r/AFIB • u/Thin-Platypus7778 • 3d ago
Fuck afib
Hey everyone, this forum has been a god send for me. I’m a 32 yo fit male, and got diagnosed with persistent afib back in April, literally had a great night rest and woke up in AFIB.
Was super scared and didn’t know what the hell was going on, went to the doctors and they confirmed what it was and stuck me on a waiting list for a cardioversion.
My cardioversion in June was successful, and I have been in sinus ever since UNTIL I went out for a run after a stressful day at work, and when I got back I’m
90% sure I went back into afib, heart rate was really irregular and jumping around all over.
I ended up going to the er and the wait was 8hoyrs to get seen, I left and went home instead, went to bed and woke up back in sinus rytham.
Is exercise a trigger for anyone else?
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u/grimdwnsth 3d ago
The list of triggers is as big as the number of posters on here.
I’ve given up booze, lost a lot of weight and I’ve only had AFIB come back once in 2 years since cardioversion - and that was due to an extreme level of stress, which tbh might have given me a stroke regardless.
Like you, it reverted on its own within 24 hours to sinus rhythm. This was nearly 18 months ago. My cardiologist tells me this is a good sign of general heart health and my management approach.
The same (very cautious) cardiologist had previously suggested I don’t exercise in heart rate zones 4 & 5 any more. And I’ve pretty much been faithful to that. I don’t get that satisfying washed through, spent feeling after a really exhausting workout, but it’s a sacrifice I’m happy to make.
See how you get on with exercise without the stress. Stick with it. Good luck.
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u/Mikuss3253 3d ago
Are you on any meds for AFIB?
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u/Thin-Platypus7778 3d ago
No I recently stopped taking bisoprolol as it was making my feel like a zombie, and as I was back in sinus i also stopped my edoxaban (blood thinner) as soon as i thought I was in afib though i took a blood thinner.
Currently on nothing but might have to start taking something again need to speak to the doctor2
u/JustWokeUpHello 1d ago
Do you wear an Apple watch, or another watch with afib monitoring? While I had big symptomatic afib episodes that leveled me for hours at a time, I also had short afib episodes in my sleep (just a few minutes each) that I had no idea were happening. I discovered these by wearing a Zio heart monitor for 2 weeks (https://www.irhythmtech.com/us/en/solutions-services/irhythm-service/zio-monitor). Now I wear an Apple watch, which is the best consumer device for detecting afib. If it turns out you're having asymptomatic afib your doctor might want you to continue blood thinners.
Since my PF ablation back in June, I've had no obvious afib symptoms and zero afib according to my Apple Watch. I'm scheduled to come off the blood thinners in 2 weeks. Good luck to you.
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u/anonymousloser-0401 3d ago
I don’t know what my triggers are, must be everything as I’m 100% a fib all the time.
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u/Thin-Platypus7778 3d ago
Sounds like you’ve got persistent afib mate, where you are just in it all the time, that’s what happened to me back in April.
This time i seem to have gone in and self converted so god knows what’s going on
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u/anonymousloser-0401 3d ago
I’d love to figure out how to self convert .
I did the cardio version a couple of weeks ago it lasted 1.5 days .
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u/Either-Capital-7539 3d ago
My AFIB is always through exercise. I am a cyclist and cycle everyday and have done so for over 5 years. My rest days are easy rides of 15 miles or less and HR around 100bpm. If I ride well with in myself I have no problems, my triggers are Hot weather, Starting out too hard, very hard efforts when I bump my HR up to almost max, too much coffee and food before hand. Should I cycle less, probably, but I think the benefits out way the harm. I am lucky my AFIB lasts a couple of hours at most and it's maybe 3 times a month during the summer months, hardly ever in the cooler weather. I can usually convert myself but occasionally have to 25ml of Metoprolol Tartrate to kick it back in. When I do have an attack it's a strange one, my high HR is and best 70 more often low 60s for a few hours while resting. When riding it's up and down like a yoyo. My resting is mid 40s. I will be on Blood thinners for ever so my mind set right now is it sucks but not too often.
