Heart Failure?

[Euve]

Has anyone in the forum developed heart failure because of afib, or was told that it is a possibility? Thank you

[Hidden]

I have been told just the opposite by several doctors - that AFIB will NOT cause any problems. Even was told that strokes are not even elevated with AFIB, per recent studies. Here is some info on AFIB that you might find useful:

After 9 years of trying different foods and logging EVERYTHING I ate, I found sugar was the culprit. Doctors ignore this - there is no money in telling patients to eat less sugar. Each person has a different tolerance - and it changes as you get older, so you need to count every gram of sugar you eat every day (including natural sugars in fruits, etc.). My tolerance level was 190 grams of sugar per day 8 years ago - it was 85 a year and a half ago, and 60 grams today, so AFIB episodes are more frequent and last longer. If you keep your intake of sugar below your tolerance level your AFIB will not happen again. It's not the food - it's the sugar IN the food that's causing your problems. Try it and you will see - should only take you 3 or 4 months of trial-and-error to find your tolerance level. And for the record - ALL sugars are treated the same (honey, refined, agave, natural sugars in fruits, etc.). I successfully triggered AFIB by eating a bunch of plums and peaches one day.

Also, in addition to sugar, if you are dehydrated - this will trigger AFIB as well. It seems (but I have no proof of this) that a little uptick of salt in your blood is being treated the same as an uptick of sugar - both cause AFIB episodes. Good luck! - Rick Hyer ([e-mail], 636-528-4840).

[BobD Volunteer]

I think it is true to say that if your AF is controlled (ie your rate is not overly high ) and there are no other co-morbidities then there is no reason to think that heart failure will result . Most people with well controlled AF live long lives with little problem. It is not the AF which causes the issues it is the company it keeps and this goes for stroke risk as well which is why we have CHADSVASC to help us estimate that risk.

Equally, many people with heart failure do not have AF and whilst they may co -exist they are not dependent on each other.

[Euve in reply to BobD]

My afib comes every other day it lasts anywhere from 4 to 6 hours my heart goes up to 125 then settles down and stayed in the high nineties but it does come often

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Euve]

It does not sound as if you have found the right mix of drugs yet so please continue to push your doctor(s) and or see an EP to establish a new treatment plan.

[Euve in reply to BobD]

He wants to do an ablation it's a quality of life issue thank you

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Euve]

Go for it. All treatment is only about QOL anyway.

[Euve in reply to BobD]

Unless things progress to persistent or chronic afib then success rate on ablation will be less, what do you do to control your AFIb?

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Euve]

Had three ablations = no AF since 2008 but do have other arrhythmias from time to time.

[Euve in reply to BobD]

Congrats, And many people I know, take a blood thinner and live with it

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Euve]

Never stop anticoagulation (Not blood thinners please. ...they don't!) Ablation does not remove stroke risk.

[Euve in reply to BobD]

Myv Doc wants to do it,nervous uses general anesthesia and I have sleep apnea

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Euve]

As I have said before what has that got to do with it. No problem.

[Buffafly in reply to Euve]

Why do you think sleep apnoea is relevant? What difference do you think it will make?

[bennie06]

YES. In my case my Heart Failure was diagnosed " in the context of atrial fibrillation". My DC conversion only lasted a week so followed by Bisoprolol and Amiodarone and a successfull DC conversion. Still on Bisoprolol and still AF free and with an improved ejection fraction of 73% i am a happy bunny and am comfortable with my quality of life with no planned life style changes.

Sincere Good Luck for your recovery.

[Euve in reply to bennie06]

What conversion method was used? Was the heart failure because of the prolonged bouts of afib what triggered the heart failure?

[bennie06 in reply to Euve]

I had a DCCV ( direct current conversion) .

What caused the heart failure is a mystery. Perhaps i had AFIB without knowing. I became aware initially via a routine "mot". Very fast heart rate. GP said "hospital" so off i went. Cocktail of meds and sent home. Week later very very short of breath, feeling of "things not right", phoned ambulance, hospital, more meds; DCCV and meds and all good. My trigger( if such things exist) in my opionion were multiple simultaneous major stress "events". The only current stress i have currently is preventing my dog licking her wound following surgery. A mere bagatelle!

Stay positive and have confidence and trust in your medical professionals.

Good Luck.

[etheral]

I went into Acute Congestive heart failure because of afib lowering my ejection fraction to 24%. I had an MI 12 yrs ago a d subsequent EF was about 39%. I was asymptomatic until I went into afib about 2 yrs ago. Fortunately my afib was converted to NSR with Tikosyn (dofetilide) and I have been heart failure and arrhythmia free ever since. So no doubt, if you're EF is already borderline, afib can push you into CHF.

[Barb1]

Yes, I developed Dilated Cardiomyopathy before I knew I had AF. But on meds and after ablations I now just have mild heart failure.

[Ivan_the_Terrible]

I am at the beginning of the AFib pathway and don't want to go down it without good reason. I'm 64, persistent AFib was diagnosed through an unsolicited check up and apart from having less energy, which I'm sure is down to the AFib, don't experience any other discomfort. Why bother doing anything at the moment? Until a month ago 'watchful waiting' was not recommended for certain protate cancer patients, now it is' How I am I to know that in a year's time watchful waiting wouldn't be suggested for me? So you have any more info on the long term consequences of untreated AFib I'd be very glad to hear it.

[Hidden in reply to Ivan_the_Terrible]

A (younger) heart doctor told me a week ago that living with AFIB is OK. He said recent studies showed NO increase of stroke with AFIB - that people had strokes at the same rates while in between AFIB episodes as when they were having AFIB episodes. The doctor simply stated that your risk of stroke increases with age only, not AFIB, per the newer studies. I hope he is right. However, you might not want to live with the side effects of AFIB - lower energy, less or no sex, lightheadedness, harder to exercise - might have to give up some exercises/sports, etc.

[Ivan_the_Terrible in reply to Hidden]

Only just seen this, thanks.

[gixxerboy]

l was told the same thing and now l'm in heart failure

[Ivan_the_Terrible in reply to gixxerboy]

Only just seen this. Looks like living with AFib may work for some and not for others and that if you do try to live with it you need to keep a close eye on things.