Well it happened again. Just 7 days after my previous episode I had another one. What’s interesting about this one is that it happened on the same day of the week (Monday) and roughly the same time as the previous episode (9:45 p.m. vs. 9:30 p.m. for my previous episode). God I’m hoping I don’t have another episode next Monday, or anytime soon for that matter.
I have no clue what triggered this one. I felt great all day long and even had an o.k. night of sleep on Sunday night. I went to lie down with my daughter to tuck her in for the night and within minutes of lying on my right side, my heart went crazy. As usual, I know immediately I was in afib.
I tried to ignore it and shake it off. I even sat down at my desk to do some work hoping it would just go away. I knew it was wishful thinking but I wasn’t willing to concede right away. Shortly after 10:00 p.m. I took an EKG reading using my AliveCor heart monitor and as I expected, it confirmed I was in afib:
I continued to work on my computer and then around 10:15 p.m. I went to the kitchen to down my 300mg of Flecainide. This time I skipped my usual cocktail of Natural Calm magnesium. I thought I would try something different this time. Within 30 minutes of taking the Flec, I was having some intense palpitations. The kind of palpitations that are so intense you feel slightly faint from time-to-time. I’ve been noticing that about my episodes. They are getting more and more intense.
At around 10:30 p.m. I was feeling so light headed and faint that I walked upstairs because I was going to tell my wife to take me to the hospital. She was sound asleep and so were the kids so I didn’t want to wake up the whole damn family over this crap. Imagine that scene: “Hey honey. Hey kids. Wake up. We need to take daddy to the ER. Fun times for all!” No thank you. I just went downstairs and chilled in the recliner and watched my TV shows.
From 10:30 p.m. until about 11:45 p.m. it was hell. I was having some insane palpitations and went to the bathroom at least 3 times. But then slowly around 11:45 p.m. the intensity of the palpitations decreased dramatically. Finally the episode was tolerable but I was clearly still in afib. I thought I would try the magnesium spray this time so I took my shirt off and sprayed my entire chest and stomach about 40 times, which in theory gave me 500mg of magnesium. My thinking was maybe the magnesium would give the Flec a boost and help get me converted quicker. As you’ll soon see, it didn’t help.
Around 12:20 a.m. I thought I was converted as I felt almost normal. I got up to go to the bathroom to wash the magnesium oil off my chest as it was on fire from it (for some, magnesium oil is known to give your skin a burning sensation). I felt really good until I walked back to my chair and sat down. The palpitations kicked in again but they weren’t nearly as intense but definitely noticeable (uncomfortably noticeable). I took another EKG reading at 12:30 a.m. and while the AliveCor app didn’t indicate afib it certainly felt like I was in afib:
Earlier today I sent that EKG to AliveCor to be analyzed (cost $5) because I was curious why the EKG wasn’t flagged as afib. The analysis came back as, “Sinus Tachycardia w/PAC Artifact.” I’m not sure what PACs are but they feel a lot like atrial fibrillation!
I continued to rest in my chair watching TV while dealing with these “weird” palpitations, which I was convinced was afib but apparently it wasn’t. I got really hungry around 1 a.m. so I went upstairs to the kitchen and downed a 1/2 cup of 2% cottage cheese. I needed something to settle my stomach because it was growling like crazy I was so hungry.
After that I got ready for bed and finally got under the sheets around 1:15 a.m. As usual, I watched Family Guy episodes until I finally converted around 2 a.m. I took one final EKG reading and it confirmed I was in NSR!
The torture was finally over. My heart wasn’t beating out of my chest and I could breath normally again. It always feels so damn good when you come out of an episode. I popped .5mg of Ativan and had a great night’s sleep.
Possible Triggers
Trying to determine my possible triggers has really started to drive me crazy. I thought maybe my lack of sleep was a big trigger but that wasn’t the case this time around. I slept decent Sunday night and wasn’t tired at all on Monday – or Monday night.
What’s also weird is that right up until 9:45 p.m. when this episode started, I felt great. Going into afib was the last thing on my mind. Even when my heart took off I was like, “What the hell is going on? This can’t possibly be an afib episode. I feel great – and I’m not even tired.”
So now I sit here enjoying NSR and just crossing my fingers hoping I won’t experience atrial fibrillation for at least a couple weeks. Man, I remember just a few months ago I would hope to go a month or more between episodes. Now I’m wishing for just a couple weeks of solid NSR. How pathetic.
I am going to try magnesium. I know the first time I had afib I went to the hospital and my potassium was low so I’ve been drinking low sodium V8 and taking multivitimans and lots of water. My afib kicked in a lot because of my meds. That’s when I had it three times a week for three weeks. I’ve had one since I came off of the meds a month ago.
Sorry to hear your still having frequent episodes :(
It’s Ryan we talked over email with similar cases except mine are still fairly spread out to about 3 a year for the last 10 years, I am 37 though so I am thinking I might end up similar to your case in my early 40’s. Anyway I know you were planning ablation is that still happening? With this many episodes are you taking an anti coag until then or any other meds or did they say you can wait where the risk is still low? If you are still going with the ablation I am really intrested in how it works outs, I saw an EP or the first time and she said she would not do one at this point due to the risks out weighing 3 episodes a year and its not a quality of life impact just yet. She even was against the PIP and said I could take some Metaproprol to help lower my heartrate next time it happens but to only go to the ER after 12 hours which is a comftorble time for cardio conversion with most ER’s here, apparently over 12 hours and they get weary to do one without anti coags?
Anyway as hard as it is you seem to be dealing with it very calmly and getting through them as terrifying as it sounds you make it through each episode without losing it like I tend to do when mine strikes, its just a horrible feeling one cannot describe unless they experience it.
Anyway I will continue to follow the blog in hopes of you having amazing success in ridding yourself of this beast that rears its ugly head way to often for many…keep blogging its inspiring for people like to me to know others can get through it and live their lives despite this lurking in the background everyday.
cheers,
Ryan M
Ryan:
Hey Ryan! Thanks for leaving a comment (and for reading my blog)! I am not on any meds or blood thinners right now (knock on wood). I have talked to two different EPs here in the Minneapolis area and both said a blood thinner isn’t necessary right now. One of them even said if I was in permanent or persistent atrial fibrillation he would not prescribe a blood thinner because my risk of stroke is very low overall. I am going to be doing a lot of research and writing on blood thinners as there is a lot of misinformation out there (in my opinion). For example, I read in one study that blood thinners only reduce your risk of stroke by 1%. Hardly seems worth it to me to be on blood thinners. Having said that if my afib gets really bad and my doctor recommends it, I’ll probably go on them.
My initial consultation with Dr. Natale is in a couple weeks. I’m hoping that he’ll consider me an “ideal” patient for an ablation and will get me scheduled for one in a few months. We shall see.
When you have your episodes, how long do they last and do you convert on your own or do you get cardioverted?
LWAF
Thanks so much for sharing, in such detail, your AFIB episode experience! I have episodes just like this! Mine have been getting worse ( more uncomfortable and longer) for the past several months, so I changed cardiologists and now am waiting for a cardio-ablation prcedure in November. So, I’m right there with you!
Kay:
Thanks for reading my blog and leaving a comment! Sorry to hear your episodes are getting worse…but happy to hear you’re getting an ablation. Can I ask what doctor and hospital will be doing the procedure? Be sure to stop by here after the ablation and leave an update. I’d love to hear your experience with it. Good luck and here’s to NSR!
LWAF
I always convert on my own usually takes about 8 hours though which isn’t as long as some people but certainly not the shortest either. I am still around the 3-4 max per year though which is not a significant reduction of quality of life at this point anyway but a nuisance and always in the back of my mind whether it will happen at work, vacation, doing a presentation for work…you get the point.
I have been doing research and believe most studies have shown true lone atrial fibrillation is considered almost benign in young people with structurally sound hearts with NO other risk factors. Most have shown excellent long term prognosis in these individuals which is encouraging although as we age likely things like hypertension will arise and how that changes the risk possibly warranting blood thinners is worrisome considering hypertension runs in
my family and generally hereditary.
The other unknown is the success and or risks of the very long term post ablation treatment. The ablation surgery for afib does not have decades of evidence of success and is about the only alternative outside of medications for decades on end, something I have no interest in doing but may not have a choice eventually if it becomes persistent or chronic which is the typical pattern in most people over time.
My EP said I am not a good candidate at this point being young and healthy but to just live with the current situation as an infrequent nuisance until it has a bigger quality of life impact and medications have failed. I read about people however who state they were similar to me and ended up having a TIA or a stroke and I don’t know if they are just a few of millions who were unlucky and within the 2% or whatever it is or if it’s a real thing I’m being ignorant of and should be taking veryseriously.
