Before my first ablation, there were a few occasions where afib followed having two drinks. Maybe a half dozen incidents and over 200 episodes of afib. Coincidence more than likely? After my first ablation, I had a glass of wine or a beer daily for 13 years and no afib. More than one drink at social events and no afib. Since my second ablation 2.5 years ago, I have a daily glass of wineby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
When my afib started 15 years ago, my heart rate was 180 during episodes. A beta blocker took care of that. 13 years after my first ablation, afib returned and my heart rate was 110 during episodes, without a beta blocker. Go figure...........by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Californiagal, What do you mean by "I have a little problem processing the sulfur in the taurine but have a few tricks to handle that."by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Going to the Dr. is "exam" time. Who doesn't get a bit nervous when you know you will be tested and want to look/be 100% normal.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
During my 15 year long road managing afib (two ablations and over 200 documented episodes) I have found that coffee/caffeine/Mt. Dew have had NO relationship with afib. Coffee every morning and a glass of Mt. Dew in the evening to stay awake until 10:30. Stress? Possibly, but I have little stress and maybe 2-3 episodes related to stress that I recall. Coincidence or cause?by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
When I was in my over 200 bouts of afib, I did not work out. With the reduced blood flow, I would go into oxygen debt pretty fast if doing anything significant. Since my afib occurred a couple times a month and on average for a few to several hours, I didn't find a need to workout while in afib. Normal activity and walking weren't an issue. It appears that the impact of afib on oxygby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Rob, Just to be clear, a Watchman would only be an option after the atrial appendage had been ablated and NSR was achieved after the ablation. Then a Watchman was installed and afib returned. Of course, afib could also return after an atrial appendage ablation even without a Watchman being installed with the patient on a blood thinner, so it would be difficult to determine the cause of the aby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kev said: "My cardiologist has told me to head to the ER when I'm having an episode and get cardioverted; the less time I'm in AFib the better he says—I'm assuming he knows what he's talking about lol." I wouldn't assume so much. See an Electrophysiologist. I had well over 200 episodes and ONE cardioversion early in my history. Can you imagine if I went toby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kev, Relax a bit. Keep reading here and you will learn a lot. My afib started 26 years ago. Five years of afib undiagnosed, then caught on an ECG, then 6 years on meds, then an ablation. An ablation is a good response to afib, but there may be no need to rush into it. You are on a blood thinner, so the risk of a stroke is almost zero. I did have a second ablation after 13 afib free yearsby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
If your ablation was successful, you don't need amiodarone at this time. The way to see if it was successful is to stop taking the drug.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Poppino, My experience for the last 20 years (now 76) is that something always hurts. As soon as one type of pain fades, another takes its place. Being very fit/strong does not eliminate minor and frequent bouts of discomfort. I currently have some shoulder pain, but it only hurts when sitting. Not while lifting weights, golfing or swimming, only while sitting. Go figure? I think your paby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Quotejrmnr Ken, congratulations on your successful ablation. How long ago? I completely identify with the fear of travel and the progression of afib. I have had two ablations, the first lasting 13 years and the second lasting 1.5 years and counting. My decision for an ablation the first time was because of wanting to hike in the Alps. I had done it before and wanted to go back, but I didnby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
How an afib episode impacts your lifestyle is a component of an ablation decision. I had over 200 episodes lasting from 2 to 72 hours during the five years of afib before my successful ablation. For the most part, my afib was an inconvenience and irritant, but life went on about 99% normal. Increasing episodes and international travel pushed me to choose an ablation.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Ablation success is mostly dependent on the EP. However, the question may be: Has an ablation left you worse off than before the ablation? I can see that there could be little or no improvement from a bad ablation, but has anyone had a negative experience, side effects, more afib, etc?by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
From the Study that MikeN posted: "Methods In this randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, intravenous alcohol titrated to 0.08% blood alcohol concentration was compared with a volume and osmolarity-matched, masked, placebo in patients undergoing AF ablation procedures." So, the study is pushing enough alcohol into the subjects to achieve .08%. See below to see whby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Okay, here is the question - When should someone in afib go for a CV? During my initial 11 years of afib (first 5 yrs. undiagnosed), I had well over 200 episodes of afib and only one CV. When on meds for the last 6 years of that 11 year period before ablation, I always converted on my own, with the longest period of afib being 72 hrs. So, if rate control and blood thinner drugs are working - hby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuoteBrian_og I’ve been interested in this for a while as well as I’m due for an ablation soon and do drink a glass of wine or beer in the evenings. I’ve seen at least two studies that imply that drinking alcohol can result in AFib returning more quickly after an ablation. This study goes into it in depth. Conclusion: Alcohol reduction was associated with lower rate of AF/AT recurreby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
