, but I do know that I feel blessed with a good day. I hope we find a way to cope…Bless you Pam…you are not alone with this!

    Reply
  49. Pampam1
    Feb 13, 2012

    I sit here this morning…once agin awakened from this monster at 4 am…and I feel so alone and frightened.
    The doctor has me on coumadin…and then she siad to take a valium when i happens..I also take 25 mg of toprol then..and a magnesium pill and potassum.
    But does the fear..and the catching on off guard ever subside. My life has so changed from what I used to be. The fear is the hardest r me handle..the feeling of breathlessness. And then I sit and try to figureout why I got it.
    Yesterday I had to go to a walk in clinic for an upper respitory inf. ection….and was pu on a z-pack..I do know that may have set it off. So now I know I need to accept htis part of y life…but it has been so darn hard. I was put on coumadin..and figure I just need to live with it…the cardio doc from KU says I must stay on it.
    Tell me…how do I get through the fear…the dissappointment..and all that comes with this monster in our chests? Pam

    Reply
  50. Dave Harmon
    Feb 11, 2012

    Hi Harry I`m 62 had a fight over a parking space 2yrs ago at the bklyn veteran`s hosp a minute later got a heavy vibration across my chest , make a long story short… a-fib w-fluttering I know what your feeling comes out of no where scare`s the dicken`s out of me B.P. SHOOT`S UP, HEART RATE, BREATHING THINK this is it , feel`s like it at the moment but we can just hang in there till it passes, I need to lose a lot of fat, not easy with bad joints p.t.s.d. med`s and everyday life. Just reading everybody`s story here made me feel alittle better… So Harry you have a buddy on staten island feel free to shoot me a email when you need to and that goe`s for the rest you guy`s & girls that suffer from day to day w/ A-FIB

    Reply
  51. Judi Neto
    Jan 17, 2012

    My original post is being moderated but I forgot to mention: I cant sleep on my left side! I will usually go in to A Fib if I do. But you cant know what you will do when you are sleeping.!! Sleeping elevated helps too.

    Reply
    • Lynda T. ( Age: 68 / Female / Years with AFIB: 15 years )
      Jul 15, 2015

      Judi:
      My AFIB usually starts at night after I have been asleep for an hour or two, between 11:00 pm and 1:00 am. Occassionally if I turn over on my left side an episode will start.

      They usually last until I get up the next am and drink cold water and a hot cup of decaf coffee, around 10 am. I hate the feeling.

      I could not take flecanide. I take atenolol 25 mg 1/2 at night and 1/2 in the am. My cardiologist suggested a pace maker, but after talking to a nutritionist, I will not get a pacemaker. I also take atorvastatin and eliquis.

      I have been taking magnesium, taurine and ubiquinol for the last 3 months, but I don’t know if it’s really helping or not. I have noticed that if I eat too much sugar during the day I will have an episode after I go to bed. I am now trying to give up sugar, but it is so difficult. I have a cramping sensation in my throat when I have an episode.

