Hi friends,
I was diagnosed with afib a year ago and have had 3 afib episodes during that time. Taking Eliquis. My e.p. WNts me to see a sleep specialist to check for sleep apnea as many afibbers have it. Anyone else experience this? I am not aware I have it.
It is a common comorbidity. I was diagnosed with it a couple of years ago. My EP wanted my sleep test done in hospital where they can monitor a few more things than they can at home. I didn’t have any usual sleep apnea symptoms - I slept well and was never tired in the day. Most of my sleep was fine (I only had 3-4 hours) but in the 40 minutes I was in REM sleep I was having apneas. I’ve seen relatively new research that this seems to be the case with post menopausal women. Overall the AHI score (Apnea Hypoxia Index) is low but for REM it’s high. So when they add up the total number of apneas and divide by the hours slept you may get a mild reading and be told there’s no need to treat it but you could be dropping your oxygen levels and increasing CO2 during one phase of sleep which disturbs the heart. I now sleep with a CPAP.
Thanks so much for the information. What’s sleeping with a CPAP like?
I just have a soft mask that sits beneath my nose. The tubing comes off the top of my head and has a swivel connection so I can move around fine and I either lie on my stomach or side when I go to sleep. I’m super claustrophobic so wouldn’t be able to cope with a full face mask. I sleep well, but the I always did.
I had a sleep test at home, simple to do and revealed mild SA not at the UK NHS treatment/CPAP threshold. Instead, acting on my own research, I now have an extra pillow under my head, a nasal strip and a mouth strip. I sleep much better and post Covid I will get a SA sleep test done again, which I hope will show it has reduced as at 67yo I am a tad concerned about lack of oxygen at night and the onset of forgetfulness/dementia.
I would say full credit to your EP being on the case as my Sleep Apnea was missed for years and my latest Cardio Consultant is adamant it is why I developed AF , the only excuse is that I am not overweight! When I had the test it showed 68 episodes an hour but since using CPAP it is down to 2. I hated the thought of a full mask so with the help of a chinstrap managed to use nose cushions, I sleep like a baby now and feel so much better during the day, sadly the discovery was discovered too late to really stop the AF but in a way not surprising if I had it for tens of years.
Yes, I was tested some 7 years ago and diagnosed with mild to moderate sleep apnea. I was fitted up with monitors at the hospital but returned home to sleep as per normal, returning the equipment the following day.
I was advised to use CPAP and have been doing so ever since. I can’t add much more than Kaz has already explained. Sleeping with CPAP takes a while to adjust to and getting the right mask for you which provides a good seal and is comfortable to wear is probably the worst part.
Whilst it didn’t stop AF - it did stop all nocturnal AF which meant I was getting very little sleep so overall, massive improvement in QOL.
Hi Nanny01, I had persistent AF I had the SA test was diagnosed with servere SA, I had a cardiversion to get me back into SR have been using CPAP now for 6 months and can only tell you my experience and that is
ITS FANTASTIC, i have had no AF I sleep like a baby my wife sleeps so much better because I dont snore anymore and i dont feel like i need to have an afternoon sleep, good luck
😀
Really good idea. You may not be aware of it but definitely worth checking it out. Made a huge difference to a friend of mine.
That's interesting because the ONLY time I have an afib episode its during the night, I wake up with my heart rate all over the place, going like the clappers. Must look into that, thanks for posting.
You know when you read something and start getting annoyed....I have never slept well, even since ablations. My AFIB is as good as cured but whilst taking Amiodarone pre ablation I started waking up and sometimes during the daytime finding it difficult to swallow or take in air through my mouth for a few seconds. I asked my doctor about sleep apnea and was told that it could not be because, I am not over weight, no double chin, don't smoke and do not drop off to sleep during the day. Whilst I no longer get the physical difficulty with my throat which lasted for a good year after stopping Amiodarone, I still snore a lot.... Apparently... Haha. I saw a throat specialist who suggested it could be spasms and suggested Omeprazol, of course, that made no difference. Still wonder whether my poor sleep could be related.
Hi, when I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, the specialist told me that they had a slim, very fit 16 year old with Apnea and the stereotyping of only over- weight, double-chinned smokers getting sleep apnea was a dangerous assumption. Its disappointing to hear that your doctor still thought that. I have no doubt that Sleep Apnea was triggering my PAF episodes as they always started when I was in my deepest sleep in the small hours of the morning and the PAF reduced significantly when I had a CPAP that was working with a properly fitting mask.
