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.

[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?