Afib for different reasons

[Batbara]

Just wondering if anyone was diagnosed with afib brought on by other health conditions such as, low thyroid, or other deficiencies. If so, how was your afib treated.

Thanks, barbara

[BobD Volunteer]

The treatment is not dependent on what may have brought the AF on in the first place. One huge problem is that there are few commonalities in the condition and triggers may or may not be pertinent. To have AF you need a pre-disposition which could be genetic or it could result from damage to the heart either from over exercise or even surgery. Thyroid problems can make the heart work harder which may result in AF starting but as I said unless the drugs proposed are contra indicated there would be no significant changes in treatment. Sorting out any thyroid problems may reduce AF events.

[Jason1971]

I agree with Bob Barbara. I developed thyroid issues after being on Amiodarone which caused me to have many episodes. My thyroid is more or less back to normal and my episodes are not as frequent, but still present.

[Hidden]

Hi Batbara,I was taken ill,Oct 2012 and had different tests done over the next few months,before I was diagnosed with irregular heart beat and AF,I was diagnosed with duerdenal ulcer and hiatus hernia,whether any of these had any thing to do with the other I don,t know and I would guess neither would the Dr.

[jennydog]

A friend of mine was recently refered to a personal trainer at a gymnasium. The trainer said that he dealt with cancer patients who had AF as a result of their cancer treatment. This is of particular interest to me as it was discovered that I had fibrosis when I had an ablation. I had very aggressive radiotherapy on my left shoulder 25 years ago and this has resulted in significant damage and oedema. I have to question if this is the reason for the fibrosis and the AF.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to jennydog]

Interesting Jenny. Radiotherapy does a lot of damage internally but you sometimes have to accept some negatives in order to still be there to suffer them. My bladder is super sensitive since my radiotherapy and I have seen the inside on camera and it looks like a map of the Nile delta! I also often wonder if my sciatica might be from the same cause since they irradiated my whole midrift area as the cancer had already got out of my prostate. Bottom line is I wake up every morning which otherwise may not have so a good trade off.

Bob

[Pdotg]

I had radioactive iodine for an overactive thyroid many years ago, am now treated for an underactive thyroid, but I've been told there is no connection between my thyroid problems and AF.

[Hidden]

My husband was diagnosed with AF after a minor heart attack a few years ago and whilst undergoing tests it was discovered that he had hereditary haemochromatisis, an iron overload condition where the body stores all the iron it takes in. The surplus ferritin fills the various organs and when the heart is full it can trigger AF. The high level was also thought to prevent the effectivness of a couple of cardio versions. Since the iron level has been controlled through treatment, although my husband still has permanent AF, he doesn't feel the effects so much and has now settled well on warfarin therapy.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

We had a chap on the old forum with the same condition and apparently AF is a known consequence of it. Doctors seldom look for it but it does appear a little more common than they think.

[Hidden]

I also had radio iodine treatment sixteen years ago for an overactive thyroid gland (Graves Disease) but not sure if this is why I have AF now or not.

[Hidden]

Mine seems to have been caused by overmedication of levothyroxine (Hashimotos thyroiditis, aka low thyroid). I was always just in the hyperthyroid level because less med had me too low.

Carole

[Batbara]

Thank you good folks for all your replies. I m on this new journey, and any information is always helpful. I m thinking about going to a endocrinologist for starters. I went to a electrophysiologist yesterday, and he wants me to go on blood thinners. Th problem in having is that, I have stage 3 kidney disease. I have read that some of the newer drugs like pradaxa, can cause more problems for people people with kidney disfunction. I have been put on a beta blocker( metropolol), and boy, oh boy, really having to deal with unpleasant side effects. Guess everything is a trade off. Anyway, thanks again. Wishing everyone good health.

Barbara

[Batbara]

Thank you good folks for all your replies. I m on this new journey, and any information is always helpful. I m thinking about going to a endocrinologist for starters. I went to a electrophysiologist yesterday, and he wants me to go on blood thinners. Th problem in having is that, I have stage 3 kidney disease. I have read that some of the newer drugs like pradaxa, can cause more problems for people people with kidney disfunction. I have been put on a beta blocker( metropolol), and boy, oh boy, really having to deal with unpleasant side effects. Guess everything is a trade off. Anyway, thanks again. Wishing everyone good health.

Barbara