Norovirus and atrial fibrillation

[UK_5010]

Had an ablation back in May 2022 but not heard from the hospital since the procedure. Generally not been too bad apart from 1 week with ectopics, bigeminals and trigeminals. Still on apixaban and 200mg of sotalol though.... That is, until now. I picked up my mother from hospital on Friday and started to be violently sick on Sunday evening. This carried on until about 2 in the morning when it seemed to settle down a bit. Heart rate was about 110 but steady. Have tried to stay hydrated and use rehydration salts (Yuk to Dioralyte) and diarrhoea now seems to be the problem. Although the heart rate seems to have dropped to about 70-80 it now seems to be irregular. I've continued to take the sotalol although missed a bit during the vomiting but it doesn't seem to want to settle. As it's relatively slow I guess it's not an issue but was interested if anyone else has had similar experiences with norovirus. I've not be physically sick since 1997 so it was really unpleasant and followed up with the pooping..... not good! There's no cure but I'm surprised they haven't tried as it really is an unpleasant experience!

[BobD Volunteer]

Best to get the bug out of your system they say. That is the whole reason you have the symptoms. Not pleasant and yes any inflamation will set off AF if it wants to.

[UK_5010 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob. Most unpleasant I've felt for a long time.

[mjames1]

Probably norovirus or similar, but if you haven't already, do a rapid covid test. I had the exact same symptoms with Covid. Not unusually in that Covid can attack the gastro system in addition to about everything else. Not surprising, however, whatever it was that it triggered Covid, with all the trauma to the system. I had my only afib episode on flecainde when I had Covid.

Jim

[UK_5010 in reply to mjames1]

Thanks Jim - negative Covid - not sure that's good or bad! Still watery poop after 48 hours and stomach churning like mad still!

[mjames1 in reply to UK_5010]

No covid is good. The rest, not so much. I like Pepto Bismol when my system goes awry. But sometimes it can intefere with meds so good to check with doc or pharmacist

[BraveHeartGirl in reply to UK_5010]

Glad your Covid test negative. I'm the only person at my workplace and in my extended family not to have had it yet. But have had some kind of virus with stomach churning and gurgling...It's not fun, is it? Hope you feel better soon. (p.s. -- I had my most recent afib episode two days after a colonoscopy that left me totally dehydrated, and I hadn't followed the procedure with enough fluids to replenish. I didn't know dehydration could trigger, but am learning fast.)

[UK_5010 in reply to BraveHeartGirl]

Hi. Thanks for your good wishes. Yes, it's difficult to avoid dehydration. I know it can trigger ectopics/bigeminals/trigeminals and even a-fib in the extreme. I suspect I'm suffering a degree of it but Dioralyte tastes awful!

[Wildare]

Sorry about your bad experience. I started with Apixaban but struggled, both with the two a day regime and also with digestive problems. Changed to Edoxaban- one a day. Still quite 'edgy' as far as tummy troubles are concerned, but no real issues and easier to manage once a day.

Good luck

[UK_5010 in reply to Wildare]

Thanks Wildare. The pooping seems to have eased a bit so hoping on the road to recovery. Always difficult to be patient when you're ill and, as you say, hard to know what will set your tummy off. I think someone on here said the gut is a second brain so meds can be problematic. I've been lucky with the Apixaban, so far, so would be reluctant to change now.

[Mazza23]

I have taken apixaban for 9years no problem