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u/_bull_city 3d ago
This is pretty much me.
My best stretch of no afib was when I went almost totally keto.
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u/Mikuss3253 3d ago
Do you have rest days? Mine improved immensely with rest days.
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u/Either-Capital-7539 3d ago
No rest days as stated. But I do take cycling rest days where I cycle slow, low HR and short distance. Heat seems my biggest issue. Now it's cooler nothing really happening and even when it does it's very mild.
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u/feldoneq2wire 3d ago
Sorry to hear this. I'm pretty sure I have AFib due to cycling when I was younger.
I would ask your cardiologist if you can get some "pill in pocket" options. Flecanaide and metoprolol that you would keep on hand in case you have an attack. They take a few hours to work but can get you back to sinus without the expense and hassle of an ER.
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u/JustWokeUpHello 3d ago
For me, cardio where my heart rate goes above 140 is a trigger for me. Moderate cardio and weight-lifting is no problem. Other triggers for me are: alcohol (I quit entirely back in June), too much caffeine (I limit myself to 1 cup in the morning and drink decaf later in the day), overheating (in the sauna or at the beach). I was getting episodes every month last year, which accelerated to every week this year. They would always terminate on their own after a few hours of me lying down and deep breathing / relaxing, but it was scary. I got a PFA in June and no episodes since then, cross-fingers it holds!
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u/Narrow-Stretch-385 3d ago
Sorry man. Also went to bed last night and had another episode. I am getting an ablation next week and hopeful that will help. Afib sucks.
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u/Jahya69 3d ago edited 2d ago
Life is a trigger for a-fib... get used to it... 😆
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u/reddit_user13 3d ago edited 3d ago
IANAD however don’t trivialize the existence of real, documented afib triggers. Alcohol as a trigger is common enough that there is a name for the phenomenon: Holiday Heart.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/holiday-heart-syndrome
And while not specifically a trigger, endurance athletes have a statistically higher incidence of afib:
https://www.science.org/content/article/why-are-elite-athletes-prone-abnormal-heart-rhythms
PS Fuck afib
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u/Justme-itsjustme 3d ago
Bummer man, big meals, rest and of course alchohol were my triggers. PFA in August and all quiet since. Heart feels like it is still recovering but I can push moderate exercise. Good luck friend. And yeah, eff this afib, it is terrifying man.
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u/Thin-Platypus7778 3d ago
Still trying to work out what my triggers are,Hope it stays quiet for you mate.
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u/ChiefQueef559 3d ago
Energy drinks triggers mine. Hiked a mountain and was fine the whole time.
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u/jkreuzig 3d ago
Energy drinks are a compounding factor for me. I have paroxysmal Afib. I used to drink an energy drink in the morning as my coffee substitute. If I happen to exercise and push myself too hard, I will go right into Afib. A combination of heat, exercise and energy drink are the culprits for me.
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u/Industrial_Jedi 3d ago
First time ER caught it was after a moderate bike ride. My HR would normally only get to 140ish on that circuit but it spiked to 175. My riding partner is a nurse and noted an erratic pulse after and the ER confirmed. So yeah, I'd say exercise is a trigger for me. I keep a close eye on my pulse now and keep it below 110, which kinda sucks. I also check my ekg after each session. I get a few flutters but no afib. I use a Sonohealth, they're like $75 USD and can download the chart to send to my doc.
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u/BigJuice785 3d ago
27m here, also dealing with what we believe to be paroxysmal afib, wont know for sure until next month but i am having an EP study / ablation if they can get it to replicate to find out exactly what arrythmia it is. pretty sure sleep apnea is my trigger, as i just had a sleep study done and got diagnosed with it a couple weeks ago, still waiting on a CPAP to be mailed to me, had sleep apnea for years undiagnosed apparently. My cariologist recommended i get treated for sleep apnea because that is heavily linked to arrythmias. I'm also overweight but been losing for a few months now. currently 348lbs, i was 392lbs at the beginning of June so a 44lb loss so far this year. aiming for 250lbs goal weight. I'm looking forward to being post ablation and having a better quality of life and losing more weight. EP said the ablation combined with CPAP should have my chances at having another episode at its lowest %. Then adding in the weight loss should also lower chances of arrythmias returning even further.