QuotePompon Alcohol is bad for afibbers. No doubt about it. Not necessarily for all. During my 6 years of diagnosed afib long ago, two drinks appeared to kick off afib maybe a dozen times with over 200 documented afib bouts. One drink - nothing. After my first ablation, 13 years afib free and a glass of wine every day for those 13 years. Occasionally two drinks (beer or wine) and no afib.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Kleinkp, My recollection is that aerobic fitness reduces resting heart rate. Something you can research on-line. Basically, training/conditioning your heart to pump more efficiently. My resting heart rate has always been on the low side, but I was a competitive swimmer for 15 years and competed in the 1968 Olympics, so I had many, many miles of training under my belt early on (max daily traby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Last ablation 22 months ago. Current resting pulse - 58. High 60's after the last ablation. Age - 76. Very fit - golf twice a week, 1 hr. weight workout twice a week, swim 1 mile twice a week. BMI = 22. I take no prescriptions other than Flecainide if afib shows up (pill in a pocket), but it's been 15 months since the last afib.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
This may not be of any help, but I too had 12" of my large colon removed because of diverticulitis. The concern was loose stools after the surgery, and I was told to take Metamucil to bulk things up with fiber. After months and months of huge gas problems, I stopped the Metamucil and everything went back to normal - no loose stools, and no diet changes. This occurred between ablations thaby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had no issues with Eliquis, but I was only on it for two months post ablation. I was 74 with my last ablation and am in great shape. I can't imagine having a stroke or risking having one. So, meds and blood thinners that will help manage afib (but episodes will still happen), or an ablation from an expert. Easy decision. My last ablation was day surgery and the only discomfort after wby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
If you are prone to afib - heredity, over training, or luck of the draw, there are things that may contribute to the initiation of an episode (some things already mentioned). However, once it's there, there is an excellent chance that episodes will happen more and more frequently no matter what you do to try to mitigate the occurrences. Some here have been able to have some control over thby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
There is nothing special about the dive sites at the Sandals that I have been to (9), there are better places to dive, but I also take advantage of the Hobie cats (14'), stand up paddle boards, kayaks, windsurfers, and some water skiing. Golf as well at some of their locations. You can do two tanks a day, every day if you choose. I did all the exotic diving years past and am happy to justby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Gill, I have been diving for 50 years, and am 76. These days I only dive at Sandals resorts. All inclusive and I only take a mask defogger, a shorty wet suit and socks for the slip on shoe fins. They provide everything else. I sold all my scuba gear 20 years ago. My diving was never restricted by afib.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
After my last ablation in Jan. 2020, I went 3 months with no problems, then for two months, 6 afib episodes surfaced, and all were stopped with flecainide. Then all clear for the last year. Not the norm, but hopefully, things will smooth out for you.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I think ablation is a first line treatment, and no matter what drug therapy is attempted, afib will progress over time. My cardiologist at the time my afib was diagnosed suggested ablation, but wanted to try drug management for while to see how I did. I did very well as explained above. When I was more inclined to get an ablation, My Dr. suggested a specific electrophysiologist that was excellby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I should have noted that for the 6 years of diagnosed afib I had only one ECV, which really wasn't needed because I always converted on my own. My longest episode was 3 days.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
It depends on how afib impacts your lifestyle. I had afib for 11 years (six years on meds after finally diagnosed), with over 200 documented episodes in the last 6 years. Afib had little impact on my lifestyle which was/is very active, usually an interruption for a few hours at a time, which only meant that I would not do a workout while in afib. Afib impacts others in many ways, but I think Iby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
You will get a more in depth reply from others, but the short answer is that because of the trauma/burns to the heart, the heart rate will be elevated for up to a year after an ablation. Eventually, it will return to "normal". I have had two ablations and the first 14 years ago, my heart rate was elevated for almost a year. My second ablation in Jan of 2020, my heart rate was back toby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM