Can anyone figure out this trigger?

I have the oddest trigger these days. When I get up from laying in bed, my heart goes straight into afib. Most of the time it just lasts a couple of minutes. Once it lasted a couple of days.

You can imagine my reaction - I now take a great deal of time to move slowly from laying down to sitting up, but without knowing just what it is about moving from laying down to sitting up that is triggering things.

Fortunately this morning I was able to get up twice without any problem (knocking on wood).

Has anyone else had this as a trigger? Anyone have any idea why? I've sent a note to my EP, but haven't heard back from him yet.

Nancy

Nancy,

Sounds like an adrenergic trigger. <[www.afibbers.org]

In my nearly 11 years here, I do recall others posting about it in the past, but not recently. Being vagal myself, I've used the increased sympathetic response of sitting up or getting up quickly to ward off vagal episodes that were just starting.

Since I don't have adrenergic episodes, I don't have advice on how to prevent them, other than your moving slowly. Maybe others will have suggestions.

Haven't read this in a while, but might have some useful info: <[www.afibbers.org]

Now that I'm thinking about this, maybe some of the things people do to terminate adrenergic episodes might be useful before you get up. Specifically vagal maneuvers generally & carotid massage specifically. See topics on this search: <[www.google.com] These techniques will elevate your parasympathetic nervous system and perhaps ward off the adrenergic afib. Also this search on vagal maneuvers <[www.google.com]

George

George,

Thank you. Yes, I should have mentioned, my lone afib is adrenergic in nature. I've had a few other traditional triggers once & a while (caffeine, laying on left side). On the other hand, I've also gone for weeks drinking caffeine, laying on my left side, drinking wine, etc. without any problem. My triggers are a mystery to me. Today drinking caffeinated tea won't do a thing. Next week it'll set off an episode.

Nancy

Obviously there would be pressure changes in the Heart from changing position.

Aside from that, any other symptoms when your fist stand up?

Have you checked your BP both lying in bed, and then immediately after rising? (Postural Low Blood Pressure Test).
If your BP does not rise slightly when standing up, then you could have Adrenal fatigue/insufficiency.
Acute Adrenal insufficiency can cause AFIB.

No other symptoms and no feelings when sitting up. I'll try my blood pressure (I've got a cuff) and see what it is. Any way to stop or lessen the chest pressure?
Nancy



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/07/2015 06:25AM by Nancy.

I would do the same thing (exact same trigger) before my last ablation. I found myself getting up in stages in the morning. like slowly lift my head than swivel around my feet towards floor; then lift up at waist; then put feet on floor etc. and so on. Its carazy!!!! I always fealt like maybe there was inflammation or something going on around my heart?? Something would cause periods like this.

Saw this and since it would increase parasympathetic response, perhaps trying it before you get up (4-7-8 breathing exercise): <[www.youtube.com]