For now I guess I just live in this revolving world of worry and hope I am making good decisions and some medical break through will change the playing field in our favor with a real and permanent cure for life.
Ryan:
Sounds like you’ve done your homework and have a solid game plan. That’s awesome! I was in your same exact situation just a few years ago. I was hoping I was going to be able to just deal with the nuisance as well for a while but it doesn’t seem I’ll have the luxury anymore. I’m publishing a post on Monday that charts out my episodes. You’ll see the rapid progression in my episodes this year.
I’m no doctor but if you’re only getting a few episodes a year I can’t imagine you’d need blood thinners – not at this point. Obviously that decision is between you and your doctor but if it were me, I’d say no way to them! Hell, I’m saying no way to them now:)
I’m pushing for an ablation because I don’t want to deal with taking drugs every day. Everything I’ve read about them is very negative. They seem to make things worse in the long-term and have terrible side effects. I’d rather roll the dice on an ablation at this point. I’m way too damn young to be on drugs for the rest of my life so if I can at least buy some more time (10+ years) with an ablation, I’m all for it.
When I meet with Dr. Natale I will be recording my appointment with him. Hopefully he’ll agree to allow me to post the interview on my blog. Stay tuned for that.
LWAF
Know just how you feel, and wonder if you’ve tried 200 mg. X 2 of chelated magnesium glycinate every day. It seems to have helped my husband and I. Some hospitals in Canada have had great success causing A Fib to convert using infused magnesium.
Good luck!
Sarah:
Thanks for reading my blog and commenting. I haven’t tried magnesium glycinate. I seem to have a low tolerance for oral magnesium – at least the citrate form. I will have to look into glycinate. When you say it has helped, can you be more specific? Has it reduced the number of episodes and/or the duration of your episodes?
LWAF
I have done more research on the efficacy of magnesium in treating A Fib. Evidently most producers of supplements aren’t required to list all the ingredients in their products. So many adulterate chelated Magnesium glycinate with magnesium oxide which causes diarrhea, and isn’t effective in modulating heart rhythms. Two brands which seem to produce pure magnesium glycinate are Pure Encapsulations and KAL. Evidently the failure rate of ablations is 60%. Good luck with your situation. Sarah
Sarah:
Thanks for the tips. I’ve placed my order for a bottle of Pure Encapsulations magnesium glycinate. I’ll report back here after I’ve taken them for a few days. I’m hoping I can tolerate them.
Regarding your comment about the success rates of ablations. That’s actually a tricky statistic because the “industry norm” in terms of success after ONE ablation is actually between 70-80%. It’s as high as 90% after two ablations. Those who experience paroxysmal lone afib and who are “younger” usually fall in that 80-90% success rate level. I’m hoping that’s me:) Even if the success rates were as low as 60%, I’d still take the gamble. I’ll try anything besides daily drugs.
LWAF
Just fyi…the dosage that seems to hold A Fib at bay for my husband me is 400+ mg/day (fingers crossed). I devoutly hope that magnesium glycinate is efficacious for you. It’s very difficult to find credible data about success rates of surgical procedures. The electrophysiologists who perform ablations give a very rosy picture of what they do, but actual statistics of success rates are much less positive. Each of us ultimately has to decide what will work best for us. My own approach is to research, research, research–which is no guarantee, either. Wishing you success in whichever strategies you select. Regards, Sarah
Thanks Sarah! Right now I’m taking 240mg per day of the magnesium glycinate and then another 250mg of magnesium chelate (which is in my multivitamin). We’ll see how it goes. I have a very low tolerance of magnesium in general so it will be interesting to see if I can do well on it.
LWAF
I have afib as well. I’m 32 and healthy (or so I thought) and am 5’10” 160 lbs. I have had afib for 10 months. At first it started every three months and then it went to twice a week. They put me on diltiazem, metoprolol, and lisinopril.
My episodes only last for about 2 to 4 hours. They are intense. I’m just wondering why I’m on all these meds and it sounds like you all aren’t! The meds make me feel like I’m in a start of afib all the time and my chest is tight or feels like acid reflux. I get tired so quick from them that I can’t focus.
I am going to get an ablation as soon as I can find a doc and a hospital to take my insurance (it’s a long story) and had it scheduled but now I have to find a new EP. Every time I go into afib I think I’ll go out soon but then I don’t. It’s a scary situation so sometimes I go to the hospital after an hour and they give me cardizem. Sometimes they don’t and I just lie there and come out on my own. I like your stories here as it makes me feel better to read.
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