Afibbers Forum: Atrial Fibrillation Support & Education (2024)

a while back, i posted that, since about 99% of my episodes start when i am lying down (it once started when i went in for a colonoscopy but my cardio said it was alright to continue and I was back in NSR when i woke up from the procedure), i thought i would try sleeping in a sitting position.

i didn't give it a fair chance to test because i wasn't getting a restful sleep and my back was beginning to bother me.

i have since brought those incline GERD pillows with no success. i also tried the Prilosec regime for any possible GERD problems but no changes.

like someone who posted here earlier, it's almost scary going to bed. i'm on the usual supps. has anyone tried any creative things to ward of afib when horizontal? i want to make sure i keep trying different things until something works if not cure but lessen the episodes.

thanks guys.

Do the arrythmias occur within a few minutes of lying down?

If they do, the next experiment would be to transition from vertical to horizontal more slowly. That would give your body time to graduallly adapt to the horizontal position, so your body can keep your various bio-chemical systems coordinated during the transition. Your a-fib may be precipitated by the bio-chemical systems not staying coordinated during the transition immediately after you go horizontal.

You could use a tilt table as a simple way to do the test. That would let you conveniently move from vertical to horizontal in angular increments of your choosing.

I have a new tilt table (like used in physical therapy) left over from testing I did back when we a-fibbers were curious about whether sudden changes in orientation (head up to head down to head up, etc.) could be used transition from a-fib to nsr. If you are interested in the tilt table you could e-mail me at the above address.

Gregg - I'm sorry that I don't remember if you posted what your typical diet is, but consider the possibility that yourselection of food choices keeps your body in a more acidic state rather than alkaline. An acidic state will foster stomach issues that will act like GERD although may not actually be GERD. If this is a possibility, then we can discuss which foods metabolize to acid or alkaline ash and perhaps you can quiet down some of the irritation that can be caused from any overly acidic system. Just a thought.

Do you use stimulants during the day like caffeine or other - ie cola drinks?

I can understand how unsettling it is to be fearful of going to bed.

Do you think that in general, you are overly anxious or aggitated?

Sometimes when people are in high sympathetic tone, the transition to parasympathetic (which comes when you start to unwind and relax - like at bedtime) is not a smooth one and can be a potential source of afib trigger.
You could consider a couple hours before bed to do some relaxing maneuvers...yoga, meditation.

During the day, for anxiety reduction, I typically talk about the amino acid theanine, but I jthere is another product with a promising combination... called

Zen - by Allergy Research Group that combines both theanine and GABA in a dose larger than what is in a typical theanine capsule. It is said to work well during the day - but not for use as not a sleeping aid (unlike theanine alone, which can be used as a sleeping aid) It might help calm you down enough during the day so that you can transition well in the evening when it comes time for sleep. It does not contain caffeine.

Contraindicated if you take any anti-anxiety or other prescription drugs.

Read here:

[www.allergyresearchgroup.com]

[www.allergyresearchgroup.com]

It is sold through Hans iHerb store at a lower price under the labeling of Nutricology...
[www.iherb.com]

Jackie

Wil,

Thank you for the response.

Actually, PC replied to another person's query about this year's ago and he said to lie down in stages to make this things gradual. I have been following this, especially when I get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and no luck.

Although I do usually feel some "flops" when I first lie down, the bouts don't start until sometime later, usually between 2 and 5 a.m.

Jackie,

Thank you for your response (again!).

I stopped all caffeine for years now. I have de-caf coffee in the morning and I even tried stopping that for a while with no benefits so I'm back on it.

I am not stressed out during the day, most of my stress comes from this afib thing but I don't think that is the cause.

Re: diet - I have been listening to you, Fran, and others here for a while now and following your advice. When I wake up with afib, I have noticed that I was usually hungry so I started eating bigger suppers and snacking closer to bedtime just in case it was a hyper/hypoglycemic problem (I could never remember which was which). I thought that the afib was because running on empty. This was a change from when I was waiting 2 to 3 hours between eating and going to bed. And I'm especially trying to avoid most carbs.

Re: the acidic - I don't believe that my diet is particularly prone to acidic but I will definitely watch and consider this as I eat throughout the day. I have to say that the only upshot of this afib thing is that I am definitely eating much healthier with a lot of thanks to you guys. I'll get on google after I post this and see what things are acidic (obviously I know the oranges and tomatoes kind of stuff).

Re: medication - just metoprolol 25 g. twice a day and baby aspirin when not in afib, a full one when in it. I am on the usual supps and just added vitamin C due to some new posts here.

As I replied to another post recently, I am willing to try anything at this point.

Gregg - thanks for your response. I'm glad you are working on the potential for the hypoglycemia issue as that definitely can be a factor, but if the afib occurs just as you lie down then it's not hypoglycemia but the postural issue mentioned and that's tough - other than 'easing' in... however, you might consider having a bit of plain yogurt by your bedside to eat when you get up for bathroom breaks... just in case it is hypoglycemia as well. A holistic doctor who also had hypoglycemia told me that the yogurt didn't have to be refrigerated - and if it was right there handy, it could help as it was the perfect snack. It has to be full fat and no other sweeteners or fruit etc. Just plain yogurt and organic would be perfect.

On metabolizing to acid - strangely enough citrus metabolizes to alkaline even though physically it registers acid. Tomatoes are acidic is meat, grains, etc.

Here's a website to see the grouping of which foods metabolize to more less or more acidic. [waterworks4u.com]. There are several such websites; use any of the data as ‘general’ information as some are slightly incorrect.

I have a typed list with values as to where some foods rank on this acidity/alkalinity scale and if you email me, I'll send it to you. It's too lengthy to publish here. If you really get into this, you can read the book, "Alkalize or Die" by Theodore A. Baroody, M.A., D.C., N.D. Ph.D. Nutrition, Diplomate Acupuncture. It's enlightening.

Just for kicks... have you tried a dose of Pepto Bismol before bed?

I agree with you, while we may not 'cure' afib, most of us who embark on the journey to find that cure, end up much more healthy with better habits than before afib entered our lives.... and that's not all bad. We all will appreciate a longer more healthy life without debilitating chronic conditions caused by lifestyle.

Keep trying. I'll keep thinking.

Best to you. Jackie

Jackie, pepto bismol is on my shopping list for tomorrow!

I'll take a look at the resources you suggested after I post this but a fast question, I love oranges and tomatoes ... wouldn't be ok if I ate them earlier in the day? The body must get rid of this acidity in a certain number of hours right? Or is it safer just to stop eating it all together? I can't wait to read why meat is acidic.

Thanks again!

g.

Gregg, someone with the university education and the right equipment actually tested for meat acidity, and found that cooked meat is about 400 to maybe 500 on the scale he used, while raw meat is about 50.
So it's cooking that causes most acidity.

At the same time, many of us have tried an alkalizing diet, and found it doesn't do much good.

I balance the acidity of meat with alkalizing veggies; salad usually, and spend most of my effort avoiding carbohydrates/insulin resistance, which does far more good.

William

Gregg - oranges metabolize to alkaline ash so eating them anytime is okay...as long as you don't have blood glucose handling issues.

Tomatoes - balance out with something neutralizing like alkaline veggies.

It will be your experiment - I can't predict how it will act in your body.

Good luck.

Jackie