While in afib and before taking HR control meds, my HR was 180, but with control, about 100. Normal rate in the 50's.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Just some of my history of diagnosed afib. I recorded all episodes for six years before my successful ablation 11 yrs. ago. Number of episodes - 192 Average number of episodes per month - 2.6 Average length of episodes - 9.4 hrs Number over 48 hrs - 4 Longest - 72 hrs Converted only once at the ER.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I haven't found any direct relationship between exercise and afib, but I did do a fair amount of aerobic work as a competitive swimmer at the highest level. Up to 6 miles a day of training, but that ended at age 23. Afib didn't show up until age 51. However, my wife and I did do a number of 5K races in the years preceding the afib, but training was at a minimum of + or - 5 miles a weby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Many years ago, I took Align probiotic (I think that was the brand) after a colonoscopy. I began having GERD symptoms, but didn't correlate it to the Align. I even went in for an Endoscopy to see what was going on, but nothing was found. Then I thought about the Align and stopped taking it and the GERD went away. I haven't taken any probiotics since. Even after multiple colonoscopby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Carey makes a good point. It's our nature to try and discover what causes an episode of afib, but for the most part, it's a shot in the dark. For the 6 years I had diagnosed afib, some episodes seemed to be caused by having two beers. Not one, but two. The only trigger I could identify. However, out of the 192 episodes that I documented, maybe 5-10% could be connected to two drinks.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
It's been 11 years since my successful ablation. I have a glass of wine or a beer every evening, plus I have a 16 oz coffee every morning. Neither have had any impact on my heart, no flutter, etc. I do take Mg, K, and Taurine, which pretty much eliminated occasional flutter.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
All my episodes were in the day time, but many times I would go to bed while in afib and it would stop during the night. So, my 192 episodes were during work or recreational hours, which was not a big issue for ME. I was/am in great shape so the afib was for the most part a distraction. My heart rate was controlled by meds, so it wasn't absolutely crazy. 180 without meds. As I said beby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
It's just different for everyone and there seems to be a lack of consistency regarding advice from the Doctors as well. As I stated in an earlier post today, during my 6 years of diagnosed afib, I had 192 episodes. The average length of each episode was about 8-10 hrs, but they ran in lengths from 1 hour to 72 hours. Early on, I did go for one cardioversion, but after that, with my contby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Over the 6 years of my diagnosed afib, I had 192 documented episodes. The five years prior to diagnosis, I don't know how many. Then a successful ablation and that was 11 years ago. So, while your afib will not go away, deciding on an ablation or not depends on how often and the impact that the episodes have on your lifestyle. For me, an episode of afib of several hours had almost no impby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
This is a guess, but it's not the PVC's that dictate antibiotics, it's the MVP. So, just having PVC's should not require antibiotics, UNLESS the PVCs are caused by MVP. No one here has said that people with PVC's, either with afib or without should be on antibiotics.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
22 years ago, I was diagnosed with PVC's caused by MVP, but 5 years later, the correct diagnosis was determined and it wasn't MVP, it was afib. The ultrasound test for the MVP was just wrong. So during the 5 years of the bogus MVP, I also took antibiotics, but when the afib was found on an ECG, then the antibiotics stopped. Be sure you have the correct diagnosis.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
During my 5 years of diagnosed afib (2-3 episodes per month), exercising in afib was almost impossible because of oxygen debt. My afib was not exercised induced, but did show up a few times while working out. I simply had to stop. If I was in a fib, I would not go for a work out. All other activity was normal.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
My ablation was 11 years ago and I was on warfarin for one month - then NOTHING after that. No meds of any kind, but I do take potassium, magnesium and taurine.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had afib for 11 years before an ablation at age 62. That didn't change anything in my life or work. A few hours in afib only meant that I would go up the stairs a bit slower. I still played golf, went on hiking trips, jogged and ran a half marathon, lifted weights, windsurfed 90 days a year and snow skied. However, while in afib, excessive physical activity had to be curtailed, but thaby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Before drinking a lot of water, I would google "drinking too much water" to be sure you don't over do it.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Let's look at 3 people all with the same chad score. All the same age, same fitness level, etc. 1. No afib, chances of dying from a stroke = ? 2. Afibber taking a blood thinner which continues for life, chances of dying from a stroke = ? 