Chest and backpain

[bmandel]

After a year without an AFib attack they have started to come back. Heart rate 160 but this time with a lot of pain. Is anyone else experiencing pain ?

[Dawsonmackay]

Need more information. Did you have an ablation a year ago? Did they stop on their own? What type of prescription are you taking? Not taking any beta blocker? Anti-coagulant???

[jeanjeannie50]

I've never experienced pain, when having an attack of AF, but some members on on this site do. If I had pain and a persistent heart rate of 160 I would be calling for an ambulance, or at the very least some urgent advice.

How are you now?

Jean

[sarniacherie in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I agree with you. My GP and cardiologist both say if there is any pain with AF get yourself to A&E.

[meadfoot]

I always have chest pain with af now, but I also have svt and ridiculous heart rates of 200 plus can reach almost 300 recorded in hospital so it's to be expected then and that pain is excruciating.

I get the crushing pain in my chest, jaw, neck, arm and when it gets in the upper 200s then I am put on Intravenous morphine and the pain is everywhere even in the soles of my feet and calves.

I can get chest pain at 120/130 beats per minute. Things changed pain wise substantially for me when svt became an arrhythmia alongside the Afib.

Best get checked out , best wishes.

[7164 in reply to meadfoot]

Meadfoot

That is terrible

Why not risk the ablation

I feel for you

[meadfoot in reply to 7164]

Thank you. About six years ago I was on the ablation list locally and sought a second opinion on my condition from a top London cardiologist who I trust implicitly. He did an EP study to see where my rogue electrical issues were and decided that at that time, in his expert opinion, ablation was premature.

I continue to see him or one of his team regularly and am kept an eye on ongoing with various tests as appropriate. One day he will decide it's the right time and I am happy to follow his lead at that point. As one of his colleagues said - ablation, like marriage is not to be entered into lightly. I am confident when it's necessary in his opinion it will be undertaken. In the meantime I do all I can to offset episodes and triggers like stress, certain foods etc etc. Best wishes on your af journey.

[sotolol in reply to meadfoot]

How do you avoid stress?? Jo

[meadfoot in reply to sotolol]

I don't all I can do is pick up on it and try to calm down when I feel it creeping on as I know it's going to trigger an episode. It's a constant balancing act to try to keep calm and not let things get at me. I fail more than the times I achieve and it's such hard work but I know if I don't calm myself then I will be caught in the storm of an arrhythmia event.

Sometimes it works others it just doesn't, so I try to talk myself down or suffer the consequences. I am always aware of what I eat and drink and know the foods and beverages which set my heart off on one and always eat small meal as gastric issues is a huge trigger for me.

[sotolol in reply to meadfoot]

Thank you. Makes sense as I am a stressed type person and find it hard. But yes I will try the calming yourself down. I’ll slap my self around the face and tell myself to get a grip. Bless you. Jo

[Hidden in reply to meadfoot]

Does an “EP study” basically mean that they place catheters to determine where the irregular rhythm is coming from (i.e. the same procedure as an ablation but without the actual burning/freezing of the rogue tissue)?

[meadfoot in reply to Hidden]

Yes that was the plan for me unfortunately no matter what they threw at me probe and drug wise my heart just would not oblige. Weird as something as simple as swallowing a mouthful of food can trigger a nasty episode on occasions. Oh the vagaries of this horrid condition.

[Bambi65]

Yes, the pain use to happen around 140-150, Now,a year later it only hurts when Im in the upper 180-190's. Yeah, It HURTS.

[7164 in reply to Bambi65]

Have you had an ablation ?

[Bambi65 in reply to 7164]

OH HELL NO!!!! Wouldnt put my body through something like that, with only a 50% chance, of "temporarily" stopping but not curing. Didnt make sense to me that people go in for 2, 3, 4 and more ablations. Naw, I would never have one. Although I had considered it this past year and actually had one scheduled, but 2 weeks before I cancelled everything and have been on the holistic approach and happy with the results

[Hidden in reply to Bambi65]

It should be higher than 50% even on a single procedure! See the section headed “Success rates...” at the University of Michigan:

umcvc.org/conditions-treatm...

