midnight

[Midnight2022]

I’d like to know if anyone else has developed AF while suffering from long covid. I’m now in permanent AF and am convinced this was triggered by being disabled by long covid for almost 2 years now. I did suffer from occasional paroxysmal AF before that and since having long covid my lifestyle has changed dramatically as I cannot engage in any of the many physical activities I did before due to exhaustion and severe post exertion malaise. I have a cardiologist appointment at Barts on Monday and feeling overwhelmed by confusion as to whether my symptoms are AF or long covid related. Since going into permanent AF in April I can hardly walk to end of road and get very breathless even though I’m on 3 sotolol a day. I can’t manage stairs at all and am sleeping downstairs. All very depressing. Any similar stories?

[mjames1]

Sorry what is going on. Covid took a lot out of a lot of us, including myself.

What you describe could be from long covid, your afib, the meds, or a combination.

Often easiest to start with the meds.

So you might therefore discuss with your doctor a trial off Sotolol and a switch to Diltiazem --a substitute non beta blocker -- if rate control is required. Also, Flecainde, if you qualify, could be added if they want to try a rhythm strategy.

If you have access to a long Covid Clinic, might be worth a visit, where they can explore your symptoms in more depth and try various anti-fatigue treatments.

Jim

[jeanjeannie50]

I've been where you are with not being able to walk far so understand how awful it is. Once it was hard for me to walk from the kitchen to lounge, but I gradually built up to catching the bus, going into one shop and then coming straight home again. It was while I had to wait almost 2 months to get a cardioversion. My heart rate was flitting around at around 115-130bpm.

Eventually I had a 3rd ablation which really helped . I've now been in constant AF for 3 years at a rate that flits between 60-90 bpm and have learnt to live with it. I feel generally ok and can walk distances up and down hills

I notice that in a previous post you say that you've had AF for 10 years. AF can get worse over time until the point comes when we decide something must happen to make us feel better. I think that may be more your case than covid making it worse, although we all know it can. When I had covid my heart raced, but at the same time I also had pneumonia and spent time in hospital.

Have your thyroid function tested, because mine was underactive and my extreme tiredness was because of that and not so much AF.

Hope this helps.

Jean

[Autumn_Leaves]

There have been some people posting here who have long Covid. As someone living with ME/CFS for many years, you have my sympathies about living with constant exhaustion and no energy to do the basics of personal care. I hear you. My arrhythmia problems started with a very bad respiratory infection which also caused a very bad ME/CFS relapse, so there is no doubt in my mind that viral illnesses can wreak havoc (and it doesn’t have to be Covid either). The cardiac complications of Covid/long Covid are quite distinct from the “old school” ME/CFS. It’s good that you are going to Bart’s. I hope you receive good care.

[Aegean56 in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Totally agree that other resp /viral illnesses can wreak havoc on the CV/autonomic nervous systems.

[Gumbie_Cat]

it could be coincidental, but my AFib changed after a Covid infection last autumn. Up until then it did last days, but I would come out of it.

I wasn’t even particularly ill while I had covid, but the following episode of AFib has never left me, and an already planned ablation lasted less than two days.

I am now on rate control plus anticoagulation only. Your symptoms could be due to either long covid, or the worsening of AFib. Persistent AFib can definitely make you feel exhausted. I felt like my legs were made of lead for quite some time. Now I just have the odd day like that, and usually it’s hills and stairs that are challenging. It is definitely settling now - not back to full energy, but it’s not dire - somehow the body seems to get used to being in AFib. As long as the rate is controlled. (Anti-arrhythmics didn’t work for me, though they lowered the rate a little.)

I really hope that the cardiology appointment helps. They will hopefully do tests to see how well the rate is controlled, and whether they can change your medications, or arrange procedures, to help with that. The best of luck with it all.

[DevonHubby1]

As far as we're aware we've had neither Covid or long Covid. Wife did break her shoulder so was less active than normal. Broken shoulder was mended and all was ticking on quite normally when wife went into persistent AF. Bouts of paroxymal AF ( normally less than 8 hours) happened about every 4 weeks.

Once in persistent AF, no energy, and extreme exhaustion. Gp tried different doses of beta blockers and different beta blockers to no avail.

Saw consultant who switched to another beta blocker (Nebivolol) which is helping. More tests to be done , but current thinking is a cardioversion.

Hopefully your session with the consultant will yield a similar positive plan.

[secondtry]

Well I hope Barts can supply some good options for the AF. I think you are probably right that Covid and/or the mRNA vaccine, from what I read, can aggravate the heart. I shielded and avoided the vaccine for that very reason. My brother had one shot and he has since developed permanent AF.

I don't know what Barts will suggest for Long Covid but there is more information from highly qualified doctors in the States here covid19criticalcare.com/tre... Before taking any action, check with your own trusted medic.

I read some simple free things most people affected can start now are: moderate exercise, fast intermittently (ie last food 5pm, next 7am) and double down on healthy living choices. These actions should help your overall health as well as bolstering your own body's healing system.

Hope something there helps.

[Ppiman]

I would press for, if it's not been done, some heart scanning to be done, either echocardiography or MRI. Covid can affect the heart directly, and cause other inflammatory and immune processes to worsen and you need to be sure this isn't the case. Our elderly friends' daughter is poorly with kidney failure thanks to covid and it took far too long for it to be properly investigated.

Steve

[Myya]

I am in permanent AF and have been for three years, am on rate control. I get very tired, but am not short of breath. I have good days and days that are not! I am 89, so I thank the Lord for waking me up and that I can still live alone. I do have muscle soreness in my arms and read where that can happen with AF if not a good blood flow in your body. A person needs to have a good attitude and that seems to help. I had COVID but a mild form , so did not seem to effect AF. I pray you will improve with time.