Good morning, I have been following this forum since my husband developed paroxysmal AF last year and found it extremely helpful - so thanks to all of you.
Yesterday my husband started an AF episode and took his PIP of an extra 2.5mg of bisoprolol and had a nap. We had tickets for a comedy show (Rich Hall) at the local theatre and decided to go. It was a great fun and we laughed non stop. On returning home my husband was back in NSR! It has never reverted so quickly before. Perhaps laughter really is the best medicine!
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Halfpom
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Im still very puzzled about what is really going on in my head each day as it is confused and muzzy with my close sight suffering from doubke vision. I am diagnosed with having AF but dont really know if and when I am having these symptoms.
But what I am convinced of is that making myself SMILE does help the situation its good excercise for the face anyway and when im walking to the shops with the rollator so many people smile back and speak. When Im watching something on the box that is funny, I do feel calm and less troubled.
Distraction worked for me a few times to shorten episodes, even things I didn’t enjoy but felt I had to get on with. It can be a vicious circle when it’s on your mind all the time as the anxiety feeds it.
Thanks for posting. Laughing can stimulate the Vagus nerve. Sometimes laughing is the furthest thing from your mind when you're in afib, but maybe that's the best time for a gpod joke.
Just maybe we all should get on You tube and tune in to the program, Just For Laughs. It makes me laugh every time. If you not familiar with it, it is like the old candid camera but more practical jokes. I find it hilarious but my husband hates it. Several years ago it was on TV and I would watch and have huge belly laughs but he would leave the room and refuse to watch. Opposites do attract ! Now I watch on You Tube on my tablet.
laugh. Actually force yourself to laugh! False laugh any laugh force belly laugh. You can do it even if you’re feeling 😢 . force it. I’m experimenting with this at moment dare I say it’s seems to be having an affect.
I've recently been thinking, with the frequency of my own AF on the up, what would I do if an episode sparked off in certain circumstances and whether it would be safe or sensible to press on regardless. When I do get AF, it makes me feel nervy and out of sorts, as well as slightly shaky and light-headed with some chest discomfort, but still general okay. Mostly, I've either been in bed, or have just sat myself down and waited the few hours it takes to go.
I imagine laughter helps in many ways. One thing that struck me is that it would pull a lot at the diaphragm, and with the heart all-but sitting on that at times, it might well be that physical pushing and pulling that helped stop your hubby's episode. Some here have said they can stop palpitations by bashing themselves on their chest, and others with diaphragmatic breathing - all physically affecting the heart itself.
Hi Ppiman, interesing you say about people bashing themselves on the chest, i asked a while back for peoples thoughts on those massage guns , maybe reverting the heart back to nsr, like a mild cardioversion effect, not saying to do this as i have not tried, but might give the bashing a try, lol.
Or even a good hard cough I found when having the feeling if missed heart beat I suppose that would be palpations at that time but a cough or 2 used to stop it In its tracks
guys, be EXTREMELY careful with those thumps. I did manage to revert a really bad episode of AF that just wouldn't go away and due to the frustration, lack of sleep, lack of fluids (bad hospital I was at the time in Italy) and I started punching my chest and I managed to cardiovert it. HOWEVER! Every single cardiologist I have spoken to warned me about doing this as it can cause the heart to stop or going into ventricular tachycardia. You never know how your heart is going to react so please be careful. You can try the valsalva manoeuvre instead if you know how to do it, but even that you have to be a tad bit careful and nowadays only medical professionals and paramedics do it.
You can try singing, being happy (laughing definitely helps), coughing, etc.. which may stimulate the vagus nerve and help switch the heart rhythm back to NSR.
Someone said that laughter is like internal jogging, so when you consider that jogging or exercising releases those endorphins then laughter may do the same thing. One thing I know for sure, it does make me feel good.
glad to hear I think exercise including laughing does help I suffered many years with PAF until I had a cryoballoon ablation 7 years ago I was told it may last 3 weeks or 30 years I rarely have AF now and if I do it rights itself without meds it has changed my life and I am so grateful for having had the procedure could your husband have it it’s worth finding out I cant recommend it highly enough! All the best😀
Bisoprolol just reduces heart rate and does nothing for the irregularity which is also involved in atrial fibrillation. Your husband would need Flecainide to do that but great that you were able to enjoy your evening out. I was able to enjoy the May Day celebrations and march around the local town behind the Red Band on Saturday with no ill effects to heart as I take Flecainide twice daily now - just exhaustion as I have chronic fatigue and my arm hasn’t quite recovered yet from the allergic reaction I had to the latest booster jab I was given nine days ago. Apparently, it turns out I’m one of the 2 percent of people who are allergic to this one! Never had problems with them before.
I've noticed at least a couple times that when I call my brother (who's a jokester) telling him I'm in a-fib, as per our protocol, something he says makes me laugh and I'll reverted back to NSR!
It will give a much needed boost to thse who use comedy as their profession.
Good clean comedy in this world does do the 'world of surprise and fun an opportunity to come through turmoil.
Let there be more humour in the world.
I've just got results to my PET.CT scan. Although I haven't heard from my surgeon it is not the calcifications of the lymphs the problem but an anemona sitting on my pea size ourpuitary gland! Which needs further ivestigation and could be the reason for my fatigue and tiredness. Not my AF or my post Thyroidectomy or post Thyroid cancer. With only another couple of mentions this 75 year old has a long distance to travel.
My booked October get away in Japan to resume overseas exploration is becoming a reality again.
Head up, chin in we could all do with a smile or laugh couldn't we.
I have to be careful not to (belly ) laugh too much as it is one of my triggers that starts my Paf. I thought I was nuts asking my cardiologist if that was possible, but he confirmed that it does happen
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