Covid and AF

[Janna501]

I tested positive with Covid on Saturday and feeling ill. I’ve had AFfor 8 years but luckily only had three bad attacks in the last 6 months.Now I’m getting supraventricular ectopics in long runs which are scary and make me feel I’m going to faint, and then ramp up my heartbeat. The GP knew little aboutAF and prescribed antibiotics for the Covid. I couldn’t get through to the hospital cardiology department for advice ( should I try increasing the Flecainide for example?) Having Covid when you have AF seems to be an additional scary thing. Is anyone out there going through it, and do you have any advice. I’d be so grateful to hear from you.

Thankyou.

[BobD Volunteer]

Sounds par for the course. Hang in there and stay positive. It will pass. Just another thing to endure.

[Janna501 in reply to BobD]

Thankyou so much Bob for the re assurance. Good to know your still on the forum. You were there years ago with so much help when I was terrified newly diagnosed Newbie

[CDreamer]

Antibiotics for a viral infection? I’d query that alone! Anti virals may be in order if started within 72 hours of testing positive.

I had COVID Oct last year with pneumonia after A&E assessment for very high HR I was sent home despite vomiting, fainting, low BP & high HR - 150+ - as Bob said - this too will pass.

My heart was upset and sensitive for a few weeks but settled down. I didn’t eat for about 10 days & had 2 more AF episodes neither of which were particularly worrying, less tgan I’d experienced previously. It’s uncomfortable but not an emergency unless your heart

symptoms worsen. Call 111 if you are concerned.

I was given an O2 monitor by GP and had to record my own sats and I think that’s a wise thing to do with COVID & AF. Otherwise rest, fluids and recover but I have to say that took a few weeks with Omicron to start to feel strength returning so don’t rush it.

[Janna501 in reply to CDreamer]

Thankyou CDreamer, I’ve been given the antibiotic for Covid lung infection. Covid is not like a cold “ for some of us is it . My GP isn’t very clued up about AF or the strange new things my heart is doing as a result of having Covid

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Janna501]

Sadly few are Janna. General should be the clue.

[beach_bum in reply to BobD]

Which is odd to say the least, considering the prevalence on AFIB in the general population. My GP is VERY informed in all things AFIB because so many of his patients have AFIB. And of course he is always in close consultation with the cardio teams. Maybe I’m just lucky, but I had assumed all GPS would be the same. He told me he has also been to many AFIB symposiums put on for GPs by global Cardiology specialists over the years. So to me it is saddening, that so many on this forum, when it comes to AFIB...such a common condition, have utter disdain for their family doctors. If mine were so laissez-faire about my condition, I would be searching for a new one, and I’d keep searching until one was found.

[Auriculaire in reply to CDreamer]

There are some antibiotics that have antiviral properties like azithromycin . These were used in the Raoult protocol here for covid. Why do you think you had Omicron back in October ? It was not notified as a VOC by South Africa till late Nov and did not get to the UK till early Dec.

[CDreamer]

Hope you recover quickly. I find any infection, but chest infections particularly causes my heart to go haywire. Take care.

[Ppiman]

My son's colleague, who is in his 70s, had covid about three weeks ago and has PAF. He's absolutely fine, thankfully. His bout of covid was akin to flu and was unpleasant for a few days, but it hasn't affected his AF. As your GP prescribed antibiotics for you, that would have been for a secondary bacterial infection, since covid itself is a virus, against which antibiotics have no effect.

I do hope you recover quickly. We each had flu-like head colds at Christmas which we've come to believe now was probably covid (omicron) but no one tested positively for it. Even now, three months after, we are all still aware of having had it, with my son's chest pain only recently having completely gone, my wife's catarrhal cough still with her occasionally and my own sore throat not really back to normal. Another odd effect I had was that I occasionally was aware that there was an awful smell in the air - when no one else could smell it. I've heard three others had that strange effect.

Steve

[Bunnyuk]

I had covid in January and it really exacerbated my afib, and my HR varied enormously. Rest up and get well soon.

[kkatz]

I had a bad time after first AZ jab & given antibiotics.I was tachycardic towards the end of the course & doc suggested it was the antibiotics & possible interaction with meds.

[Nerja2012]

Janna. I had Covid in December but as well as AF I'm Asthmatic so was really poorly. It brought on a 9hr episode of AF after a ten month break. Taking steroids for the Asthma attack didnt help. But here I am alive and kicking and no AF since. Just rest as much as possible. All things will pass.

[secondtry]

Re Covid, these treatments have been put together by world leading doctors. covid19criticalcare.com/cov...

[Poochmom in reply to secondtry]

I had Covid in January and used this protocol. I had previously purchased all the stuff and had on hand. My Covid lasted 4 days and was gone although I was a bit nasely for about a week. Everyone in my family caught it and with the same protocol theirs was very mild and none of them are vaccinated. I had the J andJ shot.

[Fullofheart]

Yes, I found the usual advice of rest, fluids, paracetamol and more rest worked for me...got through it but definitely triggered the AF. Rest up 🌸