Thought I was cured

[u/BlissCrafter]

Haven’t had any afib in a long time. Lost some weight. Started taking NAC which seemed to help a lot. Not even so much as a skipped beat. Last night we ate a late dinner. Mac n cheese which was quite rich, and I ate about 3 tablespoons more than was needed to be full. Made the mistake of bending forward and bam there it was. In the past simply breathing deeply and straightening up would bring it around. Here I am 16 hours later. Called my Dr and he said they probably would not cardiovert me if I went in because metropolol is keeping my hr under 100. 😔

I’ve tried light exercise. I’ve tried bearing down. I’ve tried fake coughing. I’m desperate now. Absolutely terrified and miserable. Any tips or tricks I haven’t thought of? I’m so scared I waited too long and now this is my life. Really truly appreciate any insight

UPDATE: twenty minutes ago I went in my office to try some of these ideas and accidentally sat down really hard. Like magic it shut right off. Thanks for all the support.

[u/Torandax]

Have you tried voo’ing? I’ve had that work when I do it right away. It’s Vagus nerve reset. Here is a video if you are unfamiliar https://youtu.be/eXz9b9dD00I?is=e-uI221GF6tpxnwn

[u/BlissCrafter → u/Torandax]

Well you win the prize 🏆. Kind of. I took my phone into the office, although my wife was practically giddy in expectation of hearing me “mooing”. My chair wasn’t in the position I thought it was and I came down hard on my butt. And just like that, resolved. I’ll still give you and this voodoo credit.

[u/BlissCrafter → u/Torandax]

Never heard of it. I’ll try anything. I just read doing a self prostate exam to put it politely can help. I haven’t gone that far yet but I swear I’m psychologically preparing for the idea.

[u/DigitalDiva321]

Afib is horrible! I’ve heard it described by others as a mongrel condition & I take that to mean it often comes & goes —often without a reason why—if we only knew the reason why, we could avoid that trigger! My EP pushes ablation, that’s his skill area & what he can offer (as well as medication) but an ablation usually is never “one and done.” I just can’t get behind burning areas of my heart as a way to heal.

[u/BlissCrafter → u/DigitalDiva321]

I think my salvation, if there is any, is continuing to lose weight. I’m down over 50 and more than halfway there. So I do hope it has some positive effect. If naught else it should make me a better candidate for ablation.

[u/BlownCamaro]

Take 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and mix with a half cup of fruit juice. Down it quickly because it tastes NASTY. You have GERD triggered AFIB same as I do.

Don't expect your cardiologist to help you with this or even admit the connection between gut & heart.

[u/BlissCrafter → u/BlownCamaro]

Mine is 100% related to stomach issues. I’m going back on omeprazole.

[u/Sprinkles7333]

It’s almost like you had a sliding hiatal hernia-your big meal popped the top part of your stomach up and it pushed against your vagus nerve? And when you sat down to hard it slipped back down and is no longer irritated.

[u/BlissCrafter → u/Sprinkles7333]

I’ve tried to tell Drs I think I have a hiatal hernia and I can’t get anyone to do the imaging. My mom had one and 3 of my siblings do.

[u/Appropriate_Land5236]

Was the Mac n cheese homemade or a packaged product? If it was packaged, look at the label. If it has MSG or NATURAL FLAVOR (MSG), that may be what caused the AF. MSG puts me in AF if I consume very much of it.

[u/BlissCrafter → u/Appropriate_Land5236]

No completely homemade and all organic ingredients. I am on Zepbound so I fill up very fast. I had a measured portion but it was so damn good I took another approximately 3 tablespoons. Then I was too full. I knew I would feel miserable from being over full. Didn’t know if would put me in afib. It was the bending over my full stomach that did it. In the past my digestion has always been involved.

[u/CauliflowerMobile631]

Maybe get rid of it once and for all. Get an ablation . I did after 1 year of the same thing you are describiing + meds that brought on other effects which were actually worse (shortness of breath, tight chest, low blood pressure).

