Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

@mbouhafa Alcohol research seems to be headed toward, 'No amount of alcohol is good for you, ' But, if you enjoy the odd beer, with emphasis on odd, it 'might not 'be deleterious for your heart. In my case, my heart raises its rate by about 10 BPM after ingesting a single beer, and it has been reliable reacting that way for two years now. This is post-ablation with my heart happily in NSR.

Currently the gold standard of care for AF is a catheter ablation. And no, most of them are not permanent. Most will eventually result in the heart finding a way to enter into AF again. It might be a year, while some lucky folks get ten years out of an ablation. To me, just coming up to three years free of AF, that is a huge win. I say this because I was one of the very unhappy symptomatic patients who both sensed when they were in AF and who were miserable with the sensations and with the anxiety. For me, a single year, 12 whole months, free of AF would make another ablation worth it for me.

Am ablation can offer the symptomatic patient very welcome relief, which adds to their quality of life. But it also forestalls the typical degradation in the heart's structure and function when AF goes on uncontrolled or unblocked for long periods. This process is called 'remodeling' and it means enlargement of the left atrium, sometimes also of the left ventricle, and it often means eventual mitral valve prolapse. It also means deposition of collagen and fibrosis in the substrate around the mitral valve and in the myocardium itself. This tends to stiffen those masses which makes the heart less efficient. In time, heart failure is the last outcome.

Please note that none of this is absolutely certain, just possible. And if you control the AF and prevent it, you also prevent those unwanted conditions.

One last caveat: AF is considered to be a progressive disorder. It should be as aggressively managed as the patient and physician can stand mutually. The more it is prevented from taking place, the longer the heart remains unaffected by the eventual changes that the literature says is possible, which I described earlier, above.

Hello. My name is Moncef and I live in Gaithersburg Maryland. I was diagnosed with Afib on December 31 at the Mayo Clinic during my annual checkup. I was put on Eliquis. Two questions. First is there a more permanent way of getting back to a regular heart function? And two should I eliminate alcohol completely ?

I was diagnosed with Atrial Flutter in October 2024 and had a Cardioversion on February 3, 2025. I was removed from my medication the same day and have not had any problems since then. I was told that the next step would be an Ablation if the problem returns. I have been able to return to my normal level of activity with no ill effects.

Hi, thanks for letting me join this group. It’s good to share lived experiences.
I live in Australia and had a Pulmonary Vein isolation and pulsed field ablation last Friday. I was only diagnosed late last year and had blamed the flutters on anxiety/stress. ( I’ve always been a stress head!)
I’ve always had a relatively low heart rate, < 60 and sometimes in the 40’s, and I err on the side of low with my blood pressure too. I have always been asked if I am an elite athlete! Unfortunately no, although teaching for 40+ years kept me on my toes and I have always been active and flexible.
I’m looking forward to hearing other’s stories and how they deal with AF. I am feeling positive about the ablation and am hoping that when I see the Electrophysiologist I can go off at least some of the medications.
Cheers, Eve 😊

Is there anyone who had to resort to a pacemaker after 3 ablations over three years stopped fixing the arrhythmia?

@cunnee Before my ablation i was in ER after two separate Aflutter/AFIB attacks. First time medical folks were able to convert with drug; 2nd time drug didn't work so i got the high Joule electro shock treatment. Both experiences wenyt as expected and eliminated my AF. I subsequently went on to receive an ablation. REcommend that path for you.

My husband experienced afib when had double pneumonia. Still has it... jumps around in 80's and 90's in resting state. . . Dr recommended the ACH cadioversion which is shocking the heart back into reg rhythm.
Curious if should do it?

@hpeggy482 I too suffered from excess amounts of PVCs/PACs together with infrequent bouts of AFIB/Flutter. LAst year I dicovered that reducing my daily thyroid hormone amount eliminated this problem.

Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome runs in my family, riding on the 7th chromosome. Many years ago I realized I was having periods of arrhythmia while running a 10K race in Alaska. The cardio was able to identify it by my wearing a monitor, but he said I would have to have treatment in the lower 48. Two heart mappings lasting 8 hours showed I have five kinds of arrhythmia, and Afib was recently added. I have had eight cardiac ablations and currently have my third implant (three-in-one). Grandkids call it "Wall-ee." I have a fantastic aggressive electrophysiologist and cardio to track the CHF, which is under control. Recently I have been studying the effects of blood sugar and sleep on the episodes. No caffein or alcohol. Of course, I take my daily meds. Yes, meditation and yoga seem to help. I am still able to travel and cruise extensively, but lately higher altitudes bother me more than in the past. Never give up! Never give in!

I am a 77 year old woman who began having pvcs in my 40s. In 2023, they increased by a lot but got them under control after 4 months by taking magneseum supplements even though not low on magneseum. Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with hpylori infection 4 months ago and most drugs and heavy doses of antibiotics cause heart arrythmia or make it worse. Do you know anyone in my situation and my age who has or had this situation. I haven’t started therapy because I am afraid of cardiac arrest I didn’t even get flu shot due to increased risk of ITP. I cannot find a hpylori support group!