Hi shirl13,
Welcome to Daily Strength! This is a great group to ask any questions. Many of us can relate to the fear associated with having an episode. The triggers are different for everyone although some of us may have the same triggers. For myself I really couldn't figure out my triggers. I was having 4 to 5 hour episodes almost every other day until I had a Pulmonary Vein Isolation procedure. It will be two weeks tomorrow since I had the procedure and three weeks tomorrow since my last episode. It was weird that the week before my procedure when I was off all my medication that I went a full week without an episode.
When I was having an episode I tried to get myself to relax and my cardiologist had me use "pill in the pocket" to convert me back into normal sinus rhythm. This approach usually worked. This wasn't the first approach and I was on many different medications to find a strategy that worked for me. The problem was that I wouldn't stay in NSR for long. I would try to see an electrophysiologist/cardiologist to help you find a strategy that works for you as well as to possibly find the cause. I had every test in the book and everything was "normal". I sure didn't feel normal! So now I am recovering from the Pulmonary Vein Isolation procedure and praying everyday that the afib monster stays away. My wife also reminded me that decaf coffee is not always caffeine free. She have epilepsy and watches for those things regularly. I hope you find some help with this!

Shirl13, You are so Welcomed here! I have a motto....Afib Happens. I too switched to Decaf. I also stopped having a frequent glass of wine, and I still got the fibs. Recently, I had some wine and nothing. A month ago, I had wine and had a 16hr. episode within hrs.
No wine for me lately and no afib.
I take a Beta Blocker immediately when I feel my heart racing w/ crazy rhythm..it takes my rate from 140 to 100 or less and I wait about 9 hrs. til I am back in NSR.
I also live alone, it was very Scary in the beginning. Now, I just cancel plans and relax.

Welcome to Daily Strength you will find all the encouragement you will need on this site. It is good to talk to people with the same issues. I hadn't even heard of afib until October 2010 when I had a TIA and went into hospital. I am scheduled to have an ablation on June 11th and hoping it will cure my afib. You can ask all the questions you want and vent as much as you want you will always find helpful people here.
Cheers, Moy...

Welcome shirl!
So sorry you have this problem, but you have joined the right group. My EP told me what drives people nuts is the randomness of a fib. Sometimes without rhyme or reason it comes. We all try to figure out the triggers and avoid them, but sometimes it still comes anyway. Drives you nuts. I had a PVI ablation in March, so coming on 3 mos. I still have abnormal beats, not sure what they are, but some feel like a fib. This is not an easy thing to cure.

I agree with canman that you should hook yourself up with an EP. It seems like cardiologists and EP's have VERY different opinions about a fib. The EP's are the experts.

Good luck to you!!

Welcome Shirl13! You have come to the right place for support! For me, stress or emotional upset is a major trigger for me. What medications are you taking for Afib?

Stress has also been a major trigger for me. I haven't been able to pinpoint anything else. Thankfully, after 2 ablations I have only had a couple of very short runs of AF. Welcome! I think you'll learn a lot here.

Thank you everyone, it seems that we are all the same but different. I take Flecainide medication. The hospital have told me it is Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation.
Can you tell me what EP's are? -Heart2222 - not heard this term?
I suppose you just try to lead a normal life and cope when they come. I cannot avoid stress unfortunately as that is my job.
Whats an abliation? sorry but know so little about all of this

Thank you Shirley

An EP is an electrophysiologist. They are typically a cardiologist with a specialty in the hearts electrical system from what I understand.

Welcome to our club.
In Jan. 2011 at the hospital during my first episode they kept asking me the same questions over and over. Then they told me I had no risk factors, but in 10% of the cases, A Fib just happens. I don't seem to have any "triggers" either.

Before coming to Daily Strength, I didn't know what an EP was, or an ablation. It's best to see an EP Cardiologist because they're specialists. They see A Fib all the time.
It's real important to find a Dr. you trust, and will take the time to answer your questions.
Within the last 2 months , there were several excellent posts here explaining ablations in detail that you might want to see.
D.

