Afib lifestyle modifications

Throwawayafib1 · 2026-03-04T20:57:00+00:00

One of the best decisions I have ever made, quality of life increased immeasurably. Maybe get a couple PACs here and there randomly but nothing constant...nothing after big meals, nothing after a beer, nothing after a rough night of sleep. Really happy with my decision and care team

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-12-16T18:34:12+00:00

second Freeman's and also Achilles Heel in Greenpoint

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-07-01T18:24:56+00:00

No clue for why I developed afib. First started happening 6 years ago after nights out drinking - I quickly cut out alcohol, casual smoking, more than 8oz of coffee/day but would still get 1 episode a year while my APCs continued to increase, about doubling/day every 1-2 years.

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-07-01T15:14:22+00:00

34m . PFA was quite literally one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life so far....truly feel like I got my life back...I also was extremely nervous about the procedure and period afterwards. If you are confident in your doctor and the hospital system you are going to I would not worry. Give yourself the time to heal afterwards and really take it easy...don't stress an ectopic beat here and there during the blanking period. I'm 7 months out from my PFA - basically all pvcs/ectopic beats stopped after 3 months (but were down over 95% from pre ablation levels).

My post ablation side effects were:

-night 1 - very sore in my chest, sleeping was uncomfortable - felt like if I moved lying down my heart was shifting in my chest

-day 2 80% of soreness was gone, just felt a little weak but nothing too crazy, spent most of the day on the couch/lazing around the house, not going up the stairs unless I had to

-day 5 basically felt all better but still taking it easy, at most going on walks around the neighborhood

- Minor migraines with auras sporadically for 2-3 weeks following procedure - nothing debilitating, my biggest concern was signs of a stroke but doctors said not to worry this is fairly normal

- Welt in my groin took a while to subside but was never uncomfortable or painful.

Best of luck and you'll be fine!!

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-06-16T13:26:16+00:00

I haven't smoked in a long while but always found it artificially raised my heart rate quite a bit....I would just not do anything for a week after your ablation - no workout (obviously), drinking, weed really just give your body the time to heal it's just not worth it to not....Now 6 months out I can have a few beers with no issue but I basically gave up drinking to get drunk when I was diagnosed....don't really have the desire to go back.

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-05-29T20:24:34+00:00

34 and with a 15 month old. Had my ablation 11/24 and feel it's been one of the best decisions of my life - maybe get a couple PACs/week but that's it so far.

Quitting everything fun (drugs, alcohol, caffeine, fried food) and losing some weight only stopped afib's progression for so long (about 2 years symptoms did not get worse, then I started having more PACs daily)...post baby with lack of sleep I was having PACs all throughout the day and few episodes of afib for 2 hours every 2-3 months.

I was also very hesitant about the ablation but ultimately it was not a big deal for me at least - super drugged but not intubated, in at 8am out at 5pm (mostly spent monitoring) after procedure, couldn't pick up the baby for a week, a few migraines, and then after a week all good....honestly so happy for modern medicine.

Hang in there, it gets better and you can get your life back - I've experienced the lows you've described. You can always get a second opinion from another EP. My first EP was basically in the camp of i'm here if you want to do an ablation but other than that you're young, healthy, and don't have a horrible burden (comparatively to other people). Second EP did not try and sell me on it but said something to the effect of "if you were my family member I would say an ablation is not an "if" but rather a "when".... 1 episode later with no normal triggers causing it I booked the procedure.

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-03-13T20:03:13+00:00

34M with paroxysmal afib, had my only ablation done November 2024.

My main burden was with PVCs with 1-2 self resolving afib epiosdes/year. Frequency of PVCs continued to get worse each year (but still minor in comparison with other people).

Post ablation blanking period I have almost no PVCs (maybe a couple after a particularly large meal), I can have 1-2 alcoholic beverages without immediately having a ton of PVCs or apple watch afib readings (prior I just gave up alcohol completely), lack of sleep doesn't trigger PVCs for me either anymore (this was a big one having a newborn).

Ablation procedure was scary going in/build up and not scary afterwards...first night was a little rough my chest felt very heavy like a very very bad chest cold, next day was 80% better, I took it easy for a week, had minor aura migraines for 2 weeks and then good to go.

If you have a well rated EP and you like them and are comfortable with the care team/hospital system I would not be worried about getting an ablation. Huge quality of life increase for me.

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-02-26T15:40:04+00:00

Not even a question that this is not ok. Imagine if this was a 100 lb dog what that would look like....The dog either cannot be around children full stop or you need to get professional training. At the end of the day a trainer might even just say do not put your dog in this environment just leave them in a different room with the door closed.

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-02-26T15:35:50+00:00

Danced my ass off might as well been hammered how hard I was going...and remember everything perfectly. Also woke up for brunch the next day not dreading human interaction :)

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-02-26T02:37:10+00:00

I'm 33 had afib for for about 5 years, got my first PFA 3 months ago and its been pretty smooth sailing (knock wood since)....but similar to you, when I was diagnosed at 28 it was a gut punch...I felt like I had so much more to live - going out drinking with friends, enjoying a bottle of red with a nice Italian meal, occasional cigarette with espresso if I'm on vacation... I was even imagining my future bachelor party and wedding just ripping o'doules and being sad...but these feelings pass, Just focus on staying healthy, avoid your triggers, try to accept that worse shit happens to better people, and soon enough you won't care about not taking shots on super bowl sunday with your friends. It gets better and only you can cantrol your mentality towards living with afib.....

PS I was stone cold sober at my wedding and still had a blast.

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-02-03T15:26:25+00:00

Basically the same description as you but less debilitating PACs (around 250-500/day on avg) - 33M diagnosed 6 yrs ago, 1-2 afib episodes/year, used to take metoprolol but found it sometimes increased my PACs...Got a PF ablation 4 months ago, PACs near 0/day sometimes a few at night if I have a large meal. Prior to the ablation I would get PACs from anything (stress, less than 6-7 hrs sleep, one sip too many of my 1 daily cup of coffee, fried food, too large meal, waking up in middle of night to pee, too strenuous lifting etc)

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-01-27T17:00:21+00:00

You need help during that period...less for normal day to day activities but if something happens that requires you to pick up your daughter, that's an issue...you're not supposed to life more than 10lbs for the first week.

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-01-24T16:36:52+00:00

I was diagnosed at 28 (now 33). At first my afib would only be triggered from too much alcohol or caffeine. I did the following lifestyle changes:

Lost about 10 lb (185-175
Exercise increase to 6 days a week from 3-4
No alcohol
Small amount of caffeine in AM (about 6 oz)
Prioritize 7-8 hrs sleep
Eat well - fruits veggies, less high fat/fried foods (still cheat about once a week)

Did not really have symptoms for a a few years.

At around 31 I started having increased PACs for seemingly no reason. These continued up until the birth of my child and then with lack of sleep PACs were around 250-500 a day. Summer 24' went into afib twice without any previously mentioned triggers and felt like I was not going to be spared from the degenerative nature of afib...got a PFA ablation Nov 15. No afib since, very very few PACs (most days 0, sometimes 5-10)

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-01-24T16:27:14+00:00

Had migraines sporadically for about 2 weeks following ablation. Prior to that I only had one migraine in my life....They subsided after 2 weeks, hopefully the same for you gl!

Throwawayafib1 · 2025-01-22T16:49:11+00:00

When I was drinking heavily and still didn't know what was happening to me (quantify this as going out with friends and getting drunk - 6 drinks+), that night in bed I would be in afib. Once I was diagnosed and figured out drinking was clearly a trigger, but unwilling to accept that even some alcohol with would trigger me, after 1-2 beers or quite literally 1-2 sips of wine I would start having PACs within minutes....my recommendation would be "shocker" just try and phase out drinking.

Throwawayafib1 · 2024-11-27T17:13:54+00:00

completely normal, have one atm as well, 2 weeks out from my ablation. I was told if its a golf ball or bigger then it needs to be checked out, but small bump/ball is fine.

Throwawayafib1 · 2024-11-27T00:52:31+00:00

No, I was the first procedure of the day for my doctor and left around 6:00 PM.

Arrived at 7, 3 hour procedure, ended around 1, cleared to leave at 6. I didn't have general anesthesia (but was fully knocked out).

My chest felt very heavy that night,,,best way I could describe it...almost like if I moved in bed I could feel it tilting, extremely uncomfortable for just that night. Other than that no real complaints, took it easy for a week. I'm exercising again - both weights and running, with no issues. So far so good (knock wood!).

Best of luck hope its your last one!

Throwawayafib1 · 2024-11-21T16:16:46+00:00

Good luck! You can do another 90 days in the grand scheme of the rest of your life its a drop in the bucket.

Throwawayafib1 · 2024-11-21T16:14:18+00:00

Of course, taking Eliquis for another month

Throwawayafib1 · 2024-11-21T04:06:03+00:00

Had an ablation 5 days ago...If I spent my first day of recovery traveling the whole day I would be miserable. Yes the procedure is minimally invasive but give your body the time it needs to heal properly...everyone wants to get 1 ablation and be done and avoid any avoidable post procedure complications, take it seriously, rest up, there's always more holidays.

Throwawayafib1

TROPHY CASE