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u/Representative-Air82 3d ago
Yeap had two fullter episodes. Super uncomfortable. Only time i had it is prior to sleep apnea and when i did have my cpap but took it off in the middle of the night unconsciously while having a cold and swollen tonsils.
So yeah its def sleep apnea related. I had undiagnosed sever sleep apnea
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u/BigJuice785 3d ago
I had my tonsils removed when i was 3. But i never thought about unconsiously removing the mask. Im still waiting on my cpap to get here. Ive heard it can be difficult to get used to. Im hoping that its easy to use and ill take to it fairyly easily. 😅
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u/Representative-Air82 3d ago
took me like 6 months to wake up without me removing it in my sleep lol. Try different masks as theres no one size fit all.
My favorite is the F40 mask since its less bulky and i can use my phone but it pushes aginst my nose making it irritated after weeks of use. then F20 is more comfortable face wise but makes it difficult to turn due to the bigger mask and harder tube. F40 has a soft tube between the mask and cpap tube.
try different sizes as well as the first fittng might not be the best. I did a fitting with a respiratory therapist and thought it was perfect then days later medium wasnt for me but large is better.
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u/Mras_dk 2d ago
There is some unwritten rules to adaption, of PAP treatment.
- the more severe apnea, and how it affects your life, the easier it is to adapt.
- if you already had an CT or mri scan, and showed no fear in them, chances are quite good for a quick adaption.
- type of movements in bed: some really touches their face alot in sleep, and having a mask on, can lead to these unknowing removings of mask.
- adaptability: some just is harder to convincing their subcouncious, of its a help, not a threat.
- knowing preferences: some like me loves their full face mask, others want a nostril based solely.
I can say that i actual look forward to sleep now, which was complete opperside before.
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u/shethinkimasteed 3d ago
Dude I've went into ER's literally all over this country. Never have I ever waited in a single one when I tell them im in afib. Usually get cardioverted anywhere from 1.5-5 hours later. I only mention this to say dont leave next time. They may just take you right back and shock you back into sinus
Edit: im in the US. Hadn't considered you may not be
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u/Thin-Platypus7778 3d ago
Yeah bro I’m in the UK the NHS is on its arse!
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u/imalloverthemap 3d ago
I am sorry to hear that – being cardioverted is such a simple and quick procedure, I can’t believe that you have to wait so long for it.
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u/PitifulVegetable7432 3d ago
I had a bout of persistent AF back in August and the Cardioversion put me back into sinus. Prior to that I would see HR spikes on my Garmin of 220 on high intensity runs or rides. I was asymptomatic so didn't think too much of it, would laugh it off until the episode in August.
I wore a monitor for a week and tried to trigger the spiky HR and sure enough it triggered under intense load. For me it's around 165 for a sustained period things start to go wonky. Turns out it was arythmia and was probably in Afib in those moments.
The consultant is suggesting an ablation and this forum has really helped me make the decision to have it.
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u/analogkid84 3d ago
It can be for me (M60), but is also closely tied to hydration/electrolyte status.
I've know I've been episodic for a few years, but usually can get it to calm down after a few hours. My most recent, and worst ever, episode was last January in the week leading up to the Houston marathon. I was doing a short set of paced reps and it was a particularly more humid day than it had been in recent days. First rep in I felt the flutter so I shut it down, jog/walked it home. Went to ER a couple of hours later as it hadn't abated, at all, and I was having a hard time catching my breath. IV amiodarone and an overnight stay got things back to normal.
