Is my AF typical?

I've just stumbled across this bulletin board while searching for some info on LAF. I was diagnosed with this condition about 18 months, around the same time I was going through a particularly unpleasant marriage break-up.

I'd also been on a low sugar diet to lose weight (very successful) but put it all back on again when I abandoned this regime and started comfort eating.

Anyway, my heart beat has never been "normal" since the onset of LAF: ECGs always show irregularities. I was originally on a beta blocker and never really noticed I had LAF but, since coming off that six months ago, I've had intermittent attacks where I've been very aware of palpitations and become a bit light-headed and breathless.

At first, it was scary but now I'm used to it. I can go days without the palpitations but some days they seem to come on whenever I make any effort at all, such as walking up a flight of stairs. They usually last from a few minutes to around half-an-hour.

I'm on warfarin and Flecainide and have been cardioverted twice unsuccessfully. I'm due another cardioversion in the spring. There seems to be no underlying cause although I did have an underactive thyroid that has been boosted back to normal through thyroxine.

Is my case a typical one and can anyone suggest anything that might sort me out permamently?

Bruce

Bruce,

Short answer is that there is no typical case. There are varying degrees
and kinds of AF and within each type, the profiles can vary. You will find
similarities between your situation and others on the board or otherwise
but there is no one typical case.

Your situation does differ from many cases in one respect. From your post,
it sounds as if you went into chronic Afib from the beginning. This is unusual. Generally, regardless of the type of Afib or other factors, most
chronic afibbers experienced a progression of the condition from intermittent
episodes to more chronic. Are you sure this is what happened to you?
why were you on the beta-blocker? have you had a full cardio workup
to determine the absence of any other health problem that might be
specifically causing the Afib? I assume you have because you are undergoing a pretty agressive treatment right now.

Kerry,

Thanks for your response. I'm not up on all the definitions associated with Afib but my circumstances are as follows:

I'd had no indication of any problems until I was bending over in the garden repairing my bike. I felt dizzy when I got up and the same thing happened a few minutes later. I took my pulse and felt it was dancing around a bit. I left it for a few days and, when my pulse was still irregular, I went to see my doctor. He gave me an ECG, found the arrythmia and, after a quick call to a heart consultant, put me on warfarin, digoxin and atenolol. I've since dropped the beta blocker and switched to flecainide.

A few weeks later, I saw the specialist. Another ECG found that my heart was still beating irrregularly. As far as I'm aware, it's been like that ever since the first episode. The beta blocker seemed to "mask" the arrythmia with the result that it really wasn't noticeable until a few months ago when I was told that it wasn't necessary for me to be taking both atenolol and flecainide.

Since coming off the beta blocker, I've had my first real episodes where I've been very aware of my heart palpitating. The first time it happened. I felt dizzy and out of breath and got a bit of a scare but I'm used to it now. I have one of these "attacks" every few days-sometimes several times in fairly quick succession on bad days. They tend not to last any longer than half an hour and seem to be associated with any sort of effort, although there are days when I can run about a bit without any ill effects.

The heart specialist scanned my heart with ultrasound and said it appeared normal. As I said earlier, an underactive thyroid was the only thing that seemed to be wrong with me although it's an overactive thyroid that's normally associated with AF.

I read Dr Lam's report about AF and that seemed to make a lot of sense to me. I'm now drinking decaf coffee and haven't touched alcohol since mid-October, even though I only ever drank red wine in moderation-about ten glasses per week.

I'm at the stage now where I'm not quite sure what to do should the third cardioversion also fail. I've been told that there are no problems associated with long-term use of warfarin but I'm not happy about remaining on flecainide, even though I haven't noticed any side effects so far.

Bruce - Have you read Hans book. If not, please do so. It's the easiest way to get all of the information you need to know right at your fingertips so you can participate in your own healthcare determinations.

Good that you are eliminating common triggers and cleaning up your diet.

Stay on top of your thyroid though....low as well as high thyroid can induce arrhythmias. I tested as normal after treating for hypothyroid and continued to have afib until I took supporting supplements for the thyroid, which along with increased magnesium, potassium and a whole host of other supportive supplements....and then I was able to stave off breakthrough arrhythmia while still on flecanide.

Anyone who tells you that there is no long-term problem with warfarin, needs to read the literature. As with any drug, there are tradeoffs.

What progress are you making with following the many recommendations from this board regarding adding Omega 3's (fish oils) to your diet and all the other good things everyone should be doing whether or not they have afib. Like - whole organic foods, no packaged or prepared foods, eating more protein, cutting out starchy carbs, eating low glycemic index fruits and veggies? There's alot of homework to do if you intend to tackle this problem.

You can start by going back in the archives and reading everything. Buy Hans book. Start a log of foods you eat and what happens with your heart rate, etc. after every meal, document your events, speculate why they happened.

Something in your system is unbalanced. It's a long haul to figure it out, but it's possible....meanwhile - I hope you can find the best drug for your particular situation to keep your heart calm.

Good luck. Jackie

Your first doctor should be shot for putting you on such an intense
drug regimen after experiencing Afib for the first time. I would get rid
of him. Keep in mind that flecainide can be PRO-arrhythmic in some
people. Also, as Hans and others have pointed out (as well as my
EP) digoxin is not the drug of choice today and can even be harmful
in some cases.

Short story- I would seriously reevaluate your entire drug regimen
with another specialist. And read all you can about the drugs
and Afib. this board and hans book has great info. You must be proactive
with Afib as the medical profession is all over the place with respect to treatment.

Bruce, I'm assuming you are off digoxin? From what I've read it only exacerbates AF.

john

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I live in Scotland where it's not always easy to get rid of your doctor! My GP is a good guy but obviously isn't up on the latest developments/research. The specialist I've seen also gets a good reputation but he was honest enough to admit that western medicine doesn't have all the answers. I showed him Dr Lam's stuff and he told me to go for it.

I've been trying to identify the trigger or triggers in my case and the only thing I've found so far is that my AF seems to be most troublesome after a bad night's sleep.

I'd love to be able to pay more attention to my diet but I'm a single parent with two boys aged 11 and 13 and a full-time job. I can't even recharge my battery at the weekend as I also have my four-year-old daughter to look after then and she's a real handful! Even finding the time to read the archives is difficult.

I'm going to concentrate on more and better sleep and supplements such as magnesium. I'll also get a copy of Hans' book and devour it, metaphorically speaking.

This is an invaluable BB with lots of very knowledgeable people contributing. You've all given me a bit of hope that this thing can be overcome.

Thanks.

Bruce

John,

I was only on digoxin for a short spell. I've stayed on flecainide because I was told that I have a better chance of cardioverting if I'm taking this drug than if I'm not. Two previous cardioversions have failed so it's worth a shot.

Cheers,
Bruce
john wrote: