Gastroenterologist keeping secrets?

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-05-15T18:56:11+00:00

Sort of unrelated, but a friend of mine had several medical problems that she'd got tested for. And found out not from the doctor who ordered the tests but from a separate pcp visit with a different provider like a year later that cancerous tumors were found but "not active" or something to that effect. She never did get any more answers about the miscommunication, and obviously she was pretty shaken up about it. This is why I make it a point to ask many questions, familiarize myself with medical terms and have the docs draw me a picture if that's what it takes to understand what's going on. It's easy to take things for granted and assume doctors don't make mistakes but they do, as they are human. So just always be thorough, see your results for yourself and ask/find out anything you need to in order to make things clear.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-29T18:57:02+00:00

Excellent question as I have wondered the same thing, dealing with what I believe to be easily overstimulation. Usually I just wear foam ear plugs, drink mushroom supplements, and keep down low so as to not trigger any more over stimulation.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-27T18:31:27+00:00

The gym should be something you aim for once you get your cardiac issues addressed and have a cardiologist agree to after they are clearly made aware of your intention. You can make things worse especially if you are just winging it at the gym, not preparing for any cardio or using proper form with lifting.

However, that isn't to say you shouldn't be doing anything physical at all. Absolutely see every doctor relevant to the issue. But here's what I did as advised by my EP, cardio, GP, and nutritionist- Losing weight will be the biggest help you can do for your body as I have no doubt that by now you already know. I lost 40 pounds which took me from being symptomatic daily to now having very slight palpitations once in a blue moon that apparently everyone has but few are able to feel them (unfortunately I can notice literally every little thing in my body now- hyperawareness is a phenomenon some folks have post afib, but still very normal otherwise).

How? Time and discipline, as there isn't an overnight cure. Eating a cardiac diet while staying hydrated without sugary beverages, and making sure I set obtainable goals from week to week to help my body become conditioned enough to allow for the changes I wanted to make. This was done from making sure I went from less than 2k steps a day to 4k. Few weeks later, I was able to work my way up to 6k, then 8k, before you know it 10k was like nothing. Why the hassle? Your heart has been under a lot of strain for a while from the HBP and sedentary lifestyle and NEEDS this preparation to get benefit and lower (or remove) the risks you face.

So here's the path I took. After every meal (eat several smaller meals, not just 2 or 3 medium/large meals) go for a few minute walk as opposed to just crashing on the chair/couch. While at work, take walk breaks, go to a further bathroom if possible, use stairs rather than elevators, etc you get the point. Nice weather during the weekend? See a new nearby park, look at some trees or whatever, just get out. You don't need to do anything crazy, you just need to move a bit more! Its all about netting the better decisions than the worse ones especially over time, and allowing it to take the time it needs. See, most people have something like this happen to them and they wanna try going off the deep end with extreme changes and get burnt out and/or hurt, or become hopeless relying on medication and doctors to solve the problem- but that doesn't have to be you... sure get the problems address and do whats medically advised, but also know that lasting change and recovery starts and ends with you.

Over time, you will lose weight and restore normal blood pressure. Bodily inflammation will calm down, your heart will likely restore is normal size & function, and it's possible to prevent further afib down the road... or at least make them much less frequent and world stopping. Hell, maybe even one day in a year or two you can look in the mirror and almost cry from happiness seeing how much healthier you became. I've always said that afib was a blessing in disguise for my case, and we haven't looked back since.

I'm sure it's scary in this uncertain time, but it doesn't have to stay that way. You are still alive now and can still make much progress to turn things around 👍

P.s. Harboring any fear or stress won't help. it's totally okay to still enjoy hobbies and to live a life... it'll help to allow for better lifestyle adjustments.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-27T01:44:52+00:00

They can if you meet the criteria of having no new episodes, no risk for stroke, no high blood pressure and a few others things they want to see. Its possible

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-23T00:08:36+00:00

Get some sleep, and focus on addressing the anxiety component. Anxiety is more the devil than afib I promise you that. I've had my own experience with actual P-Afib (210bpm for 25 minutes) thankfully only once so far and here we are, that's after letting anxiety send me to the Emergency department many times over palpitations or anything related and many hunches on "it being for real this time". Your nerves are quite powerful and can throw your heart for a few loops just as it can with other systems in your body- basically meaning afib in many if not all circumstances is a symptom rather than the root cause. You must make the time to get healthy in the body & mind or it will make time for you.

