This Is Very Strange

[kocoach]

Has anyone on this post ever experienced this, while sitting in my computer chair when I lean back on it, it shows I am in afib HR of anywhere from 90s to 150s, it will stay that way as long as I am leaning back in my chair but when I lean forward on the edge of the chair my HR drops to what normally is which is in the 50s as long as I sit in that position but as soon as I lean back it shoots up to the higher HR. Anybody have any insight as to why this happens, I always thought when you're in afib you're in afib doesn't matter how you sit or what position you're in? Very Strange!

[Izzle]

I hear my pulse so know as soon as AF starts. In the past when I was paroxysmal I had the exact reverse of yours.....I went into AF when leaning forward and back into sinus rhythm when leaning back. Unfortunately nobody could tell me why that happened. I'll follow your post with interest.

Alan L

[kocoach in reply to Izzle]

I'll let you know what my EP says.

[kocoach in reply to kocoach]

Well here's the answer he sent me: I spoke to Dr Lo and he said it would be difficult to know what is going on without an EKG to see the changes.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hmm, now that is strange. I wonder if it could have anything to do with the waistband on your trousers pressing in on your stomach and disturbing your heart rhythm?

Just a wild guess.

Jean

[Jalia in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Good guess Jean. Vagal nerve involved here I would think.

[kocoach in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I believe jalia is correct, Vagal nerve, I'll email my EP and ask him, he should know for certain.

[Izzle in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Tried slackening that to no effect. But obviously in my case some compression in the midriff is having an affect, probably on the vagal nerve as a guess.

But that doesn't equate for kocoach. Ummm

[OzRob]

Do you have Vagal AF? Positional change can bring on AF for people diagnosed with Vagal AF.

[kocoach in reply to OzRob]

I'm going to email my EP and ask him.

[secondtry]

Could be changes in waist band pressure or neck alignment or when you relax; all point towards an over sensitive Vagus Nerve.

[kocoach in reply to secondtry]

I believe the Vagal Nerve has something to do with it also but I'm going to email my EP and see what he say's.

[secondtry in reply to kocoach]

Don't be surprised if you get raised eyebrows, my cardiologist didn't take up my suggestion that the brain & gut were involved, although at that time I didn't know about the Vagal Nerve.

Now many years down the track, I have slowly altered my diet and connected issues, so I now have the brain as the main issue to deal with. A post here a long time ago said something like ' the good news is that although the brain can make you unwell (ie worry) it can also heal you (ie placebo). So my thinking is a good gut/digestive process sends relaxing messages to the brain and I top this with slow deep breathing exercises, which I hope the brain picks up. Long term, I am hoping to de-sensitise an over active Vagal Nerve and banish AF further.

[kocoach in reply to secondtry]

Well here's the answer he sent me: I spoke to Dr Lo and he said it would be difficult to know what is going on without an EKG to see the changes.

[Popepaul]

I recently read that the heart is only 4 mm away from the oesophagus. The area can become more flaccid with age and the vagus nerve is active in this area. To my mind it does sound like innervation which for you alters with movement. The good news is that for nsr returns when you shift position.

[kocoach in reply to Popepaul]

My EP should know the answer, I'm going to email him.

[Ppiman]

I get this sometimes even I lean forward at breakfast on occasion. I think the heart is being physically pulled and it's been shown that if the atrium is stretched it becomes more prone to ectopic beats and other issues. The heart is tethered inside the chest and presumably gets naturally pulled about. In my own case, I think the stomach and intestines can also distend and push the diaphragm against the heart, with a similar effect.

Steve.

[kocoach in reply to Ppiman]

My EP should be able to tell me, I'll let you know what he say's.

[Ppiman in reply to kocoach]

I find doctors can rather dismissive of any ideas put forward so it will be interesting to hear back from you.

Steve

[kocoach in reply to Ppiman]

E-mailed him this morning now just waiting.

[kocoach in reply to kocoach]

Well here's the answer he sent me: I spoke to Dr Lo and he said it would be difficult to know what is going on without an EKG to see the changes.

[hadlig]

How are you measuring your HR?

[kocoach in reply to hadlig]

finger pulse oximeter. Innovo i900ap deluxe model.

[Barny12]

Yep, this happens to me, too. It comes and goes but during a bad period it makes going to bed tricky! I tend to spend around 45 minutes gradually adjusting my position from sitting upright to fully lying down. Wish I knew why it happens.

[kocoach in reply to Barny12]

I'll let you know what my EP say's, I will email him.

[kocoach in reply to kocoach]

Well here's the answer he sent me: I spoke to Dr Lo and he said it would be difficult to know what is going on without an EKG to see the changes.

[KootenayTrails]

Exactly what I had to do every night, before my ablation. Was so tiring, when all I wanted to do was lay down quickly and go to sleep!

[kocoach in reply to KootenayTrails]

Did the ablation help?

[KootenayTrails in reply to kocoach]

Not one AFib or any heart bump since, after a nightmare 3 months. My old life back again, a huge relief!

[kocoach in reply to KootenayTrails]

That's fantastic, may it last your lifetime.

[KootenayTrails in reply to kocoach]

Thanks man, all the best you as well.

[hadlig]

Unless you have symptoms when you lean back, I would be suspicious of the oximeter readings.

Have you tried feeling your pulse as a cross check?

Does your oximeter display a pulse waveform, and if so does it look sensible?

[kocoach in reply to hadlig]

Never tried taking pulse manually and yes the plethyagraph looks fairly normal. I notice also that a lot of times (more often than not) my spo2 drops down to low 80s, in fact one morning upon waking took a reading and it was 69. maybe body just wearing out. I'm going to have an EKG done as well.

[hadlig]

Sounds as though the oximeter could be reporting the HR OK. I hope the EKG provides some insight. Presumably they will have to do EKGs with you leaning back and forward for comparison - or do a 24 hour Holter EKG.

The SpO2 readings seem worrying - in the UK oximeter readings that stayed at or below 92% were treated as an emergency during the COVID crisis. Maybe another thing to discuss with your doctor.