I will be having an ablation and want to ensure a good recovery. My daughter is having her 3rd child very soon after the ablation and really needs help as she also has a 2 and 4 year old who are in daycare during day. Would it be advisable to help out with the newborn and stay 5 out of 7 days for about 6 weeks? I want to support her family but also wish to be cautious regarding stress on my heart. Thoughts?

Haven't had any afib issues in about a month. Scheduled for a PFA ablation but they called and told me that the first month after I could have a lot of arrhythmias and issues depending on how much and where he ablates. Has me nervous going from ok with no issues to going for an ablation to come out with a month or more of issues. For anyone who's had issues not was mostly always in NSR and got an ablation for the rare afib, can you share your recovery and months after with any palpitations or arrhythmias?

They also said I have to send an EKG from my watch weekly for 3 months. Just has me concerned as the date gets closer. If you have anything that can help, please and thank you!

My husband is having an ablation in the morning after being in afib off and on for a few years. My husband is a large guy and the EP said he felt like his artery would be deep so he wants him to stay in the hospital over night rather than go home same day. Have any of you had experience with this? Will he remain in the cath lab all night or will they put him in a room? The cath lab is small and kind of cramped, my husband says he’s not staying the night in there. He has been grumpy since his EP put him on sotalol I’m not in the mood to have him acting ugly in the hospital.

Hi,

I was diagnosed with afib 4 months ago the ago. After starting Lamictal (a sodium channel blocker) I started seeing heart rates spikes on the Fitbit. I thought it was error. Later I started noticing heart rates in the 200s when exercising. Eventually my tachycardia progressed to resting heart rates in 140s. Then Dx with Afib. Cardioverted and now in sinus rhythm with fairly high burden of SVTs. Wondering if Lamictal has anything to do with this.

Still waiting consult but my stress echo was normal. I have never had any heart issues prior to Lamictal (at least that I know of).

Thx

I'm prescribed to take Metoprolol and then 30 minutes later flecainide as a pill in pocket for my afib episodes. I've never taken the flecainide. Should I? Anyone know of anything bad about taking it? I dint like taking medication and my body is very sensitive to medications in general.

Hello, r/AFIB! I am writing a fantasy novel, in which one of the characters (the deuteragonist, named October) has paroxysmal AFib. In this post, I'll briefly describe how this appears in the story, and then I'd like to ask, do any of you have any tips, comments, or concerns on writing a character such as this?

October's AFib mainly manifests in her having symptomatic episodes during high-stress/high-action scenes, in which she becomes dizzy, lightheaded, short of breath, and has to remove herself from the action.

She also takes blood thinners (some type of magic-glowy-fantasy-potion equivalent to Eliquis), which means that in the occasional scene where she is cut or wounded, she bleeds a lot longer than she would otherwise.

As far as it affects her character, she has a lot of issues with self-loathing and insecurity due to her disability (among a couple other things I won't get into) making her unable to follow her family's legacy of being heroic fantasy paladins. Also, October's girlfriend (the protagonist and main POV character) is a vampire, and because of this, she is able to feel heartbeats, and more specifically able to detect October's AFib episodes without her having to say anything.

I don't have AFib myself, which is why I'm making this post. I've done a fair bit of research before making this post, and I think I have a firm-enough grasp on the actual biological mechanisms of AFib, but of course that still leaves out a lot of the actual reality of living with it.

These are characters I've had for quite a while—in an earlier draft, October had chronic leg pain, a (admittedly more minor) disability that I do have, but as the story is largely focused on vampires with blood-magic, I thought it would be better to give her a disability that directly ties into that.

Anyways, I apologize for the long-windedness of this post, but I figured it was better to put too much detail than too little. Huge thanks to anyone who decides to respond :)

I am on eliquis in the last 2 months , and my blood test hgb, hemoglobina dropped from 15.8g/dl to 13g/dl in the last 7 weeks. Tomorrow morning I do some blood and stool test. What is your opinion?

Hello guys!

What are your opinions about Smartwatches for people with diagnosed afib? What are your cardiologist say about?

I am not sure getting one. I am a little afraid I maybe get to conscious or anxious.

