Has anyone had covid with afib? If so did covid set off an episode?
I have received a pack of lateral flow tests through the post followed by an email to say that my medical records show I am high risk and if I do get it I have to test then call 119 as I am eligible for new drug treatment. Anyone else had this? Bit scary as I have read that people with afib can be seriously ill with covid and are more likely to die from it, making me scared to go out again.
I also have mild PMR and am on 5mg prednisolone
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Karendeena
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Had COVID last Oct - before any of the treatments came on line unfortunately. Yes it set off AF and yes I was very ill but not because of AF, I had expected that. I had pneumonia, gastric symptoms which meant I couldn’t absorb any of my meds so became a downward spiral.
I’ve had that letter a few months ago because I have a neuro condition regulated by immune suppressant - which is why I was so ill and considered extremely clinically vulnerable. I take immune suppressants so now immune suppressed.
I found the letter incredibly reassuring because I NEVER want to be that ill ever again! I see it as a positive and great that the this has been initiated so should we be unfortunate to be infected, we won’t need to wait for diagnosis- simple test - positive - you get the treatment.
If you have been vaccinated within last few months and take care who and where you meet, wash hands and wear a good mask I try to live my life as normally as I can, but wise to be cautious. I certainly don’t want a reinfection.
My understanding is that AF alone would not mean you would be in the extremely clinical vulnerable category so I would assume either you have another condition or your AF would endanger you in another way?
I’d be interested to see who else with only AF has received the letter, test kit & instructions?
Hi If you take immune suppressants then you are categorised as being clinically vulnerable My brother in law who is 70 Is on predislone a type of steroid he has just had his 4 th jab as he falls into vulnerable category. I have AF and had bad spells after jabs 1 and 2 so was apprehensive with the jab 3 booster but no problem and I have just last week had Jab 4 because I am in 77 Year old category and no problem.
I received a PCR test kit for a "Priority Test" some weeks ago. Not too sure why because I hadn't had AF symptoms for years, though was still taking the meds. As it happened, I did go into AF again shortly after. I am taking meds other than for AF so it might be for them.
I had been fairly careful as I'd heard it could restart AF again. Now that I have got AF again, at least that's one less thing to worry about.
The article I read some time ago by British Heart Foundation said there was no evidence of extra risk from covid associated with AF, but that may have changed since.
My third Booster set off AF !! And three months later and double medication its just beginning to settle a little Grrrrr. I have thankfully avoided Covid so far… fingers crossed and pray that I can continue to do so. I live in Australia.
I had covid was moderately Poorly for three days. Did have an afib attack but I might have had one anyway. Overall was far less poorly than a lot of other people I know who are younger and don’t have afib Everyone is different but not sure afib on it’s own puts you at any greater risk really
Hi - I had Covid in January 2021 and it did set off an episode of AF. Also my vaccines and booster also triggered an episode (the only episodes that I have had in over a year so I am not complaining)
My understanding is that free LFT tests are still available to those deemed severely vulnerable. This would be arranged by your GP. If you were one of those you should have been offered your covid jabs first. My daughter is in this category due to multiple transplants and she received a new pack of LFT through the post this week...she hadn't asked for them but I'm guessing her GP ordered them on her behalf.
Still recovering from Covid, tested positive on the 16th March. Have been quite ill with it but nothing heart related. I didn’t have the letter but did have a text message saying I might be eligible. However, the side effects of the Covid were such that nothing much was staying inside me so decided against it. This Covid seems to affect people differently. Some only seem to have mild symptoms whereas others of us end up quite ill. I just keep hoping this horrible cough will soon abate.
You mention making contact to try a a new drug treatment, a reminder to those AFers taking anticoagulants that they can react badly with some of the Antiviral drugs used to treat Covid so if you do catch Covid and require medical treatment make sure those treating you know about your current medication.
Unfortunately, yes -- for me Covid set off a series of a-fib episodes in December 2020. I had bad chest congestion with coughing that no doubt set it off initially, then another one in an ambulance going to the hospital where medics noted it. I didn't feel that one since I was in such distress otherwise. My episodes continued even after I was well, and eventually had an ablation in April 2021.
Yes, pretty much so. However, I had 4 episodes since a year ago in April when I had that ablation. The first two were during the blanking period so really don't count; last two were early this year caused from extreme anxiety in the midst of a snowstorm here -- worried about feral cats I take care of, my plowman not being able to plow 3 feet of snow across my driveway, etc. Stress certainly was a factor!
Yes, my first afib was in hospital when they put me in isolation as I tested +ve fir covid. I had an episode last month(2nd) and it was when I felt ill but did not test +ve. I am convinced they are linked but cannot get on any study as they are only looking at respitory links. I also acquired tinnitus after 1st bout of covid.
Hello, I listened to the patients day talks about Covid and Afib and they said there was no reason to fear it would be worse for us, or the consequences any more severe.
But I used to find that any virus would increase Afib episodes and symptoms during the illness but not after I had recovered.
Yes I had my second AFib attack, after initial diagnosis Oct 2020, in Dec 2020 while I had covid (delta variant). Was admitted to a+e because of the AFib attack not the covid. Thankfully, I was monitored for several hours and then sent home. The covid infection caused the AFib flare up. I just slept for 14 days with covid, drank lots of water, took paracetamol and very rarely took bisoprolol, then day 15 the AFib popped up. Have no idea if I had of taken the bisoprolol daily, if this would have prevented AFib attack.
I am 70, was really ill with covid, previously diagnosed with stenosis, enlarged heart, hypertension and AFib and I survived with no medical intervention at all.
I have not received a pack of lateral flow tests through the post and I don't think I will because I have not had the covid vaccine. Why? Part of the reason is: when I was admitted with AFib due to covid, a doctor said to me on the quiet, "Now that you have got covid, you will have natural immunity"! No vaccine was available at this time anyway. He could see how ill I was, six black areas in my lungs had shown up on CT scan, yet he advised me to go home saying, "You don't want to stay here" which I didn't. It was the AFib that landed me in hospital, when it stabilised I returned home to my own bed. By the way, 14 days after catching covid I still tested positive in a+e.
On a personal note I am not in the least bit concerned if I catch the Omnicom variant which is far less dangerous for most people than the delta variant. The Omnicrom variant is a blessing in disguise because it wiped out the dangerous delta variant.
Despite four pre-existing heart conditions no medical person has ever told me I am vulnerable if I catch covid due to AFib or other pre-existing heart problems.
I have just had Covid - Omicron, and was hospitalised due to passing out at home twice within a few minutes of each other. I live in the Gold Coast Australia. I spent two nights in the Covid ward and my AF was off the charts, because I was in a Covid ward the staff did not understand my condition and kept wanting to Code me!! Established I collapsed die to dehydration as the Omicron came with liquid diarrhea that I had for two days straight. They kept waking me every hour to see if I was alive, making my AF worse due to no rest. I kept explaining to them if I was snoring and soundly sleeping I was clearly not dead and please stop waking me as I needed rest to recover from Covid and the AF would settle eventually if they let me be! After two nights of no rest I begged to be sent home, the Covid was manageable at that point and I got some antibiotics for a chest infection, as I could see remaining in hospital was doing me more harm than good at that point. I was exhausted and getting no rest. Went home and back at work now but still have a persistent lingering cough and upset AF with daily episodes occurring. Still feel unwell and miserable…
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