Managing Paroxysmal AF

[FedupwithAF71]

I have had PAF for 6 years which has got worse and is now at the stage where I have fainted twice when going back into Sinus Rhythm again, would like to hear from anyone who has experienced this themselves and what has happened as a result by way of treatment

[mav7]

Hi Fed

It would help to give us a brief history of treatment and medications.

And is your doctor aware of your fainting to provide further testing ?

[Tommyboy21]

Not quite fainting. But the pause going back to NSR makes kinda spasm for a second.

[Buffafly]

I had episodes of presyncope as a result of pauses in my HB when reverting. I was advised to have either pacemaker or ablation so I had an ablation. This failed after two years but almost cured the problem. You should report the problem asap.

[Tab1966]

I'm in A&E right now. 2nd episode of Afib. This morning HR was up to 182 but around 150 most of the time for 4 hours. Just as doctors talked to me about administering some drugs, HR switched back to normal sinus rythym. Same thing happened with my first episode. It just feels like a switch has been switched and everything returns to normal. Odd but good 😊

[Clarrie]

This happened to me when reverting to NSR. I contacted my cardiologist and he said I needed a pacemaker and would put me on the list. I only had to wait two weeks but he said if I passed out again in the meantime to go to hospital and they would fit a pacemaker as an emergency.

[President2012]

I have had PAF for 21 years. About a year ago I started to have blackouts when converting to NSR. My cardiologist referred me to an EP who said I was having prolonged pauses on conversion to NSR. He firstly considered a pacemaker and then decided on switching me from Bisoprolol to Donedarone. I have not had a blackout since. I was not allowed drive until I had had an AFib episode and did not blackout. You should talk with your cardiologist or EP. Best of luck!

[Norhythm]

Fainted 3 times , once in a shopping centre where they got an ambulance to take me to hospital . No action has been taken and I was told to carry on as usual with bisoprolol candesartan spironolactone and bumetanide drugs. Still driving and until recently travelling around the UK for work.

[cpalmermn]

Does body position affect it? I’ve near fainted going back into NSR, particularly when standing up. I think there’s a dramatic change in BP and takes our bodies a minute to re-balance blood flow.

[AussieHeart]

It took a second major faint for my cardiologist to refer me to a cardiac electrophysiologist who agreed to insert an ILR (implantable loop recorder) which was monitored for a year before cryoablation was recommended. They couldn’t catch it with the holter monitors over a span of 30 years where I experienced very low BP / pre-syncope. I thought I had POTs as it mimicked it exactly. My HR like yours would get up to 180+ before terminating in sinus pause (not sure on length) but obviously long enough for me to faint. The last one was a dead drop which scared the hell out of me. So far no more!!

[reinaway]

This is a horrid feeling and I began to get it last year after ten years of PAF. The only consolation is that you know an episode is coming to an end. I never actually blacked out but felt as though I was going to. The GP said it was a momentary change in the heart rhythm as I went back into NSR.

[reinaway]

Just to add to my post I had a Pace and Ablate procedure recommended this year which I have done and had no AF since and off all drugs except apixaban and ramipril.