Peri-menopause or PAF

[MrsAnxious]

Hi,

I'm a 50 yr old peri-menopausal woman. Out of the blue I had fast AF after eating very salty nachos. I went into NSR naturally.

I then had an infection, a few months later and again ended up in fast AF. I needed 2 lots of Bisoprolol to get it under control.

A month later, I overdid a walking holiday and became dehydrated again which set off Fast AF once again. I have PIP which didn't work so ended up in A&E. I reverted to NSR, 6 hours later when they put me in a drip.

I've just been told that I'm going through the menopause and heart issues, such as I have experienced are very common.

I've paid to see a cardiologist who didn't entertain the menopause and just said I had PAF.

I'm soon to be given HRT & I'm wondering if any ladies have experienced similar effects.

I'm trying to convince myself I don't have a heart condition & it's 'just' the menopause.

Can anyone help?

[Mabel79]

Hi, I was on HRT for menopause symptoms for several years before AF started. Fingers crossed for you but in my case I think the 2 things were quite separate. Maybe the HRT postponed the inevitable who knows.

[4chickens]

Hi, I’m convinced my AF is linked to the menopause, and have repeatedly stated this to any medic that will listen they generally dismiss this as coincidence. I had no symptoms of AF until about 50 when I started to experience strange heart feelings it took a few years for me to do anything about this and by then I was also experiencing menopause symptoms, hot flushes etc. I started on hrt at about 58 and noticed a marked improvement in my menopause symptoms and a reduction in my AF. I had to stop Hrt at 60 as guidelines suggest. My hot flushes returned as did my AF and palpitations. I’m back to walking the tightrope of what will set me off is it just a few beats or is it back,requiring cardio version. None of this is scientifically proven just my feeling. Good luck with the hrt.

[Jajarunner]

Arrythmias are common as part of the menopause according to what I have read.

[dedeottie]

I started with AF during the menopause and hoped that it would go away eventually as all other menopausal symptoms did but unfortunately AF stayed for good and I am certain the two things were unrelated. Blaming it on the menopause delayed a definitive diagnosis and I subsequently had 3 TIA’s while waiting to be prescribed anticoagulants . I’m not meaning to alarm but I think you probably need to treat the AF as a separate problem and have it treated accordingly. Good luck. X

[Buttercups22]

I was on HRT (oestrogen only) for 5 years following a hysterectomy when I was 49. I stopped taking the HRT (on the advice of my GP) and one month later I had my first afib episode. I am convinced there is a link!

[Cha275rL]

Yes Mrs A, I had very strange heartbeats which started during the menopause, and HRT relieved that a lot. However, like dedeottie above, I would get yourself checked out to be on the safe side.

[Madscientist16]

For me I was already in menopause when diagnosed with AF, but if I miss my HRT, the hot flashes will set off my AF.