Covid and AFib Connection?

Posted by cece55 @cece55, Oct 8, 2021

Hello Everyone,

I am curious and would like to ask this group a question. I have AFib but had not had an event for over a year except for last November. In early February of this year I took the Phizer Vaccine for Covid and had several Afib events with one lasting over a month even with cardioversion. I ended up having an ablation in May and the electrophysiologist found an enlarged and scarred atrium.

I have been doing well and am still on Flecainade, Metoporal and Eliquis. He is about to take the Flecainade away. It is time for my booster shot and I am scared that it will put me into Afib again. My Electrophysiologist and Cardiologist at Mayo said they don't feel that the vaccine had anything to do with my Afib events starting up again.

Has anyone here experienced this? I am debating whether or not to cancel my appointment next week or just take the shot. My doctors said it is better to take the booster than to get Covid.

Thoughts?

Thank You...Blessings to all of you during this trying time. CeCe55

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

Just weighing in here about the booster. My cardiologist had mentioned she has heard reports from her patients that the booster, more than the initial vaccinations, can trigger PVCs. I was wary but went ahead and got the Moderna booster this week anyway. Happy to report no extra PVCs (beyond those I might normally have!) I know it's hard to draw conclusions from anecdotal stories, but I myself find comfort in reading about individual peoples' experiences, so I hope this reassures someone reading this. Aside from a slightly sore arm and shoulder, I feel great!

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@josephine2010

Thank you for this valuable info. It is quite reassuring. I agree that catching covid will be more troublesome than the vaccine. I am having the booster on the 14.

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Actually; having had both--I can honestly say that Afib was much worse--- Covid was not a problem at all--have had worse colds

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@windyshores

The myocarditits has been mostly or all young men, and mild. It is rare. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Post-vaccine-myocarditis-in-young-people-is-rare-16679450.php

Sorry about your afib and flutters. I think COVID would cause you more problems than the vaccine.

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You "think Covid would cause you more problems"---I KNOW that it didn't--having endured both. Ended up in the ER a couple times due to Afib after the vaccines. All I had with Covid was a runny nose and a mild cough for a couple days.

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@warbru

You "think Covid would cause you more problems"---I KNOW that it didn't--having endured both. Ended up in the ER a couple times due to Afib after the vaccines. All I had with Covid was a runny nose and a mild cough for a couple days.

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Did you end up in the ER after two vaccines? Was it clearly tied to vaccines? Do you normally have episodes, apart from vaccines? Good for people to know.

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@windyshores

Did you end up in the ER after two vaccines? Was it clearly tied to vaccines? Do you normally have episodes, apart from vaccines? Good for people to know.

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Prior to the vaccine I had one episode per year for three years. Went to the ER at first episode because I had no idea what was happening. That was when I was diagnosed with A-Fib. The next two events, I would just double up on the Cardizem and return to NSR within 24 hours without going to the ER. Two weeks after the first shot, I went into A-fib-- for a week before going to the ER at which time I had my first Cardioversion since they couldn't get me back to NSR by medication. At follow up Dr appointment we discussed the possible link and of course there is no direct link and Cardiologist staff said they weren't aware of any connection. We did a heart cath to see if any other problems and all was fine. At follow up to the cath, Dr again said there was no known link so I went directly to get my second shot.

Two days after the second shot, I ended up in A-Fib for two weeks and could not get myself back to NSR so after speaking with Cardiologist, we scheduled another cardioversion as an out patient instead of going to the ER. Met with Electrophysiologist and scheduled an ablation. And as said earlier, of course no one is able to prove a direct link--- They also cannot disprove it. I do know a couple others who have experienced the same and of course know others with A-fib that saw no difference.