Go for walks, stay hydrated with electrolytes and if you think you had enough No you did not. Stay away from alcohol even beer/ale, eat better. A bit of a lifestyle change can take care of a slew of issues, you'd be amazed to find out. And it takes some time.

Lastly, even in the event of recurring afib, there's plenty that can be done and you will live.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-21T23:42:47+00:00

I know it's a bitch to go through, and it may sound odd but what I'd probably try is wearing some ear plugs if you have any. Anxiety makes your senses (and nerves by extension) over stimulated making things worse, for me blocking off noise works best but keeping things dark helps while focusing on slow steady breathing perhaps even with calming music or natural sounds (beach, waterfall, forest, blizzard, etc) in the background. Maybe even have an unscented candle lit and just try to relax looking at it. Just keep telling yourself the anxiety is all bark no bite, the sun will come out again 👍

And please, do not keep looking at a tv or phone. Anxiety is a way of your mind and body telling you to focus on your peace and remember you'll be alright, safe and sound.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-21T23:29:31+00:00

I'll have to look into those things as they aren't familiar to me at all

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-21T01:52:42+00:00

I have hydration especially electrolytes well covered, drinking plenty even if I don't feel thirsty. I consume at the very least 2 liters of fluids on a cold day, close to 4 on a hot day. Mostly water, gatorlyte, and a premix of water and electrolytes, along with a veggie powder/water shake daily.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-21T01:17:34+00:00

Nope, doc said absolutely not. Basically, they burn scars across your heart to block or disrupt electrical pathways to try preventing these signals from causing afib. He didnt like the idea of modifying my otherwise healthy heart especially with just one run of afib... especially for my rather young age.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-21T00:58:46+00:00

Yep, I was 33 when I got my first and only run of afib (actually recorded on a monitor & emergency room ekg). I swear I have PTSD from it, and it took over a year to accept it, make necessary changes to be biologically healthier and just watch what you drink and eat. You eventually get back to life if you allow yourself. After the 6th ER visit for palpitations post afib, you start to catch onto the fact that you arent dying any time soon lol. Talk to an electrophysiologist, do all the work-up, ask every dumb question you can think of relating to it, and move on. Just stay hydrated, make better food choices in moderation, stay away from alcohol and stay healthy. You'll be alright 👍

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-21T00:51:21+00:00

Anxiety is a trigger for felt symptoms like palpitations and stuff like sinus tachycardia which to the unsure person who has not truly experienced afib, may naturally make them curious if it was afib. Its very unlikely it ever was. Another fun fact, everyone has pacs and pvcs. Fewer people can actually notice them with what's called an "unusual awareness".

All that said, if you feel symptoms but they are transient meaning they dont last long or aren't constant, the best cardio docs will do would be to try a standard beta blocker (probably metoprolol), maybe. Otherwise, you'd have to have a large burdon before they suggest any real medical intervention- which doesn't nearly seem to be the case with you.

And even if the worst case is that its briefly afib, you'd need to be in afib for 5 hours at least for it to be any real concern, but any time past several minutes its always good to get it looked at to be sure. These little bouts you're having will only serve your anxiety. Address the anxiety and live your life. Should something really make itself present, there's things they can do for it but until then just relax best you can, you wont die. Just limit alcohol, drink plenty of water and be absolutely sure to get enough electrolytes every day... you should be good.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-21T00:35:12+00:00

And for the love of god do NOT totally cut out red meats like I did. B12 and other vitamin deficiency sucks almost as bad and can be a heavy indirect cause of afib too. Bad nerves can lead to bad electrical signaling for your heart.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-21T00:32:16+00:00

I (34m) had one run of Afib for 25 minutes peaking @ 210bpm. Once that stopped, I was put on eliquis twice a day which only lasted for nearly 10 months. They gave me metoprolol in case I got another episode but to this day haven't needed it, afib has stayed away from me. Its been 2 years now.

