Which came first?

[Jollies]

Just been to see my EP. So my diagnosis is Af and cardiomyopathy. EP thinks that I am one of the 5% of people where af leads to rate related cardiomyopathy (as does my cardiologist) he also says that cardiomyopathy can lead to AF so it is a chicken and egg situation. A care plan though is now in place. Cardioversion in 4 weeks to hopefully get me back in nsr ( previous cardioversion and slozem has not achieved this) and on the list for ablation which will be done under general anaesthetic. Then hopefully I can say goodbye to the amiodarone!

[BobD Volunteer]

Cardiomyopathy is quite a common side affect of AF as the fibrillation causes the muscles in the atria to stiffen and enlarge. My understanding is that in many cases this is reversible once the AF has been stopped. Good luck with the ablation.

Bob

[Polski in reply to BobD]

So how does one reverse it, please?

[Offcut in reply to Polski]

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con... Might be of interest.

If the problem that cuased the cardiomyopathy was removed then in theory the problem should allow the muscles/vein/arteries to relax and repair? This would depend on the amount of damage caused by the problem, fitness and a few other things like length of time it was untreated.

Be Well

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Polski]

It happens naturally once the AF is gone such as after ablation in many cases. That always assuming that the CM was caused by the AF and not the other way round.

[Polski]

Thank you - that gives me more to think about!

[Barb1]

I know that my AF led to DCM, as I had an irregular heartbeat and palpitations years before my heart enlarged. I had a chest x-ray for a VSO placement in 2008 which was fine. In 2009 I had another chest x-ray due to a fall and there it was enlarged heart. Followed by ECG showing AF.

[Barb1 in reply to Barb1]

Medication returned my heart to normal size but not normal function. I am still in AF.

[Jollies]

Thank you for this. My EP seems to feel that once the heart returns to

NSR it will give the heart a chance to rest and repair itself. My ablation will be under general anaesthetic .

[excalibur]

My AF was concurrent with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). My consultant at Harefield declined to say which had occurred first and put the original cause down to a virus although there was no conclusive proof of this. 12+ years later the DCM has disappeared as a result of drugs and exercise, but after 5 cardioversions and long periods of NSR,one of which lasted 4+years, I'm back in permanent AF, though it doesn't affect my quality of life.

Hope the ablation works for you - I've considered having one, but so far haven't gone down that route.

Lance