Is there any hope with afib?
Posted , 15 users are following.
Feeling very hopeless. I'm only 37 yo. I have three very young kids. They are only 8, 5 and 3. I had a very wonderful life and a pretty wife and a very good job.
I think I messed myself up by taking a vegan diet for two weeks before afib. I watched a damn film about how good vegan diet is, then I decided to try it for two weeks to see if I would feel great. I wasn't obese, my BMI was 26 before I took vegan diet. I did the vegan diet only in the hope of getting even more healthy and to avoid heart disease. Up to the point I had afib, I was very fit and healthy. And I was a man that always full of energy, creative, passionate, calm, confident and family oriented. I also had a strong mind that once I decided to do something, I would achieve it.
So I started the vegan diet and obviously I didn't eat enough. For the first few days, I felt very tired, and one the 3rd day, my heart skipped beats for four hours until I ate my dinner. I didn't link it to the diet but thought it was just caused by my anxiety. I also had diarrhea for the first few days. Then few days before my first afib, I started to have heavy sweating during sleep, then on the 14th day, I woke up at 2am with afib. My whole life changed on that day.
I was put on metoprolol after the first episode, and had another three episodes in the first three months, all happened during I was sleeping. I'm not exactly sure if the vegan diet put me into afib, or there's other things. Now I had stopped metoprolol and not taking any daily med and didn't have any episode for three months. I also notice when I lay on my right side, my heart rate would rise immediately and beat irregularly. I didn't notice this before afib. Not sure if afib changed my nerve so it acts like this now?
Any way, now I don't know how to live my life. I'm so scared not only the risk that afib brings to me, but the long term prognosis of afib. I know I'm doing good for now having an episode for three months, maybe I can even make it to three years? But even though, if I could live to 70 yo, I feel it's a true suffer to live in fear for the next 33 years.
Now I only want to sleep, and I don't feel like myself anymore. I'm not as active as before when I was with the kids, and I lost all my passion and hope for the future. I tried so hard to not think about afib and tried to live a normal life as before, but I can't really do it. The afib thing is always in my head 24/7. I'm so draining and feeling desperate.
I apologize for the rant/vent. Can you please tell me there's hope for afib? I really don't see any. Sorry, and thanks.
0 likes, 125 replies
BampaOwl li29885
Posted
Okapis is right. AF is an annoyance, but no big deal compared with most other cardiac problems. And it's not true that "surgical interventions don't often work" - OK, sometimes they don't work, but these days most times they do.
I'm 71, living in the UK. I started having AF three-and-a-half years ago, a bout every two weeks approx. I went onto Warfarin and Beta blockers, but eventually the frequency increased to weekly. So my cardiologist recommended me for ablation. I had a cryo-ablation last December and it seems so far to have been successful - just three short bouts since then, and hopefully no more.
I have two other chronic, but not really serious, conditions - I wish they were as treatable as AF.
See a good cardiologist and seriously consider ablation.
frank61666 li29885
Posted
I'll be willing to bet that you are eating the wrong stuff.
Look up the FODMAP diet and see how you can start to take charge. Food intolerance (not allergy) can cause night time bloating, pressure on the gut and vegas nerve and send you into afib. Drinking alcohol is no help.
Frank
sherpa_al frank61666
Posted
Spot on Frank, food intolerance has a lot to answer for. I had an ablation June 2016, and a dairy free diet (dairy intolerance in my case), and I've had no further Afib episodes since, which one worked, I'm not sure, but I'm inclined to think it is the diet.
The ablation was unpleasant, but not the end of the world, but something I would hope not to have to repeat, or now have the need for. I also take a supplement that helps keep the digestion calm, and which has all manner of goodies, including magnesium & potassium, something called Nutrimonium.
Allan
li29885 frank61666
Posted
BJStar3 li29885
Posted
See a cardiologist my primary doctor couldn't tell I was having afib, I ended up having a pacemaker and my energy has come back! Good luck, if you get no results get another doctor!
jimjames BJStar3
Posted
BJ is spot on. Primary doctors are not very good at reading ekg's, especially the younger ones. Instead of being trained on how to properly read an ekg, they rely on the machine's computer algorithms which often aren't accurate. If you can't get to a cardiolgist or EP, ask your GP for a copy of your EKG, and then get a second opinion later from a cardiologist or EP.
