A flutter causing chest pain,light headedness,weak sensation. Especially using stairs?

[Goldenheart]

Hi, could anyone tell me if these symptoms are common with a flutter.? As my cardio suspects both a flutter,and a fib?

[Ppiman]

Your symptoms sound spot-on to me but might be related to the beta-blocker rather than the arrhythmia. I had an ablation last year for persistent atrial flutter and had a single severe episode of atrial fibrillation a couple of weeks after that. Chest discomfort was the norm for me throughout, accompanied by weakness and light-headedness. I felt truly awful. I also had lots of stomach related sensations with burping and discomfort that went through into my back near the shoulder blades. It was all very worrying.

To determine if you're suffering with atrial flutter, which doesn't show on a standard ECG, your cardiologist will want to carry out either a scan (if you can, press for a stress MRI, which I was told is the gold standard) or he or she will do a twelve-lead ECG carried out while adenosine is injected during the procedure to show up the flutter.

I found atrial flutter totally debilitating although I couldn't really separate the symptoms of the flutter from the effects of the drugs or even from the anxiety it induced. I recently had an episode of tachycardia for which I took bisoprolol. I found while I was on that, with a heart rate that often dropped too low, that the chest discomfort would return making me think it is a side effect of the drug.

I hope you find resolution soon. It's no fun at all.

Steve

[Goldenheart in reply to Ppiman]

Hi, and thankyou for your kindness in replying. Im not on a beta blocker,im taking 300mg of chanel blocker daily. For a presumed diagnosis of coronary artery spasm,and microvascular angina. Ive just recently had a diagnosis of a fib. And i use alive cor,which is capturing other episodes of what could be the a flutter. Im confused with the flutter, as i feel more chest tightness and very weak than an obvious fast heart rate. These episodes of weakness make me afraid to leave home alone,,,,does that sound similiar to what you experienced? Thankyou again.

[wilsond in reply to Goldenheart]

HelloI have both aFib and flutter. I find it difficult to seperate them as I don't get fast arrthymias very often . My flutter presents as a whirring sensation every 30 seconds or so ,sometimes for hours.

My Kardia only recognises "possible" AFib but I look for the sawtooth pattern of flutter to confirm.

I get very lightheaded in flutter and very weak. I literally have to sit it out with water to hand or go to bed .

I can't say I've had chest pain but we are all different.

I'm on the list for ablation which I'm told is very effective for flutter. I'm glad because for me it's worse then the AFib!

Best wishes

[Goldenheart in reply to wilsond]

Hi and thankyou for replying. I hope to be lucky enough to be in line for an ablation. I feel incapacitated with these episodes,fed up. Good luck with your recovery. Best wishes.

[Ppiman in reply to Goldenheart]

Yes, it does. Anxiety plays a major part, too, in my experience. A channel blocker is much like a beta blocker. It slows the heart rate to prevent tachycardia (I'm just getting over an episode now, in fact). A slow heart rate is far better for your heart, but it can, I believe "do" things that make you feel poorly, such as lower the blood pressure or develop chest discomfort. My only comfort from the fear all this induces is to remind myself that I was told that my heart scan showed no structural problems of any consequence. What I have is arrythmia issues that won't kill me even if they sometimes, often fleetingly, make feel like they will!

Your Kardia device (or an Apple Watch) cannot pick up atrial flutter, so far as I know, and tachycardia tends to affect it, too. The device only 'detects' irregular beats and fibrillation. Flutter, I think, would show up as something like 'indeterminate'.

Steve

[Goldenheart in reply to Ppiman]

Steve, thankyou for your time. I identify with what you say re. the meds we take reducing the heart rate. Ive read up on this and they can reduce the contractility of the heart. I too have wondered if thats the cause of the weird symptoms,as opposed to the a flutter. I know if i had explanations from the experts it would help a lot. And of course,im grateful for the first hand experiences from all of you on here. I hope your ablation keeps your flutter at bay. Best wishes.

[Ppiman in reply to Goldenheart]

Hi there. Oh I do hope so. I’m told it will regarding flutter but might predispose me or “uncover” fibrillation. I had that only once and it was awful - much like the flutter. How people live with it unknowingly goodness knows but I suspect in some it creates mild heart failure and feelings associated with that. In my case it did reduce the heart output and cause a temporary tiny leakage from a valve.

Best wishes to you and “chin up” as they say! 😉

[Apple88]

Yes. My A flutter seemed to cause extreme light-headedness. Still get it occasionally now since my ablation, but no where near as bad.

It caused a real problem for me. Definitely discuss options with your EP.

[Goldenheart in reply to Apple88]

Hi, thankyou for replying. I do need to see an ep. .i have a very long wait i fear. Best wishes.

[wilsond in reply to Goldenheart]

If the wait gets too long and you can afford it ,consider an initial private appointment with an EP. Then ask to be transferred to NHS list.

I saw Proff Osman this way at UHCW,cost 175.00. was worth it as saw him 3 days after enquiring not 3 months .

Best wishes

[Goldenheart in reply to wilsond]

Hi wilsond. Ive been waiting over two years already. That cost sounds really affordable. Whats putting me off this, i did go private years ago, consultation which led eventually to an ablation for avnrt. But it cost a lot more,due to the cardio using an echo to check heart function. I will try for a consultation without the tests. Thankyou for your help.

[Palpman]

I have only just completed a MedScape quiz on AFlutter.Flutter is not accompanied by angina. Discomfort yes.

Hypotension and syncope but fainting is rare. Exhaustion on exertion is very common.

Preferred and most successful treatment is ablation.

[Goldenheart in reply to Palpman]

Hi, thankyou for the reply. I do have the symptoms you mention, but the chest pain is quite severe.

[Palpman in reply to Goldenheart]

I also have pain but only a short sharp pain with every ectopic beat. When in tachycardia the pain is constant at 4 on the pain scale.Heart attack is normally a heavy and crushing pain instead of a sharp pain. Also accompanied with sweating and nausea.

But then we are nor all "normal" textbook cases.