Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

Of course there is a connection. Sto consuming anything with caffeine if you have been.

Hi.

This doesn't address your question (which leads me to wonder whether the vaccines played a role in my AF). Rather, I'm just wondering what meds you've been on, and whether you were still in AF but without symptoms.

I went into persistent AF (first known AF occurrence) in late May. Metoprolol reduced (but did not stop) the fibrillation, and stopped the symptoms.

I had a successful cardioversion last week (despite not being to take amiodarone). Waiting to see how long it lasts.

Cheers.

The vax may cause heart issues but for me, COVID did! So for me the vaccination is an absolute necessity.

My name is Lee Kirk

Hi, I am just curious. If you are asymptomatic, how do you know to take your pulse? Rates in the 180s are pretty hard to count out.

Hi everyone. I'm Gael, a 73 year old woman with a long history of irregular heartbeat, apparently due to aortiv valve regurgitation. I also have hypertension and am taking three medications for it. That said, I have not seen a cardiologist in over five years because my husband and I were caring for my bedbound mother. She died a year ago and then my dear husband died a month later. I am thinking of going to the Mayo clinic nearest me to get all of this checked out. The arrythmia causes me panic attacks and makes it nearly impossible to do the things I want and need to do in life. Does anyone have similar experience? Is there anything that can definitively be done to make life easier with this condition? Thank you for any perspective on this.
Gael

Have you had an ECG showing the arrhythmia? Have you consulted a cardiologist? Are you on a DOAC (Direct Oral Anti-Coagulant)? You should avail yourself of all three immediately if your answer is no to any of them. Please consult a cardiologist right away. You don't want your heart's substrate, the underlying tissue, to begin remodeling itself due to the persistent AF. It makes AF much harder to treat, and it invites a progression toward mitral valve prolapse and more fibrosis, but it also invites heart failure, or heart insufficiency.

Hello, and thank you for the information. I had an EKG and nothing was found. No AF. I was told by a cardiologist five years ago that I have aortic valve regurgitation, but nothing was suggested at the time but strict blood pressure control, which I have done. I am seeing a cardiologist after the new year. I have had severe palpitations all my life, sometimes more severe, seemingly unrelated to anything. They found no abnormal beats other than hundreds of PVCs, which make me breathless and panicky and close to fainting at times. It is a misery at times and I am hoping to get some advice and help when I see the doctor. I do hope there is more to offer five years later. Thank you so much for your informative reply! Gael

I don't know what your options are in your area or with your insurance, but as a nurse who has observed physicians for all my career, and now as a "patient" myself, I strongly recommend that if you feel "something is not right with your body" that you should find a physician that will listen! There is nothing more discouraging than a physician that "blows you off" with your concerns. There is nothing wrong with saying that you are "not compatible" with a certain doctor and ask for a different one. If you have insurance, the customer representative will often times help you find a doc that suits you!

Greetings all,
Thank you for this group!
I have a family history of atrial fibrillation, mother, father, 2 brothers, and a sister (that's all I know of). I had a cryoablation about 3 years ago and that controlled my a-fib for almost 2 years. When it popped up again, my cardiologists determined that it was because of a leaking mitral valve getting worse, which they have been monitoring for around 5 years. Last April I had a minimally invasive mitral valve repair (they went in between the ribs instead of a sternotomy, put in an annuloplasty ring to tighten the valve and added a couple chordae - it's amazing what they can do these days!). Surgery was successful. I have recently noticed, or think I notice occasional irregular heart beats - not a-fib - and recently am experiencing what I would call bradycardia, with a heart rate around 40 when I am lying down in bed. Wondering if it is something I should be concerned about.