IN AFIB FOR MORE THAN 9 HOURS. For 1st time.

[Hugo40]

It started off at 07.30am as I went to get out of bed after waking.

According to KARDIA it was Tachycardia at 165bpm. Blood pressure 178/80

Went RESULTS PROFOUND TACHYCARDIA Your heart rate is greater than normal. This is known as a tachycardia, and may may be caused by anxiety, stress or exertion. It may also be indicative of an abnormality. Because your heart rate is much faster than "normal" we would advise seeking medical advice.

ABNORMAL ATRIAL RHYTHM Your heart is showing occasional extra beats that originate in the top part of the heart but not from the normal part of the heart that normally controls the rhythm. This can be normal, but If you have symptoms of any sort that concern you should consult a medical professional.

NO VENTRICULAR ECTOPICS OBSERVED A ventricular ectopic (VE) is an extra beat originating in the bottom part of the heart. You have none which is completely normal.

NO ATRIAL ECTOPICS OBSERVED A atrial ectopic (AE) is an extra beat originating in the top part of the heart. You have none which is completely normal.

NORMAL QRS PATTERN The QRS morphology indicates how the bottom part of the heart (ventricles) contract. You are within normal limits

SYMPTOMS AT TIME OF RECORDING No symptoms

CURRENT EVENT Measured rate: 165bpm

7:51:49 AM - 5 div/sec, 2 div/mV

7:51:59 AM - 5 div/sec, 2 div/mV

After about 30min. It went into AFib at 109bpm - 140bpm.

Blood pressure still quite good.

Medication: Metoprorol 25mg x 3 / day. Ramapril 1.5mg. Clopidogral 75mg. Apixaban 2 x 5mg as from today instead of Rivaroxaban.

Not sure if I should have gone to A&E. But they worry me at A&E when they play about with existing meds.

Hugo40

[BobD Volunteer]

If you go to A and E always ask for copies or any ECGs. A twelve lead ECG will always show more than Kardia which may be helpful to your medical team.

[jeanjeannie50]

Are you still in AF/tachycardia and what is your heart rate now?

[Hugo40 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi jeanjeannie50

Thanks for getting back.

76bpm at present. Kardia says 91bpm Possible Atrial.

My cardiologist is on holiday but before he went he suggested I may need Ablation, at that time I was getting off with just a few bursts of PAF. I think he would be more inclined to strongly suggest Ablation now. I am also more inclined.

I must talk more to the AF family on here to get suggestions on Ablation. How does one select the Cardiologist to do it, etc etc..

Hugo40

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hugo40]

Hi Hugo

Your GP usually decides which EP you see, it's generally the nearest one, but of course if you know of one you'd particularly like to see you can tell your GP that. Perhaps put a post on here asking for recommendations in the area where you live. I've had three ablations and still have long periods of AF at times, none since my cardioversion in January though.

Have you tried the changing your diet route i.e. eating mostly plant based food and avoiding all artificial additives and sweeteners? Have you tried to see if taking magnesium will help your AF? Remember that as soon as you feel your heart starting to misbehave immediately start taking deep breaths, too late for that right now though.

It sounds as though you're heart rate may be going a little up and down at the moment. What is your normal heart rate?

Jean

[Hugo40 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Yes, Jean

my heart rate is up and down quite a lot. When I'm free of AF my resting heart rate is 50s 60s. With exercise I drive it up to maybe 120 but no higher.

I do have a healthy diet, Nuts, fruit & some serial breakfast. Lots of salads . I do like spicy but healthy stir-fries with lots of vegs peppers etc..

I confess to not having given up Coffee. Keep it down to one Americano/Latte/Day.

Hugo

[IanMK in reply to jeanjeannie50]

There is always an option of a private consultation (at least for an initial consultation) if you are in a position to do that if you do not want to limit your options to local EPs for any reason. I believe that the NHS presently allows you to nominate your preferred facility.

[Hugo40 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

kardi still says Possible Atrial, heart rate 91 min to 101.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hugo40]

My GP's surgery has an ECG machine, I think I'd try and get your heart rate checked if yours has one. You don't want to spend the Easter weekend wondering what's going on, if you go, take your Kardia along and let your GP see those results. My heart rate had been the same as yours 90-100 for a few months over the winter and was shocked back into rhythm by a cardioversion in January and I've been fine since.