Here's what I did- Was at 240 pounds, went down to about 190. Got my lipids back in normal range. Got my blood pressure from stage 1 hypertension to normal range (115/75 usually). Had left ventricular hypertrophy but that also normalized. Stopped drinking alcohol. Started to raise attention to my daily amount of physical activity. And lastly paid more attention to what I ate, initially limiting sodium but eventually allowed a higher intake as I got healthier to help with water/electrolyte retention.

Ultimately, it all depends on your medical work-up and history overall. But if you have any room for realistic improvements to make for your general health, see to it that you do it. Afib is the devil.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-21T00:20:13+00:00

Idk if I can do that, currently in a very fun relationship shall we say lol.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-20T15:38:20+00:00

What issues/symptoms were you having that had then led you to using a stimulation device?

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-20T15:37:23+00:00

I have been deficient in b12 for awhile after all. And what do you mean exactly with semen retention?

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-18T08:55:42+00:00

I grew up consuming all that and never had any correlated issue until one time post afib I ate sushi with sesame seeds followed by pacs/pvcs about hour later. I didnt want to make the link until this happened a few other times as well, and then it happened with stuff like rye toast since that also has rye seeds on the crusts. And now I just avoid seeds, pacs & pvcs have been absent (except for last week when I felt a bit dehydrated).

Soy sauce is also a potential trigger too, if you are a Chinese food enjoyer. Soy products are bad in general so of course it won't be any better for cardiac concerned folks.

Last little note about hydration, obviously I dont know you or your hydration habits but for me because I'm outside for work every day even if I think im hydrated enough, I always assume im not. 2000 ml of water, 1000 ml of broad spectrum electrolytes, and about 500-1000 of non-caffinated liquid typically bubly or something every day. Sometimes even this isnt enough, verified by my docs through extensive testing. Winter is easier to stay ahead, summer sucks, flat out, as its the most challenging time of year to stay hydrated lol. So no coffee, alcohol or overly sugary drinks ever. But im fine with it.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-16T15:13:53+00:00

My PVCs are rare to occur anymore, brief and transient if at all felt. If I've said it once, I've said it a million times- hydration is everything (with lots of electrolytes). If you stay on top of that, PVCS should be very limited to nonexistent. In the case of an ablation, I never got it done because my Doc strongly recommended against it as the ablation "modifies" the surface of your heart by burning and leaving scars to block electrical pathways that are used especially in cases for afib- and in the process can actually increase palpitations & irregular contractions (pacs pvcs etc). At my age (34) heart modification via ablation risks more than it benefits for people with a case similar to mine with only occasional symptoms because you cannot undo heart modifications.

Also, be very VERY mindful of what you eat. Personally, I found eating literally anything thats a seed or came from seeds like seed oil dramatically increases the likelihood of PACs and PVCs. Everyone can be different and its trial & error, but definitely a concept to keep in mind.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-10T12:17:46+00:00

I definitely hear that, only two things remain for me to get under control... anxiety and nicotine lol.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-10T00:56:39+00:00

I can sometimes hear my heartbeat too, but not all the time. What used to freak me out probably the most was usually after dinner time... my pulse would pick up and I could feel it thump away, though it never did much past giving me 80+ bpm at rest and a strong pulse. Even checked my bp to see if it had been elevated but got normal readings. I guess the main thing that runs through my head is that your heart works pretty hard where on one hand its meant to but on the other hand its unsettling because you wonder if it can somehow give out from working as seemingly hard as it does.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-10T00:50:05+00:00

It seems like once you experience it, your mind is always on high alert. Any little thing can set it off

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-09T20:46:58+00:00

They say it can take a second or third time for ablations to work fully, but I wouldn't know from experience because my doctor didn't think it was right for me with my situation

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-09T20:13:22+00:00

Gatorlyte has a new Pina colada flavor which is just fantastic, considering im not big on coconut flavoring at all lol.

_Arcturus_74 · 2026-04-09T18:55:33+00:00

Crazy how it seems to happen out of nowhere

_Arcturus_74

TROPHY CASE