Shannon - thank you so much for your sage advice. Luckily I am well insured and live in a major metro area (SF Bay Area) so hopefully I will have access to an EP of the caliber you recommend. Does Natale still rotate through SF? I am willing and able to travel though. Before I decide to pursue an ablation I would like to eliminate the possibility this is all driven by an autonomic nervous systemby JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, I think you are right and my next move is to talk to an EP. If I do decide to pursue an ablation I would look for someone with plenty of experience. Who did yours?by JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM
So I was a 5 episode/yr afibber for the past 6 years until a routine colonoscopy (my first) a month ago. Had a few episodes in the 2 weeks following, then a dramatic uptick in the last 2 weeks with over 6 more short (2-3 hrs average) episodes since. All connected to gastric pressure/burping until last night when I had numerous ectopics/short Afibs related to breathing rate. I was able to controlby JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had this exact experience just last night whereby I noted a strong connection between breathing and ectopics/low HR Afib. I was able to control ectopics and restore sinus rhythm by deliberate breathing or short breath holds. I also had the very odd sensation of fluttering in chest, but an apparently normal sinus HR in the low 50s. All very vagal symptoms. I have also noted a strong connection tby JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Nancy - I don’t think farm raised salmon is any less healthy than wild and far, far healthier than organic, grass fed beef. Yes, there are trace amounts of nasty chemicals in it, but at levels way below what is likely to be harmful in the amounts that most people consume. It might be an issue if that is all one ate. Update: I did a little research and I think Nancy is correct that wild salby JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Thanks Joe - this helps highlight the fact that lifestyle plays a huge role in managing AFIB. That is not to say that all cases are the result of poor choices, but many are with excess weight and poor diet being the primary culprits. Even when I was a triathlete in my 40’s I was at least 20lbs overweight, and I have added 10 more since. My goal is to lose this excess weight before ever considerinby JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Anyone else out there have AFIB episodes that are tiggered by swallowing cold or carbonated beverages? The vast majority of my episodes have been triggered this way, although there are almost always contributing factors such as dehydration, recent exercise, alcohol or travel/sleep issues.by JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM
I was first diagnosed with paroxysmal AFIB just over 5 years ago, at age 44. Initially I thought it was a result of my love of wine - however episodes continued even after I cut drinking by 90%. Then I discovered Dr John Mandrola’s blog and this forum and realized that it was likely my love of hard endurance exercise that was the more likely culprit. I used to trail run and could sustain 90-93%by JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Lynn, I highly doubt ATP would survive the digestive process and would likely be broken down to ADP/AMP and phosphate. It is not a particularly stable molecule. Even if it was adsorbed into the bloodstream, it would not do much good unless it could get into cells. Typically ATP is generated and used within cells. That said, there is some literature on the use of adenosine as a supplementby JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi George - I have read a lot of your posts and see many similarities between our cases. Like you, I also hope to avoid the need for ablation (my episodes do not cause any discomfort other than the anxiety of worrying about a stroke and difficulty in sleeping). That said I do not rule it out, but at the minimum hope to defer until the procedure further evolves. Seems that Afib treatment has chby JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Bolimasa - to clarify, I have had Afib during exercise 4 times, but each time it started during a sudden reduction in effort after sudden activity, like running up stairs with daughter on my back (episode #1) or during descent after mountain biking up a hill. I have never gotten an episode while jogging or riding at constant pace. Same pattern with PACs - they typically happen at rest or aftby JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Jackie - good suggestion! it is well know that middle aged endurance athletes are prone to calcified plaque in their arteries, as opposed to the fatty plaque seen in more sedentary individuals. This may be a function of oxidative damage. The problem is that biological systems are so incredibly complex, that there is often more that one contributing factor. Several papers I have read seem toby JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM
Hi Rocketrich - I frequently get PACs following early termination of effort (e.g., after cycling up a hill, or after a sprint in a soccer game) and occasionally Afib (4 of 16 episodes triggered this way). I am wondering if this is some sort of 'vagal rebound' whereby parasympathetic nervous system is trying to lower heart rate following exertion. Interestingly I very rarely notice PACby JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM
I am a classic vagal Afibber who typically gets self-terminating episodes in the evening after a hard workout earlier in the day. Episodes are rare (1-5 per year). There is often a gastric trigger (swallowing cold water, gulping, belching, coughing etc.). I gave up endurance exercise a over a year ago after having 5 episodes in a single month and had no episodes (that I know of...) for the the eby JoeM - AFIBBERS FORUM