I have had a very strange experience. I have suffered with AF for a number of years. Usually had 1 episode every 3/4 years and always had to be electro cardio verted. Increased in frequency to the point where it was happening every few months with the last one in Mar 20 so ended up with an ablation in Sep. To be fair it never felt like the end of the matter and I think I had a few close calls - normally after rigorous exercise - which I do a lot - every day. Low and behold woke up at 0400 on 30 Jan and back in rapid AF. I am also very symptomatic which doesn’t help and am basically totally incapacitated. Ended up in ER via ambulance expecting usual treatment. ED team happy to proceed but off site cardio consultant vetoed this and instead told me to do this as an elective later that week. Admitted on to a ward only for said consultant to visit the next day to inform me that electives were suspended due to Covid. Ended up being discharged in AF suppressed by Digoxin and Bisoprosol with Rivoroxiban having previously been on no meds. Nightmare scenario and told no consultant appointments available until May!!! No choice so had to go private and due to be cardio verted on Weds so been self isolating for until then. Have continued to exercise but in reality nowhere near normal. Did a session on Friday in my garage and got very cold very quickly when I stopped. Made it back to house and had a very funny turn and ended up on floor for about 10 mins. Eventually crawled upstairs into hot bath - bad idea!!! Flopped out and got into bed looking like a ghost - daughter panicked and started to call an ambulance when I just instantly started to feel better. Cancelled the call and was up and about in minutes. I have flipped back into Sinus rhythm but don’t know how - anyone with a similar experience?
What is happening?: I have had a very... - Atrial Fibrillati...
What is happening?
AF and extreme exercise are not good bedfellows. Looks like you need to make some decisions about which of the two is the most important to you. It can take six months, sometimes longer for the heart to heal from an ablation as I know from personal experience.
Some people have pauses in heartbeat while their heart is reverting to NSR from AF, or maybe your BP dropped? I am wondering how you can, or feel you should, exercise while in AF. Digoxin is generally prescribed (told by doc) for people who are sedentary. Maybe not too late to read our ‘Recovering from ablation’ leaflet.
Thanks Buffafly. I had no idea about the medication as I had previously not been on anything. The reason I have always been electro verted (if thats the right phrase?) is because the medical route has never worked and I have never gone back on my own although to be fair have never been left to try before. I did check with my consultant about exercise and he did say moderate exercise would be okay and in his opinion would be all I could manage whilst in AF anyway - he knows his stuff and works at St Thomas & Guys. Anyway thanks for taking the time to respond - much appreciated.
Thanks John - BP might have been the cause particularly given the cold which I actually think might have been more of a factor than the exercise which was pretty moderate. The point you make regarding acceptance is a fair one - I spent quite some time in the army and so physical training has always been a big part of my routine. That said I take your point and at 48 perhaps I need to accept life is more crown green bowling than crash bang wallop!!!! Thanks for taking the time to respond.
I have permanent af they fitted a pace maker that didn’t improve my af am on riveroxaban and bisoprolol had one cardioversion was ok for one day then slipped back in af can’t get out of chair can’t get out of bed can’t stand longer than ten minutes my second cardioversion also cancelled have looked at private can I ask how much this would be please seriously need help doc ringing me in March have to try and get sorted as I have no life at moment havnt been out for 12 month only to hospital thanks all
Hi Gerald - really sorry to hear about your experience. I am looking at a second ablation and have been told that in my area the waiting list is now just shy of 300 people so assume this equates to about 12 months at least. I have booked a private treatment but this is coming out at £17.5k.
I sounds to me as if your h/r and b/p was low hence passing out, it may be time for a pacemaker. As for exercise, I would suggest giving it a rest for the moment because you are doing more harm than good right now and will be a danger to yourself, concentrate on your health, that is much more important, exercise is not the answer.
Thanks for taking the time to reply Opal - much appreciated. Don't really know much about pacemakers but will look into it.
