Connect
Comment receiving replies
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.
Replies to "I saw your comment about your triggers and thought this might add further value or insight...."
Decaf is also bad??
It was a rough 10 days to decaffeinate. Try A&W root beer- no caffeine.
Connect
@joaf37 @fdixon63 thank you for your thoughtful replies.
Faye: I had to look up TEE as I wasn't familiar with that. Good education. I'm glad you've found what works for you!
Joaf37: Sorry about the heart attack finding. I completely understand about having to give up the stuff you love. It's soooo hard. You've given up a lot, but I'm glad it's working for your Afib! Luckily I gave up drinking alcohol, caffeinated beverages and sodas when I was pregnant 41 years ago! Can you believe water was my weird pregnancy craving? How lucky and the craving never stopped. I've only been drinking water ever since. It drives my friends and servers at restaurants crazy.
I do have an incredible sweet tooth though and since I lost my sense of taste and smell 6 years ago after taking very strong antibiotics, I can now only detect the basics -- sweet, salty, spicy and sour -- no flavor at all. What a loss. Hard to eat tasteless food. The only one of those that sensations that brings joy without flavor is sweetness so it's very hard to give up my only joy in eating. Can't tolerate 'sugar free' products and yuk. I have cut out all sweets except one See's lollipop each evening -- 20 minutes of sweet joy to look forward to each day for only 90 calories. I went into Afib the other day when I had 2 lollipops in the same day, but not at the same time. I'm hoping my body can handle just 1!
I frustrate my cardiologist turning down Afib treatments, but I've just had so many scary reactions to meds in my life and being in advanced cancer treatment I'm trying to avoid invasive procedures or more side effects related to other ailments.
My best to all with Afib and I hope none of us has another episode! 🙂