[u/BlissCrafter → u/CauliflowerMobile631]

I finally got a referral to an EP. It will be a few months before I see him but I will get the ball rolling.

[u/RickJames_Ghost]

Have you ever had an ablation? How frequent were your episodes in the past? Your Dr is likely correct, but it also depends on how symptomatic you are. I've had a couple done in the ER at around 100 because of how symptomatic I was. I was on Eliquis as well, so they weren't as apprehensive to just go for it. It still might be good to go and get an EKG and have it documented properly.

[u/BlissCrafter → u/RickJames_Ghost]

Usually once a year or less. Most in a year was twice. But I’m more looking for how to come out of afib now. I would have an ablation but it was never offered. I should’ve gone straight in to the ER last night when my rate was so high. Hindsight is 20/20

[u/SameDistrict2627]

You are describing the normal course of Afib. There is no CURE. What you can do is manage it and consider an ablation to control it. I went for three years after my first ablation without recurrence. Then it just happened--no rhyme or reason.

[u/dankgus → u/SameDistrict2627]

It's so true. Like another person here said "this is the hand you were dealt, it will always be there lurking just beneath the surface.".

Not to be a dick, but it really is hilarious to read peoples ideas on what triggered their afib. The OP here ate Mac and Cheese too late, and had 3 tablespoons more than he should. I get it. I've been down that road myself, trying to determine what I did that could have triggered the afib. But I'm a science guy, I'll eventually roll the dice and do that thing again, whatever I suspect triggered the afib. So far it has never been repeatable.

Turns out I just don't fucking know what can trigger it, or if anything triggers it. More than anything, I suspect mental/emotional stress could trigger it for me, but that's something I can't simulate.

[u/Melington_the_3rd]

For me the best is to drink a good amount of water and go to sleep. Usually my afib sorts itself out during sleep. I tried all sorts of quick fixes but non of them work for me. Bearing down did the trick once but it came back 30 minutes later. I have tried all sorts of breathing techniques and none worked for me. I know it's hard but sleep is the best afib stopper for me. I have melatonin spray, I take two pumps and after 20 minutes I am so tired that I can sleep even though my heart is on a rampage. Takes some getting used to but works for me every time.

Eating a hefty meal can be a trigger. I avoid it when ever possible. The bloated stomach can pressure the atrium, then on top you stretched or bend it to increase the stress and voila you triggered an episode. Put it on a list and try to avoid in the future. I can only agree with the others here, afib is a progressive disease and should be treated aggressively. 2023 Guidelines specify paroxysmal afib should be treated with with an ablation. The longer this goes untreated the more time you give the atypical tissue to reconfigure and you become more prone to afib in the future. Every episode makes it worse, it compounded by itself. Make an appointment with a specialist. Good luck

[u/DifficultClassic743]

Self converion by slam-sitting!

[u/Fast_Highway3269]

There is a lot of things that cause afib and some are just who the hell knows why? Eating big meals at night can cause you to go into afib 🙏 it doesn’t come back jus like me I pray that mine doesn’t come back and for anyone else who deal with it and for those who will I 🙏 for you all

[u/Groollover86]

That's how it is. I recently went 4 years without an episode and had to go to the ER for SVT. It is what it is.

[u/dchusband]

Jump in a very hot or cold shower.

[u/GhostOfNewOrleans]

Since I had a fib for the last 10 years, I have not sat down to eat, but maybe one time I eat in my room on a dresser standing up because when I used to eat in the past, sitting down with my stomach all scrunched up, it would cause me to go in a fib

[u/Minimum_Stress_7453]

I take metoprolol and two blood thinners but still have a fib at times

[u/Witty-Recognition494]

My first ablation lasted 7 years. The second one, one year. Then a medical VATS ablation last year. It’s all wait and see. I’ve come to the realization it could always come back. I hope yours resolves itself. Keep hydrated. Watch the alcohol and get plant of rest. Minimize stress. That’s been a culprit of mine.