      Reply
  52. Judi Neto
    Jan 17, 2012

    Hello, I’m not sure have any recomendations, since everyone is unique.
    All I can do is share my experience. I’m sure there is someone who can relate. I have more questions then answers.
    I am currently a 69 year old lady. I’m not like any 69 yr old you have ever met. I don’t look act or feel 69. More like 45 or 50. It’s just genetics I guess or attitude. But the A Fib reminds me of my real age and I hate it. My first episode I was on a cruise ship 2008. Prior to getting to the cruise I had to jet off to N Carolina to arrange a funeral for my aunt, get rid of all her belongings and find a home for her dog in one week in order to not forfeit the $10K for the cruise. That may sound shallow, but that is a lot of money and I needed the vacation. I adored my aunt. The stress was too much and I was in the infirmary the first day if the cruise. When I got home another relative had died. We were very close. That was 2008
    The next time was from caffeine, I’m sure of it. You ask for decalf but you don”t always get it. I had to give up Starbucks and coffee all together because you cant trust you will get decalf. Then I gave up chocolate, another trigger. Just shoot me! So at that point I am only on BP meds and a anti anxiety med when needed (Klonopin) No episodes until late 2009 . I left my husband of 28 years. The first year 2010, I went to Pharmacy school and the divorce and “finals” for class had me in ICU for 2 hours in January 2011. That was the worst. They started me on Flecinide. I am terrified of drugs especially new drugs. To this day I am only on 50 mg once a day along with only 50 mg of Atenolol .
    I just moved 16 days ago to be closer to the kids. I lived upstairs then and I do now. The trips up and down the stairs in both places carrying boxes did me in. I had A Fib every other day AFTER the move, I have learned to deal with it so I dont go to emergancy unless my BP and heart rate are high. Like 150/110 heart rate over 100. I just stop what ever I am doing and take half Klonopin (0.5mg) which makes me sleep.
    I tried to get a Long Term Care Policy and did not want every episode reported. They turned me down anyway. So now I am taking it easy but still having episodes once a week since the move. I’m still not unpacked because I don’t know how much my body can take. Tomorrow I have a flight to LA to see my BFF and I am worried. Last night I had a 3 hr episode. Last week anywhere from 4 hrs to 24 hrs. I’m watching the dehydration. I don’t know how much magnesium to take, and taking potassium can be dangerous, so I get it from foods, I eat very healthy. If I am tired now I take a nap. When I did my inturn ship for Pharmacy I was on my feet 7 hours a day and the stress of learning a new skill put me in the hospital too. So what to do, can I exercise? I used to do water aerobics 3 times a week, but that came with the house I left. So I try to walk to get my heart happy again. I am on weight watchers and have met my goal. I am 5’4 145 lbs, so its not my weight problem.
    But it seems like since “the move” I’m never going to get better. In other words go back to only once a year episodes. Oh and someone mentioned abilation (Harry?) My cardiologist said that is reserved for patients who do not tolerate the top 5 medications. That is BS. I have 100 % insurance why can”t I have a proceedure that actually works? The success rates are way up there now. I don’t get it.
    FRUSTRATED IN CALIFORNIA

    Reply
  53. Anne Bauman
    Jan 06, 2012

    Thanks for this excellent site, Robert; I’ve learned a lot from your experience and those of your readers. Just yesterday I came across some information about cayenne pepper and its use as an emergency treatment for congestive heart failure. Apparently it’s also used to stop AF quickly, and I couldn’t find a reference to it on your site, so thought you might like to hear. I’ve started to supplement daily with cayenne and am weaning myself off low-dose aspirin; also looking into hawthorn, which sounds like a wonderful alternative to pharmaceutical drugs.

    I used your information about entrainment just recently, when my heart was beating very fast but hadn’t gone into full AF. I splashed cold water on my face and went back to bed, held onto my husband’s wrist where I could feel his regular pulse and held it against my chest for awhile. This did the trick – I still have lots to learn and your site has been so helpful. Thanks for doing this in the midst of your own busy life.

    Reply
  54. DonnaH
    Dec 29, 2011

    Lyle, do you know what brought your A-Fib on? I think I have figured out what I did….I got dehydrated and I believe that was the trigger for it. I was using my chi machine, hot house and FIR pad every night for relaxation..the only thing that was wrong was I did NOT drink water before and after the treatment.

    I hope you consulted with your Dr. regarding stopping the Cardizem. I went to my acupuncturist yesterday and he looked at my lab report and saw that I was anemic and something else was off…the Dr. did not pick this up…sometimes we have to do what we feel is the right thing and ask more questions and listen to our body.

    Have only taken the Metoprolol for about six days and I was really tired today, hate that feeling so now have to figure out what to do next.

    Good luck and God bless you.

    Reply
    • Annie ( Female / Years with AFIB: 1 year on the 14th June )
      Jun 22, 2014

      Hi Donna
      Just an enquiry as I have a Chi Machine, and have been a bit wary of using it. Do you use every day for 15 minutes and at what speed…also what other exercise do you do….I am going to try and come off the drugs Bisoprolol 5mg , Warfarin 3 mg, I have upped the food to increase potassium, magnesium,taking Multi Vit without Vit K, Vit C,,,,looking out for a Nutritionist as I feel unwell on the prescription drugs…seen cardio and as always they do not agree with any vitamin therapy…the potassium and magnesium has helped….I am certain…what other exercise do you think helps…I see a few other A Fibbers have tried Qigong and Yoga

      Reply
  55. Lyle Gentry
    Dec 29, 2011

    I’m 48 and about 10 months ago I spent a night in the hospital with AFIB–it took me around 5 hours to convert back to normal sinus rythym. My cardiologist originally put me on metropolol but it gave me diahrea and made me depressed. He then switched me to a calcium channel blocker (Cardizem) which I seemed to tolerate better. The main side-effects were lethargy and constipation.

