Living with Atrial Fibrillation: What are Your Experiences?

Thanks for your reply. I've never been able to determine a particular trigger among commonly encountered items like food, drink, caffeine, other items people mention as triggers for them. I do tend to stay away from alcohol as more than a small amount could (but not always) bring about an A-fib attack. I have a long history of SVT- well before any A-fib and learned early on in my life to avoid energy drinks or supplements as definite triggers for tachycardia, and THC containing gummies are definite no-no's for me as I imagine marijuana would be as well.

I think sometimes the surge of adrenalin associated with strong emotion, could be joy, sorrow, anger, excitement, take your pick, will bring on an A-fib attack for me- might be associated with a rise in blood pressure at these times, I've had high blood pressure since I was a young woman ( tends to run in our family) though it's controlled most of the time. These days a a viral illness tends to bring on A-fib for me too. Most of the time though, the A-fib seems to come and go randomly, most often it lasts no more than a minute.
I do take Eliquis, as my CHAD2vasc score is 4, and we also have a family history of strokes. I take metoprolol tartrate, 150 mg/day, to control my heart rate, and it does a pretty good job I think.
As I think I'd mentioned previously, my cardiologist knows exactly how often and how long my A-fib attacks are from my pacemaker remote monitoring reports ( quarterly and alerts when a preset limit for an event is exceeded), and it's entirely possible that there is more breakthrough in the "atrial high rate events" ( ie A-fib, SVT) with this doseage of metoprolol. The time may be coming that the metoprolol won't be as effective as it had been for controlling these events, though my cardiologist says he is reluctant right now to increase the metoprolol to cover this breakthrough. He says that is because over time the metoprolol loses its effectiveness and ever increasing doses are needed to work. So he's instructed me to take an extra 25-50 mg tablet for a tachycardic event that doesn't seem to be stopping within the minute or two as they have been. Overall, this works for me.

I was first diagnosed with AFib when I was 59. I had no idea what it was and went to the hospital ER with trouble breathing and extreme tiredness. I was told that I had AFib, a left bundle branch block, and that my ejection fraction was 25%. I ended up in the hospital for 5 days so they could put me on Tikosyn. My cardiologist also prescribed Metoprolol, Atorvastatin, Xarelto, Spironolactone, and Diovan (before this, I was on no medication). For about three years, I had no problems and didn't make any significant lifestyle or habit changes. Then, towards the end of 2023, I started having AFib episodes with heart rates in the 180 bpm range. This repeated in early 2024. But then, in June 2024, when I got COVID for the first time, things went crazy. I ended up in the hospital ER three times in three weeks. During my first visit, I met an electrophysiologist who said it was time for a radiofrequency catheter ablation. The procedure was performed shortly after my third ER visit. In the past 21 months, I have been AFib-free. I got my sleep apnea treated and under control, reduced my alcohol consumption to typically no more than one drink a week, lost weight, and kept my blood pressure usually in the 110/70 range. About 6 months after my ablation, my ejection fraction was 60% (yay!). After 90 days, they took me off Tikosyn, but I still take everything else. I kind of wish I had had the ablation earlier, but I also know that skills and techniques have improved since 2017 when I was originally diagnosed. I hope that continues to be the case so that when I need my next one, the results are even better. Wishing you good health!

He is not on a specific medication for A-fib. He has been on every medication out there and nothing worked. He is more tired and every time he has been cardioverted and goes back into A-fib he said it seems worse each time.

Mecha - Yo creo que todo los sintomas que usted tenia son de Covid. Los doctores no tiene la libertad de decir la verdad.

Lindy9, I am sorry that I cannot read your reply, but wish that I could

72M. I've had AFib for at least ten years and probably longer. I recorded six episodes in 2016 lasting one to 8 hours. The number of episodes grew gradually, and the length of each episode also grew, which is the common path for AFib. In 2024 I had 59 episodes, each lasting 20+ hours. I was never on Eliquis until this year. I started Metropol late in 2024 after an ER visit. Finally, I got tired of living like this and had a PF ablation in Feb 2025. I had to go on Eliquis to have this procedure. The procedure was pain-free and caused me absolutely no issues. I got up and felt like nothing had been done. I wish I had done the procedure long ago. I'm still on Eliquis and will likely be forever due to my CHADS score. I've had eight episodes since the procedure, one lasting about five hours and the rest lasting minutes. They said I might still have some "transient" AFib for up to three months (to May 20, 2025). I've been AFib free now for over a month, and I've been pushing my exercise and lifting more and more (a trigger). Heading out to have a few beers this afternoon (another trigger).

GDCM - Of your relatives that had heart problems, were they 1) overweight? 2( did they eat a lot of cheese, ice cream, beef, bread, sweets, margarine, processed foods such as chips etc?
3) Did they eat FRESH vegetables and fruits? 4) Did they stretch and walk outside daily?

I am 76, and take no meds. But I make sacrifices to have good health. I had to give up coffee and anything containing caffeine which eliminated fast and irregular heartbeat, , most dairy, eat very little processed, no canned fruits and veggies, few sweets. I stretch a bit and walk daily up and down steep hills.

My goal is to live in good health, and God willing a long life, but without pacemaker, stents, meds and not spending my life in and out of doctor's offices and hospitals. Reflect on your habits and those of your relatives to see if there are changes you can make and possibly not need those scary treatments that benefit the docs and drug companies, but may or may not help you. If you follow the habits of the average American, it is not an enjoyable path.

Thanks, but none of your advice fits this particular situation. It is a genetic issue confirmed by a study at the Mayo Clinic. (Read about LPa)

Message for gloaming,
Just an update about my catheter ablation. It was done via Radiofrequency method on March 4th as an outpatient. On April 1 st I was fitted with a three day holter and will get the results May 1st. My heart surgeon phoned as a followup and is pleased with my progress this far. He wants me to stop my beta blocker Sotolol in one month and see how it goes and if no palpitations then good but if I get any signs of arrhythmia I can always go back on that pill. He will phone again in three months to check on me and in the meantime he will be in touch with my cardiologist to compare notes. My energy is back and I’m feeling good - touch wood. I only had 4 episodes after the surgery and one was starting and then stopped - a good sign. My pulse reading yesterday was 71. I’ll let you know what the holter reading was when I find out. I already feel my quality of life is improving each day. 😊

I am female, 76, and was diagnosed with Afib 2 years ago after being tested for sleep apnea. Got the CPAP machine, but I had no issues with Afib. In fact, doubted I had it because I never felt it. Fast forward to this year, I’m suddenly having Afib episodes lasting from 1 hour to 8 hours, heart rates up to 150. I was diagnosed with scoliosis a year ago. As it has started to affect my posture more and more, my Afib is kicking in more and more. Has anyone found any correlation between Afib and scoliosis? I know scoliosis can actually displace organs if severe enough.