Re your initial post here, I would possibly have rang my GP's surgery if I had a rate of 165bpm for a few hours and extra pills hadn't helped. I know they would say come right down and have an ECG, look at that and decide the next step which could have been going to A&E. Your 165 rate would have made me feel really ill, how did you feel?

How are you today?

Jean

[Hugo40 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks, I'm following your advice. My duty Dr is getting back about ECG.

Blood pressure this morning 93/65 pulse 76 to 65bpm. Felt stressed with anxiety yesterday but used Breathing control to try to ease it.

I came out of Afib sometime during the night. Think I had at least 20 hours of it.

I feel very tired this morning is it normal, was thinking of going to gym, but that may not be wise!.

Just had a talk to the Doctor. She felt that an ECG now would not show up anything worthwhile. I do feel more reassured after talking to her. She was good.

The cardioversion seems interesting, I suppose it's more useful if you are already in Afib Hope it carries on keeping you well & free of Afib.

Very grateful for your helpful input.

Hugo

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hugo40]

Yes, if your heart has now returned to it's normal rhythm an ECG will not show anything, next time get to them quickly just so the they can see what your heart is doing.

Drinking plenty of water may well bring your BP up a little - I was given that advice while in hospital with AF.

Your AF episode will have left you feeling drained, please don't consider the gym while you feel this way. Your heart has just gone back into rhythm and could so easily flip out again.

Stay well.

Jean

[Hugo40 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean,

You just triggered a memory. I've had an ectopic heart rate for quite some. My method of getting out of it was to run up and down the stairs a few time and/or doing some press-ups. My theory was that: If the main control signals were amplified then the interfering little buggers would get swamped out. It mostly worked. When I got taken to Galway Uni hospital last year, because a local clinic found I had a resting pulse rate of 170. They found the tell-tale signs of heart attack and kept me in for 4 days but it never repeated itself, they did many other heart tests. I was also monitored with a mobile transmitter to a control room. Boredom drove me to exercise in my room, the young Dr's used to come rushing in to see what was happening and asked me to please not do push-ups on their watch.

Leaves me wondering if I would flip back into Sinus Rhythm if I do some vigorous exercise. Bear in mind I don't recommend anybody else to do it.

Good wishes

Hugo

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hugo40]

That's a difficult one. I knew of a cyclist out with a club who raced to the top of a hill and when the others arrived there he was at the side of the road dead. It's always put me off exerting myself too much when in AF! However, I've heard of lots of other sporty types on here who exercise to get rid of their AF.

Jean

[CDreamer]

Just to pick up on both Jean’s & Ian’s comments - You have a right to ask to see any consultant you wish - provided a) your GP will write a referral to them for you - they have to have a good reason ie- believe a referral to that type of consultant is warranted & b) that consultant chooses to take you on. There inevitably will be a waiting list though and sometimes for many months.

Some GP’s will favour one consultant over another but at my surgery they just ask me who I want to see or just make a general referral to the local speciality clinic - and therein lies the difficulty for me as a control freak. I want to know who I am seeing, what is their training and experience and what are their outcome records (if it is an invasive procedure). I haven’t met any medical professional who has challenged me on this as this is what they would all do when they need attention.

Best wishes - CD

[Hugo40 in reply to CDreamer]

That's wonderful CDreamer,

You make me feel quite normal as an Xtrouble- shooting electrical engineer, used to getting my own way in whatever country. I fit that bill perfectly. Don't think we have a speciality clinic in Staffordshire.

Just not used to using my skills in the medical field. This is all so new and seems a bit of a minefield.

Good wishes

Hugo

[Hidden]

Try and get a proper ECG done whilst you are in AF, this could help you get to see an EP and then have an ablation

[Hugo40 in reply to Hidden]

Hi Mikee69

I was had in A&E AMU Ward in January during an AFib. There were some ECG's done.

I am sure they can be still accessed. Would they be satisfactory.

Hugo

[Hidden in reply to Hugo40]

I'm sure they will, but more is better it will show that it is a regular issue.

However, I can understand you not wanting to go through the hassle.

A good idea would be to save your abnormal Kardia readings, you can then show these at any consultations

All the best

Mike

[kitenski]

I have a fib and had an ablation 2 months ago. I still drink one coffee a day and my surgeon said that was fine. It's the old rule of everything in moderation I reckon.