    I haven’t been in AFIB since then that I know of and I think I would know because when I was in AFIB I was not able to function (I don’t know how people do it). For one thing, I had to urinate every 10 minutes. I’ve recently stopped taking the Cardizem because I just couldn’t take feeling like a zombie anymore. I’m taking fish oil capsules along with a low-dose asprin every day and now I’m taking a magnesium supplement. If this doesn’t work I guess I’ll have to look into cardio-ablation because I don’t think I can stand being on the drugs anymore. Please keep your fingers crossed for me.

    Reply
  56. DonnaH
    Dec 28, 2011

    I experienced A-Fib on Dec. 5th, 2011. What a frightening feeling! Have been in ER three times since. I have been learning to use Qi Gong for relaxing, however it isn’t the easiest thing to do when experiencing this.
    I was put on Metoprolol and will try everything in my power to get something that is nature and not a drug! It appears that Dr. Seedman has some excellent information above and I feel very it would be very worthwhile to check it out!

    I have had some bouts of indigestion (and dont feel well until I can release that full feeling) tried bromelain, but I think it makes it worse! Any suggestions for this? Shortness of breath is not one that I experience but I think one of the best things to do is try yoga or Qi Gong, it helps you to take deep breaths….

    I have had anxiety most of my adult life and this is not helping. I appreciate all the sharing and information that is given here.

    Reply
  57. wendy
    Nov 07, 2011

    Hi Harry,

    I am 54 and was just diagnosed with AFIB 3 weeks ago…. it is a scary thing… I had to go to the ER and given meds to control my hearttbeat,,,, i m now on Toprol, Pradaxa and Lisinopril…. All of my labs and chest x ray were ok.. now i need to have and echo stress test in 2 weeks….. i have had anxiety and panic attacks for over 20 years,,, the shortness of breath is really scary,,,, i hate it… Any suggestions would be very appreciated!

    Reply
  58. Harry
    Nov 06, 2011

    I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation 5 years ago. Although my cardiologist is taking good care of me, he can’t seem to control my sudden attacks which takes my breath away and scares me to death. He just says relax and it will pass. That maybe OK for him to say but what about us? He ought to try AFIB himself for awhile. I love this site and have learned a great deal about how to handle AFIB when it starts. I feel like a little cry baby I’m 68 and don’t want to live the rest of my life in this misery. Anybody out there want to share their “out of breath” experience so I don’t feel so all alone? What can I do to get back into good rythum? I’ve tried everything I read here.

    Reply
  59. Joan
    Oct 13, 2011

    Just off Multaq about a week. Electro Physiologist would like me to consider Tikosyn as a med. Has anyone had any experience with this drug? I understand you have to go into the hospital for three days to be monitored when beginning this drug.

    Reply
  60. John
    Oct 08, 2011

    I am a 54 yr. old otherwise healthy male and was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) 27 yrs. ago. I am on medication and had been asymptomatic until January, 2011. While I have had some episodes of AF during my life, I was always able to regain a normal rhythm on my own. I was diagnosed with continuous AF in January and have had four cardioversions since. I was placed on Multaq and Pradaxa. The Pradaxa is effective, but the Multaq has not helped. I am seen at JH Hospital for the HCM and after an upcoming catheterization, an ablation is planned depending on the results of the cath. My local cardiologist wants to put me on Amiodarone for the short term until the ablation. I have read about the very negative side effects of Amiodarone. I am going to contact my cardiologist at JH to get his opinion on Amiodarone and magnesium. Has anyone else had experiences with Amiodarone?

    Reply
    • GEORGE MITCHELL ( Age: 71 / male / Years with AFIB: 2 )
      Nov 18, 2016

      it a horrible drug ,eyes can be affected .I could not take it .

      Reply
  61. Joan
    Oct 07, 2011

    Anyone taking Multaq for atrial fib? Heard some Doctors are taking their patients off of it because of FDA warnings. I have been on it for two months but thinking of going off of it because of the negatives I have been reading about.

    Reply
  62. Susan
    Oct 06, 2011

    I am 45 years old, and I was diagnosed with afib almost 2 years ago after coming home from a 2 week trip to Cuba. I was on all kinds of medications which I thought were making my afib worse. I went off of everything and 8 months ago I had a stroke. I am in the lucky 10% of people with strokes that completely recover with small damage to my left eye. It took months to be able to speak properly or write a check.

    I am still fighting with Afib and I am going back to my doctor to determine if there is any cause. I feel doctors want to spend so much time trying to medicate rather than determing the root cause. I am currently on metoprolol and warfarin and live with the fear of having another stroke. My husband is also traumatized by this. To the person who said that taking warfarin is worse than having a stroke should seriously consider the fact that having a stroke that you do not recover fully from or possibly die is a lot worse.

