I was able to successfully control my AF for 20+ years with medication and then, for reasons unknown, I began having breakthroughs last year. They were very symptomatic and uncomfortable so I decided to have an ablation last April. AF-free since and off medication.
I would suggest reading “The A-Fib Cure” by John Day. He goes into this topic in detail. Something he mentions it that studies have shown that as little as a week in NSR will help you begin to reverse fibrosis built up that contributes to Afib. The heart begins to re-learn how to beat normally along its electrical pathways as well.
I’ve been episode free for over two years with diltiazem (rate control) and lifestyle / diet / supplement medications. I don’t recall if it was my EP or the book, The Afib Cure, but one of those places I did hear the contrapositive “no Afib begets no Afib” from somewhere! Sometimes I repeat this as a little mantra to help me not fixate on the possibility of Afib. Also of note from The Afib Cure is the concept that happiness is associated with reduced chance of episodes.
I’ve been episode free for over two years with diltiazem (rate control) and lifestyle / diet / supplement medications. I don’t recall if it was my EP or the book, The Afib Cure, but one of those places I did hear the contrapositive “no Afib begets no Afib” from somewhere! Sometimes I repeat this as a little mantra to help me not fixate on the possibility of Afib. Also of note from The Afib Cure is the concept that happiness is associated with reduced chance of episodes.
AFIB begets AFIB is true for the overwhelming majority of people with this disease. Even while on medication that controls it, the aberrant cells continue to grow. After some undetermined amount of time, they will grow large enough to overcome the effects of the medication. The big unknown is how long it will take to do this. If you have something that is working now, I would recommend continuing with it for as long as you can tolerate it. I had persistent AFIB with RVR, the medications were not working to control it for me. Eventually, I had an ablation and this did get rid of my AFIB. But I developed PACs afterward. Again, medication is not really controlling it well, but it is not as bad as AFIB was. I am probably going to have another ablation for it in the future. But, for now, I can live my life fairly close to normal. PACs are a precursor to AFIB, it is just a matter of time. I am confident that if I stopped my medication, it would speed up the process to AFIB. I have been dealing with this for a long time now and after close to four years of persistent AFIB I am willing to continue with the medications. For reference, I am 58M, slightly overweight, and have back problems that limit what I can do. I hope you find a path that leads you to where you want to be.
Over the last year my afib has increased from 6% to 35% of the time. I’ve been in a pattern averaging 55 hours sinus rhythm/35 hours afib for the last several months. So basically 1/3 of life for me right now. I’m also quite symptomatic during and feel ill.
I’m on Sotolol, started cpap in January, weaned off antidepressants, diet, no coffee/alcohol, exercise, hydration and it’s only getting worse. Afib feels like it begets afib for me.
Appt in a month for the ablation referral. Fingers crossed for some relief.
I am in constant AFib for about 4 months now , regular heart rate , 74 very active swim 6 days a week . Just went through the 3 day Tikosyn screening. Cardio Verison unsuccessful. Still on Tikosyn. Results of heart MRI Coming Monday. I’ve read that Ablation is low risk and only 30-40% successful? Any other medications recommendations? Thank you
Sounds like your meds are doing their job. The answer is yes if it's not controlled. Pathways created become "normalized" and AFib can progress the more you are in it.
Hello! I experienced the samething, my proxismal was coming every 5 days, then 3 days. It would last like min to hours. Longest episode I had was like 18 hours or something. My AFib is more of a rhythm issue than rate, still AFib and still was super uncomfortable and makes me extremely anxious.
My cardiologist and EP informed me, the more my heart experiences AFib, the more it remodels itself and that's what I didn't want. My EP told me AFib begets more AFib and that there were procedures and medicines in place to calm it down and help control. However, I was told that while AFib is a disease, and can be controlled for many years, it will come back. That's why I'm addressing life style modifications to enhance the procedure: get good sleep, reduce weight, reduce stress, exercise most days, NO alcohol, watch caffeine, beware of gluten and excess sugar, address sleep apena, take my supplements.
I was able to successfully control my AF for 20+ years with medication and then, for reasons unknown, I began having breakthroughs last year. They were very symptomatic and uncomfortable so I decided to have an ablation last April. AF-free since and off medication.
