Something new for bank holiday

[Frances123]

Suddenly felt heart going funny and thought I was about to go into Afib. Checked with kardia after a few minutes and it said tachycardia. Over the last 2 hours I’ve fluctuated between brief Afib attacks (about 4 times), all in the mid 80 hr for only a few minutes with tachycardia 112-120 the rest of the time.

This is all new to me and wondered if anyone else has had this combination. I have had short but infrequent episodes of tachycardia before lasting about 30minutes. I don’t drink or smoke but yes have over indulged food wise a bit over Christmas. Normally a healthy diet.

My Afib is around every 5 weeks for 7-20 something hours. I am at about the 5 week mark. It’s the fluctuations that are new. I’ve taken an extra Flecainide. Can’t take more than 1 extra as it doesn’t agree with me.

I guess it’s my own fault but again I’ve never had this combination before.

Thanks all. xxx

[Jalia]

Yes, I've had combinations like this. Quite honestly I would never have known if I hadn't used Kardia!! I probably wouldn't have noticed AF as it was so brief and not my usual fast rate.

My advice would be to leave the Kardia alone for a while and see how you go. If you get really concerned then if course you must phone 111 for advice as of course we are not medically trained ( by and large) on this forum.

I expect overindulgence has alot to answer for as well as you suspect !

[Frances123 in reply to Jalia]

Thank you. Thankfully I’m not welded to my kardia and only ever use it if something is amiss. I have always been symptomatic so have used it more today but only to keep a check of when it’s af or tachy. Unless I got chest pain and other classic symptoms then I’ll ride it out as I always do for Afib. Glad I’m not the only one to get this combination.

How long do your episodes last?

[Jalia in reply to Frances123]

Mine can go on for days but mostly tachy and lots of SVE. Any thing really fast usually converts into persistent AF.

[Frances123 in reply to Jalia]

Thanks. No SVE just tachy. Not overly fast from top normal hr I guess. 120 for few seconds here and there but mainly 112/114.

[Jalia in reply to Frances123]

Hopefully this won't last too long for you. Quite unsettling though.

[Frances123 in reply to Jalia]

Sorry Jalia I’ve got a bit confused. When you said anything really fast usually converts into persistent AF, do you mean regardless of whether it is AF or Tachy? Apart from the short bouts of Afib earlier there’s been no Afib for nearly 2 hours, just tachy.

[Jalia in reply to Frances123]

I meant a really fast rate....170 ish which converts into AF within seconds as it did last month. I can rarely return to sinus unaided and so involves a trip to A&E.. I sat it out from Sat night until Mon morning and then spent 2 nights in CCU before dccv. Sorry to confuse you! My AF is mainly persistent.

[Ppiman in reply to Frances123]

I also get mild tachycardia and what my doctor called "AF-like" episodes that last for a very brief time. You're lucky to get no chest discomfort with yours as I often do and it's that, I suppose, that brings anxiety in its wake, even though I have had it so often and my doctor is unconcerned by it.

Steve

[Frances123 in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you. I do get chest discomfort. Not pain, just a slight tightness but I’m use to that with my AF so thankfully don’t worry. I know it can be for others.

[Ppiman in reply to Frances123]

Aha - that is similar to me, in that case. Mine is a weird feeling under the left rib and travelling through into my back. I used to think it was gastric but now I feel fairly sure is heart related, somehow.

Steve

[DawnTX in reply to Jalia]

I agree about the overindulgence I mentioned that previously regarding dinner out with a glass of sangria. By the time we left the restaurant and got to the car I was in full a fib. No doubt having fullness press against other areas does not help and I know now that does not take much for alcohol no matter how light to add to the issue. I think of it like I do with heartburn live and learn and keep away from things that make me feel lousy

[Frances123 in reply to DawnTX]

Thanks Dawn. I’m use to AF every few weeks and just get on with it. That happens anyway per se when I’m on my usual healthy eating. It was the ongoing tachycardia with brief intermittent af episodes that puzzled me, never having it before. Oh and as to heartburn, I have had diagnosed acid reflux for years. Sadly though, not having any triggers (and I’ve looked at them all) I grin and bear it when it flares. Went into NSR about 8:00pm last night. Woke at 5:00am this morning in af but this time it was all my usual af. NSR at 7:30am.