    I am going to continue to follow some of this advice and get all of levels checked again with the doctor. I have had long conversations with my Dr. about pradaxa and his thought was if I am doing well why change it. There is also the small chance I will bleed with these drugs but if so they know to give me vitakin K with warfarin, but what do they do with Pradaxa?

    Reply
    • Ariana
      Apr 21, 2015

      Hi, Susan,
      I would like to know if you have found a solution to the a fib. My mother, like you, didn’t take her meds in favor of supplements. She was very sick and overweight. And like you, she had a stroke with aphasia. She also had a heart attack in the hospital. She’s getting better every day, but the a fib is still really bad. Has anything worked for you?
      Thanks
      Ariana

      Reply
  63. Don berg
    Sep 28, 2011

    After reading so.many reviews, I noticed no one mentioned Pradaxa . It is fairly new and is a blood thinner that does not require periodic blood checks. So convenient and other works!!!

    Reply
  64. Fred Ross
    Sep 11, 2011

    I am a 75 year old male. I have had A/F for over two years. Episodes went up to about every one to two weeks and lasted six to 12 hours. Dehydration has been a major contributing factor so alcohol and caffienes are ruled out as an option. I have also found juices and other drinks are filled with chemicals that can add to inreased A/F. I drink only clean well water and have found the recommended six to eight glasses a day extremely important. Heavy physical activity often requires even more.

    Doctors wanted to put me on Coumadin and I just flatly refused. I view Coumadin as more dangerious than stroke threat. The M.D. then put me on Metroprolol and it caused severe depression – actuall suicidal thoughts. I just no longer take pharmeucuticals of any kind. I just see no logic in putting synthetic chemicals in my body.

    I now take serrapeptase and nattokinese daily which does pretty much the same thing as Coumadin but has virtually no side effects. I take a magnesium and potassium supplement along with Taurine and L-Carnitine and Cayanne.

    Since the A/F started I have taken up a exercise program. It consist of two hours a week of Yoga, two hours of cardio and two hours of Tia Chi. I no longer have stress issues. I also walk three miles very briskly three times a week. While A/F is unpleasant I view it a just a natural part of life that I must deal with. I’m not about to let it ruin my quality of life.

    The only A/F I have had in the past six months has been after eating restuarant food, thus diet is very important.

    Reply
    • Joseph ( Age: 50 / male / Years with AFIB: 8 )
      Feb 13, 2014

      I have the same symptoms, could you describe your yoga plan in detail

      Reply
      • Travis
        Feb 13, 2014

        Joseph:

        Fred left his comments on this blog about 3 years ago so it’s unlikely he’ll respond. I’m going to be doing some research on this topic and putting together some posts about it as I get a lot of emails about yoga and atrial fibrillation. From what little I know right now, it seems any regular yoga plan can help alleviate the symptoms of afib.

        Travis

        Reply
        • Joseph ( Age: 50 / male / Years with AFIB: 8 )
          Feb 14, 2014

          Travis:
          Thank you very much. Looking forward to see your research results

          Reply
  65. Richard Seedman, DVM
    May 28, 2011

    please check out taurine @ 20gms/day (sic) along with magnesium @ 1000mg/d and arginine @ 6gm/d…all in divided doses. Elimination of Cardiac arrhythmias using oral taurine with L-arginine. here’s the study: [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16797868]

    Their peer review study reported, get ready, 100% success!!!!

    other supplements: fish oil 4gm/d, hawthorn, CoQ10 as ubiquinol, potassium gluconate, ribose @ 5gm/d, Vit D 10,000-15,000IU/day, VIt K 10mg/d [from Lef.org], resveratrol, PQQ [viz Lef.org] and Pomegranate Complete [Lef.org]

    Carnitine enables the heart muscle to utilize fat for energy, thereby avoiding reliance on glucose stabilization.[viz LEF.org article on arrhythmias]

    Limit Calcium to under 1000mg/d. Taurine is a calcium channel modulator.

    anxiety can be reduced by L-theanine [Lef.org]

    a very nice product is NOW FOOD’s Night Time Herbs [NOWFOODS.com].

    avoid all stimulants of course.

    if anyone has other suggestions, i would appreciate them. i have controlled my A-fib fairly well, not perfectly. i still have episodes of pounding, rapid beats which continue mainly at night over several nights, and then disappear. However, i am fighting a long term infection [prostate], and both the infection and antibiotics may be causing problems.

    best wishes to you all…and don’t rely on any one MD!!

    please use my email to communicate, as i can’t check here often. [ icf@cds1.net ] or call me at home 707-833-4533.

