Afib and neuropathy

Posted by davidjp @davidjp, Oct 11, 2022

Developed Afib several years ago, and it seems, looking back, that I developed neuropathy in my feet about the same time. Talking with a friend last week who has just been determined to have Afib, and he has also developed neuropathy in his feet. I wonder just how many folks have both, and if the Afib is corrected, the neuropathy will diminish.

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danielrobertrae | @danielrobertrae | Mar 21 1:36am

I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, nine months ago, originally just with a stethoscope and then an ECG. I was at a walk-in clinic and didn’t know the doctor, so I made sure to check with my own doctor when I got back home two months later. As soon as he put his stethoscope on me, he said “ You know you have afib “. He ordered me an ECG which also confirmed afib.
In the 9 Following months my afib persisted. I was baffled because I hadn’t done a single thing different in all the years prior to being diagnosed even during regular check-ups. It should be clarified that my heart rate remained normal ( 65-85 bpm ) throughout. My blood pressure was also normal, always around 120/80.
I also have spinal stenosis for which I had been prescribed gabapentin. I had begun taking gabapentin a few months prior to my original diagnosis of afib. I read online that gabapentin can affect heart arrhythmia. I was never sure if gabapentin was effective or not (for my nerve pain) so I weaned myself off of it. Lo and behold I had an ECG today and NO sign of Afib. Despite 4 doctors and many ECGs having consistently confirmed afib, suddenly it was gone.
There is much online confirming that gabapentin is often associated with an onset of heart arrhythmia but not a single doctor I saw ever made the association.
If I done what the first doctor told me to do while he wrote a prescription I would have now been on blood thinners for 9 months. Taking blood thinners should be a last resort.
The moral of my story is that if you are taking gabapentin for nerve pain or any other purpose, and you also get diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, You should consider going off of gabapentin to see if it brings your heart rate and rhythm back to normal. It certainly did for me.

rollo8 | @rollo8 | Mar 21 12:56pm

In reply to @danielrobertrae "I was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, nine months ago, originally just with a stethoscope and then..." + (show)

I do have experience with afib. Mine was detected by my pacemaker. Have had a pacemaker since 2010. About 18 months ago, I was told I had a 4 hour episode, while sleeping, with a heart rate at 200 + bpm, on average. I wasn't aware, slept through it. I have had several episodes since. I have been aware of a few incidents. Not scary, just a bit uncomfortable.
IMPORTANT...most people are not aware they have afib. Lucky if picked up on a physical. Most do not feel afib. If you do have symptoms, a cardiologist will set you up with a device that monitors you for up to a month. It may not be detected during that time either. Because, most of us are NOT in constant afib. So, not being detected does not mean you do not have it. Having been diagnosed is a fair warning. Blood clots are mostly associated with stroke when you have afib.
Many risk factors for afib. Many. And, increase with age. Talk with your cardiologist. Please.
I follow the Texas Heart Institute and Clevelan Clinic for heart related maters.
I take Xarelto and have no issues. If you already have bleeding history, there are two products that can be inserted through the groin and into the heart to filter for clots. Invasive.
Good Luck.