An interesting thought: I have had Afib... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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An interesting thought

bigbearatthecave profile image

I have had Afib paroxysmal on and off for 10 years. I now take 2.5 mg Bisoprolol each morning and have since had no Afib attacks or wobbles.

However, my Apple watch always says I have Afib, and any time I have an ECG it says I have Afib.

Yet I appear fit as a flea, can do manual jobs and work, etc with no effects.

Is this just how I am or am I lucky I have no problems? I have had two minor had opps with general anesthetic and the hospital were not concerned.

Would I open a can of worms trying to fix something that does not seem to affect me ?

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bigbearatthecave
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23 Replies
Jalia profile image
Jalia

Are you taking anticoagulants? Nothing to worry about if you are I would have thought. Plenty of people have permanent AF and are asymptomatic including my husband.

bigbearatthecave profile image
bigbearatthecave in reply toJalia

I started taking Asprin 75mg daily as the doc did not think i needed anything

baba profile image
baba in reply tobigbearatthecave

Aspirin won't protect you from AF stroke.

AussieHeart profile image
AussieHeart in reply tobigbearatthecave

make sure you get annual kidney check plasma and urine if taking aspirin longterm.

Nightmare2 profile image
Nightmare2 in reply toJalia

The first thing they do with AF or AF paraxsman (as I have) is to put people on blood thinners, aspirin are not enough. I am surprised you are not on anti coagulants, do you actually have AF is the question here.

Tomred profile image
Tomred in reply toNightmare2

Ive had paf approx 35 years and asked ep 2 weeks ago , again , for anti coagulant , chads score 0 , he says no , not until im 65 , 2 years away, i would feel much safer on them.

AussieHeart profile image
AussieHeart in reply toTomred

anticoagulants have their own issues so count yourself lucky you don’t need them, yet :-) I’m in the same boat … 5 years away for me

Nightmare2 profile image
Nightmare2 in reply toAussieHeart

Please do not scare people from anti coagulants, they are Proven as regards strokes. My friends husand had a stroke as a result, 8 years unable to speak or walk just move one arm until he passed away, the stroke make a huge clot formation that went into his brain, was unconscious on machinery for 3 months initially too.

His wife often says since, if only he had been on anti coagulants.

A.coagulants, are by far the best preventative for people with AF, Bisoprosol which i am on a very small dose, does less if stroke occurs. All meds have side effects, but AF can cause clots as we all know and its these clots that cause mainly strokes.

baba profile image
baba

Yes leave well alone, but give careful consideration to anticoagulation if appropriate, check your chads score.

patient.info/doctor/cha2ds2...

bigbearatthecave profile image
bigbearatthecave in reply tobaba

My Chads is 0

I would agree with everything that’s been said. Here in the UK, medics say that aspirin should not be taken for AF although there are other heart conditions where it can be beneficial. From what we are hearing on the forum, this opinion is also becoming more popular in the States. Google CHADsVASC and see whether or not you should be taking an anticoagulant. Although there are cost issues in the States regarding prescribed drugs, inappropriate use of aspirin can do more harm than good….

Otherwise, you are very fortunate and long may it continue.

Teresa156 profile image
Teresa156

Is your watch telling you that you are always in Afib , like 100% of the time? If so, you are no longer paroxysmal and are either in persistent Afib, or permanent, depending on how long you’ve been like this for. You are also asymptomatic which means you don’t realise you are in Afib. Some people don’t realise they’re in Afib, whereas others really know ( I know I do)

What rate is it at? You may not have been in Afib when you had your ops as I’m sure they would have mentioned this to you at the time. Afib is often ( but not always) a progressive condition. Depending on what rate it is, you may need to adjust your medication. As others have said, you do need an anticoagulant. A cardiologist or GP should prescribe this based on your risk /stroke and they use something called a CHAD Vasc score? Aspirin isn’t an anticoagulant and won’t prevent a stroke. Your GP may not have realised you were in Afib at that time perhaps?

I think you would be wise to make an appointment to have your current situation checked.

pd63 profile image
pd63

Surely anticoagulant is needed if in afib irrespective of chads score or am I missing something?

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly in reply topd63

Usually only prescribed after 65 unless you have comorbities which push up your score.

baba profile image
baba in reply topd63

Lots of accurate information on the main AF Association website.

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Jetcat profile image
Jetcat in reply topd63

all comes down to the chads score!!!!

mjames1 profile image
mjames1

Some people have asymptomatic afib. So if by "fix" you mean ablation or drugs -- the risk/reward is just not there.

What you have may or may not only require a thinner/anti-coagulant, depending on your risk score. You should be evaluated, however, by a cardiologist or ep periodically, just to make sure that things, otherwise, in the heart are in good working order.

Jim

Thank you everyone, my heart rate is around 75 to 85 , never goes much over 110 even with exercise - maybe i have a strange rhythm and not afib anymore ?

Teresa156 profile image
Teresa156 in reply tobigbearatthecave

I do think it’s likely to be persistent or permanent Afib, especially as your watch has told you that ( the Applewatch is very accurate) bisoprolol has bought it down to that level.

It’s entirely up to you, but ideally you should see someone about the change from paroxysmal and what you may need to do going forward ( especially regarding the aspirin).

javo123j profile image
javo123j

I'm in afib at the moment but with a pulse rate of 57 but it still all over the place like 6 slow ones then 5 fast ones but mine does affect me with dizziness and breathlessness. I think I'd probably just get checked out.

Singwell profile image
Singwell

Sounds like you're in persistent AF to me. And it's great you can do all the things you need. I was told by my EP that many are more comfortable when in persistent AF as the body systems adapt.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman

An elderly friend has the same and has been well for very many years. His pulse tends to be in the normal to slightly high range (80bpm).

Steve

Sniggetts profile image
Sniggetts

Hi there ,

I too have AF , I am on adizem SR and flecanide but no anticoagulant at present as CHADS score is 1 and that’s cos I’m female & no other medical issues. Apparently as long as things stay that way then no anticoagulant until age 64 …. So got a few years yet . That advice is recent by cardiologist & Gp. 😊

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