Jim
Okapis jimjames
Posted
Yes, part of the problem of identifying AF is that its highly unlikely that you'll be in the proximity of an ECG mc when you have an episode....you know its happening but you cant produce the evidence!
jimjames Okapis
Posted
Okapis,
I think you're right in many cases. But for me, I've always pretty much known when I was in afib because of a racing heart rate pared with very a very faint irregular pulse and very low blood pressure. So after my first episode over 30 years ago, each of the following four times I always knew I was in afib and it was then later confirmed by an ekg. For those who don't have such pronounced symptons, a portable device like Kardia Mobile can tell you if you're in afib or its something else.
Jim
Okapis jimjames
Posted
Yup I always knew when I had an episode but getting to an ECG mc during an episode to prove that I had AF was well nigh impossible! By the time I reached an ECG mc the episode was gone.... In time though episodes became longer and I ended up in A&E but I always knew I had AF - I'm one of those who inherited familial AF. My brother, a doc, also with AF, taught me how to feel the blood veins/ vessels in my neck and check what was going on....Latterly it was the very fast/ irregular heart beats when I put my head down on a pillow that had me calling for an ambulance!
jimjames Okapis
Posted
@Okapis: Latterly it was the very fast/ irregular heart beats when I put my head down on a pillow that had me calling for an ambulance!
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I don't know if you meant it literally, but I always rushed to the ER for my first couple of afib episodes. However, the third time I was able to reach my doctor and he prescribed dilitiazem to get my rate down. Came down within 30 minutes. So now, instead of rushing to the ER, I keep dilitiazem (cardizem) with me in case I get another episode. I also have the thinner Xerelto at home and take one of those as well. So now I'm safe and have bought some time to decide how to proceed. I am not a big fan of the ER unless absolutely necessary.
Jim
Okapis jimjames
Posted
Yes I meant literally. I did not go to A&E with my AF episodes for about 20 yrs. I knew what they were, they self terminated and I took anti-coagulants and later on flecainide.
It was only when the episodes became more "violent" and incapacitating that I went to GP. They in turn sent me into A&E. Took me a while to start calling an ambulance for myself.
Ablation is the end of the road treatment. It will not necessarily last forever so rushing to ablation is probably not a good idea especially if you're younger and alternative treatment strategies work
cardiac_congo li29885
Posted
Hi! About 4yrs ago, I started with PAF. Ive had 3 ablations. Im still going strong. Ive stopped all meds 'cos they made me feel rotten. I still have PAF. Im still very much alive! I cant eat certain foods because they give me episodes. Im still going strong. Ive changed posts in work to a slightly less stressful post, not on shifts. That has helped. I havent dunk alcohol for over 3yrs- no big deal. I still live my life and socialise when I want to. My point? You WILL adjust and you WILL stop AF ruling you and you will start to retake control. It takes a few months. You may need to make a few changes, but you have loads of positives in your life. Focus on them, not the negatives of what is just a really rather annoying issue. Chill. Dont let it rule you, but just acknowledge its there and you will need to make a few alterations to your life,then crack on with living that life. Loads of great support and advice on here - you are not alone!
li29885 cardiac_congo
Posted
Thanks! I learned I probably won't die of afib. But when I think about my afib might be brought on by my stupid two week vegan diet, I feel so regret about it. I could have prevented it and lived my wonderful life, but not I'm stuck with this thing for life. It's so life changing and the regret is everyday thing in my mind.
frank61666 li29885
Posted
The symptoms of food intolerance are not caused by small doses of a food, but by too much of several bad foods that you been eating consistently.
Fructose is generally the main offending culprit, and that is found in probably all fruits and vegetables, but to differing degrees.
Eventually, by watching what you eat, your gut bacteria will regenerate to make you tolerant, and the whole mess will go away.
