Hole in the heart, causing AF

[Moneybox]

Hi I have recently been diagnosed with a hole in the heart. Everyone has it when their born and it closes up naturally very early on after birth. But mine never did. It looks like this is what has caused me to have AF and suffer a TIA. Anyone else on here have the same?

[CDreamer]

Hi - I would be interested in who told you that and what the evidence is to link PFO and AF?

I had a PFO (hole in the heart) as do about an estimated 20-25% of the population, who don’t know they have one. I don’t think everyone with a PFO has AF nor everyone with AF has a PFO so don’t see how that can cause it, but it may be a factor in developing it.

Mine did not require a repair and I no longer have AF and know that my AF was caused by several different factors coming together - age, lifestyle, autoimmune disease and sleep apnea.

I believe there is a link between increased stroke risk and PFO, which is why it is sometimes advisable to have it closed, in which case you then have a higher risk of developing AF and your stroke risk increases again. Damned if you do or don’t!

I had a TIA, about 18 months after ablation when AF was dormant and I had stopped my anti-coagulants.

[Moneybox in reply to CDreamer]

Hi, thanks for your reply.My history is at 37 I got diagnosed with AF, was put on a few different medicines. I’m on Flecainide and Tildiem. At 39 I had my TIA. I was then put on Apixaban. Im 45 now. My cardiologist left and I saw a new consultant only a few months ago who sent me for a bubble test. This brought up my hole in the heart. He asked a colleague if a closure was needed and she confirmed not at the moment. I was advised that this and AF is connected and it explains a lot of my symptoms that I’ve had for as long as I can remember. I wanted the closure if it meant I could come off the tablets. I’ve got another appointment in November to see the consultant.

[CDreamer in reply to Moneybox]

Your experience parallels mine but I really would think twice about closure if you have had a bubble test and it’s not considered required, as I had during my ablation, as if you read the article, the link between PFO and AF is after closure. I didn’t develop AF until my late 50’s.

They do the closure to reduce the risk of stroke/TIA but AF increases your risk of stroke so you really cannot win. Great you are now on anticoagulants, they will be your best friend. My TIA was back in 2017 and I recovered well and not had any further problems, since taking my anticoagulants.

[CDreamer]

Question - have you recently had your PFO closed? There is quite a lot of evidence to show that closure of PFO can cause AF for a time following the procedure

ahajournals.org/doi/full/10...

[BobD Volunteer]

In the nearly 20 years I have been in this game I have never heard of such being a cause of AF but know that the hole punched through the septum during ablation is responsible for the migraine aura many people then suffer following ablation. These of course fade and stop once the hole heals up again.

[Moneybox in reply to BobD]

Hi thank you for your reply.

[rc-k in reply to BobD]

uhs.nhs.uk/Media/UHS-websit...

[10gingercats]

I was found to have a medium sized hole in my heart 10 years ago in my early 70's. It was thought to have given me an embolism and a TIA. so docs closed it .I had AFib before that for years . I had led a busy life and it had not troubled me but I was glad to get the hole closed ....simple procedure in my case done under sedation.Spent 1 day in hospital 7am -9pm. then home.

[Moneybox in reply to 10gingercats]

Hi, thanks for your reply.My history is at 37 I got diagnosed with AF, was put on a few different medicines. I’m on Flecainide and Tildiem. At 39 I had my TIA. I was then put on Apixaban. Im 45 now. My cardiologist left and I saw a new consultant only a few months ago who sent me for a bubble test. This brought up my hole in the heart. He asked a colleague if a closure was needed and she confirmed not at the moment. I was advised that this and AF is connected and it explains a lot of my symptoms that I’ve had for as long as I can remember. I wanted the closure if it meant I could come off the tablets. I’ve got another appointment in November to see the consultant.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Moneybox]

All treatment for AF is only ever for quality of life (QOL) and with your history stopping anticoagulants would not be wise so please don't get your hopes up re stopping all medication.

[Moneybox in reply to BobD]

Awww ok… that’s probably why then. I did get over dosed on beta blockers by my GP too. I ended up in A&E cause I collapsed, nearly went into cardiac arrest, done my clavicle and my shoulder in.

[10gingercats in reply to Moneybox]

The hole in my heart allowed a clot/clots to pass through.I was glad to get my hole closed as the fewer heart problems the better. The docs made no mention of delaying it. Could not stop any medication. Still take Apixaban and Bisoprolol.

[Moneybox in reply to 10gingercats]

Awww ok… that’s probably why then. I did get over dosed on beta blockers (bisoprolol and soltalol) by my GP too. I ended up in A&E cause I collapsed, nearly went into cardiac arrest, done my clavicle and my shoulder in.