How to cope with AFIB and Tachycardia

@astxov82 ,
A good EP is like gold to help you and your mother with this. I have an excellent one a Mayo Jacksonville.

Has anyone suggested magnesium? It was recommended by my EP. It did seem to help. Lot of discussion on what type but let your EP suggest that.

Stress and anxiety can cause AFIB. Reducing that can help also (no my opinion comes from my EP). How is her weight? My EP also says excessive weight can add to AFIB. I agree with other posters about caffiene. But every reacts to caffine differently and may or may not be the culprit. Too much of it can't be good. I limit mine to an absolute minimum.
Good luck!

I second the motion. I sometimes have pat and sometimes some PVCs sleep sneak in and out by geminal pattern. I added some magnesium 250 magnesium citrate and have not felt these arrhythmias nearly as frequently. Good luck!!

For over 10 years of having paroxysmal AFIB i have seen number of cardiologist and EPs!
With the age over 80 the paroxysmal AFIB is progressing, getting more often.
Not having elevated BP, Diabetes, Obesity and following all of the recommended healthy life style for elderly, and no genetic issue,
Just taking Bisoprolol still is not 100% helping to prevent AFIB episodes , when HR jumps to 140-160/ min, and BP is getting high.
Than I am taking Flecaidine 25-50mg.( as per needed or pils in a pocket) to help to stop Arrhytmia.
AndvIt’s lowering HR and stabilized blood pressure.
It has happened when AFIB started next day after the surgeries. Anesthesia to blame.( I’ve read)
I couldn’t control HR at home, and should go to ER, whereIV with Adenosine drug did normalized .
My question is:
Why do I need to take Bisoprolol and always Flecainide ( as dr. recommended), if Flecainide alone is helping as anti arrhythmic drug ??
Yes, it has many unpleasant side effect . Therefore, I am trying to avoid permanent use of it !!!
Would it completely terminated my AFIB , giving me constant fatigue, swollen leg, etc.
Now cardiologist suggested to try just Sotalol alone , that belongs to the same anti arrhythmic drugs as Flecainide with the same side effects .
I am Too old for ablation ( and wouldn’t try)
Not candidate for pacemaker ( it’s only for bradycardia, not tachycardia)
The paroxysmal Afib with the time getting persistent!
Totally confused 😕

Several thoughts, monigue (?) (Is it 'Monique?'):
You're not too old for catheter ablation. My father had a TAVR a year ago, at 93+.

Yes, AF is a progressive disorder. Medications work, sometimes well, for years, then the heart slowly wins. Catheter ablation has about the same track record, but you only need anti-coagulants after a successful ablation..no metoprolol/bisoprolol/flecainide/sotolol/amiodarone/diltiazem/propafenone/etc.

Maintaining high (enough) levels of potassium and magnesium helps. Coconut water, beets, nuts, Kiwi....for potassium. Nuts, green leafy vegetables, or take magnesium taurate, malate, or citrate, at least 200 mg/day. One person I know of controls his AF using only these methods, but he also minimizes calcium consumption, chiefly via dairy products. When he forgets, he has to PIP with flecainide soon after.

Why the bisoprolol in addition to the PIP Flecainide? Because bisoprolol is a RATE control, not a RHYTHM control. Flecainide can get your heart back into, or maintain, the correct sinus rhythm, but it can't control your heart's speed when you are in AF. Bisoprolol and metoprolol control how quickly your heart beats in arrhythmia, except I think it only has modest success that way.

A pacemaker can speed up the heart rate, but it can't slow it down. At least, that's the way it used to be...maybe the modern ones are more controlling. But if you go into bradycardia (45-50 is generally not so low, but below 45 is getting potentially problematic for some to retain BP) due to rate control medications like bisoprolol, you should reduce the dose of that compound, but not without doctor's orders. Or find another drug. It's your physician's responsibility to monitor you that way.

When your heart begins to beat chaotically and uncontrollably, it is time for a pacemaker. When all other methods fail, and your heart rate can't be safely brought down to 100 or lower, the only other option I'm aware of is to have your SA node destroyed, also by catheter ablation, and then a pacemaker is installed and it takes over.

Again, paroxysmal AF will almost always progress to persistent, and finally to permanent, AF. The saying in the field of heart electrics is that 'AF begets AF.' So, you want to be out of AF as much, and for as long, as possible. The drugs, magnesium, low stress, good diet, good sleep....they'll help, maybe for a long time. Eventually, for all but a very few, we'll need surgery of one kind or another.

I have problems with just 1/2 cup of coffee.

My heart used to beat chaotically etc. If you haven't read my solution. TOTALLY eliminate ANYTHING with caffeine. Coffee, colas, chocolate. I LOVE all three, but it beats irregular heartbeat. I am almost 76, and will not go through the tests etc and treatments that many on this blog does. I will not do pacemakers and ablation. Glad I never did as problem was eliminated by diet alone.

Lindy, your solution works for you, but it won't work for the majority of AF sufferers. The heavy majority will need intervention of some kind, not just an improved diet, reduced intake of any number of things, or more of one thing or another. I'm happy you have found your magic, but it won't work for most of us.