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New to AF forum and would like some advice please

Posted , 7 users are following.

gloria31511
gloria31511

Hi

I have been diagnosed with AF and also have a mildly dilated left atrium.  My AF lasts for anything up to 8-9 hours, two being the shortest time I have it.  I was prescribed Bisoprolol which gave me really bad headaches/migraines having never had a migraine for 40 years.  The Bisoprolol made no difference to the AF.  After the consultant confirmed diagnosis he put me on Flecainide together with the Bisoprolol.  However the Flecainide really had an adverse affect on my vision and the headaches started again and that was only after 2-3 days on the Flecainide.

Has anyone any advice about successful treatment for this problem.  I appreciate that everyone reacts differently to medication but I am getting really depressed with it as the AF generally only comes on at night so I don't get any sleep and no medication seems to have any effect on it.  Has anyone successfully treated it with natural remedies?

Many thanks in advance.

Gloria

2 likes, 31 replies

31 Replies

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  • frank61666
    frank61666 gloria31511

    Posted

    Gloria

    My afib appears to be gone now. It took about a month once I started the magnesium but almost immediately the duration of each episode went from about 5 hours to 2.

    I got onto this by reading a blog on the subject where an individual said he once took "CALM" in warm water after an afib episode began and it subsided within 10 minutes.  When I read that, it all started to make sense for me.

    If you google the health benefits of magnesium you will see that magnesium plays an extremely important role in regulating heart rythms among hundreds of other things.

    Concerning your use of  juicers - good idea but the problem may reside in our (in the USA) finding that what is reported for magnesium content of many vegitables and fruits may be far off. Some here think the reason afib is on the rise is because our fruits and vegitables are becoming deficient in certain minerals like magnesium. It turns out that the well-known Mediterranean diet is magnesium rich and that might be why it is considered so healthy.

    As a chemist I would like to measure the amount of magnesium in certain foods, like almonds and spinach, but I do not have access to the technology to do so. It would be an interesting study to see how the results would compare to those reported in the literature.

    I take about 350 mg soluble magnesium citrate 2X each day for a total of about 700 mg/day.  30 minutes after taking the magnesium I take some sodium bicarbonate (1 teaspoon/cup of water) to neutralize the acid and make my stomach feel better.  I think the acidity of the citrate hellps absorb the magnesium.

    Beware that the oral magnesium might cause occassional diarrhea but that is a small price to pay to get rid of afib, in my opinion.

    I also use the magnesium oil on my neck, arms and, believe it or not, as a deodorant. Every 2 or 3 days I also soak my feet in a bucket of warm epsom salt for 30-40 minutes before going to sleep at night.

    Frank

    • gloria31511
      gloria31511 frank61666

      Posted

      Frank

      You have been really helpful in sharing this with me.  I looked on Amazon and can get Natural Calm magnesium citrate powder,it doesn't however have the sodium bicarbonate in it.  Having looked up sodium bicarb it says you can't take it with Flecainide not that I'm taking it.  Is it necessary to take it with the magnesium?

      I did read about the benefits of taking magnesium and did try ordinary tablets but they upset my stomach and didn't make a difference to the AF.

      Like you I do believe that there is a natural way to manage this problem.  When I asked my consultant what caused AF he said that they have no idea!  There must be a reason for it, I don't believe it just happens.

      I will wait to hear from you about the sodium and then probably send off for the magnesium the bouts of AF are getting really frequent now and I am finding them really depressing as I can't sleep with them.

      I will also try and get some magnesium oil and do the foot soak in epsom salts.

      Thanks again Frank, you are a star!

      Gloria

  • frank61666
    frank61666 gloria31511

    Posted

    Gloria

    Do most of your afib episodes begin after lying down, or going to bed?  They all did for me and for many sufferers.  I can explain later...if you'd like.

    I also think there is an explanation for why afib episodes gradually increase for 30% of the people who suffer from afib.  So the approach should be to slow down the progression first with the hope of eventually ending all episodes if possible. Age, long-term diet, etc. all seem to play a role in this. So ending it would be expected to take time and patience is necessary. 

    The sodium bicarbonate is simply baking soda used everywhere.  I recommended it since the citrate does make the stomach ache for some people, so by taking the bicarbonate 30 minutes after the magnesium citrate, you'll neutralize the stomach acid.  That neutralization causes the formation of carbon dioxide gas, so most people belch a lot for a minute or 2 after taking it.  It is only for relief and is not necessary at all for taking the magnesium.