The symptoms after the shots were severe and the event lasted a long time versus very light symptoms and short duration It has been a week since he last Cardioversion and still in sinus rhythm however I do register somne PAC's once in awhile but that seems to be decreasing in frequency

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@warbru

Prior to the vaccine I had one episode per year for three years. Went to the ER at first episode because I had no idea what was happening. That was when I was diagnosed with A-Fib. The next two events, I would just double up on the Cardizem and return to NSR within 24 hours without going to the ER. Two weeks after the first shot, I went into A-fib-- for a week before going to the ER at which time I had my first Cardioversion since they couldn't get me back to NSR by medication. At follow up Dr appointment we discussed the possible link and of course there is no direct link and Cardiologist staff said they weren't aware of any connection. We did a heart cath to see if any other problems and all was fine. At follow up to the cath, Dr again said there was no known link so I went directly to get my second shot.

Two days after the second shot, I ended up in A-Fib for two weeks and could not get myself back to NSR so after speaking with Cardiologist, we scheduled another cardioversion as an out patient instead of going to the ER. Met with Electrophysiologist and scheduled an ablation. And as said earlier, of course no one is able to prove a direct link--- They also cannot disprove it. I do know a couple others who have experienced the same and of course know others with A-fib that saw no difference.

The symptoms after the shots were severe and the event lasted a long time versus very light symptoms and short duration It has been a week since he last Cardioversion and still in sinus rhythm however I do register somne PAC's once in awhile but that seems to be decreasing in frequency

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That is pretty convincing. I am curious what your usual triggers or, for the more infrequent past episodes. Anything you can relate to the vaccines? Did you report these events?

I also have an episode about once a year, with pulse 180-200 and low bp so I always end up in ER because diltiazem further lowers bp. I had no heart issues with vaccines but had some other inflammatory reactions.

Tomorrow I have a flu vaccine. Hope that doesn't cause problems!

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@warbru

Actually; having had both--I can honestly say that Afib was much worse--- Covid was not a problem at all--have had worse colds

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Thank you for this comment. I must admit I had quite bad Afib after the first shot too. Most medical professionals drum in your head that having covid will be worse and your case clearly disproves this. I will be going to have this booster with understandable apprehension, I have blood pressure issues and am diabetic and I am considered high risk. If given the choice, I would obviously not have the booster, I guess time will tell........

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@josephine2010

Thank you for this comment. I must admit I had quite bad Afib after the first shot too. Most medical professionals drum in your head that having covid will be worse and your case clearly disproves this. I will be going to have this booster with understandable apprehension, I have blood pressure issues and am diabetic and I am considered high risk. If given the choice, I would obviously not have the booster, I guess time will tell........

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Best of luck to you. I had a-fib two weeks after my second Moderna shot and had never previously had a-fib. I was afraid to get my booster but did it anyway. While this is anecdotal, it’s been three weeks since my booster and I’ve been fine. A-fib was scary because I didn’t know what was going on initially, I am praying for everyone here on this thread (whether they get the vax/booster or not) because it is so scary. I pray for those who get the booster so they don’t have significant side effects and I pray for us all that we don’t get Covid. It is nice to have a place to share our concerns and our experiences.

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I had palpitations after the flu shot, but not the COVID one!

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I started having Afib within a week or so of receiving my Moderna Covid booster vaccine. I'm now on twice a day Metoporal and Eliquis. My pulse had always been in the low 50's as I've done cardiovascular exercise for most of my adult life without issue and never recall my heart rate above 140. I now find myself incapable of exercising on the elliptical machine as my heart rate often spikes above 155 and I begin feeling light headed (vertigo). My standing heart rate is now much higher and both my rate and rhythm are messed up. Three EKG's have confirmed I'm in Afib. My life has changed as strenuous activity is out of the question. I get tired just walking up steps. I'm under the care of a cardiologist and have a cardio version scheduled for December 21st. If this doesn't get my heart back to sinus rhythm I'll have no choice but to undergo next steps which involve more invasive surgery. Sure wish the FDA would have found this in Phase III human trials and warned us all this would happen.

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