A Different Session of AF. Woke UP Confused.

[Hugo40]

This evening I had a different experience during a threatening AFib session.

Dozed for approx. 30mins, as I am taking Clarithromycin 500mg Antibiotics for cough and Chest & Sinus infection. They are not agreeing with me very well. Constant bad copper taste and unsettled digestive system, constant tiredness weary, my last day on them tomorrow. For AFib I am on Metoprolol 50mg x 3 / day. Apixaban 5mg /Day. Ramipril 1.25/day.

I dozed for approx. 30min woke up quite confused and & not able to express myself verbally very well. Wondered if anybody else had this experience. Sent Results to Kardia for Analysis.

Best regards Hugo12

[Hidden]

Hi there,

I had a vaguely similar experience way back in Sept 2012.

Firstly though I should say that at the time I was not on any medication other than an anticoagulant, beta blocker and BP medication, oh! yes, and statins. I had no cold or other condition other than AF, which at the time was well controlled and at the time was about 2 and half years since original diagnosis.

The upshot was - transient global amnesia - or global transient amnesia, can't remember which way around.

My wife pieced together the events.

Here we go ......... woke up, got up, had a light breakfast and kicked the day into gear. Went and had a shower, came out, got dressed walked back into the lounge and suddenly stopped ......my wife looked up and asked if I was alright. I looked around me and said no! I don't know where I am nor do I know what I am doing or why I am here. I talked OK but was totally confused, really confused and she recalls a totally blank look on my face which was greyish in colour.

YET - another part of me told me I was in my own home and safe. I was familiar with my surroundings but was unsure of day or date. In a sense a mess.

Wife called paramedics who promptly attended, did all the cardiac checks and called for an ambulance who also promptly attended and carted me off ( more checks in ambulance) to the main nearby hospital stroke unit where I spent the day.

No stroke!

Discharged home and to the care of a consultant. Final diagnosis, this damn amnesia.

It has never ever repeated itself, nor does the consultant EVER expect it to. Nor have I had any memory loss - short term or long term, and I have total recall of my whole life.

So, that's the closest I can come to to your incident.

So the one question I have is how do you know you had a threatening episode of AF. Did this threat convert into full blown AF?

John

[Auriculaire in reply to Hidden]

This has been reported as a side effect of statins.

[Hugo40 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks careuny.

That is really helpful. I tend to feel & detect when an Episode of Afib is imminent. Also I use Kardia to confirm if I am sure and record it.

This attack passed after less than 30 minutes and left with a vacant feeling but with full Voice & Memory.

[jwsonoma]

Could have been a stroke despite anti coagulants. I'd go to the ER or see your Doc to be safe. My Mom' s stroke included symptoms like yours. Luckily she recovered over a period of a week. Good luck.

[Hugo40 in reply to jwsonoma]

Thanks jwsonoma, I recovered after 30 minutes. I will mention it to my cardiologist. Apart from that I will carry on as normal.

Hugo12

[Bagrat]

Sounds like it needs checking out but has the flavour of a transient ischaemic attack ( TIA or mini stroke) usually no lasting damage but very scary for you I would think.

[Hugo40 in reply to Bagrat]

Thanks Bagrat, yes I think you could be right. It mostly cleared up after 30mins but left me with an empty vacant feeling.

Hugo12

[CDreamer]

I had a TIA a few years ago - sounded very similar. I had vagueness/confusion, I smelled things that weren’t there (sensory hallucinations are a symptom), slight paralysis on left side of face (although I get that anyway with Myasthenia so very difficult to say whether TIA or Mg symptom). The symptoms dissipated within 8 hours but I was taken to the stroke ward and observed until I fully recovered, however, I was advised to have someone stay with me for 48 hours - had to happen when Hubble was away.

It was a neighbour, also a nurse, who spotted - ‘I wasn’t right’ and also said it looked different to how I usually look with Mg facial If

It took me about 48 hours to feel fully myself but no lasting damage. I had a head scan and there were 2 small lesions but my neurologist said everyone is allowed 1 small white spot for every decade you have lived so reckon I’m doing better than many!

Infections will exacerbate AF and the antibiotics will upset your digestion - kills all the gut flora so think about taking some probiotics for a few months.

I hope you are on anti-coagulants?

I also have this chest infection but got away without seeing the GP or getting antibiotics although still coughing, it’s improving day by day. Hope you feel better soon.

[Hugo40 in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks CDreaner for some more very enlightening information. Yes I take AXIBAN.

I got quite a shock, I could assemble what I wanted to say in my mind But could not find the words to say them. For example I could say my Wifes Name but could say no more. This frightened & shocked her of course. Thank God it started to improve after about 15/20 mins & was much better after 30mins.

We were bit worried about going to bed and sleeping. I know I should have called the Ambulance and got to hospital but I was getting better by the time reality clicked in.

Best regards

Hugo12

[CDreamer in reply to Hugo40]

Hindsight is a wonderful thing. If it happens again, do. That sounds very similar to my experience. Mine was some 3 years ago now and I haven’t experienced anything since nor suffered any noticeable after affects.

[dedeottie]

Hi Hugo. That does sound very like my TIA. In my case, I felt very confused and couldnt speak. I also had a visual migraine which confused the diagnosis but since I was having regular AF events the diagnosis was TIA. All symptoms had gone after 15 mins but I was very tired for a while. X