Covid and AFib Connection?

I am 69 y.o. and for the most part very healthy, no history of hypertension BMI 27, no coronary artery disease, no diabetes. I never had a fib but did have ventricular arrhythmias in 2019 that resulted in a complete cardiac w/u and 2 ablations. I was put on preventative medication and told I have cardiomyopathy. Everything was fine until Jan. 2021 about 7 days after receiving the 2nd dose of the Pfizer vaccine. I began having occasional heart palpitations so I contacted my EP cardiologist. I wore a monitor for a week. Was told it was not ventricular this time but occasional afib. Because of my age and history was told it might become chronic so they put a chip in my chest. Have not had anything since Jan. I am planning to get the booster so it will be interesting to see what happens. Interestingly, I did complete the CDC weekly f/u after the second shot and told them about the afib. no one contacted me until June after there were reports of cardiac inflammation in children. Then the CDC rep had me complete a Vaccine Adverse Event report.

I never had afib before. Got two shots of Pizer vaccine...then had my first afib episode in April.....dont know if there is a connection but I have to wonder...about the timing...docs dont know enough and just say its possible. then got the booster last month....high fever and aches for three days (no reaction to first two shots9 and severe vertigo..that is still with me. Actually passed out.....and had to have Ct scan to see if I hit my head and any brain bleed as Im on blood thinners......there was none. but the vertigo is still with me...and i dont know if its my reaction to the meds as I am very sensitive...or from the vaccine.

Thank you for sharing your experience

I had similar experience as I had posted in April 2021. I had cardioversion in June and then ablation in August. I am back in sinus rhythm. So I also decided not to get buster now. There is some link between the Pfizer vaccine and heart rate. Researchers might find it out soon.

CeCe55,
My experience was similar to yours. I have had AFiB since 2015. I had been doing very well & no symptoms since Jun/Aug 2020. I was taking propafenone 225 & Eliquis. I had Pfizer vaccine Feb & Mar 2021. I am constantly monitored with implanted Medtronic loop recorder. I started having more rhythm events & more symptoms starting in Apr. I increased Propafenone to 325 & added Metoprolol but symptoms didn't improve. I had another ablation in Aug and still on meds. Feeling better now but undecided on getting booster.

Where did you have the ablation done? Why did you have it done? Do you still have to take blood thinners after ablation? Would you do it again?

Is there a link with Moderna as well?

I got afib after Moderna vaccine. Wish I had waited for the Norvasc vaccine which is the traditional type of vaccine.

I had my second dose of the Pfizer vaccine in early February, 2021 and 6 weeks later, through a routine medical exam, learned that my resting heart rate had jumped to 120 bpm and was arrhythmic. I'd had no prior history of arrhythmia and none in family, but I had been diagnosed several years earlier with Sinus Bradycardia. Since March, when the arrhythmia/tachycardia was found, Ive had two ablations, the most recent in September. I am experiencing post-ablation symptoms of tachycardia and arrhythmia which have so far resolved. In the course of treating my atrial flutter, I spoke to two separate nurses on two separate occasions who asked me (perhaps out of general interest) if my arrhythmia had started after receiving the vaccine. When I told them it had and asked if they knew of a connection, both replied, "They just don't know". This has not been reassuring in helping me to move forward with the booster shot! I am sure that my cardiologist and GP will tell me that the risks of Covid 19 are far greater than the risks of arrhythmia from the vaccine and I think they would be right, but I wish I felt more sanguine about it. My sister at age 63 had one of the rare side effects of pericarditis from her second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, but it resolved within a few days.

I am curious how your sister's pericarditis was diagnosed. I had my Pfizer booster two days ago and got costochondritis, which feels just like pericarditis. Is it possible your sister had costochondritis instead (inflammation of connective tissue between ribs and breast bone).

Now that there is are antiviral pills about to come on the market, I supposed they could offer another path of safety. I have paroxysmal afib but my 3 Pfizer doses did not trigger any arrhythmias.