    Reply
  66. Martha
    Apr 13, 2011

    Do NOT take any supplement unless prescribed by your doctor, but ESPECIALLY NOT POTASSIUM!!! Patients with Afib often have spiking potassium levels (anything over 5.1) and adding more could push you over the edge.

    Reply
  67. Adolfo
    Apr 03, 2011

    I am a healthy 52 year old male and found out that I had afib during a routine medical examination. My doctor told me I had lone atrial fibrilation. This freaked me out and my stress level went through the roof. I suffer from anxiety and I believe this may have been the cause of my afib. My salvation has been YOGA!!! I was two days away from being cardioverted when I took a yoga class just before my pre-procedure appointment. The doctor came back with a smile on his face and showed me that I was back in normal sinus rithem. I since have had stressful anxious days that make me go into afib but my Yoga class brings me back to nornmal. I recommend Yoga for AFIB sufferers. I also stopped drinking coffee, ( i don’t drink alcohol), and eat a banana a day with my oatmeal. I also drink the magnesium calm powder which has a calming effect. Try Yoga and let me know if it works for you. I hope this helps.

    Reply
    • Joseph ( Age: 50 / male / Years with AFIB: 8 )
      Feb 13, 2014

      What type of yoga is your recommendation?

      Reply
  68. Kayla
    Mar 31, 2011

    My AF started when I was 54 and I was running up my back steps, all excited the work week was over and I was going to be off weekends for the first time in years! Ended up in the hospital for a week instead. Besides flecainide, metoprolol, I also take magnesium, 3 or 4 250mg tabs before bed. I take it for regularity, which it works better than anything else for! But, also like the added calmness in mood and better sleep. Calcium needs magnesium to help with absorption or something, too. Also take some B6 which is somehow tied to magnesium. If anyone ever has constipation problems, just take about 4 to 6 magnesium tablets before bed and you will be fine in the morning. Great stuff.

    Reply
  69. Kayla
    Mar 31, 2011

    TRUUS
    I had afib for about 3 months until I saw a very good electrophysiologist who immediately put me on flecainide, generic for Tambacor. I continued on metoprolol as well. Almost right away, I noticed my heartbeat seemed back to normal. They checked me again right before I was due to have cardioversion and confirmed the medication had corrected the afib. I would love to get off these two meds and use diet and supplements but not sure how. You might ask your doctor about flecainide. None of my doctors or the cardiologists they consulted with during that first 3 months knew to try flecainide so not all cardiologists are that knowledgeable. One doctor, later told me that they don’t like to put older people on flecainide because it can cause hallucinations. I assume they mean the visual double image kind of thing that I sometimes see late at night when I am really tired. I ignore that and rarely see any of it anymore. I was taking gingko biloba and also high doses of bromelain before the afib and read both can cause palpitations, but doubt that was cause, but could have been.

    Reply
  70. Karl
    Jan 01, 2011

    Thanks for this. I have had this off and on over the years since my twenties, but now at 52 it has suddenly gotten continuous/chronic. no rapid beats, nothing like that, just irregular beats.

    Reply
  71. Marilyn
    Dec 03, 2010

    I have hashimotos. I began AF episodes about 5 years ago out of the blue. All of what people have said above is true. AVOID metapropal if at all possible. This seems to make it worse. I take 240 mg of Verapamil and Pristiq 50mg along with my synthroid, WATER, WALKING and relaxing is the best medicine. I had an Ablation and mine worked. About every 4 wks I have a slight episode last about 4-19 seconds! I lay on my left side in a dark room if possible or close my eyes, deep breath drink water and relax. It generally goes away. MY blood pressure is normal even during the attack. I pray the above will help someone else. OH yeah, stay on the baby ASA one a day. AVOID caffiene and alcohol at all costs. OKLAHOMA HEART is where its all about the best docs and treatment in the south!

    Reply
  72. Robert Ellis
    Dec 01, 2010

    There may be more current information than what is referenced in the articles I link to and, of course, your situation is unique.

    I wish you the best. Please give us an update.

    Reply
  73. Larry Lachmann
    Dec 01, 2010

    That’s interesting Robert. I’ve heard that the success rate is much better than what you are referencing. My afib seems to be getting worse as time passes, so I tend to want to try something new and radical, because the meds arent really doing the trick like they used to. I guess we’ll see. I am scheduled to see a new doctor soon. We’ll see what he says too. Thanks for the info!

