Do you know when you're having afib?

[1275]

I had afib for six months before an ablation in November 2016. In October I'd started using a CPAP machine. I also have a Pacemaker for bradycardia; it keeps track of any afib episodes, and I've had none since the ablation. The question is whether I should stay on the Xeralto, blood thinner to counter blood clots in case the afib returns. The doctors say patients can't tell if they are back in afib, so I might know only after the every three-month pacemaker querying. What do you think? Do you know when you're in afib? Have you continued to take blood thinners years after your last afib episode? Any experiences welcome.

[BobD Volunteer]

Please do not stop anticoagulation. Ablation, however successful, does not remove stroke risk I'm afraid. Unless you had a zero chadsvasc score and only started anticoagulation for the purpose of the ablation stay on them. Mosts of us are there for the long game. i e life.

[PlanetaryKim]

I can tell when I am arrhythmic. Whether all the arrythmias are afib or not is another question. When I had atrial flutter, I could always tell because it involved a great amount of irregular banging around in my chest, like a large fish thrashing around on dry land. Sometime this year, my A-flutter switched to afib. I do not have palpitations with afib, however I do become unnaturally out of breath. I check my pulse, and sure enough I am arrhythmic. I am much more vigilant about monitoring my heart rate and rhythm now since I realize it is up to me to detect when I might be in afib. I can't count on palpitations to tell me, since I am not experiencing those anymore.

My tools are fingertip pulse oximeter (the waveform that travels across the bottom is quite useful), a good quality stethoscope (probably my best tool), a BP cuff (probably my least useful tool), and just plain old fingertips taking pulse at wrist.

Of course I have no way to know if I am arrhythmic while I sleep. Good luck to you!

kim

[glis]

I think that it’s something you should discuss with your doc. I know most people on here will say stay on the blood thinner. My doc took me off them 6 months after my ablation. But I’m in the states. My ablation was in feb 2019 and haven’t been in afib since. I’m also 36. All monitor have said normal sinus rhythm. I also use a cpap machine. I also regularly use a pulse oximeter to check rhythm and rate (my afib had the unpleasant rvr with a hr up to 180). I only went off after me and my doc discussed it.

[Ducky2003]

I would say that's your Drs call. I was taken off Amiodarone after 3 years last Oct to see if I stayed in nsr rather than have an ablation. Cardiologist then took me off NOAC in May as he said my CHADSVAC was now 1. Beginning of this month, sadly AF kicked back in and I knew straightaway. I think some folk tend to be very symptomatic and others not which is the issue with this bloomin condition. Needless to say, I'm back on the anticoagulants and Amiodarone waiting for cardioversion number 3 and then ablation 😕.

[Salvatore68 in reply to Ducky2003]

How many mg of amiodarone do you take daily? Are you in England?

[Ducky2003 in reply to Salvatore68]

Currently on a loading dose as have just restarted them but usually 200mg/day. Yes, in England.

[jeanjeannie50]

Your consultant knows how your heart was beating before your ablation, he is the one that has had a vast experience of dealing with AF, strokes and all it entails.

I would go with his advice.

Jean

[CDreamer]

Ditto to what Bob said but I also think because you have a PM you may need to stay on anticoagulation.

Yes I always thought I knew when I am in AF - no doubts at all - even with a PM, However, I have been told on several occasions I had been in AF when asleep and therein lies the difficulty if you fail to continue with the ACs.

I would amend your doctor’s comment to ‘may not always know when you are in AF’.

[Thomas45]

You may have afib without knowing. I only know I have persistent afib because during an annual check-up I was found to be in persistent afib. I couldn't feel it, and five years later I'm still in persistent afib, and still I can't feel it. The only medication I have for it is an anticoagulant, what you call a blood thinner. There is no way I will come off the anticoagulant. I'm on it for life.

[Salvatore68 in reply to Thomas45]

What Does Your cardiologist recommend For your treatment since you have no symptoms? How old are you?

[Thomas45 in reply to Salvatore68]

An anticoagulant as a MUST to be taken every day for life. Apart from that as my heart rate is near normal, nothing. Just get on with life. I was prescribed beta blockers but had one rare side effect ( exacerbation of asthma which meant emergency admission to hospital) and one very rare side effect, (chronic urticaria and intolerance of some foods). I have just turned 75, and am still the same height as I was when I was 18, (6' 7"). I had previously had paroxysmal afib for about twenty years.

[lixaian in reply to Thomas45]

Good Morning Thomas, gosh! 6ft 7" I won't argue with you.

Any way, I have AFIB and Cancer. No treatment envisaged yet for my cancer or AFIB but I am on edoxaban 60mg daily which I am advised I will be on for the rest of my life. I feel fit and well less for the occasional strange dizzy spell, usually at about the same time daily [1530hrs] and at night the fingers in my left had go numb for a couple of minutes and some times my legs feel very heavy. Is this just the side affects of my medication! I exercise daily Though I have cut out weight lifting and the speed of my runs, I also do 20 squats each time I go to the toilet and 20 stomach crunches each time I make a drink [its the army in me]. I take my blood pressure each day and today it is 124/53 with a pulse rate of 37. Mind, my pulse rate has always been slow even during my Army days. If my symptoms are due to my medication is there a better anti co-gallant that I can take and can any one that suffers with dizziness as I do please explain what it is like so that I can compare. Keep well

[jedimasterlincoln]

A key indicator for me was being unusually tired and lethargic the day before. Then it would hit the day after.

I always know/knew when I was in AF or flutter. Flutter often felt worse.

[planetiowa]

Many people have AF and don't know it but there are others like me that can tell the second they go into AF and the second the come out of it.

[Spoiler]

I always know unless I am sleeping and then if it is persistent it wakes me up.

[Morzine]

I’ve had ablation and cardio keeps me on all tablets because pre ablation I was getting afib in night and not know I’d had it......he collected that info via the holster......so theory now is if it came back at night I’d not know......but you mentioning stopping anti coagulation tablets I’d say keep in them...they are no bother to us and they are the first defense against stroke risk.....essential for a fib......but this is just how I see it of course..l,

Sue

[Hidden]

I absolutely know when I am in A Fib and since I was first diagnosed have been able to tell.

My doctor tells me that is because my normal sinus rhythm is a slow, steady, forceful beat, with no skipped or extra beats.

He said that my hospital records show my heart rate as high as 180-220 during A Fib.

Last week at the doctor's office it was 59. And 59 is actually high because it was taken at the doctors. Both my heart rate and BP go up due to white coat syndrome.

At home it is usually between 49 and 52.

99% of my episodes were in the middle of the night and woke me up.

[MDS79]

Like CDreamer, I used to be aware of anything going on with my heart but the last few times I've been in a-fib, I didn't know it. One time it was the doctor's office who called to tell me. This last time it was my Apple watch which notified me that my pulse had exceeded 120 during a 10-minute period of inactivity. Then I checked on my Kartia and sure enough - I'm back in a-fib. Everyone is right of course about following your doctor's advice but I know that I will never be off my blood thinner. Even when I'm in NSR, I take it. Good luck to you.

[lixaian]

Hi John, My heart rate is low and your post has given me food for thought, I will ask my GP.