Afib and Laying in Bed-Vagal Afib

[Topher7]

I'm a 39 year old male. In 2000 I never had any heart issues but got the flu that summer. A severe strain attacked my heart and almost killed me. Viral myocarditis. I miraculously recovered fully with the exception of some A-fib because of it. The A-fib only presented once every year and a half to 2 1/2 years. I was taking Zebeta and Monopril. The first many years I'd go to get it cardioverted but then the last 2-3 years Arrythmol/Propefenone would put it back into rhythm. Last year it went out 3 times and my cardiologist suggested I get it ablated because I was a) young, b) my heart was completely healthy and c) all other factors made it where there was a really good chance of success.

So November of this past year..2008.. I went in for the catheter ablation of the PVs and it turned nightmarish. They barely got the left two veins ablated when the catheter of the robot arm pierced my heart. They couldn't control the bleeding and they had to have emergency surgery where they opened me up and fixed the hole and finished the other two right veins. It was horrible for us and the painful recovery over the next months was hard. Especially with a 17 month old and a pregnant wife....now a 4 month old. So the first two months I had no A-fib or flutters in the recovery phase. At the end of month 2 and into month 3 I had 3 separate A-fib episodes that lasted anywhere from 20 seconds to 9 hours. 2 of them were put back with the Rythmol. So the guy who started the ablatation took it as this was a failure. Considering I barely had it before but now had it 3 times in a month and was cut open..I was a little incredulous. A 2nd opinion was nice and he told me there was still a slight chance at full success because I was also healing from the cracked open sternum and cut. I haven't had anything in weeks and have been going back to doing yardwork, etc.

Since then I had 3 months of nothing and then the last 4 months I had one episode in each month..about a month apart. They all occurred while coming back from the bathroom at night and laying down, laying down for a nap, or just laying in bed. What was funny was after the first 3 I noticed one change that might cause it...my wife and I ate checkpeas or popcorn as a late snack those months around 9..I go to bed at 10:30. I made an effort to avoid them and then when I tried the chicpeas again this last time, it did it again when I went to bed. So I guess I'm wondering if there is anything similar with anyone? More background..I still drink wine and beer here and there and over the last 9 years have never had any afib associated with it. I take vitamins.I have talked to my doc about vagal afib and never had this issue pre-abalation. Not even close.

[Topher7]

I forgot to add that in each of the last 4 times the Arrythmol/Propefenone has helped it go back into rhythm within 5-7 hours.