    Reply
  74. Robert Ellis
    Nov 30, 2010

    Larry, there are no guarantees with any procedure and every procedure has risks.

    A study by the Department of Health & Human Services’s (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) found that radiofrequency catheter ablation “has been shown to provide benefits in maintaining normal heart rhythm over short periods of time (up to 1 year) but found little evidence indicating whether the procedure reduces the chance that patients will experience atrial fibrillation over the long term.”

    See also: “Success rates [for radiofrequency ablation] are good, particularly for patients with intermittent atrial fibrillation, but some patients require repeat procedures and some still need to take medications afterward. Patients with persistent atrial fibrillation have lower success rates. Some serious complications can occur with this procedure, so the risks and potential benefits must be carefully weighed.”

    I view any surgery as a last resort, particularly when so many people have had success using alternative methods of controlling their afib. Surgery will not address the underlying problem, which is often some kind of deficiency. Addressing the underlying problem is more likely to provide long term benefits.

    Reply
  75. Larry Lachmann
    Nov 30, 2010

    Hello. I’ve had Afib for over ten years, slowly getting more chronic over time. It is now hitting me every other week. It can last a full 24 hour period of sometimes 6 hours. I am taking Sotolol twice daily. When I upped my own dose to 3 daily it definitely made the episodes much farther aaprt, but they still come. In fact (I swear) I just converted to sinus rhythm while reading a few articles on this site!! My big question is this. Most people here seem to have health insurance, since they are talking about hospital stays, cardioverting etc.. It is pretty obvious that a radio frequency ablation procedure works in most cases. Are peoples doctors NOT recommending this as an option? I pray to be able to get this procedure some day, but I do not have health insurance so cannot afford it now. I am wondering why those of you with insurance don’t seem to be getting the procedure.. Anyone?
    Thanks!

    Reply
  76. Hope B
    Nov 28, 2010

    Comment on my comment. Was cardioverted Oct 22nd. Started Cayenne 1 week later. I had an episode Nov. 19 I took 10 drops Cayenne at one hr intervals and my heart converted in 3hr 45min. I can”t tell you how long it has been since that happened YEARS. 37 days since last cardioversion. I am so pleased and blessed by this. Hope

    Reply
  77. Hope B
    Nov 15, 2010

    Have had AFIB off and on since high dosage of prednisone in 03. I have tried flecinide, sotilol, digoxin,multac, matoprolol. I have continued coumadin..flecinide at first helped with conversion but would cause me to have impulse control issues if I took it regularly. I have been cardio verted 10 times in past 18 months. Episodes were getting closer. I have many med allergies or sensitivities. My last episode was 11 days after prior, before that 17 days then less than a month for past 18 months. 25 DAYS AGO someone told me take 10 drops of liquid Capsicum Annum (Cayenne) in 2 oz water 4 times oper day. I have been doing that and haven’t had an episode for 25days. I don’t notice position change flutters and my heart rate doesn’t change anymore on my left side..SO VERY HAPPY

    Reply
  78. BILL
    Oct 31, 2010

    HELLO,
    INTERESTING WEBISTE..THANKS. I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL FOR 5 DAYS WITH A-FIB…THEY GAVE ME SOME PILL CALLED FLECANIDE I BELIEVE. IT DID HELP, BUT GOT DIZZY AND SICK TO MY TUMMY…I TOOK MYSELF OFF OF IT AFTER TAKING SOMETHING CALLED “CALM”, POTASSIUM, WATER AND WALKING… I ALSO AM ON A LOW CARB DIET…IT TURNS OUT THE CARBS TURN INTO SUGAR–GLUCOSE– IN THE BODY AND THE HEART RATE GOES UP SOME INORDER TO DIGEST THIS FOOD… I’VE BEEN FREE OF A-FIB FOR NEAR A MONTH…I’VE ALSO BEEN ON MANY PRAYER LISTS ABOUT A-FIB… HOPE THIS HELPS AND YES, STAY IN LOW STRESS SITUATIONS… THIS IS TOUGH SINCE I’M A PUBLIC SPEAKER AS A MISSIONARY…
    TAKE CARE AND GOD BLESS—–BILL

