Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

I guess once you have sympstoms like palpitations and are not life threatening one can accept it more..I still went to the ER to be sure. Also surprised not on a blood thinner. My dr. insisted as said .I cannot help you if you have a stroke...so I went on them. Its all so unpredictable with no certainty and no clearr route to follow...I hate the fact I have not traveled even to see a close friend. Fear looms and I am not proud of it. Meanwhile most of time nothing happened except for a few incidents during pandemic...one after booster..and one more. Often in afib but do not feel it. Sometimes for hours..don't think for days. Thinking of getting anti anxiety meds...therapy helps as support but does not stop it. think flatulence seems to be a by
product..whether it causes it or is a result of it I dont know...think alll those other disciplines...yoga..medittion .taichiarean aide I suppose..Good not toffee so alone...others don't get it.

No one in this thread has mentioned the vaccines. I had a heart virus back in 2007 and 2012 which put me into afib but I spent a good 9 years (2012 - 2021) on dofetalide without any afib events. Then, 3 weeks after getting my first Moderna shot, I went into afib. Did the cardiovert which kept me in sync for a year. Then afib again. Have been researching the connection between afib and the vaccines and I'm convinced that's the cause. And I think the medical profession is beginning to realize this but they seem to be concentrating on a younger population than my 83 yrs. I had my two shots in early 2021 but will NOT get any booster shots. Hoping the effect of the vaccines will taper off soon.

During my AFib episodes, my heart rate is so wildly erratic, that it’s hard to take a count. At times felt like 300 BPM, but my wife, a retired RN, took it a couple of times at about 120 BPM. It’s the galloping irregularity that is so unsettling rather than the pace of the pulse for me. It is actually the CHADS2 scoring that prompted my doc to recommend no blood thinner. My score was a 1/2 with the only condition in favor of the med my age. Speaking of confusion, though, I have heard a great variety of conditions that would be more and less likely to result in stroke. For example, I have heard on one hand that the first hiccup in an AFib attack can cause stroke while on the other hand you have to be in AFib for hours or even days before the stroke threat becomes meaningful. Lots of question marks about all this stuff, for sure. No, I can think of nothing that caused me to suddenly go into AFib so late in my life. ..thanks for the tip about sitting up quickly and taking something like gas-ex. I have always thought that my PVCs and tachycardia were often brought on by a gassy stomach…?

I have come to think that actual physical pressure from air in my GI tract, against my heart, is my main trigger. I am always reclining and always in the evening. The solution might be a big burp if I could!

My heart rate is erratic too so I know just how you feel. My highest was 180 but it bounced around.

The old CHADS score made female gender one of the factors but they took that off! I don't have high blood pressure etc.

Noone seems to know how long you have to be in afib to have stroke risk. The study on short term anti-coagulation was for people who were in afib more than 5.5 hours.

Do you have an electrophysiologist?

How do you all know when you're in AFIB and how long it's. lasting? I have an Apple Watch that allows me to check for AFIB, but otherwise I wouldn't know.

I have AFIB at least several. times a week (can't tell at night) often for several hours, even more.

My doctor says taking Xarelto is enough protection against stroke, as it prevents clotting.

I've never been advised to go the hospital for AFIB. Why? Very confused by all the different advice.

No, I don’t have an electrophysiologist, just an excellent cardiologist at present. But your electrophysiologist question does open up a whole other series of confusing questions. For example, my cardiologist, who prescribed the Flecainide and metoprolol I’m taking now (lowest doses on both), talked me into taking them against my strongest wishes not to take meds saying, “at least they will give you a couple years of improved lifestyle.” So his statement and plenty I have been researching does suggest that these kinds of meds stop being effective after a while. On the other hand, I have seen statements on blogs like this from folks who have been taking these same meds for many years with ongoing good results. Similarly, I have seen plenty of comments that suggest the drugs are definitely temporary and that the only true fix is ablation or something similar, with lots of advice saying to skip the drugs and seek ablation right away. My present thought is to continue with the drugs for another few weeks to see if I can tolerate them better with time, since I feel like I have a moderate case of the flu with them. Then, I think I will seek referral to an electrophysiologist who is heavily experienced with ablations, if I can find one, and see what he or she has to say about my situation.

Afib for me is absolutely unmistakable with racing pulse and a wild, terrifying irregularity I have heard described as “kittens playing roughly in your chest.” Hard for me to imagine having an AFib event without immediately knowing it, and it would definitely awaken me if it occurred while sleeping.

Mine feels like large fish flopping around 🙂

I think a second opinion is a good idea. Some people on another forum (I will send you a private message) say that beta blockers are not a good choice. Diltiazem is a calcium channel blocker.

I tried a beta blocker for heart palpitations before menopause, years ago, and could not tolerate. I have low blood pressure and could not feel my arms! Also woozy.

Sent you a private message @riverpark!

Hi bjanderson, I had my first Afib event in Jan 2022 and so far not any more. An Echocardiogram showed I had 10-15% ejection fraction, severe mitral valve regurgitation, and moderate tricuspid so I was interested to see you had both valves repaired. The cardiologist I saw on a recent ER stay was just interested in putting me on meds and did not want to discuss the valves. It is my understanding (self educated online) that the ejection fraction can be improved by having these valves repaired. Did your EF change? I have also read about a Mitral clip that can be attached to the valve during a catheterization/angiogram, which means no open heart surgery. I see the cardiology team at UC Davis in Sacramento soon so maybe some of my questions will be answered. Good Luck to you in your recovery.

Thanks dalous! My surgery went great and I’m feeling good. My EF increased from 50ish to 64. I have heart failure
with preserved ejection factor so my EF
has not been very low. My surgeon, on video, says it’s important to ask your Dr. how many valve repairs or replacements he/she has performed. My surgeon performs about 300+ per year. The more the better. I was worried about my surgery but it went very well. I haven’t heard about the mitral clip. Interesting!
Keep us informed as to what you find out! Good luck!!