When you say ''Ive gone years without Af'', do you mean...

Hi Terence,

?For me - the opposite of the above.

?The first 4 to 6 months were a learning curve -learning about AF and learning about the drugs I was prescribed. Then I associated an onset of AF with food I'd eaten. Once I addressed the food issued by changing my diet it was business as usual. I fly regularly to see my family in Australia, last trip I took the co pilots seat for a seaplane flight around Sydney Harbour and nearby coast line, did a controlled Bridge Climb of the 500 ft high Sydney Harbour Bridge, and closer to home have been taken up in a glider and with an instructor guiding me spent about 30 minutes flying the thing - all nice adreneline pumping stuff - have had a partial knee replacement, I regularly climb the Cornish South West Coastal path including the challenging bits from sea level up 400 ft cliffs.

?I do avoid MSG I still booze on, party animal like and enjoy life. I was 65 when diagnosed and turn 73 this September - I still work and drive a tourist bus and physically load passengers baggage (most of it over 15 kg) for between 30 and 40 hours a week. And yes, I still pass my annual DVLA bus drivers licence holders medical each year.

Once those first 4 to 6 months were outta the way I said sod it - AF isn't gonna control my life. And it hasn't.

By the way - I come from a family where one side of it has a pattern of strokes and AF in its gene pool.

John.

My wife would no doubt have me "tiptoeing around". But frankly, I have never really identified what it is that triggers my bouts of Paroxysmal AF. Main factor seems to be how long since the last one. I think I get them rather more at weekends, which is when I (moderately) drink wine - but I am not giving that up! I avoid caffeine after noon because it keeps me awake at night! At 70 I am not too good at running for the bus. I avoid MSG on principle. And I am not one to panic.

AFAIK bouts of AF are not in themselves harmful, as long as you take "blood thinning" medication. I'd rather be without it though - I feel grotty for the first few hours of a bout and need to sit down a fair bit. If I was still working it would be more of a nuisance.

I'm rather hoping I will get an ablation in the next few months, as long as Paroxysmal does not become Persistent (which I am told rules out ablation).

Good luck to y'all!