No Rhyme or Reason to A-Fib

With one exception, my afib episodes have all been while relaxing, often while going to sleep.

I have not had any for two years- knock on wood. I never eat after 5pm or 6pm, because reclining after eating (on sofa or in bed) seemed to be a trigger.

I take magnesium at night and I drink low sodium V-8 for potassium in the morning- a tip I got from an afib forum.

Everyone has different triggers of course. I have read that some afib is adrenal-related and some vagal. You can look those up....there is also a good forum for paroxysmal afib.

I have A-Fib and can’t figure out what triggers it. Sitting down watching television and it comes on. I wake up with it so I doubt it’s caffeine or anxiety. But each a-fib I get sends me to the hospital emergency department. The last time my heart rate kept going up until it finally hit 138 in the hospital and they were talking about rolling me down into the ER.

But it was going down. I had passed out completely and the nurses had to put me in bed and I have no clue as to what happened or how they picked me up to put me back in the bed.

It was like I was in a coma.
One other time I was watching TV and a-fib struct me again.
Off to the ER I went again and after making sure I wasn’t having a heart attack, I told the nurse that I’m prone to having a-fib and she yelled at me saying
“We’ll you don’t have it now!” and left the room with me not being monitored as I usually am due to having a mechanical aortic valve replacement and was on blood thinners as I’m still on for life. She came in about 20 minutes later and handed me my discharge papers without any instructions.
My point is that there is no rhyme or reason like you said.
You never know when it’s going to strike and that’s why my cardiologist told me that I shouldn’t drive anymore due to a few heart diseases.

@kravmaga the few times my heart has gone into A-fib, I was resting.
It’s strange how and why it happens like that.
The last time I was sitting in my recliner. Using my Apple Watch, it showed 161 bpm. I printed out the report from my watch and brought it to my cardiologist.
I’ve been ok for almost 2 years now.

Thank you for your response. I am very happy for you no episodes in 2 years. I also take magnesium 1 during day and 1 at bedtime. 500 mg each. How much do you take?
I find at times it can be rough on the stomach.Does it help? not sure. I also occasionally drink V-8. I am aware of adrenal and vagal A-Fib seems I have a combo of the 2. Actually for the first time I’m seeing a physiologist tomorrow. I’m not looking for any procedure like ablation etc more to try to get some clarity
Stay in touch.

Thank you for your response I too have woken up in A-Fib.
I am so sorry to hear what you are and have been experiencing.
I hope things improve for you.
All the best

Thank you for your response
Glad to hear that no episodes in 2 years.

Same here. We know we’re not alone

Hi Krav, I just wanted to add to all the others advice as I have been plagued with Heart rhythm problems for a while also and in conversation with my Boss/Friend who had afib his was always brought on by certain foods. Many times, after dinner he would have an episode and usually last a few hours and subside. So anyway I also would have VT attacks myself as i discovered with having a beer or any alcohol use. So maybe start looking at diet and see if you can identify a trigger there. with my friend it seemed to be when he overate and I do know the vagus nerve we all have runs from the brain to the Heart and stomach and has a huge influence on heart rhythm, but also it goes to the stomach. I now have a transplanted heart and, in the process, the vagus nerve is cut which for me now means that when I'm in a situation that requires a faster heart rate like running my heart takes longer to realize my muscles need more blood. this is how the vagus nerve controls the heart. So I do hope you can identify what other trigger may be at play. You may want to check out this thread about someone who has AFIB tied to diet.

Thank you for your response
I am aware of vagal and adrenergic A-Fib. Seems I may have a little of both.
I have maybe couple of times gone into it after eating Definitely notice in general higher heart rate after eating.
I rarely drink can’t remember last time I had one.
I glad to hear you run after the transplant that you had. That’s great.
I hope everything continues to work out well for you
All the Best

Make sure the V-8 is low sodium.

My heart rate goes up over 180 and diltiazem lowers my already low bp so last time I ended up in the ICU.

I always wish they would do short term blood thinning (I read a study on this).At least the ICU did an echocardiogram to check for clots.

I have declined blood thinners for years now because I usually have an episode once a year. They are dramatic when they happen but infrequent. I have not had any since 6/21 knock on wood.

I also take Klonopin if I feel as if I am going to have afib. And I use Gas-X (simethicone) if I have GI gas because that is also a trigger.

1000mg Magnesium in a day is a lot! I take 600.