[Bambi65 in reply to Hidden]

wow, the EP here said its 50% the first time and the second time its higher. Michigan's is much higher success rates, both first and 2nd time.. Are you in that area and did you have one?

[Hidden in reply to Bambi65]

I’m in the UK. I’ve been told that success rate depends on the type of AF (a first ablation for PAF is more likely to be successful than one for permanent AF) and may be affected by any other heart conditions the patient has. A retired US cardiologist told me, via a friend, that what is crucial is that the individual carrying out the procedure has done it hundreds of times (preferably with the same team)- skill matters a lot in his procedure. Don’t agree to be ablated by someone who is just starting out. I’m not sure why you were given the 50% figure- that is definitely considerably lower than the average. Michigan looks like a good bet- if I was

in the US it’s the sort of place I would choose.

[sweetiepye in reply to Hidden]

I have had two ablations at the University of Michigan under Dr Thomas Crawford. I had six years afib free after the first and three years and going after the second. I found Dr. Crawford by researching success rates in the U, S. As I live in Michigan, he was easily available . I see a local Cardiologist as needed and I see Dr. Crawford every six months, going down to every twelve months after the first year. He also accepts by Kardia printouts if I have a concern. The advances in ablation happen rapidly , having one now is more likely to be successful than ever before if you do your homework. Pam

[Bambi65 in reply to Hidden]

I agree with you 100%. For studies that give such a high percentage of success, what makes the big difference is they claim 70% for the first year? or 2nd yr? or 3 years? Much depends on how long the patience are followed. Not many docs or hospitals follow patients for more than 6 months to a year. So with that in minds, the "success rates" may not be judge accurately. Its all relevant.

Either way, IF, I considered this an option, I would go with someone with years of experience. Being married to a surgeon, I do have a slight advantage. Needless to say our discussions on medical treatments can be rather "Oppositional", as Im much more of a holistic person.

[cuore in reply to Bambi65]

So, you continue to be paroxysmal and never went into persistent. How long were your episodes?

[Bambi65 in reply to cuore]

anywhere from 2-30 hours, averaging about 10 hrs each time, which occurs about 2x -3x a week. (I have a Kardia) Although, I have gone 7 and then 8 continuous days without the monster rearing its head. I have an appointment book that I mark and highlight in yellow for any Afib day... A-17 means I was in Afib for 17 hours. Ive even totaled up each event and time for the entire month. (Yes, I am retired in case you were wondering.)

Ive done this for the last year so I have a fairly good idea how often, how long and is there increases or decreases, what transpired on those times. All of which show just how damn random, inconsistent, and non typical triggers this episodes are. For a few months I even tried logging food and activity looking for any connection, NADA.

[Eirecara]

Seek medical advice promptly ☘️

[Hidden]

I get pain when I'm also stressed about the AF. If it carries on, I'd call the doc.

[Buffafly]

Hi, how are you now?

[Dawsonmackay]

BMandel: Are you alright? Please, let us know at your convenience.

[DesertDeuces]

I do occasionally get back pain from my Afib. It feels like a pounding both front and back. One way I deal with it is to say to myself, 'there goes that silly heart again!' and I try to relax and laugh it off. It does help me, but I'm certainly not recommending it to you. Just wanted to share because I used to be very frightened of my heart condition until I got help here on this forum. Now, thanks to the members here, I am able to feel a bit more at ease and I stopped bothering my daughters about what song to select if something happens to me. I can now look forward to some good times in the future!

[Polly159]

First year and a half I had episodes of up to 4 hours mostly with chest pain going into neck/throat face. Have been on amiodarone for 4 months which has cut length of episodes to 20 mins/1 hour max usually and no pain now. During that year and a half I also had 'residual pain' - ache around heart area/back. As they say, a) everyone is different b) if in doubt, check it out with GP etc

Take care

[jeanjeannie50]

BMandel can you please let us know how you are now please. Just a little worried as no response at all.

Best wishes

Jean

[bmandel]

I thank everyone who replied to my post. I had two ablation for one for a-flutter and the other Afib. In November of last year I went in for a caridoversion and was put on Sotalol no afib until the other night. Two nights in a row had back pain and chest pain with an elevated heart rate. That was Thursday and Friday. No problem since those episodes.