Hi :) New person here. Atrial Flutter after routine surgery.

[duhareluh]

Hello,

I have been lurking this community for the last hour or so and I am very happy to have found it.

I am a 26 year old woman who has always been very healthy. I went into hospital last week for a laparoscopy to remove an ovarian cyst. When I came out of surgery, my heart rate was 160 BPM for about 3 hours. They electrically shocked me 3 times to no avail.

I was given Metoprolol and kept in hospital for 3 days while they monitored me. In one instance my heart rate went from 80 to 170 in about 5 seconds. It was terrifying.

I've seen two cardiologists who have two different opinions. One believes it's Atrial Flutter, the other believes it's SVT.

I did a stress test 3 days after being released from hospital. It was awful. I could only walk for 6 minutes before my heart rate reached 180 and I was probably 30 seconds away from fainting. It took 2 hours for my heart rate to go back down. My BP was also 135/65 when it's typically around 100/60. I've been going to the gym 3x a week most of my adult life - I've never felt so unwell from physical activity.

After that they also put me on 50mg of Flecainide twice a day.

I guess I'm wondering if anyone has heard of AF or other heart conditions occurring post op (non-cardiac procedures)?

I've had about 4 episodes since the initial one. When they happen, I feel like I'm running high fever, can't stop shaking, and feel really disoriented. Do these symptoms resonate with anyone?

I tried leaving my apartment for the first time in 2 days yesterday just to get some breakfast. It's a 5 minute walk but I felt so faint that I had to sit down before I even got to the cafe. Could this be the AF/SVT or the meds?

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. This last week has been a whirlwind. xx

[BobD Volunteer]

Just to clarify one thing, AF generally refers to atrial fibrillation not flutter and PAF is paroxysmal AF meaning it comes and goes.. Flutter is usually AFl. AF is very irregular whilst flutter is a fast but regular beat.

It is not common but not impossible for these things to be triggered by surgery or illness such as virus etc because anything which causes inflammation in the body can affect the vagus nerve and this can set all sorts of problems off. With your heart racing it is quite common to feel ill and tired . Unfortunately many drugs produce symptoms almost worse than what they are trying to reduce so it is normal for several to be tried before as balance is found.

I recommend that you go to AF Association main website and read all you can as knowledge is power.

[Rellim296]

Hello duhareluh and welcome. What an unpleasant introduction to our world you have had! The thing about problems with the heart's electrics is that they are different for all of us and mine crept up on me very gradually over almost 30 years with a couple of unwelcome moments along the way. I was in my early forties when I had the first episode. You'll find there are quite a few forum members in their twenties and thirties. Significant steps forward have already been made in treatment of AFib and Flutter and I think prospects are good for you younger ones. Flecainide is a powerful tool. As Bob says, knowledge is power so do read up and ask questions.

[Hidden]

Hi duhareluh,

I did not acquire AF as a result of surgery. When PAF hit me I was an old bloke of 65, in Jan 2010. Initial symptoms were of a feeling of going down with flu. I had had two years or so of palpitations, prior to AF hitting me. At the time, successive ECG's failed to clock anything.

The day it all blew apart I was admitted to A & E with a heart rate of 160 bpm. Now I quote from the consultants letter ............. "showed atrial flutter with 2-1 block which deteriorated to atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular rate by the following day".

Also, " Left Atria (LA) was dilated at 5.1 cms with LA area 30.4 cm2 and the size of this LA would predispose me to AF in future"

In those early days I felt lethargic and breathless and indeed it used to take me 30 to 40 minutes to walk a distance I can now do in 10 to 15 minutes.

Metoprolol is of the beta blocker family of drugs ( I have Bisoprolol - same family ) and is used to treat high blood pressure, chest pain due to poor blood flow to the heart and an abnormally fast heart rate.... and other health issues. Common side effects include feeling tired and feeling faint. Do read the bit of paper in the packet as to side effects.

I recommend you check out as Bobd says, the AFA website as to the following definitions - atrial flutter, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, SVT .... but also 'Google' these terms and widen your knowledge.

May the force be with you.

John