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Asymptomatic A fib, and use of a monitor watch and starting eliquis
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Mar 28 11:08am | Replies (28)Comment receiving replies
@jc76 I am "fortunate" to have dramatic SVT episodes (180-20+ bpm) rather than Afib, but the bottom line is that whenever svt strikes at that rate, it is AWFUL too! My svt exploded from easily managed to out of control in Nov 2025.
I also have been fortunate that my cardiologist understands completely and got right on top of it; and the ER staff are very compassionate each time I show up because standard at-home interventions no longer worked. But the outside world can't see or feel what we are feeling and thus don't necessarily understand the reality or urgency, not to mention the effect on our quality of life!
My story looks lie it's going to have a happy ending. Four ER visits in 3 months provided excellent EKG evidence. My cardiologist got me to a good electrophysiologist. He took one look at the ER records and got me scheduled for an ablation in exactly 13 days!
I am 4 days post op and and beyond relieved. Dr is extremely optimistic that he knocked out the offending cells. I don't think I realized just how anxious and stressed out I've been. I know Afib is so much harder to deal with, and I truly wish for all of you the same level of success that @gloaming is experiencing.
Replies to "@jc76 I am "fortunate" to have dramatic SVT episodes (180-20+ bpm) rather than Afib, but the..."
@osgilian
Thank you for your reply. I agree 100% that some in medical profession just do not understand how AFIB and VTAC drastically impact the quality of life.
VTAC is taken serious by most Electrophysilogist but not AFIB. They continue to say worst complication is risk of stroke so you are put on Eliquis type drugs to prevent them.
Then nothing about how much it affects quality of life for those of us that have physical symptoms. I worry about those that have AFIB (sustained) and don't feel it. Today I was talking to a lady that does water aerobics with me and had not been around. I asked her if okay. She said no I had stroke in my eye. Wow I said are you any better. She said no they found out I had AFIB and likely the cause of my stroke.
She then commented about so many people on Eliquis these days. She said she had no mental or physical indications she had it. The hidden danger of AFIB for those who do not feel it and thus don't seek treatment is a really dangerous but they don't feel it.
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@osgilian That's great news! I've had my share of SVTs throughout the years, along with the A-fib and flutter ( multi-talented heart, I guess.....) still get the SVTs so I can attest to how badly they can make you feel. Comparing the "misery" factor between SVT, A-fib and flutter in my opinions, it'd all be a tossup. My symptoms have always been very similar for each of these arrhythmias, none of them are any fun. I still get the same shortness of breeath, lightheadedness and if it goes on for some time, some chest pain that feels to me like a "stitch" in the heart muscle from racing over time ( similar to the stitches in our sides we'd get when we ran for a long time as kids).
My cardiologist, who gets my pacemaker monitor reports, tells me they see both SVT and A-fib on the reports. Interestingly enough, the heart rate during SVTs is higher than it is for A-fib, with the SVT being around 170 BPM and the A-fib around 130.
From what I've been told over the years, having a greatly elevated heart rate over time can cause "tachycardia-related cardiomyopathy" - damage to the cardiac muscle, and that's also an important factor in considering ablation and other treatments to correct the tachycardia. There are a couple of SVTs that involve aberrant electrical pathways, ( ie, AVNRT- AV node re-entry; ) may be genetic in nature ( Wolffson-Parker-White-WPW) where the aberrant pathway is well known and can be ablated which often results in a "cure" for these types of SVT. Far as I know these SVTs are not associated with abnormal clot formation so patients with these arrhythmias don't need to consider taking a blood thinner as they might with A-fib.
As I understand it, A-fib is associated with many factors which must be considered in treatment of this arrhythmia. Ablation can be and often is successful but there are other medical issues that may well make the A-fib recur. Its association with abnormal clotting and stroke risk make it more complicated to treat than another SVT in an otherwise healthy heart. I don't think of A-fib as "worse" or any reason to minimize the symptoms and issues associated with other SVTs, just more complicated to deal with, perhaps. And of course A-fib dominates the literature in the field of cardiac electrophysiology!
Anyway, I'd never ever be one to minimize the symptoms or problems you had with your SVT, I know how lousy it makes you feel, affects your lifestyle, and it can affect your heart adversely if it goes on long enough and your tachy burden is high. So high fives to you and many best wishes that your future will now be SVT-free!