Constant flutterings

[Edders]

I have been diagnosed with AF...I was given a pamphlet to read and told its serious but you can live with it..there seems to be various types of AF, I do not know mine. I have had stress test with dye, ecg , heart monitor and a scan in a big machine with dye inserted, sorry don,t know the medical term..my problem now is I am now getting flutterings everyday and during the night, my heart racing and erratic should I be concerned at all

[BobD Volunteer]

Firstly go to AF Association main website and read till you drop AF is scary when first diagnosed but we all live with it.

You don't say who is treating you and what drugs you are taking for it which would be helpful. Your GP may not be the best person and you should at the very least see a cardiolgist to rescribe some drugs. You must already have seen some cardio people to have had what sounds like an nagiogram which hopsefully will have shown your heart to be mechanically healthy.

[Edders in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob, I am on Apixaban and a statin...I am dealing with my doctor.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Edders]

Doesn't sound enough of a treatment plan to be honest but at least you are on an antcoagulant. Do push to see a specialist if your GP can't make you feel better.

[Edders in reply to BobD]

Ok thanks. Just wondered if it was normal to get them most days ..also what the different types of af was

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Edders]

AF is AF is AF. What triggers it may change for example if the vagus nerve is tripping your heart into AF then some drugs may be inappropriate.

AF is chaotic writhing of the left atrium which in turn causes usually fast reaction in the left ventricle which is the chamber which pumps blood round your body. You may therefor have a rapid and chaotic heart beat, typically north of 150 bpm and often 200 or more in some people. You can also have AF where hear rate is not so fast.

AF is a mongrel condition with few commonalities between patients so the simple answer to what type of AF do you have is your type of AF.

[The_Lord_is_with_Us]

In my opinion, AFIB seriousness depends on interval between attacks ... duration of attacks ... whether attacks are 'self limiting' (revert to normal without any med or other intervention).

I've had one ablation for Atrial Flutter and 3 ablations for AFIB. Many cardioversions. Been on the meds. Had all the tests you've had. And, am currently wearing a heart monitor as I type this.

Some people are lucky and have the odd AFIB episode once a year (that they barely feel) that subsides on its own. So they manage with very little intervention.

Most people deal with the progressive nature of AFIB, where it gets worse over time. For some, it advances very slowly, But, for others, like me, it gets bad very quickly. I think in the space of a 18 months, I went from one attack every few months to 3 to 4 times a week. I was around age 55 at onset.

My younger brother came down with AFIB, too. His case is much milder than mine. He's had only one ablation 9 years ago ... and seems to be doing quite well.

If yours gets like mine (especially if you're young), you'll quickly come to the BIG decision. Do I manage it with antiarrhythmic drugs .... or an ablation.

For the lucky ones .... the drugs might work for years with no side effects, giving them good quality of Life. However, for many there are side effects and the drugs lose their effectiveness at staving off the arrhythmia. Some find themselves back at square one ... wondering Now what do I do.

The drugs also negatively remodel the heart over time, which makes future ablations (if decided) less effective.

I had a 10 year stint (up until AUG 2020 when AFIB returned) where ablations cured me of AFIB. I didn't need meds and felt nearly normal.

I just had another ablation by a world-class EP on OCT 23. If I get 10 more years or a cure that would be worth it.

I don't know your age, but if young and your AFIB gets worse ... I would consult a world-class Electrophysiologist. If they recommend ablation, then do it. It's much better now than 10 years ago (although the ones I had then weren't even that big of a deal). In for the short procedure .... overnight for observation ... home the next day.

Of course .... maybe you'll be one of the Lucky Ones. However, I don't like the sound of that constant flutter ... ectopic beats .. etc. Not that it will hurt you ... but that, to you, it doesn't feel good and it is a blow to your normal quality of life.

[Spangle14]

It sounds like you have had quite a few tests done, so I'm surprised that you haven't been given any indication of the type of Afib you have. Although it can be a very personal thing and affect people in many different ways, there are four categories; paroxysmal, persistent, long-term persistent, and permanent - the first means that it comes and goes (could be within days, weeks, months, or even years) and the others are fairly self-explanatory. When a letter/email was sent to your GP, of which you should have had a copy, it would/should have included a diagnosis - I feel sure that they should be able to tell you if you call. The AF association do a good booklet, which explains a lot about the condition - definitely worth a read. All the best and I hope you get a bit more information.

[Edders in reply to Spangle14]

Thank you that’s helpful...I was not told but will delve into it

[Finvola]

Flutterings might not always be AF but can also be ectopics or SVT (tachycardia) as well. When I was first diagnosed, I called everything AF but a 24 hour monitor caught some bouts of all of them.

AF is totally chaotic - heart beat very uneven

Ectopics are usually in a normal heart beat but interrupt it with a pause, followed by a thump

SVT is usually a fast but regular heart beat.

Just a thought . . .

[Edders in reply to Finvola]

Thank you

[cuore]

Should you be concerned --Yes. With the comment, "you can live with it," the question becomes "how?" How is your GP advising you to live with it?

You have had the standard tests with the exception of an echocardiogram where they do an ultrasound of your heart. These tests would go back to your GP, so ask for copies. In fact, anymore tests ask for copies. As has already been stated in the thread, your ECG will state whether you are in normal sinus, and if in arrhythmia, the type of arrhythmia. I also suggest you get a Kardia, or similar device, to keep track of your arrhythmia.

If these flutters and heart racing are constant ( 24/7) you may have reached the persistent stage (constant more than 7 days). If so, time is of the essence because at this stage the heart remodels dramatically. AF begets Af, the more you have the more you will get.

So, hopefully you are paroxysmal, your episodes come and go. In any case, have your GP refer you to an EP pronto to place you on a proper course of treatment. I would also suggest that you spend some time learning about this condition because you are now on a long, long journey.

[Edders in reply to cuore]

Thank you the best advice