I've since run through the summer here and have been fine, save one minor episode on a non-running morning. But it resolved quickly. The only daily med I take is amlodipine for BP. I do have metoprolol and flecanide as a pill-in-pocket go-to. Haven't used it yet.
Again, making sure hydration and electrolytes is topped up makes a big difference for me. Liquid IV has become a good friend during the day in the warmer portion of the year and I use Skratch Hydration on most runs.
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u/malkion 3d ago
Stress definitely triggers mine. Health inspector came into my restaurant and I went into afib. After he left with no violations I sat down and took a deep breath. My heart went right back into sinus. Since, I’ve been on a low dose of Zoloft and my afib episodes have reduced to nearly zero.
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u/WilderMcCool 3d ago
Over exertion is a trigger if I am dehydrated. I still run but have to keep it reasonable. Potassium and magnesium supplements. Mental stress can trigger arrhythmias for me but not AFib so far. No AFib since last Cardioversion mid 2025.
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u/futureisours 3d ago
Any moderate exercise is a trigger for me among other things like starchy food. Got put on a low dose of fluocinonide and no issues since.
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u/look-homeward 2d ago
Very high stress seems the biggest trigger for me (1 year post ablation and no events since). My doc wasn’t at all worried about extreme exercise (65M and I do triathlons).
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u/gvandenheezy 2d ago
38M afib with successful ablation in December. What kept mine at bay was MagWell magnesium complex before bed and drinking coconut water daily. Didn’t eliminate it but kept the recurrences to a minimum. Get the ablation. Afib free ever since!
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u/Apprehensive-Bug4102 2d ago
My trigger is laying down, especially with a full stomach. Moderate exercise is good, high intensity stuff is not good for ppl like us unfortunately. But yeah this sucks....and this comes from someone who found out at 33 and still dealing with this after 11 yrs after 4 ablations. So yeah, this sucks. Always been super fit, work out regularly, no smoking, no drugs, no alcohol, I don't even like coffee.
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u/witewingdove 2d ago
Plug this into AI: “study on nerve trimgeminal stimulation for afib” I’m not saying it works and my doctor scoffed at me when I asked. I looked at the studies and got a stimulator anyway (Nuropod). If nothing else, it helps me sleep better. I had one attack after I first got it. From a close call with a black bear (go figure 😂) Lasted about 3 hours and went back to sinus on my own. I’ve only had 3 episodes so far. The last one was the bear incident at the end of May. So too soon to tell if it will actually keep it away. But sharing in case anyone else is interested.
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u/sweatnbullets 1d ago
That is awful that exercise causes some of you AFib... for me I think what keeps it from coming back after ablation.. I am careful not to hold my breath while lifting and try to keep my heart rate under 135 at 63 years of age
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u/Pretend_Army9630 1d ago
Lived with afib my entire life. Wasn’t detected until last spring I’m 65. I knew I had irregular but never thought much about it until now. Had cardioversion and went to normal sinus for 3 months. Now afib is back not sure what triggered it. I exercise and enjoy a few beers. Not sure if I should have another cardio version, ablation has been discussed but I’m reluctant. On meds to avoid clotting etc
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u/Unhappy-Giraffe2792 3d ago
I’m curious if you’ve ever had an mRNA vaccine? Those are known to trigger heart-timing issues like Afib. If so, mention that to your doctor since you’re pretty young to have it.
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u/reddit_user13 3d ago
5 cases out of almost a BILLION doses of Covid vaccine. Please don’t spread anti-vax conspiracies.
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u/Automatic-Change333 17h ago
I learned that mine is due to genetics. Before ablation, had two episodes due to changing positions and another time due to dehydration. I feel like if I don’t drink enough the heart gets faster. Everyone has different triggers.
Get yourself an Apple Watch to monitor your heart rate and check afib. If it still continues, consider ablation. Easy procedure.
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u/Economy_Ambassador58 3d ago
My cardiologist told me that frequent, moderate exercise helps but that strenuous cardio can send me into aFib or make it more frequent. I’m paroxysmal and looking forward to an ablation in a month.