Wide QRS and some heart block.

I saw my GP yesterday about a sensation of chest "coldness" and tenderness at a particular spot when walking or cycling . She said that she thought this was costachondritis (a chest wall problem) rather than angina but wants to refer me to the chest pain clinic " only because of your family history of heart problems." Whilst I was there she looked at some ECGs taken at the surgery and said that there was a wide QRS interval and "some block" on the last one. When I asked about this she said "don't worry, it's common for those with AF to have this." The "wide QRS" message has also appeared on various Kardia readings. Does anyone know anything about this?

[CDreamer]

You really need expert opinion on wide QRS. There have been several posts on this issue so do a search as there was an informative one quite recently.

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

I will have a look. Thanks.

[Bartyparty00]

Hey Samazeuilh, do search my posts I asked about wide qrs in one recently. Had some lovely helpful replies. All the best Claire

[Hidden in reply to Bartyparty00]

I will have a look. Thank you,

[LaurieRose]

It can be caused by medication especially amitryptiline. Amiadrone and probably others that slow down your blood pressure and metabolism.

[Ppiman]

I think "wide QRS" is quite common and, I gather, it is often caused by some degree of either right- or left-branch bundle block (R- L-BBB). I gather RBBB is the more common but I have LBBB, and for quite a lot of the time according to my Kardia traces. My GP says it isn't anything to worry about, but the cardiologist I see differs, saying that if my AF were to become frequent, then it would need treating, perhaps by ablation, as the two together can weaken the left ventricle over time.

I wonder whether the LBBB doesn't cause some symptoms, myself, since even when my Kardia doesn't show any AF, if I'm getting a faster than expected rate with "wide QRS", I am quite aware of it.

Steve

[Hidden in reply to Ppiman]

I'm not sure if I have left or right block. When I get to the clinic-I don't know when that will be-I will pass on any information about heart block (although it may not be anything you don't already know).

[Ppiman in reply to Hidden]

Hi - thanks!

Steve

[Tellingfibs]

Hello. I have ‘wide QRS’ results quite often with my Kardia device. I did ask my cardiologist what it meant and he showed me a print out of my ecg and circled the area concerned, explaining it just meant a delay in some electrical signals. He was quick to reassure me and said that it was nothing. He always does talk me through things so the fact that he was almost dismissive about this allayed my anxieties. Of course, we are all different, and you should follow up on this, but I have discovered, over the five years I have had Afib, that a few symptoms we have can be considered ‘normal’ in the general population. When I mentioned to my GP, soon after being diagnosed, that I had a LOT of palpitations over the previous weekend, but that my Kardia device ( not the Premium account at the time ) did not pick these up, he said they were likely ‘just normal palpitations that everyone gets’. I have also been told recently, by another GP that whilst obviously the Kardia device is useful, if relied upon constantly, it can underline ‘abnormalities’ that worry us, but if examined by an expert, would not be a concern. A heart expert sees ‘the whole picture’ and understands an individual’s condition in context. Once diagnosed with a medical condition, we spend a lot of time Googling it, and those of us with Afib, attempt to become heart specialists via ‘school of Google’ when our cardiologists have trained for many years. So, just make sure you have your questions ready when you next see your cardiologist. It’s always sensible to have any symptoms checked, as you have, and I would have thought your GP would refer you for an appointment with your cardiologist if they were at all concerned that your symptoms were heart related or warranted further investigation. I have rambled on, but I have had my worries about ‘ wide QRS’ readings . Your symptoms may not be heart related at all and you might be creating a link where there is none. There is an expression : if something has a beak like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck - it’s probably a duck. Good luck, and let us know what transpires !

[Hidden in reply to Tellingfibs]

I will pass on any information when I get to the clinic (although I don't know when that will be). Thanks for replying.

[Ppiman in reply to Tellingfibs]

Thanks for such a well-considered reply.

Steve

[Dodie117]

I have af but my friend has been complaining of chest issues for some time. I used my Kardia on him a number of times and it kept showing wide QRS. eventually GP gave him a letter and sent him to A&E. they kept him overnight, did lots of tests and sent him home saying no issues. GP said he has wide qrs himself and that it’s not normally an issue. My friend still finds it quite symptomatic but seems to be learning to live with it.

[Hidden in reply to Dodie117]

Interesting, as I have also had chest pains recently, although the GP thinks thus may be due to costachondritis. Thanks for replying.

[mjames1]

After a similar ecg from Kardia, I got a response similar to yours from my ep. However, I'm on Flecainide. Prior to Flecainide I never got the wide QRS determination on my Kardia. And even on Flecainide, I've only gotten it once. Now my ep wants me to do a stress test, to see how things look under stress while on Flecainide. FWIW my wide QRS determination, came right after I did some treadmill exercise at home. Beyond my pay grade to advise. Good luck.

Jim

[Hidden in reply to mjames1]

Thanks for the reply. I don't get the wide QRS message all the time either. I'll ask about the stress test at my next appointment.

[mjames1 in reply to Hidden]

My understanding is that the stress test was to look for more dangerous arrhythmia's that sometimes can be triggered by flecainide, not just the wide QRS, which he doesn't seem to be concerned about. But the ep didn't mention a stress test until I showed him the ecg with wide QRS. Go figure. Maybe it's the where there's smoke there may be fire sort of thing. Now that I'm lowering my Flecainide dose, not sure he will still want the stress test. I should know very soon.

Jim