AF has changed...Ablation or different drugs?

[Simoni]

Hi, I've posted before about my AF caused when excercising, I was put on Bisporolol 2.5 once a day, then a couple of months later with Flecainide 50mg to take alongside as bisoprolol not really cutting it.

This is not really working as i get AF most days for varying periods of time, I've got a Kardia that says im in Poss AF, but my HR when in AF is only around 65bpm with a resting pulse of about 48bpm...

The AF HR rate doesn't seem that high and on the graphs from Kardia I just get the odd quick double beat about every 4 or 5 beats.

I also get a feeling of a rush to the head every now and then for a split second.

I'm going to call the Cardiologists sec to ask for a new investigation as it has changed since diagnosis, and i am way overdue a review

Not sure whether its best to try other meds if they suggest or to go for ablation, as they mentioned it before at the last appointment.

Anyone have similar experiences re the AF with Lowish HR rather than through the roof HR?

Cheers Sam

[Hidden]

Hi! I am male, 69 of age, resting HR 48-52, when in AF, HR never above 80-90. Mild symptoms, no medication, no ablation, no anticoagulants, no Kardia, just controlling the HR and BP from time to time. I am in good terms with my AF, so do not intend to change anything in the future. Many of us here are ex-sportsmen, very many of us were cyclists and runners. If you understand that your heart is not the same as before and slow down, avoiding loading the heart too much, you would most probably be able to go my way - without any intervention... Take care!

[Simoni in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply Steelheart looks like youve got a good balance, wish i could find that myself but dont seem to be able to do without the drugs atm..and even they dont seem to work as they should...had an 18hr episode yesterday/last night..was close to going to a&e but after taking flec and bisoprolol this morning as usual it cleared within 30 mins. Not ideal

[Lenlec]

Hi. I’m similar. I’ve ran all my life. And resting heart rate is about 44 now. I’m 50 yrs old. About 5 years ago I started getting short bouts of Af. Rate never went above 80 though. It went on its own after a few hours. I was prescribed 100mg flecanide as a pill in pocket. That’s works brilliantly. But my ep in jan suggested an ablation so try and sort it once and for all. I went with him and had it done 5 days ago. He said it was a text book procedure. And I’ve just got to rest up and wait. It’s a tough decision to make whether stick with pip meds maybe once a month I was getting Af ? So no real burden on my life. But I chose ablation. Only time will tell. Thanks

[Simoni in reply to Lenlec]

Cheers for the reply Lenlec, hope the recovery goes well.

[Tryfan]

Said it many times before. We could start a new section for ex or current cyclists and runners. My cardiologist who after he retired I met when he joined a choir I belong to. We became chatty and now friends. He said for reasons still unclear those, I guess like yourself and others who have posted similar comments, with a low resting heartbeat are susceptible to Afib. More especially after it during exercise. I feel I could add strenuous exercise.For me trying to keep pulse below red line for my age is a challenge. But along with other hygiene factors like little alcohol, good sleep and food, avoiding if possible stress. Seems to help. Best wishes.

[momist]

Unlike you, I have the classic paroxysmal AF with sessions at long or shorter intervals, with heart rates up to 180bpm+. Had, I should say, as I recently had an ablation, and am now in the 'blanking period'.

For a few months before my ablation I did go through a period where I would go into bigeminy almost daily, usually after eating, and on some occasions that led on into full blown AF. I felt rotten during the bigeminy, with unreality sensations and aching joints especially wrists and fingers and also ankles and feet. The Kardia didn't understand the bigeminy one bit, and reported possible AF. The traces from the bigeminy showed continuous groups of double beats, sometimes with gaps of NSR, but not at an especially raised heart rate. Needless to say, I ignored the rubbish output from my fitness watch which was wildly in error when this was going on. Oh, and I occasionally had trigeminy too.

I sent the tracings to my EP, but as he had changed his secretary (I think due to maternity) he never saw them so I never got any feedback on that. When I raised it just before the ablation it was ignored.

I've not had the bigeminy since the ablation, but it had stopped happening in the weeks before it too, so that means nothing. I am left wondering if we who have AF are more prone to other arrhythmias like bigeminy.