Covid, Afib and pacemaker. and - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Covid, Afib and pacemaker. and

jsanta profile image
12 Replies

I am a 68-year-old male had three ablations 6 years ago all in succession every 6 months that did not work. Changed doctors went on Tykosyn And everything was going fairly well over the last four years had a couple of cardio versions but the Tykosyn seems to hold everything in check. I was in SINUS rythum most of the time everything was going fairly well

Then about two months ago got Covid even though vaccinated. Not really bad couple of days the shivers but about a week later my total electrical system shut down and my pulse went to 30 almost died went into shock they rushed me to the hospital and put a pacemaker in. The doctor said my electrical system is totally shot. Do we think it’s from Covid? Not sure but the pacemaker seems to be working fine and the lowest it will go is 80 BPM unfortunately I’ve had a few more a has a fib attack then I had befor pacemaker.. My first question is I’ve been told that taking calcium is a good way to prevent a fib. Has anyone heard that? 2nd question is has Anyone gotten Covid who has a fib and had the same electrical problems that I had?

Besides that I’m feeling great I think the pacemaker really helped me.

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jsanta
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12 Replies
snak3eyes profile image
snak3eyes

First of all, I'm glad to hear you feel better now with the pacemaker fitted.I can't provide you valuable advice since I'm not qualified to do so but you should check with your doctor if 80 bpm set as the lower boundary isn't a bit too much at your age. Don't forget to mention about the increase of afib episodes since the pacemaker.

Regarding the calcium amount intake, I don't know what's better, to increase it or lower it, but I know there is a relationship between calcium and the heart's electrical system.

Here someone says that lowering the calcium intake worked for them to prevent AFib episodes carrafibdietinfo.com/

But again, I don't know if that's the right way. I'm also interested to find out what should we do about calcium.

jsanta profile image
jsanta in reply to snak3eyes

Thank you!! I just spent $15 on calcium! I think I’m gonna cut back on the calcium so I do little more research. Appreciate you getting back to me!

frazeej profile image
frazeej in reply to snak3eyes

I know that magnesium (which a lot of folks are naturally deficient in) is a heart regulating mineral, AND excess calcium can interfere with magnesium absorption. I have cut back on my calcium (big user of Tums = 750mg calcium a pop) and have started a magnesium supplement. Don't know yet if this is doing any good-anecdotal evidence is always tough to verify, but it hasn't hurt. Incidentally, this link previously reference (carrafibdietinfo.com/) seems to be very informative.

jsanta profile image
jsanta in reply to frazeej

Thank you! Having 2nd thoughts about Calcium now!!

jsanta profile image
jsanta in reply to frazeej

TY will check out Websight..

Bunnyuk profile image
Bunnyuk

I had covid which in itself wasn't too bad, . I'd had some afib on occasions before covid, but the virus definitely excaverbated things and my heart rate went a bit haywire! Not as bad as your experience, but down to 40 on occasions, as well as going into afib 157 HR for several hours at a time. I'm still waiting to hear from the aryhmia team at my hospital as to how to manage this.

jsanta profile image
jsanta

Keep me posted. Sounds like you had opposite of me

Murdy1 profile image
Murdy1

Glad to hear you're feeling great now. Do you feel in any way jittery, like you always want to be doing something with your pacemaker set at 80bpm? When mine was set at 60bpm I woke at night wanting to get up and doing something (at 80yrs)!! I like my sleep so I had it reset at 50bpm and I feel better. The EP was a bit uneasy as some folk can have a faint at 50bpm...fainting was the reason for my pacemaker. That was about 3years ago. Best of health to you.

jsanta profile image
jsanta in reply to Murdy1

Just saw this now. Yes pacemaker gives me energy they just took me off Tikyson because of some bad readings just hope I don’t go back into A fib

Murdy1 profile image
Murdy1

Hi jsantaThanks for your reply. Glad your pm setting is working well for you and you are free of Afib. 👍

I'm in permanent Afib but it's manageable so far. Are you getting a restful nights sleep with your pm setting?

Good health to you. Tom

jsanta profile image
jsanta

Tom pacemaker is giving me a lot of energy so sleeping is a little bit difficult but I’m getting my 6to 7 hours a night.

Murdy1 profile image
Murdy1

Thanks for your reply jsanta, stay safe and well, Tom

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