Possibly the worst symptom of Afib

[Bunkular]

I have had 2 dramatic episodes where my ongoing heart palpitations got worse & went to my collapsing onto the floor for 20 min. I was covered in sweat, unable to move, felt dizzy, nauseous & with a tourniquet sensation on each limb. I have a doctor's followup appointment to discuss my 7 day Holter Monitor readings to see if it's SVT and what to do about it. Has anyone else suffered fainting from Afib and lack of oxygen to extremities like I have? (The long wait for Dx & treatment is provoking even more anxiety & light-headedness so I have to keep doing deep breathing exercises.)

[Lenaropes]

This is extreme and as a nurse feel you are decompensating. You should call emergency services if this happens again. These are signs of possible cardiac damage. At the very least call your MD to see if they can get you in sooner. I am not trying to scare you but feel more urgency by your description. Best of luck.

[CDreamer]

Nothing quite as dramatic as that but a few episodes of syncope/near syncope.

I hope you are waiting for diagnosis from a specialist?

My suggestion would be to call for emergency paramedics if anything similar happens as they will be able to monitor you and take you to A&E if needed.

I can’t work out if you are in UK, US or elsewhere?

[Bunkular in reply to CDreamer]

Canada ~ I did go by ambulance to ER and have an appointment to discuss my 7-day Holter ECG event Monitor & what meds are required. The specialist told me that it's probably Supraventricular Tachycardia or Premature Atrial Compressions. I bought a Kardia Mobile to take my own readings which I will also bring to my appt this week. And so I wait.

[CDreamer in reply to Bunkular]

Wishing you well with your consultation and hope you get seen and treated very soon.

[bluepettals7 in reply to Bunkular]

just wondering if these episodes got worse after the covid jab?

[opal11uk]

I would call an ambulance as this needs immediate attention, please don't wait for your next appointment.

[dmac4646]

Collapse is usually caused by drugs rather than AF itself - are you on BB's or Flecanide or any other "heavy" drug

[Bunkular in reply to dmac4646]

Just low statin & BP meds. I'll probably be put on something else tomorrow after my consult. I had already cut out my nightly glass of red wine and am drinking decaf, so I know it's not alcohol or caffeine.

[dmac4646 in reply to Bunkular]

May be BP meds ?

[Bunkular in reply to dmac4646]

I check my PB regularly and it's always in the normal range but that's something I will ask the doc in tomorrow's consult.

[iris1205]

I have much milder syncope at the start of an AF episode… sorry to hear yours is so violent. Glad to hear you wil be seeing a Dr very soon.

Take care!

PS I use my medication as PIP - only when an episode has begun, so in my case not provoked by meds!

[Ppiman]

There’s a home 24 hour ECG device by a Chinese company called Wellue that would track cardiac events well and report back using AI analysis if you were to be able to use it on a day when this happened. This might speed up an eventual diagnosis.

A friend has permanent AF and has had a few collapses over the years but these seem to be down to eating / blood sugar / low blood pressure (postural hypotension) - although nothing has ever been proven and no treatment ever given. He’s now 90 and still doing well!

Steve

[fairgo45 in reply to Ppiman]

I have the wellue 24 hour monitor it's easy to use and small enough to not be visible under a shirt or blouse.

It's interesting to see all the information it gives and I sent the file to my cardiologist who has now arranged for me to have a holter monitor so he can compare.

[Ppiman in reply to fairgo45]

Isn't it a super little device? The AI report is, well, astonishing really. Fortunately, my AF has been quiet since starting daily bisoprolol last March (1.25mg), but the ectopic beats were in abundance last night, so I used the smaller handheld one which showed them as PVCs with runs of eight and more at a time. What a weird palpitation feeling they create.

Steve

ECG snippet

[fairgo45 in reply to Ppiman]

Yes it's a clever little device and for me I'm in persistent AF so my read outs are extensive I have had 10,000 PVCs / PACs over 24 hours 10% of my total heartbeats.It gives a brief compilation of everything it picks up doesn't it.

did you notice the 950 heart traces to look at as well or is that just me?

[Ppiman in reply to fairgo45]

No, or I don’t remember that. What are those?

Goodness - that’s a lot of ectopic beats. I usually get a mix of PVCs and PACs but last night’s were all PVCs. I have a left bundle branch block and put them down to that.

Steve

[MWIC]

Never had anything that extreme despite Heart rate going as high as 190bpm - anything like that I’d go straight to A&E - don’t take any unnecessary chances - Hope you’re OK

[Sustainedvtach270]

Hello, if I were you I would call 911 right away. Here is my story. I passed out twice, the first time I got back on my feet, was hot and sweaty, feeling palpitations, got to work the next day despite feeling short of breath. I got hospitalyized that night for rapid afib about sustaining HR 120's. The next week while still hospitalized, I passed out again, I went into sustained Vtach, Vfib and cardiac arrest. Be cautious with deep breathing, both time, I was doing deep breathing while passing out, I was actually hyperventilating. Only do slow nasal breathing (watch Patrick Mc Keown youtube). Keep us posted. Thierry

[Bunkular in reply to Sustainedvtach270]

Thank you! Will do.

[marcyh]

I haven't had all of those symptoms but I have to lie down with an AF attack or I will collapse to the floor from shortness of breath.