    What is necessary for taking the magnesium is to make sure it is well dissolved and you have a fairly clear solution. I think it is best to use warm water with the Natural Calm both for dissolving it and for drinking.

    Frank 

    • gloria31511
      gloria31511 frank61666

      Posted

      Yes I would say a minimum of 95% of the time they start during the night and wake me up but as they are getting worse I have also started having them in the afternoons/early evenings.  I thought it was down to stress as I had a rather stressful job but I took early retirement last August but it hasn't made a difference.  I did move house and life now is relatively stress free compared to what it was but it hasn't made a difference tothe AF.

      I will send off for the Natural Calm and try it with the bicarb.

      Thanks again.

      Gloria

    • frank61666
      frank61666 gloria31511

      Posted

      Okay - it sounds like you've got vagal afib.  The magnesium should really help, if that is the case. However, certain components of your diet could also be contributing. Those are not food allergies but intolerances, and your vagus nerve does not like them, and the vagus nerve controls your (and mine) heart beat.

      Got GERD also?

    • frank61666
      frank61666 gloria31511

      Posted

      Oh, and I forgot - do you have benedryl in the UK?  If so, and if you have vagal afib, then I would recommend taking 2 - 25mg pills of benedryl before bed, or as soon as you feel the afib coming on.

      Frank

    • gloria31511
      gloria31511 frank61666

      Posted

      My official diagnosis is paroxysmal atrial fibrillation the heart is essentially normal but with mild tricuspid regurgitation and a mildly dilated left atrium but good systolic function.  I am certainly going to try the magnesium and see how I get on.

      Gloria

    • frank61666
      frank61666 gloria31511

      Posted

      Vagal afib is a form of paroxysmal afib brought on by some food immune response hours after eating and then lying down to sleep.

      People with vagal afib are healthy with good hearts etc. but they have that food intolerance that kicks off an afib episode. Wheat products appear to be major contributors, but lots of FODMAP heavy foods also could play a role.

      Many peole with food intolerances do not have afib because, I think, they have balanced electrolytes.

      You are right to go one-at-a-time with the magnesium.  It can only help!

      Good luck!

      Frank  

    • gloria31511
      gloria31511 frank61666

      Posted

      Thanks Frank.  I have today bought the magnesium oil and epsom salts so will try with those and see what happens.  My GP has changed my tablets again so I am keeping everything crossed.

      Thanks again for all your advice.

      Gloria

    • derek76
      derek76 frank61666

      Posted

      My vagal AF starts when the vagal nerve is stimulated. Once by the probe when having a colonoscopy and another time from a digital rectal examination.
    • frank61666
      frank61666 gloria31511

      Posted

      I am sure you will keep your GP up to date with reference to the use of magnesium; other patients would benefit.
    • frank61666
      frank61666 derek76

      Posted

      Yeah, lots of things physical (as in your case) or biochemical can stimulate the vagus nerve.  But when it relates to afib there is an underlying electrolyte imbalance in the heart tissue and probably supporting vasculature, that is generally acquired over several years.
    • derek76
      derek76 frank61666

      Posted

      I mentioned the causes to the ward sister when having my paceaker fitted. She agreed on the vagus nerve and said that she has had many patients going into AF after passing a large or hard stool. 
  • Mazza44
    Mazza44 gloria31511

    Posted

    Hi Gloria I only take flecainide as a pill in the pocket approach as my AF is paroxysmal. However when I do take it I'm pretty washed out feel bit blurred vision wise and can feel flushed. It's worth it tho as I can feel heart reverting back to normal sinus rhythm 
    • gloria31511
      gloria31511 Mazza44

      Posted

      Hi Mazza

      Thanks for your comments.  I had a really bad episode last week which lasted 24 hours, I had never had that before.  I did go to A&E who took bloods and wired me up for blood pressure and ECG etc but were happy for me to go home as everything seemed ok.  It wiped me out for three days afterwards.  I went to my GP as the hospital recommended and he put me on 240g of verapamil but I am also having to take the gabapentin to stop the headaches.  I go back to the consultant in two weeks so will see what he suggests.  It is so frustrating not knowing what causes it as apart from that I am really healthy. 

    • Mazza44
      Mazza44 gloria31511

      Posted

      Mind gabapentin is a nasty med also, renowned for making people dizzy and disorientated 
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