1. < Heart Rhythm Conditions
Profile picture for beebo

AFIB and HEART RATE

Posted by beebo @beebo, 3 days ago

I recently had a return of AFIB more than 2 years since being resolved by an Ablation.
I’m working on scheduling visits to begin a Treatment Plan. This time, I’m told that I have “Atrial Flutter “
As soon as it returned, I had an unusual change in my Blood Pressure. I’m very consistently in the 115/60 range. Now, the Top Number has gone down while the lower number has gone up. To readings like 90/75. ( my HR also went from the 60’s to the 120’s, but I expected that to happen)
Has anyone experienced this? Or have an opinion on what is causing this? Thanks!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

Profile picture for larryg333
larryg333 | @larryg333 | 1 day ago

Hi folks.

Agree with @gloaming... as usual. Flutter is typically an E-Z fix via ablation, so going through a cardioversion might be something to not bother with.

Still, often after a successful flutter ablation, many hearts decide to go into AFib... which we all know is much tougher to get corrected, and to remain in NSR on a long-term basis.

All the best!

/LarryG

REPLY
Profile picture for beebo
beebo | @beebo | 1 day ago
In reply to @stan52 "@beebo i had typical a flutter and im 20 days post ablation. It appears to have..." + (show)
Profile picture for stan52 @stan52

@beebo i had typical a flutter and im 20 days post ablation. It appears to have worked well. Other than the occasional skipped beat I feel well and am back to normal activities. Just completed a a 25 minute swim an hour ago. Building back to 40 minutes. I had a 3 months wait for ablation but I understand why due to demand. I was on Amerodone for almost two months but dropped my hr to 26. I wish I’d never taken it. Hope to drop Eliquis in a few weeks. My loop recorder is reporting all good things. Do most people have the recorder removed?

Jump to this post

@stan52 This is good to hear. Thanks! I’m on day #3 of this new med and and no side effects noticed yet. I’m hoping to get in for an ablation soon so I can get off of it.
Yesterday I took my first walk after first having this Flutter start. Maybe 20 minutes, half of which is uphill. I could feel myself getting winded. I was doing an hour of much faster walking with no issues before the Flutter started.
So I guess the question will be - are the symptoms from the condition or from the medication?

REPLY
Profile picture for beebo
beebo | @beebo | 1 day ago
In reply to @diane987654321 "@beebo I did okay my first couple days of flutter but by day 3 and 4..." + (show)
Profile picture for diane987654321 @diane987654321

@beebo I did okay my first couple days of flutter but by day 3 and 4 I was gray and was getting dehydrated despite drinking a lot. I was sweating way more than usual. My mitral regurg was getting worse, I could hear my murmur, usually I can’t, and my ejection fraction went from 62% to 52% and my TAPSE from 2.2 to 1.7. My gray coloring alarmed me. I’m sad about only being able to take metoprolol. I failed amiodarone, heart rates in the low 30s and trying to faint, and my resting heart rate of 47 rules out tikosyn.

Jump to this post

@diane987654321 Thanks for sharing this. Are you considering getting an Ablation? I keep hearing that is the most effective treatment for this condition.
When you say that the AMIODARONE failed, does that mean that it didn’t do any good for you? Or were you not able to tolerate it? Thanks! Bob

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for stan52
stan52 | @stan52 | 1 day ago

I had problems with the medication and they took me off when hr fell to 26. Stay on them about ablation. I understand depending where you’re located you can get them done faster. Check in Florida and all major cities near you.

REPLY
Profile picture for beebo
beebo | @beebo | 1 day ago
In reply to @babheart "Your narrowing pulse pressure- the 15 point difference between your systolic and diastolic B/P should be..." + (show)
Profile picture for babheart @babheart

Your narrowing pulse pressure- the 15 point difference between your systolic and diastolic B/P should be brought to your team’s attention if you haven’t already. It can mean your heart is having trouble pumping enough to supply O2 to your body. If you’re feeling lightheaded or woozy please sit and let them know. Stay safe & good luck.

