Hi. Following an ablation nearly 2 years ago I have been AF free. I have PIP Flecainide and Bisoprolol that I have never needed to take since the ablation. I take Edoxaban daily. I currently have Covid and yesterday had a jumping feeling so checked my Apple Watch and it said AF. I immediately did several more readings and they all said Sinus rhythm. I’m praying it was a false reading, but worst case scenario if it was AF, do you think it’s Covid related and temporary? I often read that AF is progressive in nature. Does this one event mean I’m likely to be back on the ‘slippery slope’ of heading back into more regular AF? I’m very, very despondent and hoping maybe others have had isolated events during a Covid infection that don’t develop into anything. Your opinions would be very much welcomed. Thank you.
Temporary AF during Covid?: Hi... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Temporary AF during Covid?
When I had Covid alongside pneumonia last year, my heart went haywire. So yes, I feel sure it was Covid causing your AF problem. Time will tell of course.
Also be aware that even normal people classed as not having any heart rhythm problems can have the occasional few odd beats.
Jean
Thank you for your quick response Jean.
Yes but don't worry I am sure it is temporary. Covid is known to do this. even with non Af people.
Thank you Bob.
Yes. Covid infection can trigger AF. It can also trigger ectopics. The Apple Watch is not a genuine ECG though. It’s algorithm is quite crude. It can throw up “possible AF” if there are more than about 3 ectopics in a 30 second trace. You need to be able to interpret the trace or ask someone with an expert eye for their opinion. If you have a cardiologist or arrhythmia nurse you could send them a PDF, although I appreciate not everyone has access to these people. Viruses of all kinds can be nasty and Covid is certainly a sneaky one.
Thanks Autumn Leaves. I’ve had a false positive before, but having studied the trace carefully and comparing to examples online I do think it was AF (unfortunately) though very, very brief.
Once you can spot it yourself it’s easier but it takes a bit of learning. At first you only have the automatic algorithm verdict to go on but once you can identify a PAC/SVE and a PVC/VE and that premature beats won’t have a P-wave either, you can say with more confidence that “these are ectopics, not AF”. AF is quite distinctive, more squiggly. It’s always good to have an expert opinion, even if you’re just taking your “possible AF” printouts along to an appointment. An experienced eye is invaluable. But yes, Covid can definitely trigger AF episodes. It did for me, It triggered a lot of ectopics too. Not surprising as it the ectopics started for me with a very bad lower respiratory infection way before Covid was a thing, so it doesn’t have to be Covid. You may find yourself vulnerable to arrhythmia if you have flu or a chest infection. We just need to look after ourselves!
covid gave me tons of nasty problems, before vax and after vax, whichever Dr says covid doesn't cause heart problems is an idiot. covid gave me hypertensive crisis multiple times with blood pressures of 200/110, it gave me heart rates while rest of 150-160, gave me hypothermia a few times having temp of 34.8 was miserable, it gave me heart flutters, pvc runs, I could go on. all these things morphed and switched week by week and saw multiple cardiologists and all are clueless as to why covid does this to some people, so I have no idea all they do is give you meds to control each bizarre symptom and hope for the best, just ride the wave and pray that's pretty much what I did and am doing now. prior to covid I didn't really have any of these problems besides occasional pvcs post workout that's it.
Sorry to hear about your reactions to infections. Covid certainly has wide ranging effects.
I went to see a top cardiologist privately as so determined to get answers to my heart problems since covid and still have long covid. I was in persistent AF since Easter. ( before catching covid I had episodes of AF always reverted with sotolol.) He said frankly that his clinics were full of patients who had post covid heart problems including myocarditis and AF etc. an MRI scan showed covid related myocarditis scarring of heart muscle and problem with left ventricle. Obviously everyone is different and don’t take it from me but I’m certain in my own mind that covid is leaving a terrible legacy of heart and lung problems for the NHS to deal with. I have since had a cardioversion and my heart back in sinus rhythm. I’ve felt so much better. I still have long covid so keeping fingers crossed.
That's awful, the weird thing is back in '20 with my first covid encounter most of my blood work & ultrasounds, MRi's came back perfect, fast forward to '23 & now the damage is showing up unfortunately, that's why I assume lots of people who got different med work ups back then nothing showed up & now it's a whole different story. Each covid infection you get from now on is going to be a battle to see if you get long covid again with more problems or maybe not, it's all so uncertain. Got reinfected maybe 4 weeks ago & currently having a barrage of the same symptoms back in '20 which sucks.. Wish you the best & do take care of yourself from future infections vaccinated or not!
