Very intermittent and very short afib, then sinus rhythm

[Dippitydo]

8 years ago I had an ablation for a-flutter. In last 6 months, have had pafib, usually about once every 2nd or 3rd week. Each episode last about an hour, then returns to normal sinus rhythm. Does this sound familiar, and does it get worse? Am on xeralto 20mg. This is very intermittent and very brief.

[CDreamer]

PAF can be be very infrequent - my first episodes were years apart - and my heart usually converted to NSR within a few hours and because of that I didn’t go see a doctor for about 3-4 years. Then episodes started to become more frequent and last longer and be a lot more symptomatic and that seems to a familiar pattern to many. By the time I was having episodes every month or so I was seeking treatment as they started to disrupt my work, my sports and my social life.

There is no typical pattern to AF - it can be random - it can suddenly start and you can be in AF for short or long periods or not convert to NSR and need to be converted through intervention. Some find certain triggers - lying prone so wake in the night in AF, exercising is another and then others find those things help them to convert back to NSR. Certain foods and drinks can be triggers as can certain lifestyle choices - especially binge drinking, drugs, high BMI, not exercising etc etc.

Underlying conditions such as Thyroid disease, diabetes, cardio vascular disease or other heart dysfunctions may also cause AF and if well controlled the AF may disappear.

If you haven’t already may I suggest that you go to the post Useful links for Newbies and Oldies which is a Pinned Post and directs you to Atrial Fibrillation site with lots of information about possible treatments.

The general medical view is that 1st line treatment is anticoagulation as a prophylactic treatment against stroke and I see you are already taking that, followed by rate control but a lot depends upon what your heart rate is when in AF. If lower than 120 then normally no treatment however anything over 120 is normally treated.

All other options, in the UK, are considered to be to improve quality of life - QOL as AF can be quite disabling - but everyone differs - some don’t even know they have AF whilst others cannot function.

Any questions or queries then do come back to ask as this is a well informed and knowledgable and very supportive group of people.

Hope that helps, best wishes CD.

[lixaian in reply to CDreamer]

HI CDreamer,

I have Chronic Hodgkin's Lymphoma cancer, a glandular cancer that reduces ones immunity. I have not let it affect my life but I now have a " Moderately" enlarged spleen yet my consultant says he is impressed how fit and well I am. I do run every day and do intense work outs in my home gym [my daughter calls it Dads pain shed] any way, to day on my usual morning run I could feel by heart pounding in my chest like a sledge hammer, I started to slow down then got angry with myself and ran harder. A mile further on I had to stop due to lack of breath, yet at this point my heart felt fine and the pain had gone, but! the lack of breath was awful, I was breathing in to maximum but to no affect. I took my pulse which was 52ppm but it seemed as if it missed a beat every 4 or 5 beats, 5 minutes later I felt well enough to proceed but just walking pomace, very strange. I am now home and relaxed and feel fine but this episode has rattled me, has any one else suffered this and could this be my first PAF.

[CDreamer in reply to lixaian]

Please do not push yourself, especially in these times. AF can be helped by exercise but can also be triggered by overdoing things physically & especially by emotion & stress so getting angry with yourself won’t help. Be compassionate to your body, listen to the communications - breathless so you can’t run & talk means- slow down & recover.

Take especial care in these times as the last place you would want to go is hospital. Best wishes CD.

[lixaian in reply to CDreamer]

Hi CDreamer,

Thank you for your advice, your absolutely right and it is the advice I would have given to my guys when teaching combat fitness but! my trouble is I cant accept weakness in myself and stupid as it is, when I feel weak I wont give in and push harder. I spoke to my younger brother yesterday who is a consultant to the NHS, he is exactly the same as me and won't give in even though he and I know its wrong. we were both career soldiers with the attitude " Pain is the next best thing to pleasure" and " If one feels pain it shows you are alive" to some degree stupid philosophies but its the nature of the beast Mind this morning [due to my daughter threatening to cut my legs off]

I walked briskly around my normal running rout, though I admit I did do a couple of sprints. I couldn't do more than walk as Jayne knows how long I usually take as she waits until I get home to ensure I take my medication. But that said I will be seeing my Dr on the 2/4/20 and will discuss this strange Afib my heart seems to have a mind of its own but the meds help a little.

[CDreamer in reply to lixaian]

Having counseled many soldiers- I am very familiar with the mindset but living with AF is a marathon not a sprint and the only winners are the ones who survive, especially in these times - physical stress will lower your immune response. This crisis is also a call for us to change and only you can heal you.

Only person I ever knew who died from AF - ex-para who kept on pushing through the pain.

That energy archetype is required for physical battle - The Warrior - but every archetype has a shadow - used wisely this energy WILL see you through - be reckless and it may not. Best wishes.

[lixaian in reply to CDreamer]

HI, CDreamer,

Well I am 77 [don't look it, or feel it so I am told} and will never give in and if I die pushing myself " I did it my way" I , like you have counselled soldiers and all that you say is spot on. We do need to handle our health sensibly. I just find it difficult to accept my medical condition but do listen to medical advice. Afib to me is worse than my cancer but the meds are helping including my blood thinners and this site.