Frank
li29885 frank61666
Posted
baraba li29885
Posted
li29885 baraba
Posted
So there is no hope. My life is doomed and there is no way to get back to the old me. Sigh. Sometimes I just want to give up. I just can't think and act as the old me any more. With my three very young kids, I don't know how to live life like this. It's so f****d up.
jimjames li29885
Posted
You have received a lot of positive input, and no disrespect to "baraba" but why are you focused on her somewhat negative and inaccurate post? You are not doomed with afib for life. Afib does not inevitably get worse with age. Your vegan diet may indeed have precipitated your afibAnd exercise is RECOMMENDED for afibbers. Not sure where this "do not exercise too much" came from. Someone earlier suggested speaking to a therapist and I think that's probably as important right now for you as
li29885 jimjames
Posted
Thanks Jim. My mood swings up and down each day. It's been half a year since my diagnosis and I still haven't settle down to accept it. Especially when I thought about I messed up myself with the diet. You're right, there're many good inputs in above, I'm trying to see hope and live my life. Hopefully I can get to a peace of mind. It's really tough.
patrick45945 li29885
Posted
I mentioned a “challenge” in my last response to you. I saw this quote last night and added it to my “potent quotes” file that I review when times get “tough” (as you say):
“Challenges are what makes life interesting and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.”-Joshua J. Marine
Yup!👍
frank61666 jimjames
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jimjames
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Just want to elaborate on the "do not exercise too much" aspect. There does seem be a connection between serious endurance athletes (marathon runners for example) and a higher incidence of afib. This doesn't mean you should necessarily stop running marathons, but something to think about. That said, a daily routine of moderate exercise such as walking is encouraged and may be somewhat preventative. Personally, I try and combine daily walks with some short interval speed work where I get my HR over 80% of max.
Jim
patrick45945 jimjames
Posted
However, I have had a few episodes of palps while riding and took pit stops to settle down a bit. On Sunday I rode a few miles further than usual and thought I was gonna have to call wifey to come rescue me, but luckily my pulse came down a bit after a few minutes rest. (Jim, I recall you saying something about “exercising through it”, so I ventured on with due caution.)
While I am hardly a competitive road racer at 68 years old, perhaps cutting back to 20 miles or so may be advised? I don’t wear a Fitbit or any other cardiac device, but I can feel when things ain’t quite right. Anyone aware of any device I might consider to use on my bike rides? Seems like I read somewhere about an “event monitor” you wear and push a button when you feel a cardiac event coming on...and it provides feedback. I can’t really tell if these are palps, skipped beats, or aFib, but they get my attention!
jimjames patrick45945
Posted
That would be the Kardia Watch Band that works in conjunction with the Apple Watch. It's like the Kardia Mobile, except you're always wearing it. When you push the button it takes an EKG. Alternatively you could just get the Kardia Mobile, stop and get off your bike, get your HR down below 100, if possible, and then take your EKG. I think cutting down on your rides is advisable. Have your read Dr. John Mandrola's book yet, "The Haywire Heart". Focuses on afib and working out.
Jim
patrick45945 jimjames
Posted
Interesting that my GP and EP did not object to 30 mile rides. FWIW, the EP also gave me the green light on alcohol and caffeine in moderation.
Thanks again for your continued support!
Patrick
jimjames patrick45945
Posted
That's typical of something an ep would say. In general, they do not attribute afib to lifestyle issues
(diet, exercise, etc) nor do they put much faith in lifestyle changes helping afib. Their mindset is that afib happens, it's common, and it's best treated with ablation. So, go on doing whatever you were doing and if he ablation doesn't work out, well, we'll do it again!
I'm not saying that moderate caffeine or alcohol is bad, but it may be for some of us. As to exercise, I'd see what Dr. Mandrola says. Mandrola believes the best afib treatments are lifestyle changes.
Jim
jimjames patrick45945
Posted
Go to youtube and search under "Dr. Mandrola" and/or "Atrial Fibrillation can be treated best by changing your diet and lifestyle." That is not a typical EP talking.