I’m glad you’re back in NSR and hope you make progress with LC. I have been living with ME/CFS for many years and I’ve had Covid on top of that, so I can’t really differentiate between a nasty ME relapse or ME + LC. My arrhythmias started with a non-Covid respiratory virus. I have no doubt that Covid has very nasty long term consequences. A friend of ours had Covid in the Jan 2021 delta wave and had pneumonia on top of it, and he’s now T2D. He was cycling to work and going to the gym before Covid. It now looks like there’s a statistical correlation going on with T2D, so I fear that will be another legacy issue too.
What's T2D? Thanks
Type 2 diabetes
That sounds awful. Covid is a nasty virus. It is annoying when people describe it as “just a cold” because it’s a lot more than that. I’ve heard of people having a “mild” first infection and a severe second infection that has left them with LC and problems similar to yours. Sadly my neighbour who fell ill early in the first wave didn’t make it, and he was a previously active person with no underlying health problems.
Haha "just like a little cold" yeah they told me the same thing back in '20 that's why I wasn't worried about getting infected, then I got infected & oh boy, what was about to happen was gonna be life changing. Covid is just diving into the unknown, with each person it's pretty different, a box of surprises, you either get really messed up for life or nothing really happens to you. From what Drs have told me it's more uncommon that teens or people in their 20's getting bad covid, they usually burn thru the covid infection but there are a few cases of younger folk getting it bad, so it's a coin flip. I also saw an article online about covid/long covid, don't know what to make of it but supposedly it mentioned that 90% of people who got bad issues with covid had a secret underlying health issue or a health issue that was buried in their system & was ready to pop up a few years later down their life (if covid never showed up) & covid just sped up the process & intensity of that buried health issue that the person wasn't aware of, kinda eerie huh?
In some cases, yes. I think that’s probably the case with AF and I’d also say that those who experience AF after a Covid vaccine were heading that way. If it wasn’t the vaccine it would have been the Covid virus, or even possibly a flu virus or some other trigger. In others I think Covid itself triggers an inflammatory or low grade autoimmune response that might explain LC in some people. I don’t think any illness ever has one “root cause”. I think it’s more likely to be a combination of various factors whether that’s genetics, the gut microbiome, metabolic traits, how someone’s immune system responds, etc. It it’s “just a cold” for some people, it certainly isn’t for others. I had terrible GI problems, and you don’t get that with a cold, or the bizarre taste/smell issues that are impossible to describe to someone who hasn’t experienced it.
oh and each covid infection you get from now on is a coin toss as to how it will affect you, it could either bring on a wave of heart problems and other nasty stuff or maybe it just stays like a little harmless cold, nobody knows, it's all a box of surprises. first covid infection was extremely bad, second was much lighter and was at the gym two weeks after and the third one is very nasty just like first but my body is reacting a bit better as it knows the ropes now I guess
The C-jab can cause AF also for some, so maybe duck that one and invest in nasal spray, gargle and vitamins D & C.
I think most people believe after the C-jab any Covid infection is less serious and therefore the jab is worth it, even with all the reported side effects. I may be missing something but I don't see how you can draw that conclusion as you have no clue as to how serious it would have been without the jab.
The good news is that some highly qualified doctors are working on detoxifying the spike from C or the C-jab; too early to call yet but evidently a combination of natural substances (Nattokinaise, Bromelain & Curcumin) may help. Needless to say no-one should take these without confirming it with their medic and the dose levels; particularly so the Natto which is supposed to be a natural anti-coagulant and therefore probably NOT suitable for those already on such pills due to the bleed risk.
I have had readings that say l am in AF and then few minutes later it’s reading sinus rhythm. Sounds like you had ectopics and not going into full blown AF, which is good. It will be the infection causing it, so rest up and let nature take its course. Hope you soon feel better.
Thank you very much for your reply. Very reassuring. I’ve had none since that one reading, and my Covid symptoms are starting to ease, so hopefully it was indeed just some ectopics. Fingers crossed.
It’s very scary times for us all and you must have been very worried - l would be very anxious. Take it easy, nothing strenuous while your body is fighting this horrible virus. Wishing you well. 🥰
I had 2 a-fib episodes when I had Covid in Dec. 2020, one of those in an ambulance on my way to the hospital. This was after being a-fib-free for about 8 months.
My second ablation was in July 2020. The only problem I’ve had since was a morning of ectopics when I had Covid,
Many of your experiences seem to indicate a link. I feel a little more positive that it is potentially a Covid blip, rather than AF back in full force. Thank you for all of your helpful responses.
I had a very short run of AF (30 seconds) when I was recovering from Covid. Not had any since and that is almost a year ago. Can’t know the future of course, but hope this brings a little reassurance.
My AF increased hugely when I caught Covid and unfortunately never reduced again after my infection resolved.
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