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@phillipdobrien Although my afib started due to a cancer med I'm taking, I've noticed triggers for an episode for me are chocolate especially dark chocolate (probably the caffeine in it), too many carbs in one day especially sugar (quite the sweet tooth) and sleep apnea. It helps to determine your own triggers. My episodes tend to start late at night or while sleeping.
I did try Multaq years ago for 3 days and thought I was going to have a heart attack on it, but I tend to have a lot of weird and severe adverse reactions to meds. Missing some enzymes needed to metabolize a lot of meds. That scared me away from trying any others especially since I have bradycardia from cancer meds too.
@janet23 I'm going to check out the Afib Cure book to check for other home remedies/lifestyle changes. Thanks for that suggestion!
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I saw your comment about your triggers and thought this might add further value or insight. I am still a patient of Mayo and have been for years but go to Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN for "routine" cardio care) because of proximity to the city where I live now per my job. Initially within 4 appointments, they did the correct tests (which Mayo had always done and local MDs had not) , identified that I had Afib, discovered that I had had a heart attack in the past (which was and still is a shock) and recommended a cardioversion which I did. Per your message the fist thing following the cardioversion was to immediately give up alcohol, anything with caffeine and all chocolate for 30 days. Then there's a re-test. Bingo per your comments above ! I was advised to do that permanently and did so immediately. It was extremely difficult and still is. Giving up wine having lived in California for years and someone who enjoyed wine in cooking with meals and the like was in the "yikes" category. Add to that chocolate and all these drinks with caffeine (and decaf) ... I admittedly was a diet coke addict. Decaffeinated drinks are tough to find. I hope this adds value ... glad I just discovered Mayo Connect recently to see experiences of others.
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Hi Zebra. I've been taking Propafenone HCL SR (Rhythmol) 325 mg twice a day since Nov. 2016. History - I had multiple episodes of A-fib and had to get a TEE and cardioversion twice. I had ablation and no episodes for a year. I wore a monitor for a month and did not have any episodes so I asked if I could come off the medication. They agreed and in three months I had Afib again. I had to have another TEE to make sure I had not had any strokes. They did another cardioversion and started the meds again. I'm happy to stay on them forever--no further episodes.
Good luck in your search for what works for you. Faye