is this normal for paroyxmal AF
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hi, Have been told I probably have paro AF, all tests point to this. I wonder though if anyone else has these symptoms. I can go for weeks without anything then for no reason at all they start, always after meals (my cardio said vagus nerve/food/GERD all related to AF) when sitting down, I get this really bad flipping feeling which takes my breath away and then my chest feels bruised. My heart then races and can go on for hours or just a few minutes, it makes me feel really odd. I have had it happens every night since Monday always around 9pm, always after food. Whilst my cardio has assured me it is not going to kill me, how can your heart keep doing this without it causing damage and maybe, just maybe, causing your heart to stop altogether. I know from the last year of having this that chances are it will go again completely at some point. One other thing I notice is that when I get one of these attacks quite often I get a hot flush at the same time. I am female and post menopausal but still having flushes. How does anyone manage the aching and bruised feeling at goes with it. Thanks for reading.
0 likes, 21 replies
terence68672 youngatheart1
Posted
Hi,
have you tried eating a little earlier, and having a little less. I take it you're on medication for GERD, does it help? Maybe suck a Gaviscon after the evening meal.
Have ou had a 24/7 ECG monitor?
I see you're a lady, there are lots of ladies compared to men on here, wonder why that is. I'm a 55 year old chap.
kate07761 youngatheart1
Posted
I have random nonsense everyday and perhaps its just the fact that its gone on for so long that I know that it won't kill me (as you put it) No comfort is it AF and what symtpoms you can get is baffling. Not sure what time you are eating before 9pm? I couldn't eat that late and eat no later than 6pm. What your cardio says re vagus/food/gerd makes sense to me. I've often had a problem after a stressfull or busy day at the point when I think ah I can relax! Is the food rich? Maybe try eating earlier and see if it makes a difference. I know what you mean about a flush when this happens - that I would guess is your body kicking into gear to deal with what is going on. No answers I'm afraid but confirmation what you describe is experienced by others
Kingjerry42 youngatheart1
Posted
GET AN ECHOCARDIOGRAM NOW
The erratic & chaotic HR beating will cause problems further down the road. Over a period of years you will first experience THICKENING OF THE WALLS OF YOUR HEART & 2) A DILATED RIGHT ATRIUM (or left) WHICH IS VERY BAD. It is an enlarged heart.
Get an echocardiogram of your heart and you can find out RIGHT NOW if there is any damage to your heart- such as above - has taken place.
Tell your Doctor you want an Echocardiogram. It will be up to you to FULLY monitor your heart. Doctors normally won't send you for internal testing. It is up to you you who must stay on top of this problem.
GET YOUR ECHOCARDIOGRAM.
sandiishealthy youngatheart1
Posted
Hi there I've had Afib for many years. I've had 2 ablations and lots of cardioversions. Mine is VERY related to food, gerd and especially food sensitives, thankfully I learned from others on this forum that the FODMAP diet can really help this. I've been on it a year now and the difference is amazing. I only get the odd episode and my last cardioverion was a year ago. Yay! Lol. It has changed my life. My Af will never be cured but now it doesn't control me . I control it. Find a copy of the diet from Stanford university and try it. I suggest getting a ECG to have as a base line for the future at least. Good luck Afib friend 😊
frank61666 youngatheart1
Posted
First of all go hug your cardiologist; most cardiologists do not seem to talk about the vagus nerve etc. and that seems to be the point of emphasis for these afib episodes that come and go.
The lower esophageal sphincter (les) is the muscle that tightens to prevent stomach contents from entering back up the throat into the esophagus, causing gerd and irritating the vagus nerve.
Too much food can put pressure on the les causing acid etc. to back up, The same can be sdaid of sugar, caffeine, many alcoholic drinkis, hyatal herrnias, etc. The les seems to get weaker as we get older, so the afib episodes also seem to appear more in older folks that those in their 20's.
There are a lot of reasons for this to be happening, including low electrolyte levels that have diminshed over many years to go along with the weakened les.
Your situation is very common but it is something that will not go away on its own without changing your diet, at a minimum. It definitely could get worse.
Frank
kate07761 frank61666
Posted
I second that - 'Hug the cardiologist' - most look at you as if you have landed from outerspace when you mentioned Vagus Nerve. I did think you must have a forward looking cardiologist when I read that originally.
sandiishealthy frank61666
Posted
Right on Frank. You hit the nail on the head. There is a definite disconnect between doctors and stomach issues and the vagus nerve and Afib for sure. Possibly it's not as advantageous monetarily as it's basically a diet that is easy to prescribe and doesnt make them any money. Sad but true. Thanks to the internet we can help each other and bring hope with simple things as a change in lifestyle and diet. Thanks Frank for sharing what you know. 😚
macas02 kate07761
Posted
frank61666 kate07761
Posted
Hi Kate
No, I do not have a forward looking cardiologist.He is very good and to his credit he told me he is too busy to pursue the angle of how food intolerances could disrupt nerves that then cause cardiac problems. When I told him cartdiologiosts shold talk to neurologists, he said "no, neurolgists should be talking to cardiologists". He does have a sense of humor (I think).....
I am a senior level biomedical scientist in the USA and as a basic researcher with several years of experience, I am a huge skeptic of many things considered acceptable today, but in most cases there is nothing better yet.
There is a relatively new field of medicine called "Neurocardiology". Right now this field seems to emphasize the connection between mental stress and the heart, but it is slowly picking up on the gut-brain axis. You can see something about Neurocardiology in Wiki...
kate07761 frank61666
Posted
Here in UK specialists don't talk to each other eithier. I have 3 different things going on at moment and everyone will say the problem I have is nothing to do with them and it must be caused by one of my other problems. In the meantime I slowly get worse and worse. I see my heart consultant in 2 weeks - never know what I am going to get but it might be interesting because post Ablation Number 2 I have a lot more pain in heart.
frank61666 kate07761
Posted
This is the best time in all of history to have mnedical issues, but as each one gets solved, new ones with new questions arise.
Frank
terence68672 frank61666
Posted
(I wont really, too many permissions to ask)
kate07761 macas02
Posted
Yes I've had plenty of those moments and only in hindsight thought I wish I had said are you laughing at me because you know its not true or laughing at me because you just don't know!
kate07761 frank61666
Posted
macas02 youngatheart1
Posted
Hi, I have had PAF for about 4 years, I take Bosoprolol, Flecainide, and Apixaban, The apixaban is Hopefully to stopa stroke. I am very well on this medication but still have episodes particularly after food, I am going to check out the FODMap to see if this helps.
My Cardio told me it wouldn't kill me>>>>>