after 2 years afib is back!!

[Fondant]

I was first diagnosed with afib back in 2021. I had a successful cardioversion and went straight back to sinus rhythm. This lasted over 2 years and then yesterday morning……I feel it go out of sync for whatever reason. What I want to know is this….i read about people with afib having episodes that could last minutes, days, sometimes a week but then all of a sudden they revert back into sinus. Why doesn’t mine do that? It really gets me down. Only chance I have of sinus rhythm is with doctors intervention and probably another CV. And I’m sure that won’t be considered for a couple of months

[Hidden]

Obviously very disappointing for you Fondant, but CV’s rarely last for ever so remaining in rhythm for 2 years is a tremendous achievement. At 43 year’s young, you need to focus on what might be the best route forward for you and seeking another CV is a good choice but of course, may not last as long, but there again, could last longer, no one knows!

Is there a reason why you say it’s your only choice? Many would see your successful outcome as an ideal route for seeking an ablation, particularly in one so young. Try to see your Specialist as soon as possible to discuss all the options available to you but try and remain positive, you are in a much better place than many, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the moment……

[Teresa156]

Hi Fondant,

I’m sorry to read that your Afib has reared its head again after so long without it.

Afib unfortunately has a nasty habit of coming back.

Do you know how high your heart rate is at the moment? Ideally it would be best to try and get that rate down a bit, if it is high, if you need to wait for a cardioversion.

Have you ever had medication to try and control it in the past, or did they go straight to cardioversion? I.e betablockers or an anti arrhythmic? When people have episodes that go back into NSR, medications can help this happen and they take additional medication on top, to calm the episode.

If you arrange cardioversions through your GP, please can I suggest that you ask your GP if they can refer you to cardiology for them to investigate further into your afib? It sounds like you also need this now, rather than wait like this between episodes. Cardiology will do an ECG and an echocardiogram ( a scan of your heart) to show then if everything is ok with it and you will get proper treatment to help control your Afib.

In the meantime, try and take slow, deep breaths, this can sometimes help. Do you feel ok?

Are you going to call your GP tomorrow?

[Desanthony]

Get straight back onto your GP to be referred back for another consultation with an EP and hopefully another CV. The fact that your CV was so successful means that other treatments such as an ablation will be likely to work for you. Good Luck. I managed to get a 2nd and 3rd CV quite quickly - within a month or so by contacting the cardio nurses at the hospital. Good Luck!

[secondtry]

Book a private appointment with a trusted cardiologist.

[KathleenV]

Hello Fondant,

A disappointment for you but yes you have been lucky to have two years AF free. It's not unusual as others have said. My own cardioversion was unsuccessful and the cardiologist explained straight away that I would have to live with it. I did accept it and my heart never beats normally, I am told to try to keep my heart rate down as much as I can. Accepting has been everything for me.

For ÿou this is a just a setback and the doctor and cardiologist will be able to help decide where to go from here. Good luck

[Ppiman]

I doubt anyone can know, and even tests might not find out. The root cause of AF seems to be a mystery in many even though some other health states might have brought it on or accompany it (e.g. high blood pressure, obesity and sleep apnoea to name the main ones).

To stop AF and return the top of the heart to NSR, either electrical or chemical means can be used (or an ablation, of course). In your case, electrical means have worked well. I suspect this is the best way of all when it works. You might ask your GP whether something else can be used if the wait is too long and your symptoms aren't easy to live with. Sometimes a simple beta blocker can do the trick; other times, more potent anti-arrhythmic drugs are needed. I think these latter need to be started by a cardiologist as they can sometimes affect the heart in various ways.

Steve

[ozziebob]

The frequency of my AF events have been drastically reduced by addressing a Vitamin D deficiency, so I will always be an advocate for ensuring we all get an annual blood serum Vitamin D test to monitor our ongoing status. And supplementation, if needed, to maintain a blood level of 100 nmol/L.

I appreciate you are still young, but all ages can be affected by a Vitamin D insufficiency.

And Vitamin D not only addresses inflammation and arrhythmias, but a wide spectrum of health conditions.

Good luck with your current travails.