3. Successfully ablated afibber, not on blood thinners (me), chances of dying from a stroke = ? Is there a difference in longevity (justby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Petros, While there are several things you can do to manage your afib (drugs and supplements), in the long run, your afib will likely continue to get worse (more frequent and longer episodes). At some point, the inconvenience of afib may become intolerable with an ablation being your best option. It's just a question of when, and that is a personal decision to be made with guidance fromby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I ski one week a year in Colorado or Utah, and for the 11 years I had afib, I never had it while skiing.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have a friend that has recently diagnosed with afib, finally caught it on an EKG. She had been to the Dr. numerous times not feeling well and even wore a monitor with no diagnosis. She doesn't notice the afib/excessive heart rate, but feels down, tired and out of breath. She is very over weight. I suspect that extra body weight conceals the heart arrhythmia, so that it's more diffby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
More than one drink seemed to be a trigger when I had afib, but since my one and only ablation 11 years ago, no more afib. I drink one glass of wine every evening, and socially, maybe two glasses of wine and sometimes two beers. Now, I stay hydrated, take magnesium and potassium and alcohol is no longer a problem. I don't know what would happen if I pushed it more, but I have no desire toby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Roe, The only reason I take the three supplements is to prevent/minimize the arrhythmias, in the hope that they will not kick off a return of afib, like they did before my ablation. The comments on this forum suggest that most posting here have had more than one ablation, and my hope is that I am one and one. So far, 11 years to the good. If afib had not surfaced, I would not be on any sby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Yes, once diagnosed with afib, I went on a blood thinner for 6 years. After the ablation, I was on a warfarin for one month. However, many Dr's seem to keep their patients on blood thinners much longer. There is what is called the "blanking period" after an ablation where it seems to be common to have occasional afib during the healing period before the scar tissue has completelby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Once I found out that I had afib (four years undiagnosed), then I was on prescription meds to help control the afib for 6 years. Then the ablation. After the ablation, I took a blood thinner for one month, then nothing. My point is that afib is a frustrating ailment and most try to find the magic bullet to fix or help control the problem. I think many folks over do the supplements, or avoidby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
There are plenty of super healthy people that take no supplements. A well balance diet of limited volume and exercise is all most of us need. However, I do take magnesium, potassium and taurine, which have essentially eliminated what was occasional flutter/PAC's. This is 11 years post ablation. If I had not had afib, I likely would not be taking anything. Also, no prescription meds andby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Why not get the shot? "The CDC recommends that all American adults get a flu vaccine every year. Even though the current vaccine is not perfect, there are many good reasons for you to get it. The vaccine does reduce your chance of getting the flu, especially when it matches up well with dominant flu strains. The benefits of flu vaccine are particularly impressive in older adults. If yoby Ken - GENERAL HEALTH FORUM
Good to know and my Doctors insist that I take the 81 mg aspirin. My blood pressure averages around 115 over 70, and I stay in an excellent state of fitness, so I don't worry about thick blood. CHADS2 score of 0. Personally, I think the medical field over prescribes blood pressure medications and with the new high blood pressure standard reduced to 130 systolic, more and more will be onby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I had a successful ablation 11 years ago and was on Warfarin for on month after, then nothing more. Other than age and it's impact on cardiac function, why take a blood thinner? I had a-fib for 10 years and it got progressively worse over time, so the ablation. Nothing wrong with my heart now. Just my opinionby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
I have my 11 year ablation anniversary this month. Here is my story, plus it’s worth noting that I didn’t find this website until after my ablation. 72 years old; excellent physical condition; 6', 170 lbs; 11 years of LAF; was on meds for the last 6 years after diagnosis; averaged 33 episodes per year for those 6 years (documented when and how long they lasted). The episodes ranged fromby Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
Why the wait for the cardioversion? I only had one early in my 6 yrs of diagnosed a-fib, and that was done immediately in the ER and then home an hour later. From then on, I always converted on my own, so no more cardioversions.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM
One thing that is good/helpful with Gatorade is that it goes down fast and easy. When I do drink the G2, I can down 20 oz. in 5 minutes with ease. Water that quickly feels like you have a softball in your stomach. It seems to get into your system extremely fast.by Ken - AFIBBERS FORUM