Welcome.

How old are you?

You can much info by typing in search words in the search (discussions) above. Regarding stress. It is a common thread among us. Eating right, no stimulants, meditation/biofeedback/yoga, and sleeping enough seem to work for many. Also moderate exercise. Many take tranquilizers.

Afib won't kill you if you don't have a stroke. Why are you afraid to travel?


petey

Why did your EP say you are not a candidate for an ablation?

Oh My please dont be afraid to travel . I know I have told this story before but the first time I was diagnosed with PAF and was not on any medication other than a PIP and that was Atenolol I was leaving for 2 weeks in Aruba in 3 days and I wanted to cancel the trip and my EP said, why ? They have hospitals in Aruba . ER care for a fib is pretty standardized worldwide , and while none of want to experience it away from home the risk is far lower than the risk of never going anywhere or doing anything out of fear. Educate yourself as much as you can. Learn the pattern of your episodes, how to treat yourself and what helps and doesnt and remember the actual a fib isnt the issue so much as the risk of stroke , but if you know you are anticoagulated or that your episodes are typically short then you have some control . We are all here, floating in the same boat and willing to help you through :) jan

Hi cahbrew, I have PAF also. I take only Pradaxa daily, because of my age and being female. I take either a beta blocker, to slow my rate down, or an anti arrhythmic to put me back into NSR when I get an episode. I also get mine at night.

I don't think stress is a trigger for me. It may be because I do practice meditation and Look for ways to keep my mind peaceful. I did yoga for 40 yrs. until my back got sore from arthritis. I changed to TaiChi for the past yr. and loved it, but I now have rotator cuff tears.
I have had a lot of stressful events this past yr....a lot. Afib episodes were 3 weeks apart...right now, I am 14 weeks NSR.

I have a hobby, photography, that I love. I think that helps too.

I have to agree with Jan...don't be afraid to travel. I have had PAF for about 7 years now. The first 4 I took a beta blocker and aspirin. I also had the experience of going into afib during a stress test. I believe stress has been my biggest trigger. I avoid stimulants, I have done yoga and meditation, and I also have ativan to take if needed.
I think the thing that helped my most was to have a plan and some control of episodes. I had diltiazem to take as a PIP. This would help calm my heart rate down and I would also take an ativan which would calm me down!
After about 4 years of episodes getting more frequent I saw an EP for the first time and started flecainide. It gave me my life back. I am now over a year without an episode.
A PIP might work very well for you and also perhaps a little xanax or ativan for traveling might be helpful. Don't let it control your life. Keep looking for a treatment that works for you.

Welcome cahbrew,
I agree with jan and marikay. Don't let PAF take over your life.
I was diagnosed with PAF July 2010. I was offered anti-arrythmic drugs but declined. My only medication is Warfarin. I have a prescription for Rhymol to take as a PIP. I hesitate to take any medication for AF since my normal HR is in the 40-s - 50's range (In AF my HR stays below 90" My symptoms are minimal. The episodes last for 6-24hours which does concern me.
With AF I've traveled to Las Vegas, cruised to Hawaii and Alaska, gone to Cuba and London + the Orient Express RT London/Venice. No traveling last year but that was due to a mobility problem not AF. Getting the bug to travel again soon.
I avoid stress by being involved in activities and being with friends I enjoy.
In AF I just continue on with my normal activities, involving ushering at the SF Opera, Ballet, Symphony, JCCSF and SFJAZZ. I eventually return to NSR. So far so good!

Annette

Thank you to all so much! Just hearing from you provides me with some confidence, which I need to help alleviate feelings of anxiety. PAF is a weird and unpredictable thing and it is good to share similar experiences. To answer questions: I am 71 years old, in very good health other than the PAF. I am careful with my diet, rarely eat out, and shun processed food. I exercise on an elliptical trainer, hike with my dogs, ski, and paddle-board now, depending on the season. I do drink a small amount of coffee in the morning and probably should not. However, it does not affect my heart, that is, causing extra-beats, etc. Dr. does not seem to consider a little caffeine as a huge factor.

The only thing I can discern from my EP regarding ablation is that it is a risky procedure and may not be successful. I believe he feels my PAF is not bad enough to address with ablation or drugs, at this point. (As a note, I go to one of the top heart clinics in the country, and my EP is held in very high regard; I do like him and trust him).
My job, I realize, is to find out as much as I can; the reason I came to this site and appreciate your input.

I appreciate the advice on travel! I have traveled a bit (with some trepidation) in the last couple of years, but did have an episode once. It did not require hospitalization. I realize, I must have more courage. Also, I once was given a shot of atavan while in a-fib. It seemed to immediately restore my heart to sinus rhythm. I did not know it could be taken in pill form. I asked my EP about the possibility of tranquilizers since I seem to be overly-wired in the anxious department. He dismissed that consideration. Didn't think it would help. I may need to discuss with another dr.

I am an artist, and when I am painting or drawing my mind is completely in the moment, and I am never anxious. It seems to be a form of meditation for me.

I do carry a beta blocker as a PIP, which slows my heart rate. I guess because I have normal BP, this medicine make me feel sick. My EP said it is OK to take, but probably would not restore my heart to sinus rhythm. He is right; it is not an immediate fix.

I agree, although as an artist (and kind of an introvert) I spend a lot of time by myself, being with, or even talking with friends and staying active is certainly a goal for me and helps immensely. So right and thank you for saying that I must not allow this to control my life! I hope to stay in touch here!

I trust I am replying correctly here! Sorry this got so long! Cindy

Welcome.

Ive had PAF for a year now. I take a vitamin K antagonist (something like warfarin) anticoagulant and 50mg of metoprolol daily. With more beta blocker as a PIP. I have a somewhat high resting heart rate, so when Im in a-fib (about every 7 to 21 days) my heart rate goes racing and that makes it difficult to do much of anything physically. The beta blocker knocks it down a bit and I feel somewhat better but doesnt get me back into sinus rhythm. Until recently, every time I went into a-fib I wrote down everything I had eaten, how much exercise I had done and what stress I had had 24 hours prior. I could find no common denominator.

My doctor takes the rate control and not the rhythm control route and Im fine with that. I think a body can only take so much medicine and I dont want to over tax mine. As long as I can do without any more, I will. On the other hand, its reassuring to know that there are people on this site taking other medicine and doing exceptionally well on them! So, if and when the time comes

Its good to hear that youre an artist. Painting and drawing really does put you in a different world and it soothes the soul!

Take care!