I suffered with P/A/F for 20 years and had an ablation 3 years ago, told it was a success but sadly it wasn't and I was worse off that before, started to have white outs, same as black outs, strange dreadful feelings and my cardio was worried that although I hadn't actually passed out I could at any time, walking across the road, going downstairs etc., and do myself untold damage, the Pacemaker was suggested and from such a simple surgery, local anaesthetic and home the same day I have had the best 3 years of my life, yes I still take blood thinners as P/A/F gave me a stroke in 2000, and I still take a small dose of two heart drugs to stop me going into A/F but the Pacemaker stops me from blacking out so coupled with the drugs I live an A/F FREE life at long last, no more hospitals, no more incapacitation, able to do keep fit, swim, table tennis etc.etc., in fact pretty much anything I like and I am 76. A/F and the stroke robbed me of my career but it isn't robbing me of a contented retirement now so I am very happy and suggest you have a word with your specialist. Good luck x
Here's my thoughts. Extreme exercise - why? Do you need to? Interval training might be a better idea in the mid term when you're be stabilised. I didn't check your age TBF. You exercises in the cold in your garage = asking your heart to work harder, also narrowing the blood vessels. You then took a hot bath = likely slowing the heart rate and now allowing the blood vessels to relax. Result? Drop in BP. And a BP hypo can cause you to pass out. When your cardiologist says it's OK to exercise I bet they mean a 30 minute walk. As a point of comparison I'm 64 with a long history of doing yoga but not much cardiovascular exercise. Since developing AF and high BP I walk almost every day for between 30-40 minutes. I do interval walking, increasing to jogging that takes my HR up to 120-125 for no more than 2 minutes. This allows me to push myself a little, get that feel good buzz, and for my HR to be elevated for short periods of time. And then come down again.
Thanks Singwell - I am actually 48 and had a long spell in the military so always been pretty active. As mentioned in my previous post I had checked this with the EP who said it was okay but suspect I did kick the proverbial out of it and think you are spot on about the effect the cold had - should have known better!!!
OK. Have you come across the Body By You book? Written by a military guy who I think trained people for Afghanistan. I have his book for women and it's a series of interval training routines that it might be worth looking into. He's done a version for men as well. Fingers crossed everything stabilises for you.
Very cold & exercise (particularly if breathing through the mouth) not good. I have found temperature can be a factor for both into AF & back into NSR e.g. cold drinks have put me in and out of AF, walking up an alpine track put me into AF.
It took me a couple episodes and cardioversions to learn that my Afib would self-convert. And when it does, I nearly passed out a few times, likely due to BP drop. Did you ever try Flecainide along the way? I took it prior to ablation and it diminished episodes, and I’ve used it as pill in pocket for the 1 episode since ablation, which lasted about 30 mins. I was also able to be active while taking it. But does need to be started with caution. My EP told me ‘no restrictions’ on heart after the ablation. I cycle and exercise as I can. Not extreme, but mountain biking still pushes my heart rate. Get a good EP to advise you on activity, over any of us here as we mostly know our own experience, and good luck!
Mark Lauren is the author. You Are Your Own Gym.
If you don't have a BP monitor or a Kardia get them. You are somewhat in the dark. Bisopropol is renowned for lowering your HR , particularly at night. I couldn't handle this drug. My HR lowered to less than 45 and I know AF started mostly at 2am. Go well.
I’ve never been offered a BP monitor or a Kardia (presume that’s the same thing). Have those of you who have them bought them or been given them by your consultant?
My seven years of experience tells me that my back has something to do with the onset and the stopping of AF. These issues also affect my heart rate. I don't take any drugs , don't have a pacemaker, and have not had heart operations so whatever happens to my heart is because something related to a body function has taken place. The back influence is easy to notice. Other things that affect the heart are not as easy to identify. Since you have done a lot of physical exercise, it is possible your back has issues. Unfortunately, no heart doctor will consider this possibility. Chiropractors might be able to determine this. Often X-rays are not taken correctly to find the problem. An MRI might be beneficial but this may be expensive or be difficult to get done since AF is not thought to be caused by back issues. My very frequent paroxysmal AF does not interfere with what I want to do so I am lucky.
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