I dumped caffeine in my early 20s because I was drinking tons (4 Tabs a day - remember Tab?) and I didn't like the way it made me feel. It wasn't until I was in my 40s that I got afib, so it had nothing to do with mine. Oddly enough I have started drinking a small bottle of coke every other weekend or so, with absolutely no ill effects.by Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've been on Metoprolol for over 2 years now. No side effects or problems. Helps keep my hr at a decent level.by Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've been on metoprolol for over a year now - no side effects that I can notice. I suffered from panic attacks/anxiety back in the 90s. And I found that shortness of breath would accompany some of my attacks. I'd sit and try to just calm down by focusing on breathing slowly and deeply - sometimes I could do it, but honestly, sometimes the anxiety was so bad that I just couldn't anby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Good luck. I've been on Sotalol for almost a year now and it's made a world of difference. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had diagnoses of a hiatal hernia & anxiety a few years before I had my first afib episode. I know folks here have talked about both being a factor, and I have no doubt. The hernia is still there, but the anxiety is long gone (drugs for a bit & a whole lot of therapy - enough so that I'm happily in the job that caused all the anxiety). Best to you. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks for the labdoor link. It's important to keep on top of what we're choosing to help us tame the monster. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I've encouraged his daughter to contact the board (he's not internet-friendly) and shared the information with them. Hopefully he will find some control over the monster. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
A co-worker's father has just been diagnosed with afib (off/on). She asked me if there was a particular diet that was best for fibbers. I know what works for me, but didn't know if we'd determine the best general diet to follow (aside from staying away from alcohol and caffeine). I sent her the Strategy and apparently that was a bit confusing for him, so I told her to start with thby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Lots of interesting thoughts here. I don' have diabetes, or take Melatonin and take six Doc's Best capsules in a day (2 of them before bed). Also, this has only happened twice in a year. But was curious. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
This is a new one for me - a few months ago, and then again last night, I had wild, crazy, action dreams. Each time I woke up in afib. Question. Can wild, crazy, action dreams cause afib? Or, probably more likely, are the dreams my brain's way of dealing with the fact that I went into afib during the night? (fibs gone, thankfully, but question remains). Nancy p.s., the fibs showedby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
If you look through various posts here, you'll find people who swear by a variety of diets. Personally I think that because afib is such an experiment of one, things that make it worse or better can also vary by person. What worked for me was paying attention to food/s that seemed to trigger episodes as well as foods that didn't cause me any problems at all. Pay attention to your bodby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I can't offer much help for most of this - but there were a couple of things that lept out at me. Since my afib was originally caused by dehydration, I try and watch out for that. It has continued to be a trigger from time to time when I'm not careful. So among other things, make sure your aunt is drinking enough water during the day. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
This is exciting stuff. I hadn't heard anything about it until now. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
My EP told me that my Sotalol was the anti afib pill and the metoprolol was the rhythm agent. Of course he might have just been simplifying it for me. I'm adrenergic, not vagal, and I do know that the metoprolol did nothing for stopping my afib episodes. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I agree - it is a rhythm agent. I have been on it for about a year. It has NOTHING to do with stopping an afib episode. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I shared with friends who say they finally get what afib can feel like. After years of explaining it to them - now they get it? thanks for finding & sharing . Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had a several-day-long episode last year and because I'd had more salt than normal (I don't use it and only get it in foods, which is more than enough) I increased my potassium intake. After a week I got discouraged and dumped the potassium altogether. I converted two days later. I still use potassium, but at much lower levels. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Bill, How have you been taking your Seeking Health powder? I have capsule filling equipment (for my potassium), so had used it for that, but after 6 weeks or so (that's what I give each new kind) there really was no change. I'm wondering if I wasn't taking enough? For me, Mag deficiency can show itself through leg cramps.With the old Bluebonnet I had stopped having them at allby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks folks. I'll give the ReMeg a shot. The WW just isn't for me. I'm just not the kind of person who has the patience to create things like this (managed it once). The oils just don't work. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Since the Bluebonnet magnesium tanked, I've been trying a few different ones, Doctor's Best, Seeking Health, and the new Bluebonnet buffered magnesium. I'm not that happy with any of them. So wondering if there is something else out there, or if one of these is really a good one I should be sticking with? I'm interested only in oral magnesium. I haven't had good luck wby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
Or it could be that there are some very talented people in the field. As Natale-centric as this board can be, he's certainly not the only one out there doing good work. The Bordeaux folks come to mind from discussions here. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I usually don't take them much anymore (I used to use tons of the stuff) since I've been on Coumadin. But one day I was moving stuff out of a storage unit and was sore the whole day so took about 4 over course of the day. Two days later was my blood pull for INR. Number was 5! So don't do that anymore! Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
So spent the week in the hospital and am so tired and out of it (those every 2 hour wake ups for bp or ekg or blood pulls are so much fun). But the Sotalol kicked me back into NSR Tuesday after 2 doses. Thanks goodness for so many reasons (not the least of which was the planned cardioversion if it didn't work). The docs say my EKGs don't read well re: the QT interval prolongation,by Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I'm finally heading into the hospital next week to start in on Sotalol. I've been reading that it's a potassium blocker. Folks who are using it, do you find you need to up your potassium supplements even more than we do off of that med? Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
The only time I lay on my left side is when I'm already in afib. Then I figure, "hey, why not" . Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was on Atenalol for a while but switched to Metoprolol several months ago. No side effects for me at all. On the other hand, it doesn't stop afib, but controls my aflutter rate. So I guess that's something. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had great success with Bluebonnet's cheleated magnesium/Albion method. I took 6 capsules/day, one with each meal. But they don't make that anymore and the new buffered stuff isn't working. Have also tried Seeking Health Magnesium Glycinate Powder, which was one Jackie found after the Bluebonnet change. But it hasn't done anything for me either. So still searching. Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
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? Nancyby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
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 doby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM
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 triggeriby Nancy - AFIBBERS FORUM