Jump to this post

@babheart My Wife got us a “Oxymeter Device. That little clamp like thing that they use at the Doctors Office. Goes on a finger. Measures HR and Blood Oxygen. I’m getting Blood oxygen readings in the 95-96 range.
My Doctor has me on AMIODARONE and it seems to be bringing me HR down a bit.
Does it also reduce the irregular rhythm as well? Thanks.

REPLY
Profile picture for diane987654321
diane987654321 | @diane987654321 | 1 day ago
In reply to @beebo "@diane987654321 Thanks for sharing this. Are you considering getting an Ablation? I keep hearing that is..." + (show)
Profile picture for beebo @beebo

@diane987654321 Thanks for sharing this. Are you considering getting an Ablation? I keep hearing that is the most effective treatment for this condition.
When you say that the AMIODARONE failed, does that mean that it didn’t do any good for you? Or were you not able to tolerate it? Thanks! Bob

Jump to this post

@beebo Hi Bob, I’m 7 weeks out from my second ablation. Looks like I’ll be getting a third one. I tolerated the amiodarone for a few weeks then my heart rate got too low. Twice, while out and about, it dropped into the low 30s and if I hadn’t plopped down I’d have gone done hard. I did some reading and I think for me I was on too high of a dose. It has such a long half life it is hard to find the lowest effective dose since once side effects hit the recommendation is to stop it. This journey is a challenge

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for beebo
beebo | @beebo | 10 hours ago
In reply to @diane987654321 "@beebo Hi Bob, I’m 7 weeks out from my second ablation. Looks like I’ll be getting..." + (show)
Profile picture for diane987654321 @diane987654321

@beebo Hi Bob, I’m 7 weeks out from my second ablation. Looks like I’ll be getting a third one. I tolerated the amiodarone for a few weeks then my heart rate got too low. Twice, while out and about, it dropped into the low 30s and if I hadn’t plopped down I’d have gone done hard. I did some reading and I think for me I was on too high of a dose. It has such a long half life it is hard to find the lowest effective dose since once side effects hit the recommendation is to stop it. This journey is a challenge

Jump to this post

@diane987654321 I’m on day #4 of the “Loading “ phase where my daily dose is 800mg. compared to the “regular “ daily dosage of 200mg. So far, the rhythm has improved , but heart rate has only come down about 20 bpm. ( from 130 to 110) hoping to schedule an ablation ASAP so I can get off of it. Thanks!

REPLY
Profile picture for beebo
beebo | @beebo | 7 hours ago
In reply to @tallbackhip "Might be some mix up in terms, perhaps you had atrial fibrillation, and now have developed..." + (show)
Profile picture for tallbackhip @tallbackhip

Might be some mix up in terms, perhaps you had atrial fibrillation, and now have developed atrial flutter? They are different. Presuming your Doctor is using an EKG to determine the atrial flutter diagnosis, and perhaps medications are being used.

Hope you doing well and obtain treatment for the a flutter soon!

Apparently atrial flutter can appear some months or years after ablation for atrial fibrillation. https://www.ajconline.org/article/S0002-9149(19)30992-0/abstract

In the educational process and consent for ablation to treat atrial fibrillation, was mention made of possible later appearance of arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation or flutter or tachycardia?

I hope you update us later on treatment(s) and results.

Best wishes!

Jump to this post

@tallbackhip The”Flutter” is what I was told I had following my most recent EKG.
Before that, had regular AFIB that was resolved by an ablation. Thanks

REPLY
Profile picture for pht1123
pht1123 | @pht1123 | 59 minutes ago

I am new to AF from a severe infection. Have been running low/normal with BP. I was put on Digoxin for the rate, as I can't take Beta Blockers or Calcium Channel Blockers (have severe asthma). Going to Cardiologist on Monday. My rate is well controlled but concerned/worried if I will need ablation. On Eliquis currently as well as Prednisone for my severe asthma. How painful is ablation? Any response is appreciated. Thanks.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.