I just joined this group, but I have posted on the High Blood pressure forum for several years.  I just had my second Afib "episode" last Sunday night.  My first one was 6 and a half years ago.  I am 43, don't smoke, have an active lifestyle / job, and am somewhat athletic. I believe beer was the cause of both of my episodes.  That is where my confusion comes from, as well as my first question.  Does "Holiday Heart" constitute as an A Fib diagnosis?  Will A Fib episodes happen in the future if alcohol use is eliminated?

Here is what happened.  My blood pressure has always been slightly high my whole adult life.  Never high enough for meds (until my first A fib episode) though.  I've always been a beer drinker, no other alcohol or drugs, just beer.  6 and a half years ago, I had an all day into the night beer drinking day.  I drank more than I ever had that day/night.  I was hungover, but managed to work.  36 hours later after another day of work, as I watched TV before going to bed, I felt a fluttering in my chest.  I figured I was just tired and anxious, so I went to bed.  When I woke up, I still had the flutterning, and I could feel my heartbeat wasn't right.  I worked that day (physical job) and felt fine, but I could still feel my heartbeat, and it wasn't right.  I ended up going to the ER, and that is when I found out what A Fib was.  They gave me some meds and my heartbeat went back to normal.  I had a follow up with a Cardio DR. who preformed blood tests, echo gram, and but me on Diltiazem.  I was released to my family DR. after everything came back normal.  Within the last 6 years I continued the Diltiazem and added Hydrochlorothizade to control my high BP.  Last year I started running and dieting, and dropped 40 lbs.  I have always been muscular, and found that most of the weight I lost was muscle.  My BP was down, but I felt weak and too skinny.  I then thought about the Diltiazem I had been prescribed for the A Fib, and thought that I didn't need it because I had "holiday heart".  So I stoppped taking it.  I continued to drink beer and never had any episodes.  I never had as much as the night I had my first A Fib episode, but a few nights I had quite a bit.

Fast forward to last weekend:  I hadn't taken the Diltiazem in about 6 months,  I had stopped running, and gained about 25 lbs from junk food, and light weight training.  I was stressed out from things at home and work.  I was drinking beer, but not any more than normal.  24 hours later, I felt my heart fluttering and pounding.  With the stress, my older age, my recent weight gain from un-healthy food, and my decision to stop taking the Diltiazem, I went right to the ER.  I was literally in the ER 25 minutes after I first felt the A Fib.  This time they shocked me and got me right back into rythm.  They added some Metoprolol and another follow up with a Cardio DR.

This is where my confusion comes into play.  The Cardio  DR. scheduled me for an echo gram next week.  He was quick to try to get me on a blood thinner, but I do not want to do that. He also mentioned ablation.  I have not had a single beer since my last episode, and I have no plans to ever get drunk again.  I would like to have a beer or two on ocasion, but have no plans to do so in the near future.  What I am trying to figure out is:  Is it possible that both my episodes were alcohol related?  Would I still get repeat episodes if I remain on meds and get my weight and BP down again.  I have no problem eating healthy, and exercising.  I am just thinking the Cardio DR. is not listening to me and just wanting to throw another pill (a dangerouse blood thinner) at me, or do an ablation, and I am not 100 percent certain that either is needed.