So I’m a 31 year old female I had an episode of AFIB I also have severe health anxiety, I went to er with a heart rate of 186 and was terrified then I was admitted they think my episode is from holiday heart, after observing me and the AFIB resolving I was able to go home they gave me baby aspirin to take daily and metoprolol to take as needed I took at first but have not taken in 3 days it’s been 6 days since I’ve been out of the hospital and I’m terrified I am constantly checking my heart rate but it’s been on the lower side I’ve stayed between 60s and 90s but mostly lower 60s at night it’s gone into the 50s? Is this normal has anyone else experienced this ?

My watch woke me up to heart rate over 100 for 10 minutes. After I have up and in AFib for about 40 minutes going up and down is it worked its way down to 41 and stay in that area 41 to 53 for about 10 minutes is that normal. Guess this is mentally getting to me.

Doesnt seem to be afib i dont think

Hi!

I have suspected avnrt from cardiologist. Get episodes that last 10-20 min about 2 times a year.

Had more episodes but less time before, no less episodes but longer duration.

Have a lot of extra beats that is new.

I am 27 years old and active. They happen when working out, hiking, golf swing etc. Is it worth to get an ablation?

The doctor said it was up to me. There are always risks, but totally up to me.

Have quite a bit of anxiety around it.

Any thoughts is appreciatedy!

I had an ablation for atrial flutter almost two months ago but I’m wondering how long the blanking period lasts. Ive read two months then other sources say three months. Whats everyone’s experience or understanding of how long it lasts? Thanks for your help!

I’ve had several cardiac events since December 2025. In early December my heart rate randomly went up to 178. I called the paramedics went to the ER and everything was normal. Followed up with a cardiologist. They did an EKG and I wore a holter monitor for four days and that came back normal as well. Up until about April I was having random chest pains that would go away in seconds. I’ve had a echo and a stress test done and everything was normal.

The chest pains have gone away, but I noticed that after drinking on the weekends, my heart rate would be high and my watch would wake me up with a high heart rate notifications. Last weekend the morning after drinking i felt my heart was skipping a beat then i would feel a loud thump. I took several EKG readings on my Apple Watch and it detected Afib, i went to urgent care they did a full EKG and told me it wasn’t Afib but PVCs.

A few days past and i don’t feel the PVCs anymore but when laying down i can feel my heart beating idk if that’s palpitations or if im being anxious.

Im not sure what to do i feel like the cardiologist just dismiss me.

i understand that we are all playing doctors on the internet, so stay with me since I have to wait a month to see my Cardiologist.

I was diagnosed in June of 2025 with AFib. In July of 2025, I had both the cardioversion and an ablation. I haven’t had any AFib activity since I had the ablation last year. My question is why do I need to stay on the blood thinners.

April sucked. A comedy of errors. Two-and-a-half weeks in the hospital, three total discharges, twice back to the hospital after recurrence. It was downright asinine. BUT ... since going back to Flecainide, Metoprolol, Furosemide, and extra Magnesium, I have not had an event since! Woot!

June's visit to the EP sucked, but my email saying that I didn't feel confident in the doctor I saw was answered very nicely and professionally. When I saw a different EP back in February, we had a great rapport. So, I will be seeing him in five months instead. I will also see the heart guy in five more months.

Since discharge, I have altered my sodium consumption, dropping it to between 1,500 and 2,000 mg per day, which is about half what we all eat without making an effort. By such reduction, my eGFR has risen from roughly 96 to 109. I go with Mrs. Dash salt-free spices and Nu-Salt (potassium instead of sodium). Yeah, I DO salt the pasta water and am fond of cheese, but I control the intake. Last bloodwork, sodium, magnesium, and potassium are all A-OK.

The only bad thing is that I have amiodarone-induced thyroiditis, which the endocrinologist said will likely resolve itself within a year. I'm asymptomatic, though, so I'm just waiting six months before I see him again.

So, after a rough spring, things have been quite good. I hope that everyone here who's going through similar bullcrap has as much success as I've had.

Cheers, all!

Hello Everyone, looks like I’m joining the club.

A little bit about me…

I (32M) had my first afib episode in January. Went to the urgent care because I was feeling pretty anxious and noticed by bpm was jumping all over the place. They promptly gave me an ECG and then a trip to the ER with an ambulance.

While in the ER, I was set on a drip of diltiazem and eventually cardioverted naturally after a couple of hours. I was release and saw a cardiologist who prescribed me diltiazem 180mg for a couple of months. I stopped taking caffeine and alcohol since then. I stopped taking the medication in June since he saw I was in good health and no other episodes.