[fairgo45 in reply to ozziebob]

I've been taking Vitamin D for some years 2200mg a day but it's never helped my Afib so I'm not convinced.

[ozziebob in reply to fairgo45]

What is your current or latest serum blood Vitamin D level?

[fairgo45 in reply to ozziebob]

Hi My levels at present are 107 n/mol/L and have been in normal range for at least 4 years .

I don't see any improvement with atrial fibrillation in fact it's got worse and is permanent.

I do feel better taking the dose I said but I wasn't put on it for anything in particular I just thought it was a good addition but unfortunately has not helped my AF

[ozziebob in reply to fairgo45]

Thanks for update, and am truly sad to read about the progression of your AF.

However, reading your Bio, I cannot but notice your multiple comorbidities and previous surgical procedures which surely must be involved in the historical development of your AF to it's current permanent state. So I don't understand how you are able to identify Vitamin D as decisively unhelpful to the development of your AF. It seems more "unproven" in your case. If you read my Bio, I have never suggested Vitamin D is a "cure" for AF, in fact I specifically state it's not a "cure", but it has definitely helped my early stage pAF as I detail there.

I do hope you find a positive way forward with all your medical issues. Have you investigated the Wolf minimaze procedure? or whether such a procedure would be suitable for you?

bob

[fairgo45 in reply to ozziebob]

Yes I have looked at the mini maze but I'm not insured so it would be a lot of money last resortMy afib was the start of my problems around 2004 it was treated with 3 ablations but all failed .

Then 3 years ago stents luckily kardia picked up inverted T Waves which led to the stents being done

Last year heart failure my cardiologist said Atrial fibrillation arises from the L atrium which like the R atrium is a very thin walled chamber. When AF occurs and is long standing, the atria enlarge. It always happens there's nothing he can do

Vitamin D wasn't anything to do with these problems I took it because I've also got hyperparathyroidism so vitamin D was part of the treatment for that

I'm not criticising it I wish it had helped my afib from progressing sorry I didn't mean to say it wasn't a help for someone just not me

[ozziebob in reply to fairgo45]

I understand better now why you take Vitamin D and your need to keep it monitored to accommodate your unique medical situation. Your 107 nmol/L seems a good level, and is definitely more healthy than my initial deficiency level reading of 22 nmol/L. My latest reading was my highest so far at 145 nmol/L. (not that I want it much higher!).

As for the progressive atrial enlargement, it is also unfortunate that Dr Wolf has a precondition for his minimaze that the left atrium is under a certain size. So presumably sooner is better than later, although I would also struggle to find the money to travel to Tokyo to see the excellent Dr Ohtsuka, a journey previously documented on the Forum by saulger . See ...

healthunlocked.com/user/sau...

Good luck my NZ friend,

bob (London)

[Dee5165]

Sorry you are going through this. What were you doing before you realized you went back into Afib?

This happened to me more than 2 years ago. I went back to exercising 10 days after a successful cardioversion and went back into Afib. I decided to read about natural alternatives to Afib by taking vitamin supplements and after 7 weeks, I was Afib free.

Do some research for yourself. I believe that some minerals like Magnesium Taurate and chelated glycinate along with a list of other supplements like CoQ10 with L-carnitine, Wild Alaskin Fish Oil, Vitamin D, C was a good alternative to other procedures and meds. Good luck!

[KootenayTrails]

Must be so disappointing for you, but 2 yrs in NSR is pretty amazing! For me at first CV’s lasted a couple of weeks, then a week, then only days just prior to my ablation. The immediate relief from a CV was always worth it though, as like you, often didn’t convert on my own. Surely at your age your EP will priorize an ablation for you ASAP, with appropriate anti-arrythmic meds while you’re waiting. Here’s hoping you get in quickly!

[Laksacurry]

Hello, this is my first post so if I’m a bit off the pace I apologise. I’m somewhat baffled here. I’ve had AF off and on for 15 years. Literally every time I’ve presented at A&E (as instructed to do so by my cardiologist) I’ve been admitted and been restored to NSR either by chemical or electrical means within 72hours.Is this not standard NHS practice?