Dealing with Rhythm Issues

[soxfan12]

I am somewhat new to this site and I must say it has been extremly helpful for me to read about other's experiences.  I beleive I have already learned so much.  I am a 50 year old male who had my first episode of A-fib 7 years ago.  I have been having one or two episodes per year usually lasting anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or so and they have always self-resolved.  I do get PACs, sometimes I can go for weeks without any then they crop up with varying degrees of frequency.  I am having a stretch now where I have them daily, sometimes frequently (especially after eating), then sometimes only a few an hour if that many.  My EP has recently increased my flecanide to 150mg twice per day.  Just to mention I have had numerous stress tests and stress echos and there has been nothing found structurally wrong with my heart.

Ever since my first A-fib episode I have been extremely reluctant to travel.  I have tried to take family vacations close to home as I am always concerned an A-fib episode, even though they have been infrequent, would occur while I'm away.  I'm at a point in my life where my wife and I have the ability to do more traveling but I am always leery.  I am especially concerned now that my PACs are more frequent my fear of them causing an A-fib episode will make me even more reluctant to travel.  I just wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts about keeping things in perspective or ways to try to do the things one wants to do in life while dealing with these annoying heart rhythm issues.  Thanks for any advice.    

[chuparosa]

I can totally relate. My husband is constatly bugging me to plan a vacation but I am too concerned to travel knowing that I might have an svt attack and need to go to the hopsital to stop it. I do not want to have an episode in an unfamiliar place (especially on a plane). I know it's not logical but there you have it. I'm not able to take any drugs to control my situation. This is exactly why I am moving forward with an ablation. I am tired of not being able to live my life without concern of what might be.

[LindaTX]

I know what you mean about relaxing, but I've been through many highly stressful times as well as extremely physical situations, deaths of close family members,life-threatening car accident, strenuous hr long aerobic and step classes, and through all that I've never "gone into" a-fib.  If I'm sitting at dinner and have a sip of wine I get it. Like you said, shortly after eating and walking around a bit can start it and I feel carbonated drinks, even carbonated water can bring it on.  If you look in the Gastroenterology forum, you will find so many related situations physiologically speaking.  Its all connected, that's why I don't think of this as strictly a heart rhythm issue.     Later, Linda

[soxfan12]

I guess on a certain level I understand that medical care would be available while traveling should I need it even should I be overseas.  I think I just feel a level of frustration that the concern always is in the back of my mind and somewhat takes away from the enjoyment of the vacation.  But I do think you are exactly right when you say relax and live your life.  One of my biggest problems is learning how to truly relax.

[LindaTX]

I have traveled a lot also, usually back and forth from Texas to Alaska, a very long flight, and have been able to connect a couple of episodes of a-fib to the flying but I'm not sure if its the air pressure in the cabin or the oxygen levels in the plane. I have carried a little pulse-ox with me the last year or two and I do know my oxygen level dropped to 89-90% one time so I am always a little leary that it could kick me into a-fib. The truth is, anywhere you might go, they would certainly be able to deal with your a-fib episodes if you should require help. Colo. altitude, as well as being in the middle of the Vagus strip, sorry, Vegas strip have brought mine on. But you can't let it rule your life. You just have to relax and live it, right?  

[ksig]

I was reluctant to travel overseas, too but I bit the bullet and went on many trips. I did make sure my phone had an international chip in it and I also carried my EP's 24 hr number.  Traveling domestically, I did not worry at all.  Before I left on my first international trip, my EP gave me an algorithm to follow...basically a "pill in the pocket" approach should I run into any difficulties.  In all the trips I have taken,  I did have one event but I followed the advice and I was fine.  While in AFib on the trip, I did get a bit more tired and had to slow my pace a bit but I soon  was back up and running. I think my real concern was having my INR checked while overseas.

I would talk to your doctor and discuss your concerns about travel and find out what you can do while you are traveling should trouble arise.

ksig

[soxfan12]

Jerry,
I am in normal rhythm just about all the time and really have no symptoms. As I stated I do get PACs, sometimes more frequently than others, but I guess my concern is having to deal with an episode of what I have been told is paroxsysmal A-fib if I were to be away from home or in a foreign country.

[Jerry_NJ]

I don't understand, as I am in permanent AFib and have had various periods of normal sinus rhythm over the past 10 years following electrocardioversions.  Still, in or out of AFib I have traveled.   I am now approaching the 1 million mile point on Continental Air Lines, with many miles on many other air lines.  So, travel I have done, and though much less in the last couple of years, I still travel and have been in AFib all of the last two years.   I underwent open heart surgery in 2007 to repair a valve and have been in AFib since.  

I am not saying your symptoms and mine are the same, but I can say when I travel I am not worried about heart failure.  My HR is irregular, but controlled, with a beta blocker and I take an anticoagulant to reduce the potential for a blood clot.  That coupled with background only symptoms (some fatigue and limited strength/endurance from the BB and irregularity) I travel without any concern.

If your symptoms are physcially debilitating, you may want to (or have) consider an ablation.