Thanks everyone for your responses. I’m sure the sleep doctor will order a sa test. Not sure how that’s going to go with COVID. Hopefully can do it at home as not sure I’ll Get much sleep in a clinical setting. Not looking forward to this and hope I don’t need cpap Thanks again
Hi there, I was diagnosed last July and spent 2 nights in hospital after ending up in A & E twice. I filled in an assessment for sleep apnoea and I have been asked to speak to the doctor about this. My appointment is tomorrow so I will let you know how I get on
would love to hear what you find out.
Hi there, I had an appointment with my Doctor this morning and based on the paper-based assessment I completed, he is referring me to the sleep clinic. He believes that my score points to sleep apnoea which would explain the onset of lone afib. When discussing disturbed sleep and chronic mood swings, he also explained that these are other symptoms of the condition as the brain is not getting enough oxygenI will need to attend the clinic and will have to stay overnight as they hook me up to various recording monitors. This probably won't be for another few months because of Covid. I will keep you posted
Like others I was told that since I was fit and trim that there was no chance. I insisted and got a sleep study. I swear I didn't sleep, with all the wires and the confining environment. But, they said there was brain wave proof that I was sleeping and no obstruction. Somehow a couple years later I wrangled another sleep study and this time it showed mild Sleep Apnea. At one point I was on my back and they made me stay that way. I was aware that I was being awakened every few minutes as I attempted to drift off. Turns out my apnea is only when on my back. Since then I've struggled with CPAP therapy. It causes bad Aerophagia which is lots of stomach distress from swallowed air and gas bloating. Pressures were reduced, other masks were tried, antihistamines were administered, dental appliances were tried, positional therapy was attempted, etc. Currently it's all working at a pressure of 6.5 and an average overnight AHI of no more than 3.5. Still, for me lots of ectopics and rare afib episodes. Though, who knows how much worse it might be if the apnea were allowed to be worse with no therapy....? At any rate, definitely worth pursuing....hard to know if you have it. My wife swore to me that I do not snore, but I know through testing with iphone apps that I do indeed.
I get lots of ectopics too, lasting minutes or longer, feels fluttery in my chest so I thought this was afib. I explained to my consultant that my heart rate is steady and then does an extra couple of beats in quick succession. He explained that this is not necessarily afib episode and it's z bit like a car engine you turn the key and it won't start but jumps a bit. If it does start you go into afib. Why is this condition so annoying and presents itself in different ways? I am not sure now what ectopic beats feel like and whether I am in afib or not confused.com
For me the two are almost indistinguishable. After suffering with ectopics for years, my first Afib episode was a revelation as I found that it's experienced as constant stream of ectopics. The fact that it's constant (though irregular) means I can get somewhat used to it, whereas the ectopics are so random by themselves and start/stop in unpredictable fashion that they are usually startling and very noticeable. My last 'attack' went PAC's to PVC's to Afib to Sinus Rhythm, to Ventricular BiGeminy to Sinus finally. All of these felt different but the underlying discomfort and anxiety was the same. I like your doctor's analogy....Imagine if you are turning over the engine,....it starting is afib.
Thanks very much, It's comforting to know I'm not alone. The anxiety that comes with it is very distressing. I am on sertraline but my EP wants me off them as he says these can cause palpitations just like citalopram I was on before! Not sure how I will cope
Good luck with the Sertraline. I just started Paxil last week. Debated long and hard and talked with both the EP and my GP. All felt it was worth a try. I've heard Anxiety can worsen initially as you get used to them, so I wouldn't be surprised if there was an uptick. For me so far it's actually gone both ways. I've had days with very few and days where I swear the med is driving a higher level of anxiety and, therefore, more palps. Said I'd give it 2 weeks and reassess before moving further. Sounds like we are riding in the same boat. I dream of a future where I've accepted things so completely that I can have a long ectopic attack and carry on as if everything were terrific. Interesting shift isn't it,...to move on from trying to stop them and instead focusing on how to life with them. I think you end up at this point after you see what a shambles your life can become when you perseverate and worry too much.
Well said my friend
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