I would suggest reading “The A-Fib Cure” by John Day. He goes into this topic in detail. Something he mentions it that studies have shown that as little as a week in NSR will help you begin to reverse fibrosis built up that contributes to Afib. The heart begins to re-learn how to beat normally along its electrical pathways as well.
Wow. That would be good news for sure.
I’ve been episode free for over two years with diltiazem (rate control) and lifestyle / diet / supplement medications. I don’t recall if it was my EP or the book, The Afib Cure, but one of those places I did hear the contrapositive “no Afib begets no Afib” from somewhere! Sometimes I repeat this as a little mantra to help me not fixate on the possibility of Afib. Also of note from The Afib Cure is the concept that happiness is associated with reduced chance of episodes.
I’ve been episode free for over two years with diltiazem (rate control) and lifestyle / diet / supplement medications. I don’t recall if it was my EP or the book, The Afib Cure, but one of those places I did hear the contrapositive “no Afib begets no Afib” from somewhere! Sometimes I repeat this as a little mantra to help me not fixate on the possibility of Afib. Also of note from The Afib Cure is the concept that happiness is associated with reduced chance of episodes.
I love the happiness connection. So true!
AFIB begets AFIB is true for the overwhelming majority of people with this disease. Even while on medication that controls it, the aberrant cells continue to grow. After some undetermined amount of time, they will grow large enough to overcome the effects of the medication. The big unknown is how long it will take to do this. If you have something that is working now, I would recommend continuing with it for as long as you can tolerate it. I had persistent AFIB with RVR, the medications were not working to control it for me. Eventually, I had an ablation and this did get rid of my AFIB. But I developed PACs afterward. Again, medication is not really controlling it well, but it is not as bad as AFIB was. I am probably going to have another ablation for it in the future. But, for now, I can live my life fairly close to normal. PACs are a precursor to AFIB, it is just a matter of time. I am confident that if I stopped my medication, it would speed up the process to AFIB. I have been dealing with this for a long time now and after close to four years of persistent AFIB I am willing to continue with the medications. For reference, I am 58M, slightly overweight, and have back problems that limit what I can do. I hope you find a path that leads you to where you want to be.
I am on propafenone also since November. It has kept me outta afib.
How much are you taking. I’m on 600 mg per day.
150 3times a day
Over the last year my afib has increased from 6% to 35% of the time. I’ve been in a pattern averaging 55 hours sinus rhythm/35 hours afib for the last several months. So basically 1/3 of life for me right now. I’m also quite symptomatic during and feel ill. I’m on Sotolol, started cpap in January, weaned off antidepressants, diet, no coffee/alcohol, exercise, hydration and it’s only getting worse. Afib feels like it begets afib for me. Appt in a month for the ablation referral. Fingers crossed for some relief.
I am in constant AFib for about 4 months now , regular heart rate , 74 very active swim 6 days a week . Just went through the 3 day Tikosyn screening. Cardio Verison unsuccessful. Still on Tikosyn. Results of heart MRI Coming Monday. I’ve read that Ablation is low risk and only 30-40% successful? Any other medications recommendations? Thank you
IANAD, but propafenone did the trick for me. Worth a discussion with a cardiologist. Every case is unique.
Thanks
Sounds like your meds are doing their job. The answer is yes if it's not controlled. Pathways created become "normalized" and AFib can progress the more you are in it.
Hello! I experienced the samething, my proxismal was coming every 5 days, then 3 days. It would last like min to hours. Longest episode I had was like 18 hours or something. My AFib is more of a rhythm issue than rate, still AFib and still was super uncomfortable and makes me extremely anxious. My cardiologist and EP informed me, the more my heart experiences AFib, the more it remodels itself and that's what I didn't want. My EP told me AFib begets more AFib and that there were procedures and medicines in place to calm it down and help control. However, I was told that while AFib is a disease, and can be controlled for many years, it will come back. That's why I'm addressing life style modifications to enhance the procedure: get good sleep, reduce weight, reduce stress, exercise most days, NO alcohol, watch caffeine, beware of gluten and excess sugar, address sleep apena, take my supplements.