Unsure if this is a fib

[Goldenheart]

Hi all, hope everyones well as can be in these uncertain times. Twice recently,ive had weird symptoms,after a cold fizzy drink. Experienced what felt like a tight esophagul spasm,ive had these before. Aswell as very painful,tight chest pain,i felt an instant weak sensation,and a bit lightheaded. I took an alive cor reading,it showed a fib. But i felt no heart racing,or flutters. It lasted about half an hour. My last cardio appt was 14 month ago, and counting.......so just wondered is this familiar to anyone.

[Paulbounce]

I haven't experienced what you mention. However if you have any chest pain it's better to contact a doctor asap.

You won't always feel a racing heart if you are in afib. It's certainly worth making another appointment with your cardio to check things out after 14 months.

If you have a pain in your chest I would suggest contacting the emergency services there and then. Maybe everything will be fine - don't risk it though and play safe.

Paul

[Goldenheart in reply to Paulbounce]

Thankyou for replying. I did contact my general gp,was told my appt will be significantly delayed,due to covid. I do have coronary artery spasms too, and arrythmias ,proof of which i have on my alive cor. I have used the emergency services,in the past, which im not keen on, ,episodes of spasms,or arythmias,usually abate by the time the dctrs see me in the emergency departments.

[Padayn01 in reply to Goldenheart]

Get it checked out anyway i went to A&E the other week as my ectopics were very bad so worth getting checked out especially any pain or dizziness occur

[Padayn01]

Stay away from fizzy drinks will be my first piece of advice especially if you have AFIB, you said you had these symptoms before?

[Goldenheart in reply to Padayn01]

Ive had painful nutcracker esophagul spasms,yes. But never had a weak sensation, or an a fib recording,during them.

[Hidden]

I rather think it is all things to all people. When mine first kicked off in Jan 2010 I thought I was going down with flu. Then my blood pressure played up and by 4pm it was down to 76/50, my GP then had me admitted to A&E. So some 9 hours after going down with flu ( so to speak) I had an AF diagnosis.

John

[CDreamer]

Quite a few contributors have mentioned cold, fizzy drinks as a trigger for an AF episode. I think cold drinks may have a Brain Freeze type of affect on the ANS for some people.

I would be cautious in future with any cold, fizzy and/or sugary drinks, including beers.

[Goldenheart in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for replying, whats the ANS stand for?

[CDreamer in reply to Goldenheart]

Sorry, Autonomic Nervous System - vagal AF is AF triggered by the vagus nerve which is part of the ANS and which runs very close to the heart and through the stomach which is why some people find they react to certain foods and drinks by going into AF.

[Goldenheart in reply to CDreamer]

Ah that makes sense,that explains the stress connection too. Thankyou.

[CDreamer in reply to Goldenheart]

Exactly.

[Sfhmgusa in reply to CDreamer]

this sounds like a very spoiled brat comment but I avoid champagne now i think the combination of Cold & bubbles is a real trigger

[Buffafly in reply to Sfhmgusa]

😢

[Ianc2 in reply to Sfhmgusa]

Tragic. Sack cloth and ashes for you. Get thee to a nunnery, Woe and triple woe.

[Sfhmgusa in reply to Ianc2]

😂

[Hidden in reply to Ianc2]

😵😵😵

[Jonathan_C]

Hi - FWIW i recently was sure i was in a-fib and went to see my cardiologist. I am in South Africa. The a-fib was imagined, but simply knowing that has been a massive help in giving me the peace and confidence to do the things i want to do.'

I am very surprised that Covid is the reason you cant see your doctor as cardiac disease is a major co-morbidity for covid...such are the contradictions of this rather strange time we are living in.

[CDreamer in reply to Jonathan_C]

There is no clarity as to whether arrythmias is a major co-morbidity for COVID in the UK.

Access to regular out patient clinics is variable - dependant upon whether or not the doctor’s concerned will run a virtual or telephone conferencing for follow-up, the back-log, the resources available etc. My GP surgery is running more or less as per normal except we are triaged as to whether or not a telephone consultation or a face to face is consult is required. I just received a letter for my regular annual heart check-up which is usually done with the Practice Nurse and only referred to a doctor if something unusual is flagged up so all normal follow-ups and monitoring continue. It’s not only COVID related, there is also a shortage of GPs generally in UK which can mean some people have to wait for appointments anyway.

[Jonathan_C in reply to CDreamer]

Apologies.

I should have clarified that heart conditions are BELIEVED to be a co-morbidity.

[CDreamer in reply to Jonathan_C]

I think cardiovascular conditions are considered a high risk for COVID but evidence for AF is still unclear.

[Hallju in reply to CDreamer]

I just talked to my cardiology department, and they explained that heart disease (covid related) is a “plumbing” issue, and A-fib is an “electrical “ issue (not covid related). I thought that was a great explanation.

[Sewnknit in reply to Hallju]

Ha!

This is how I explain my and my dearly beloved issues.

Him - heart attacks fixed with a stent, me sitting on a ward waiting for a pacemaker.

[Goldenheart in reply to Jonathan_C]

Hi , i also have coronary artery spasm aswell as arrythmias. Ive had very lengthy delays between my cardio appts long before the covid situation too.

[Jishing]

Hi,

My Af started after I ate a breakfast bowl that had icy cold blended fruit, this triggered chest pain, and I felt very weak and sweaty and resulted in the Afib not racing pulse but a completely irregular pulse. The cardiologist said as the oesophagus is close the atria the freezing type affect can trigger AF in some people.

[TheProf]

A few years ago my wife had a similar experience after drinking a slush drink. She doesn't have afib but did have an ablation in2003 for PSVT.

[Goldenheart in reply to TheProf]

Hi, thats interesting,,,i had an ablation for svt too, eleven years ago,could be connected.?