    Reply
  79. Trisha
    Oct 17, 2010

    Hi. Thought maybe somebody could benefit from my experience. I lost my husband 12 years ago and had my first a-fib episode that night. I have had them on and off since then, sometimes as often as biweekly. I always felt an adrenaline surge and then it would start. I couldn’t figure out a way to divert it. In February 2009 I decided to take Lexapro, an antidepressant and antianxiety medication, which I took for 8 months. I don’t like meds and it seemed to make me lethargic, so I stopped taking it. Before that, my last episode was January 4th of 2009 and the next was June 2010, a year and a half later. I was having an argument with my daughter and was upset. I just had another one on October 15 which I could only connect to possible MSG intake from Chinese food although I was having a conversation with someone about unpleasant things. I am very upset and am debating whether or not to go back on the Lexapro, as it has to have been the reason they stopped. I do think I will wait on that though and be more careful of what I ingest.

    I do think that Jim is correct about fear and stress definitely brings mine on. Also caffeine and alcohol and great physical exertion has caused 3 or 4 of my episodes. When I took the Lexapro, it was the only thing I was doing differently, so it had to be my answer. My cardiologist did not give me any credit for finding it though. Oh well…. maybe it could help some of you who have this problem because of fear and anxiety.

    Reply
  80. Allan
    Oct 01, 2010

    You seem more clued up in the US than here in England… but we (for the time being) have totally free health care for all which you must support Obama on! Ignore your biased press and vested interests…

    Anyway, politics over – my AF seems to respond directly to my banana, chelated magnesium and fish oil consumption. Miss any of these and off it goes again. A sniff of alcohol guarantees it will happen too. Usually at night and sleeping on left side as often the case ( had to change sides with my wife as I always had my back to her, and don’t like to be rude…).

    If I keep to my own rules I can go for weeks without a problem, and even then have a quick retrun to rhythm. Otherwise I can get some disturbance pretty much every day and up to 10 hours. Hope this helps

    Reply
  81. jim
    Sep 27, 2010

    Hi, A bunch of thoughts: I’m 55 and I’ve suffered from AF episodes for almost 4 years.

    Initially I could see no pattern to them but eventually I noticed that dehydration was a significant trigger.

    I also noticed – just recently – that I had more episodes when taking lecithin. Lecithin is high in phosphorous and taking too much may deplete magnesium. I’ve had previous episodes when I’ve stopped eating bananas for a few days, which also fits with the idea of magnesium depletion being a trigger.

    If I become too inactive I also seem to have more episodes.

    And finally, it seems to me that there may be a significant connection between our fears and AF, which might mean that adrenaline has a causative role . . just speculating . . but when I feel more confident and relaxed – free of any fears – I have very little if any disturbance to my heart rhythm . . . .

    Reply
  82. Mark
    Sep 04, 2010

    Hi Thanks very much for this information it is a great comfort to hear from others. I have been getting A-Fib attacks several times a year now for 2 years. Diet water intake all these things I have been reading about are what I am ignoring so its reassuring to see how changing these things is improving thing for you all. I will pay more attention to them and see if I can improve my health. And will definitely be coming back here for advice and support.
    All the best mark.

    Reply
  83. ANN WYATT
    Aug 06, 2010

    Hello Harold.

    I haven’t responded to this forum for a while because I seem to have got rid of my A-Fib. I have only had 2 episodes in the last almost a year and the only thing I have been taking which has made a significant difference is magnesium orotate. The orotate is an easier form to take because the body absorbs it more easily. It supports the heart muscle and also helps to lower blood pressure. The longer I have been taking the magnesium, the fewer episodes I have had. While I would never advise against taking medication prescribed by your doctor, I feel that the ‘cocktail’ is more of a hindrance than a help. Another thing which I found tended to trigger an episode was becoming overheated by bedclothes especially in the winter. Some of the doonas are too warm for our climate. Stress is also a big factor so Rescue Remedy helps here. It is completely natural. Chemists have it.

    Good luck.

    Ann

    Reply
  84. Harold
    Jul 21, 2010

    My wife had to go to the emergency room the other night because of several days of A Fib. They gave her morphine to calm her and to help with shortness of breath. They also had her on oxygen. She has tried several prescription medications but they were intolerable. Is there anybody out there that can give me some good advice as to what may help? She also tried coumadin, lopressor, digoxin and so many other hit-and-run medicines, that caused her to get worse including bouts of nausea and vomiting.
    We notice that her A Fib is worse, as far as the shortness of breath goes, in the late evening. Thanks for any help that you may provide. Hospital stays just make her feel worse as the doctors and nurses just put her in a room and then they go back to their computers and, most of the time, don’t even seem to know that the patients are there. Thanks again.

