AF or not ?

AF OR NOT ? Discharged back to GP after AF confirmed by cardiologist and put on the usual meds. My Gp says I no longer have AF but i still feel regular ectopic beats. Can AF just go ? I always thought it was a lifetime thing !

[CDreamer]

AF can be Paroxysmal - ie:- you can have episodes which last from just a few seconds to hours/days/months and then spontaneously convert to NSR without treatment or you can be in Persistent AF which can be treated and managed or you can have Permanent AF which is a term used when you and your doctors decide not to treat, apart from taking Anticoagulants.

[Hidden in reply to CDreamer]

Thankyou. My GP has kept me on AC s and Verapamil

[CDreamer in reply to Hidden]

If in doubt of whether or not you have AF, that’s a sensible approach. Ectopics are very different to AF though and although they feel horrible, are considered benign. Only an ECG or wearable or implantable device can determine a diagnosis.

[Alphakiwi in reply to CDreamer]

My emay ECG says i am in af for quite a bit of time during the day but i do have a pacemaker. Ive been told that it may not be acurate with pacemaker. I only use it if im feeling rotten during the day so it must be showing something is wrong at least.The diltiazem works ok at these times but i am now getting short breathed compared to before the arrythmia appeared to come back.

[Hidden]

Thanks again it has been very hard to get help,advice here,I had an ECG which showed I was in AF then the 24 hour monitor which showed ectopics and bigemeny So maybe I have just got paroxysmal Af. The worst affect of all this is the fatigue ! Then again I am getting older as well so can have a nanny nap !

[Hidden]

Hello Bobbyalan, following on a bit from CD’s reply, I notice that in a previous post you enquired about the Kardia monitor so it would be helpful to know if you have got one. They are very helpful for determining whether or not you are having AF episodes but provided your heart rate remains below 100 bpm most of the time, with the medication you are currently taking you should be OK.

[mjames1 in reply to Hidden]

Yes that used to be the case, but after FDA approval and with the new software, Kardia can now determine afib at heart rates above 120 bpm. Not sure if the Apple Watch will make an afib call at higher rates, but their ecg tracings are still valid at higher rates and you can either self interpret or send to your doctor for analysis.

Jim

[Hidden in reply to mjames1]

My usual HR is around 40 to 50. My AF rate is about 120 Did look into Apple Watch. And it looks promising. Thankyou for your reply it all helps

[mjames1 in reply to Hidden]

Apple Watch ecg app version 1 will detect afib between 50 and 120 bmp. Version 2 will detect between 50 and 150bpm. But "detect" is misleading. The ecg app will give you a good ecg tracing at ANY heart rate that you can read yourself or having your doctor read. Unlike the Kardia, the Watch also has some high/low heart rate and afib notification functions independent of the ecg function. Limited utility IMO and do not always pick things up.

Jim

[Hidden in reply to mjames1]

Thankyou. Interesting !

[fairgo45 in reply to Hidden]

The Kardia hands down the best and not so expensive

[dmac4646 in reply to fairgo45]

definitely

[Hidden]

Hi I haven’t as bit worried I might get obsessed with it. Family want to get me I watch but do check on my omricon. Always shows heart abnormal ! Thanks for your reply

[mjames1]

Yes, afib can come and go. My episodes were initially every six or so years apart. A family member, now 70, has only had 2 or three episodes in their life. So while afib is usually a progressive condition, not always.

As to the "usual" medications, afib is often both under and over treated. There should be no usual medications unless medically necessary. I never took any medications for the first 35 years after my first episode and the family member I mentioned still hasn't. That aloowed me to live a perfectly normal life avoiding the often incurred side effects of afib medications.

No idea of your complete medical history, nor am I medically trained, so can't really comment if the meds you were prescribed were appropriate.

About the Kardia. Some think it will make them obsessive about their heart rhythm. Others, including myself, have found that they are a calming influence in that they also reassure us when we're not in afib and just having, for example, a benign case of ectopics. Not to mention, having documentation of episodes to send and discuss with your doctor.

If you start worrying about what your heart is doing and want to have documentation for your doctor, maybe re-think getting the Kardia.

Jim

[beach_bum in reply to mjames1]

I had my first and only episode a year and a half ago, was previously, albeit briefly...on BP meds, which were replaced with HR/BP meds, and my fitness level, which was very good before the meds, has improved greatly...as in resting HR is always high 50,s los 60,s, recovery rate is much quicker, better sleep etc. I have been told I should stay on the meds for life as It may return, and although I’m only 67, and feel like 40, reality dictates that I may have another 25 years on this side of the turf, so I shall try and do my part to make them as enjoyable as possible...so meds it is. Sure I have the internet, but my doctors also have the internet...and PhD’s in medicine, so I tend to take their advice. The first thing I noticed coming to this forum, was that everyone’s afib was different. Different meds/ dosage, different health issues, age, gender, diet, health care systems....absolutely no “one size fits all” condition for sure.