Shirley,
Brian answered your EP question.
An ablation is where they burn areas in your heart around the pulmonary veins to stop the a fib from occuring. That is the plan anyway. Various people have various results. You can read on this board everyone's experiences.

Good luck!!

Welcome Shirl! Sorry you have afib.. For me my attack happened on a Sunday after my 2nd cup of coffee. I stayed in constant afib for close to 3 months. Finally converted back to NSR taking Multag. So for me I avoid caffeine, big trigger for me. I dont even drink decaf. Dont want to take the chance :) Stress is another for me and not enough sleep. One thing with afib, you never know when it rears its ugly head. What medications are you taking for the afib?
Once again, WELCOME!

Welcome, Shirl. My triggers are caffeine and exertion - but I had a stress test and exerted until I was gasping and didn't have an episode. I avoid caffeine but can still have an episode. As everyone has said, it's the randomness and the search for THE trigger that drives me crazy. My regular doctor has me on Cardizem 180 and Pradaxa 300 mg. The Cardizem doesn't seem to be helping but the Pradaxa hopefully thins my blood enough that I won't have a stroke when I return to normal sinus rhythm (NSR) - the biggest threat of afib, as far as I know. I have my first appt with an EP on 06-12. I'm taking my husband so he can help me ask questions and remember the answers.
To tell you the truth, after so many episodes in the last couple of months, I'm getting used to it and go about my normal life, breathing deeply, tho (I seem to think I need more oxygen altho my oxygen levels are great - I think that's my usual reaction to stress - breathe deeply).
This website has been a lifesaver for me - I don't know anyone personally that has afib so I come here for info and reassurance - and I get it - the contributors are SO helpful!
Take care.

Welcome, Shirl! Afib is odd in the sense there isn't any one thing that triggers events. After reading posts in this group, it is clear that all of us are different. Keep reading and you'll see afib affects every age and ethnic group, men and women alike. Afib doesn't seem to discriminate and almost always makes its first appearance unannounced.

My worst events have struck during ice hockey and came out of nowhere without any warning. And I had already quit caffeine, smokes and cocktails years earlier.

Like afib itself, it seems like the response can be as varied as the cause. Some of us do a "pill in the pocket" treatment, taking a large dose of something like Flecainide to return the heart to its proper tempo and rhythm. Others weather the storm for hours, days, or even months.

I have had 2 major events that forced me to visit the hospital. And when I say major event, I mean my heart was agitating like a runaway washing machine. One visit resulted in an electroconversion which was trippy.

Some of us become dizzy during our afib events. Others experience unpredictable flutters or palpitations. All of us deal with this most frustrating issue on a daily basis in our own way.

Welcome to a place where you can ask questions and get plenty of advice and support! It's nice to know you're not alone.

Hi, Shirl! I hope your treatment and projected strategies work out for the very best for you! As everyone has detailed here, AF triggers can vary extensively from one individual to another. Best to try to be careful, see what works and what doesn't and follow-up with your DR/EP etc. This is a great forum with alot of very caring and informative exchange by it's members. I'm assuming from your profile that you're currently in the UK. Interesting for sure, as we here in the states know very little about a health care system such as yours. Good luck and God Bless! - Cheers! - Thomas

Thank you again everyone. I think maybe I am the only person here that is English? Everyone seems to be from USA. As for our National Health Service I think it pretty much depends on where you live and what hospital, doctors, specialists etc are like, its pot luck. As I have only been diagnosed since January this year and it was quiet up till a week ago I really don't know how it is going to effect me other than being very aware of it. I am 56 and surprised that I got this at my age, I understand it normally effects people over 60? but it also effects athletes - which I am not.
I read that 6% of the population in the UK have it, I suppose some people if effects in different ways. What are the things that you should not do?
I don't know all the medical terms so will have to find out as I go along.
Thank you for such a warm welcome
Shirley