    Reply
  85. anneh
    Jun 30, 2010

    Hi I am a very healthy 70yo slim/vegetarian and walk daily. I try to do everything naturally. Due to a stupid dr overdosing my thyroid med (I have low thyroid) I went hyperthyroid and ended up in ER with A-Fib a couple months ago, cardiologist put me on beta blocker/aspirin but agreed I could wean off which I did. I thought it was over but early hours this morning to my shock it was back. After a couple of hours I went ahead and took the beta blocker and then it seemed to subside a short time later. I have an appt with the cardio next week. Its not my thyroid meds as I just got the result of most recent test and all is well. I hate to be on these drugs but I am terrified that I am going to die :( I have the Natural Calm but was taking another form of magnesium (along with hawthorne/cayenne/garlic and high potassium diet)so will go back to the NC. Thanks for any encouragement or help as I am so disappointed that it came back :( anneh

    Reply
  86. Steve Schaich
    Apr 20, 2010

    I was diagnosed with A-Fib 2 years ago. Was first put on beta-blockers and metaprolol (sp) to slow my heart down. All that did was slow me down and A-Fib came once or twice a week. Changed Dr’s who put me on coumadin to keep me from having a stoke, then last fall admitted me for 3 day stay in the hospital to monitor giving me flecainide 100 mg twice a day. Still had A-Fib once or twice a week, but felt way better from being off slow down drugs. I read on this site a month that dehydration is a contributor. Bingo, I thought dizziness was from A-Fib but it turns out I was dehydrated which caused dizzy and A-Fib. I have double my water intake and have gone 19 consecutive days without A-Fib–which is the longest by > double of reoccurances. Dr says if I go another month without afib he will take me off rat poison (coumadin). Happier now than in a looooong time. Drink up folks and lemme know if it works for you.

    Reply
  87. Ann Wyatt
    Mar 23, 2010

    Hello Truus.
    You could also try the magnesium. Apart from the benefits to your body generally, it helps to support the heart muscle and control blood pressure. As I suggested to Darrell (my apologies to him for spelling his name incorrectly in my posting) take a note of the foods and drink you are having. These days the preservatives 220 (sulphites) and all those in this range 220+ are horrendous and trigger Afib episodes. 220 is in wine and many packaged foods, including the Weight Watchers products. I would be very interested to know how you get on if you start taking magnesium. I have my cardiologist and my GP very interested in my results and that’s amazing. In fact, my cardiologist commented that on my last ECG that my heart seemed to have got ‘younger’ in the way it was operating. He said that normally it would be showing more wear and tear for my 69 years. I love my magnesium.

    Good luck.

    Ann

    Reply
  88. Truus
    Mar 21, 2010

    I’m now 66 and the aortic valve replaced 17 years ago with a mechanical one. A few years later developed CONSTANT Atrial Fibrilation. Had 7 cardio-versions in a about 5 years time. AF kept coming back. After that had an Ablation which didn’t work. My heartbeat right now is between the 80 and 90 beats and the cardiologist wants to change the Dygoxin to Bisoprolol, but just reading the possible side effect this is a no-no for me. I try to avoid medication (although I am taking Coumadin – I see the importance of that) and would rather try anything natural to at least get the heartbeat down to an average of about 70-75 even if it stays irreguar. (I got sort of used to the irregularity, although to get a steady heartbeat would be a gift from heaven!)
    Any advise will be very much appreciated.

    Reply
  89. Mark
    Mar 17, 2010

    This is a great website and I am so glad I found it. I am a new A-Fib patient who just had an unsuccessful ablation and am looking for ways to deal with the problem.

    Reply
    • Ari ( Age: 57 / Male / Years with AFIB: 5 )
      Oct 06, 2014

      do another one. I had an ablation that didn’t work but went right back in for a second one and have had very good results…not perfect but very good. may have to a third at some point for a “touch up” but it sure beats taking a ton of pills that were only moderately effective. I used Dr. Hasan Garan at NY Columbia Presbyterian – VERY good.

      Reply
  90. Karl
    Feb 17, 2010

    very reassuring to read. I don,t feel as alone after reading this, thankz

    Reply

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Important Health Disclaimer: Do not follow any of the advice on this site without first consulting with your physician! I am not a doctor nor do I play one online. I'm just a guy who has afib that wants to share his opinions and thoughts on afib as well as share information I find interesting regarding this medical condition. The content provided on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended (nor implied) to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Please read my official legal health disclaimer.

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