[mjames1 in reply to beach_bum]

I agree that "one size fits all" doesn't work with afib and that is the point I was trying to make regarding beta blockers. Unfortunately, beta blockers at some centers are handed out to afib patients of any and all sizes. In some cases, I'm sure it's warranted, in other cases, questionable.

Personally, I don't react well to beta blockers and they significantly impact the quality of my life. I am not alone in this. Had I been put on beta blockers 35 years ago, the quality of my life would have been significantly degraded, with absolutely no benefit to my heart.

Glad you are doing so well with your current treatment plan.

Jim

[Hidden]

Thankyou all very helpful comments

[doodle68]

Hi Bobbyalan 🙂 what your GP may have indicated is that you are no longer in AF because the episodes come and go. I have Paroxysmal AF with regular episodes every few days confirmed by my Kardia not that I really need confirmation the symptoms speak for themselves but it is good to have a record of frequency and duration of episodes.

[Nerja2012]

Bobbyalan. I have PAF which was picked up in AE 7 years ago on ECG. Episodes average now 1 about every 10 month. Ive had numerous 24hr ecg and never showed any signs of AF , im asymptomatic so are aware of any episodes but inbetween the 10 month episodes I'm perfectly normal untill it rears its ugly head, longest episode 9 hrs and all self converted at home. I know I'm very lucky and also my PAF hasnt worsened or advanced at all in the whole 7 years. Im a 77 year old Female with no comorbities, take Apixaban and small dose Bisoprolol. Took me a long time to accept that I needed Apixaban but I take it willingly now. I wish you luck in your outcome. Stay positive . You get good advice and support on this forum. Mine in just another story that may help you.

[Nerja2012]

Sooy Bobbyalan my post should have said Symptomatic 🤔

[paulypurplepants]

I downloaded the FibriCheck app on my phone and use it most days to confirm what I am feeling. I’d highly recommend it, as it’s been very accurate since almost a year ago of various episodes.

[Foxglo]

I bought an Apple Watch after an Ablation I find it helpful to record ECG and send to EP if necessary. It ie simple to use. I also find the Zito 2 week patch that continuously records the heart invaluable. Apart from the report given using it reassured me there is a full record to catch what is happening rather than a short time thst usually does not capture any irregularities.

[Hidden]

Haven’t heard of Zito. Is that in UK?

[mjames1 in reply to Hidden]

Zio Patch.

This is an older article so it may be available now in more centers in the UK.

nice.org.uk/news/article/in...

[Alphakiwi]

It can come and go. Just hope it doesnt go permanent.It left me for one year almost exactly. It has come back and taking diltiazem as i need to. Im so dissapointed.

[Hidden in reply to Alphakiwi]

Sorry about that. Mine seems fairly controlled at the moment 👍🏻🫰🏼

[DawnTX]

I am not a doctor and don’t even know half of what others seem to know on here but as far as I know it doesn’t go away. You could go for years without problems I personally think your doctor is foolish to make such a statement. I don’t know what tests they did but if it was really a fib it’s just behaving for now just like after an ablation where you could go for years months or only a few days. Others can tell you more about this part of things I have permanent even though right now it’s under control after my recent procedure seven weeks ago now. I think of it like cancer that it leaves low but never be surprised if something pops back up again just remember how long you went before that happened and hopefully it’ll be taken care of again. There is no cure for a fib but they are working on so many good things and giving us so much time keeping it under control. I think I’d want a second opinion but that’s just me. I will tell you I happen to be with my primary a week after my surgery and I felt horrible so he immediately or did an EKG and saw it was all over the place with a fib. He upped my medication on metropolol so I guess also it depends on your GP he might surprise you. Don’t forget many had specialties before they became a GP. Unless you go for another opinion you might be Better off with your GP with the sounds of your cardiologist. I shoot from the hip I don’t think I like him very much treating you as he did

[Hidden]

I had one incident in July 2017 after a very traumatic series of family deaths grouped quite close together. I know the exact moment I went into AF as I did a "primal scream" (I want my Daddy back!!!!!) and thought I had popped an ear drum. Doctors didn't quite know what was going on ....was told AF, then a heart attack, then two heart attacks....then "nope", it wasn't a heart attack. They did the "roter-rooter" through the groin; no blockage, no damage, no heart disease....but, still got put on all the meds. Wore the monitor two separate times with no "blips".... All EKG at doctor's office are normal...so, all that said, since I am not a doctor, I don't really know if AF can just "go away", but for me, I had one isolated incident, easily identifiable by exceptional emotional stress and my "primal scream"....but is it the meds controlling it or is it really gone? I just don't know.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I think its meds controlling it. Hope u r ok now.