Heart rate irregularly irregular

[julesp]

Can anyone explain what this means. Went to see my heart failure nurse and she said that my heart rate was 48bpm but was "irregularly irregular". This was the first time in a good few months it been like this and was just wondering what it meant.

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Julesp

It sounds like the very usual AF heartbeat when you are in AF.

My Vet described it best, she said she was told in training it sounds like a pairs of trainers in a tumble drier.

That's exactly what my heartbeat sounds like.

Be well

Ian

[BobD Volunteer]

Perfect description for AF.

[pottypete1 in reply to BobD]

Bob

I would have thought you would use my one which is

“AF is like sitting at a set of traffic lights with my car under me firing on only 3 cylinders”.

Pete

[BobD Volunteer in reply to pottypete1]

More noticeable than 11 out of 12. lol. I like either a bag of worms or a pair of trainers in the spin dryer.

[julesp]

Thanks guys. First episode again in months then by sounds of it. Strange thing is I was feeling ok apart from a little tired. None of the palpitations, need to p loads and the extreme breathlessness and chest pain which I always used to get. At least my cardiologist will have the letter for when I see him on 21st. Hopefully it was a one off.

[Drounding]

This reference may help:

heart.bmj.com/content/56/1/4

[DK81 in reply to Drounding]

I have read the text of your reference - thank you. I would not say my pulse is ever irregularly irregular, but I was diagnosed with paroxysmal AFib nevertheless. Everyone is different. What really matters is whether AFib is a more serious condition when the pulse is irregularly irregular. Maybe someone out there has a view about this matter.

[julesp]

I think it was also a bit of a surprise as before my ablation last July I was suffering quite badly with my af attacks so much so my trips to a&e and stays in hospital adjusting meds was endless. To not have the same symptoms is weird but a relief in a way.

[rosyG in reply to julesp]

seems likely that it has stopped most of the errant signals but you have healed a little allowing small amount through??

[RichMert]

Yes, as I understand it, fast irregular, slow irregular, still equals AF. I suspect that the slow irregular is the one that mostly goes unnoticed and untreated.

[pottypete1]

Mine was always medium rate anything between 70 & 120

[julesp]

Mine before my ablation was always between 44 sometimes going as high as nearly 200. Im seeing Heart Failure Nurse Monday so see what it is then.

[Nickibmibile]

Mine has been a regular irregular beat on and off for nearly 35 years now. I thought it hilarious when I was first told this. I've had my mitral valve replaced twice and I have a pacemaker but nothing has altered the regular irregularity of the beating. Before the pacemaker I was down to 33 bpm which strangely didn't seem to affect me, after it was fitted I was "programmed" to something like 75bpm but I had to go back as I felt like I was racing!! After going slow for so long it was a bit of a shock 😁