[DawnTX in reply to Frances123]

You sound like me rolling with it. I am not going to run to the ER with every little twinge. If I get dizzy that is different but I am so used to the pounding in my chest now with the occasional really hard thump that I almost ignore them. I was in tachycardia in the 150s for almost 6 months straight so unfortunately again I have become used to things I probably should not be. Much of it is common sense such as if you rushed across the room you would know your heart rate was up at least mine would be. Right now I don’t need any triggers because my atypical flutter is constant. I just had a failed cardio version a week ago and on another new medication that has at least brought my heart rate down although it’s still flutters away on a constant basis. I had hit 199 in the hospital now for the past week it has been 80 or below today it has been below 70 all day. Lol now I have to go from it being too high to making sure it’s not too low. I like your attitude rolling with it we may as well we are stuck with it no matter what. One thing I do love is sometimes it does get quiet and it feels so good. Best of luck with everything🙏🏻😊

[Murdy1 in reply to DawnTX]

So true Dawn!

[fibnum]

AlI I can offer is my own approach to trying to stave off paroxysmal afib incidents. I eat smaller meals with a snack to supplement in mid-afternoon, and I try to eat no later than 7:30 pm, with the evening meal being rather light. I take gas-relieving antacids at bedtime and also during the day, if needed. I have Celiac disease and am careful about gluten and other irritants. This has reduced the frequency of afib incidents. If I feel a threat from gastric distress, I get up and walk around and sip water and then sit up until it dissipates. Deeper breaths help also, when I sense instability in my chest.

[Frances123 in reply to fibnum]

Thank you. I have had 2 ablations and normal day to day I eat healthily, avoid aspartame like the plague and any other obnoxious ingredients. I don’t drink or smoke but I still have af roughly every 5 weeks. I’ve learnt to live with it and just ride it out. Compared to many many others I have it easy. It was this new combo that puzzled me. Went into NSR about 8:00pm last night. Woke at 5:00am this morning in af but this time it was all my usual af. NSR at 7:30am

[fibnum in reply to Frances123]

I may be in a similar situation with regard to timing. I was getting afib events as often as every two weeks to 10 days for a while, but have gone 5-6 weeks with careful attention to digestion. I usually ride it out also, but I know that complications and unusual heart events make it more worrisome for you. I wish you well.

[secondtry]

Part of lifestyle changes for me was to more than half sugar and gluten, this slips a tad at Christmas but not much.

[Singwell]

Flecainide can make the heart rate increase, as you probably know. Do you take some type of AV node blocker as well with it? I'd contact 111 or your GP to get checked out.

[Frances123 in reply to Singwell]

Thank you. I’ve been on Flecainide 18 years and no blocker of any kind. My resting rate is 60-65 and at times the late 50s. Certainly don’t want it lower. Went into NSR about 8:00pm last night. Woke at 5:00am this morning in af but this time it was all my usual af. NSR at 7:30am

[Singwell in reply to Frances123]

OK. So you know how it works then. Maybe it was the digestion that triggered things. Hope it all settles back to your normal again.

[Frances123 in reply to Singwell]

Thank you. I think I also have to admit that I’m not as young (just turned 70 on the 22nd) as I use to be and have noticed this last year or so how other things can change or take longer to do or get over. I guess this may be another change. Use to be able to over indulge with no ill effect. Only ever did it at Christmas and Easter and without a problem.

[bassets]

Hope everything has settled down for you now.

[Frances123 in reply to bassets]

Thanks. So far so good.

[ian16527]

Mine seems to be going into this pattern too, short periods of fast regular beats the slowing down, then into AF.

Its happened last week and 2 weeks before that. Luckily only 4 1/2 hours last week although my chest muscles ache still which is normal for me, may take a few weeks to go completely.

[DKBX]

yes I have experienced same. I have given up on trying to find “triggers” as it all seems too idiopathic. Sorting it out is futility. In fact I woke in Afib this morning startled by a bad dream so I’m tracking along with you.

[Afibflipper]

Hello, belated happy Christmas (and indulgence 😆). I can’t advise re meds but I stick to low salt diet (I do react when I’ve had even a little too much) also I have decaf drinks - if someone makes me tea or coffee with caffiene - I won’t know until a few hours later - I’ve often asked say a family member that made the drinks did they forget my decaf - usually it’s a yes. Just worth a shot to try (shot to try not having it I mean)