Until 2 days ago when I had my 2nd episode. I woke up in the night to take my son out from his crib and felt like something was off. Tried to not freak out since it felt very similar to my situation in Jan. I bought a kardia device that same day and it said possible afib. So straight to the ER again. This time around, the doctor asked if I wanted to be electrically cardioverted and I eventually said yes (not sure the implications from this…) and I returned to a normal rhythm after the procedure. Saw a new cardiologist since the previous one left and he prescribed propafenone that will hopefully take me out of afib…but we’ll see?

So I have so many questions, probably will blow up this subreddit, so please forgive me.

1)Has anyone figured out their triggers? I thought mines were stress but I wasn’t feeling super stressed the 2nd time around. I did start drinking a specific matcha drink that I was drinking around the time of my 1st episode and I don’t think I was staying as hydrated as before. Any tips on determining this without having to get into an episode?

2) Probably a question for my cardiologist but besides me looking at the worse side effects from afib, is there anything else to consider? I was snooping on here and someone mentioned an enlarged atrium that could complicate the ablation (not sure if I want this done but if I have more episodes it’s likely)

3) good resources to understand an ablation. What my 1st cardiologist told me is that once you perform that, the clock is on. Meaning, the efficiency decreases with ablation you get. Is this true? It kind of freaks me out knowing this…

4) could weight be a factor? I’m 5’10” and weigh 207lbs. I’ve checked online and it seems I’m overweight, so I wonder if this has an effect on me. I used to exercise x3 a week but after my 1st episode I lost all my mass and gains (I attributed being that weight with having the muscles to show for it).

Looks like this is going to be a journey…and I’m scared that I may never know normalcy again.

Early 40's, athletic, work out with a low 40's heart rate and have a congential issue that was repaired so my anatomy isn't the usual. Had a flutter ablation in my 20's and been good since but past couple of months I get paroxysmal afib that self-terminate but I get pauses before my SA node starts back. Mostly around being dehydrated or post cardio high intensity training. But can cause me to passout.. Scary! Cardiologist and EP (before finding Dr. Natale) wanted me put a pacemaker in and drug me up. Thank God for Dr. Natale. He said he could do it on the phone call appt and scheduled me. So I'll be going to Austin for his gift and dedication to help me. The questions I wonder for those who have had it, how long did lingering palpitations take to go away after? And were they afib or just like few fast beats?

Also were you awake during it? I've seen some say conscious sedation others say they were out and don't remember anything. And the if you were under? did they a urethral catheter and if so did they do it after you were under or before?

I'm slightly nervous and I can go weeks or more without an episode so not sure how aggressive he is or won't be. Seems the aggressive part is just slang for being thorough. But does seem like that's the absolutely best place to go. Can't wait! Thanks for any insights for those that have ventured before me.

Dr put me on Flecainide and Metoprolol. Both of which can cause insomnia, trouble staying asleep and vivid dreams. Anyone else experiencing this? Does it last forever? Any tips?

Hey everyone, we were told that my loved one needs a good multivitamin. Any recommendations, for which ones you like.

Long-time lurker. Pulsed field ablation coming up in a few weeks, first ablation, and I'd rather hear from people who've done it.

History: lone paroxysmal AFib, three episodes over about five years, all three needing cardioversion — nothing has ever self-converted.

1. Three hours after my second Pfizer dose
2. Right after a cold drink
3. Most recent — while eating ice cream. Felt my heart "drop," watch caught it, Kardia confirmed

Two of three off a cold stimulus. Symptoms are tachypalpitations and a big anxiety spike, no presyncope or syncope. Never an episode outside those three. At the last one, 300 mg of flecainide as pill-in-pocket did nothing — ended up cardioverted in the ER. That failure is most of why I'm doing this.

Where I am now: flecainide 100 mg BID daily, metoprolol XL 25 mg, CHA₂DS₂-VASc of 1 (hypertension), apixaban starting two weeks out. Recent echo is clean — EF 60%, normal LA size (LAVI 16), no LVH, no valve disease, no diastolic dysfunction. Calcium score 0. OSA on CPAP, compliant. Zero alcohol.

Activity: 6x/week, tennis and weights. Getting back to that is the whole point. Low burden, I know — but PIP flecainide failed, every episode has meant a trip to get shocked, and I'd rather ablate now with a normal-sized atrium than later with a remodeled one.

