Blackout

Hi,

I had my first cardioversion which kept me in NSR for 7 weeks without problem except for quite frequent palpitations.

On week 8 I had a blackout which was text book symptoms, dizziness, total collapse and back to normal within a second or two, my doctor could find nothing wrong and told me to go to A&E if it happened again.

2 days later had a repeat blackout, went to A&E, returned home 8 hours later in the early hours of the morning, they could find nothing wrong.

Went to bed and in the morning woke up back into A-Fib and have remanded that way for the past 11/2 weeks.

I have no idea what caused the first blackout but think that I overdid it before the 2nd blackout (warm weather, 2 hours working hard in the garden, drinking very little water).

8 hours in A&E with a small bottle of water and nothing to eat probably caused me to go back into A-Fib.

Never had a blackout before in my life and no more since being back in A-AFib.

Has anyone had any similar experiences.

[jeanjeannie50]

Sorry to hear this Denboy. Sometimes people on this forum have said how they've passed out because of either a low heart rate or low blood pressure. I have atrial fibrillation and sometimes flutter. I used to feel blackness coming over me, but when nearing the passing out point, would suddenly revert back to normal sinus rhythm. Although your periods of blacking out are brief. think of the effect that could have on you (and others) if you were driving or cycling.

Someone I know had a pacemaker inserted when he started blacking out. They stop your heart rate from falling too low.

It may benefit you to buy an Apple watch, that would record what your heart or BP was doing at the time of your episodes. I'm surprised you haven't been offered a holter monitor from your hospital to wear for a week or two to, hopefully, catch what your heart does. Just because your heart was normal by the time you reached hospital, doesn't mean it was when you had the blackouts.

Let us know how you get on please.

Jean

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean,

My doctor suggested that I stop driving which I had already decided to do because of the possible consequences.

The hospital said they had referred me to their Transient Loss of Conscious Team so the fact they have a team must mean it’s a reasonably common occurrence.

I’ve always had a low heart rate so I’m sure the solution will involve a pacemaker.

I have a Fitbit but am not overly impressed with it and are currently looking at the Apple Watch. The episode is over in a couple of seconds so difficult for any device to pick it up.

After 8 hours in A&E I went back into A-Fib that night after being in NSR for 7 weeks following a cardioversion. I haven’t had any further blackouts since but I think that is because my heart rate is much higher in A-Fib.

A case of waiting for the hospital team now or alternatively going private again.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

I didn't want to mention the chance you may need a pacemaker, or that you shouldn't drive. Not for me to bestow that news as I'm not qualified in any medical respect. I just cant understand why they haven't put you on a heart monitor. People on this forum speak well of the Apple watch.

Jean

[bantam12]

My husband had this several times and docs in A&E never found any problem however when it happened again the paramedics caught it on ecg and went into panic mode ! he was blue lighted to hospital, total heart block was diagnosed and he had a pacemaker fitted same day.I have 2nd degree heart block and had a pacemaker fitted because my rate was dipping to low, I never blacked out but it was close !

You need a monitor for at least 7 days which will hopefully catch it.

[Hidden in reply to bantam12]

Hi,

I believe blackouts are caused by momentary drop in blood pressure but equally could be heart block.

A&E have referred me to to their Transient Loss of Conscious Team so currently waiting for them which I imagine will be quite a while.

Thinking about seeing an EP privately if I can find one within reasonable distance.

Glad you and your husband’s issues have been sorted out with pacemakers, I think that is where I will end up.

[Buffafly]

What were the palpitations if they weren’t AF? Some people black out when reverting to NSR from AF, usual treatment is a pacemaker.

[Hidden in reply to Buffafly]

Hi,

Yes I’ve heard of people blacking out when reverting to NSR however my AF seems to be persistent.

My first experience of AF was last November and continued until I had a cardioversion. I went back into AF a week ago and currently remain in it so unlikely I will experience a change over.

Ultimately I can see me ending up with a pacemaker.

[KMRobbo]

An ex colleague of mine started doing this, but very infrequently , months apart. Just collapsed for a few seconds. He had to stop driving as the possible consequences of a black out driving for a few secs are very dangerous. Eventually diagnosed as heart block. A pacemaker was fitted and problem solved and he was able to drive again. I hope the medics can diagnose your issue quickly.

[Hidden in reply to KMRobbo]

Hi,

It sounds like I may have the same issue as your colleague. I also stopped driving because of what may happen if I had a blackout in the car.

From what I have recently read the cause could be heart block as in the case of your college or possibly momentary drop in blood pressure.

I haven’t had a blackout seen I went back into AF a week ago so that makes me think my current higher heart rate in AF is resolving the problem, so ultimately I will end up with a pacemaker.

[Golfer60UK]

Hello DenBoy, yes very similar, first passed out on a golf course, felt very strange so walked a couple of holes with the feeling getting stronger. I passed out but only for a short time and went home. Took me a good 5 hours to recover. Second time was driving and just passed out, was a very hot day and like yourself very little water taken so heat probably caused it. A few seconds then I was ok very quickly. Both times were very different.The result is now after having a pacemaker and AV node ablation in 2021 I am feeling much better and back to normal activities.

Best of luck

Dave

[Hidden in reply to Golfer60UK]

Hi Dave,

Glad you got to the bottom of the problem.

A blackout usually lasts seconds or even at worst a few minutes so your second occurrence definitely sounds like a blackout bought on by heat and dehydration in a similar manner to mine.

Your first occurrence seems a bit of a mystery but at least you found the solution, I can see me having a pacemaker to resolve my issue.

[President2012]

I have blacked out a few times on converting from AF back to NSR. It happens if the AF episode Is 20/24 hours long. Cardiologist says that it is caused by a pause as my heart adjusts from AF to NSR. Am now on Donedarone and have been referred to an EP

[Hidden in reply to President2012]

Hi,

Yes reverting back from AF to NSR can cause a blackout although in my case my AF is persistent so I don’t experience the changeover.

Good luck when you see the EP.

[Clarrie]

I started blacking out when reverting to NSR and had a pacemaker fitted. No problems since.

[Hidden in reply to Clarrie]

Hi Clarrie,

Reverting back from AF to NSR can cause a blackout although my AF is persistent so I don’t experience the changeover.

I think I will end up needing a pacemaker to resolve my issue.

[Hidden]

Best to get to the doctor and get a 7 day Holter Tape, no good getting a one day it will not catch everything. Insist on a seven day tape and that will hopefully capture any pauses in your heart rate.