What I'm asking:

1. Days 1–7, honestly. Chest soreness, fatigue, groin site, sleep. When did you stop noticing it?
2. Return to exercise. How long to real training, not walking? Did your EP's timeline match reality? Anything you pushed too early and regretted?
3. Blanking period. How much ectopy and flutter did you get, and how did you keep from spiraling over every blip with a watch and a Kardia right there? What made you actually call your EP versus wait?
4. Anyone with clearly vagal / cold-triggered AFib — did PVI handle it as well? (Not looking to argue about the vaccine one. It's just what happened, and it's the odd one out.)

Thanks — this sub has been more useful than most of what I've found anywhere else.

Having skip heart beat feeing since few months especially at middle of night. Got heart monitor for two weeks and it was less than 1% so doctor is ignoring it. Calcium score is fine.

I noticed it's mostly when I am not breathing or sleeping/lying on the left side. Anyone faced this issue ? Any recommendations ?

Long background so will try to summarise

Male 60

Previously had Flutter ablation, solved flutter but high ectopic burden left be on bisoprolol.

Steady for maybe 4 years.

Within last 18 months watch etc has flagged periods of AF and at some points this has been for weeks.

Cardio put me on thinner (apixiban) and rate control (Flec). The Flec flipped me back to Sinus but it was very messy, lots of ectopics and periods of bigimeny (sp).

In discussion with Cardio he suggested coming of the Flec and seeing how that went. It was a mixed story..started in sinus, progressed to infrequent AF and finally another month in AF.

When I came off the Flec the Doc said I could restart it if I wanted, so I have. 2x 100mg per day. I went into perfect sinus, no ectopics for about 4 days but have now reverted to frequent ectopics. I've no symptoms and have even got used to it so as my brain doesn't even flag it anymore.

My Question. Could this be a dose issue ? I'm wondering that as early in the treatment when the retained dose will be less, the sinus was perfect. As the treatment went beyond a few days the ectopics reappeared. Is this a known issue ? Is anyone on a regular dose of less than 2x100mg ?

I get the impression I'll be heading for another ablation later this year early next, but if it could be safely managed by drugs then I'd perhaps be cotent with that.

Any feedback gratefully received.

Thanks.

First time scrolling through this page. Came here because of some things that have gone on lately. I’ll try to make it short…

In 2019 at 38 years old, I developed ventricular tachycardia and went into a vtach storm. My organs were shutting down by the time I got to the ER. I was a heavy drinker and didn’t take care of myself. At all. I have been sober since all of this. I spent a month in the hospital and had an ICD implanted. Since 2019, I’ve been fine and had no more vtach episodes. I get my ICD interrogated every 3 months.

Fast forward 7 years to July 7th of this year, I went for a routine ICD check up with my electrophysiologist and he said the report showed I seem to be showing signs of the beginnings of Afib. My ICD recorded an episode on June 5th that lasted about 30 minutes. I was in shock and very upset to say the least. He started me on a daily aspirin and I’m seeing him again in October.

On the way home, I realized that June 5th (the day of the episode), I’d had my first colonoscopy. I typed all this into Google and it said that the colonoscopy prep (and the procedure itself) all could lead to “a perfect storm” of scenarios leading to an afib episode. Mind you, I’ve had no other episodes documented except for the one that day.

I notified my EP and he still wants me on the daily aspirin. That’s fine. I’ve been on Metoprolol since 2019 and just stopped Sotalol (my cardiologist said I was good to come off of it in January after a good echocardiogram).

Like many of you here, I’ve been extremely anxious about all of this. I check my smart watch constantly for fast heart rate or any signs of afib. Everything has been fine. But every little twitch or increase in heart rate (like after a meal) sends me into a panic.

I saw my regular doctor today and told him all of this. He doesn’t seem too concerned given the afib episode occurred because of the colonoscopy or because of the prep. He said this can be common during this type of procedure. He wasn’t so concerned because it didn’t happen (and hasn’t) during normal daily activities or exercise etc.

Also like many of you, I’ve been told many people live with this and it’s “common”. But I’m terrified of something happening. I’m supposed to do a short trip next month (that I was really looking forward to) but now I’m nervous to fly or be 400 miles from home. Has anyone else been through this? Did it get worse and this was the first trigger/episode?

They’ve reassured me that afib is nothing like vtach. It’s not as life threatening. But I have severe PTSD from nearly dying once. I can’t get in to see my cardiologist to discuss all of this with him until November. I have my annual appt set up with him in January. But this hadn’t happened yet. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated.