skipping heart beats

[shanelomax]

Hi I have PAF I had an ablation last October which has been successful, my specialist after a few months slowly reduced the medication I was on fleincade and bipropsol until I wasn’t taking them anymore just anticoagulants. I had a couple of episodes of AF after this which my doc put me back on bipropsol 2.5mg which seemed to help now a few months on I am having an episode of skipping heartbeats and flutters in my chest and My BP is high 140/96 I feel ok do I just ride this out or should I contact my doc? I don’t want to be labelled an hypochondriac!

[Desanthony]

Have you read the pamphlets on the AFA website on ablation and recovery from ablation? If not then do so. If you are still worried about this then yes contact your Doc. You are only a month out from your ablation so many things could still be happening that are quite normal through recovery time but do check. I have not had an ablation so couldn't tell you for sure but hope someone is along soon who can help more.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Shane, just to clarify, do you mean you had an ablation in October last year?

[shanelomax in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Yes sorry last October

[shanelomax]

I had the ablation October 2022

[jeanjeannie50]

People quite often need another touch up ablation to get areas that the scar tissue that forms wasn't successful in blocking. I've had three ablations and am so much better now. One person on this forum has had 7, but that is rare.

I guess it depends on how much your attacks of AF are bothering you now, think I would seek my docs advice.

Jean

[mjames1]

" I feel ok do I just ride this out or should I contact my doc? I don’t want to be labelled an hypochondriac! "

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I don't think you will be labled a "hypochondriac", however vague descriptions such as "skipping heart beats and flutters" are not helpful in terms of a medical diagnosis.

If they happen frequently, a good cardiologist or ep would give you on a 7-14 ekg day patch to document exactly what is going on and take it from there.

Alternatively, you could invest in a Kardia device, document the episodes yourself and then present them to your doctor.

Jim

[splashrollandplod in reply to mjames1]

I’d recommend Kardia 6L so you can do your own ECGs. £150 three years ago. Skipped beats are more often actually early beats or PACs, premature atrial contractions. Occasional or just a few are considered normal. The Kardia software on your smartphone will auto diagnose if there are loads of PACs or PVCs (ventricular) but you can also view the pdf of the trace to spot low frequency. My AF was exercise induced, gone completely since ablation 2 years ago. I use Kardia after exercise and often find 2 or 3 PACs - I then make sure I get adequate rest and recovery which is important at 67 anyway.

[Sanpet]

I agree that you should have a monitor to see what's going on. Following my AF ablation I had what I thought were AF episodes, which turned out to be A Flutter, which was sorted (🤞) with a right atrium ablation.A Flutter can often result in what feels like missed beats.

I would add that my Kardia couldn't differentiate between AF and AFl, it recorded AF. Cardiologist comfirmed this was typical.

Push for a monitor I would say.

[Ppiman]

Well, I am something of a hypochondriac, I suppose, but I avoid the word as I've come to believe it was coined by those who are lucky in not having to worry about their health and to belittle those who do.

Blood pressure during arrhythmia (i.e. frequent ectopics or other) will likely be pushed up by anxiety - that's my experience - but that bottom (i.e. diastolic) reading needs to be checked when you are calm and rested as it is high and sufficient to be need treating with antihypertensives if it is persistently like that (which I doubt).

Steve

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

What is your H/R at rest?

BP is high. I was that high but on 2.5mg is 110-130. 69. 60s H/R on Diltiazem.

cheers JOY

[shanelomax]

high 70s so ok

[Nanabrodie]

I had two ablations back in 2017and have not had any further AF episodes since but do have spells of what I guess are ectopics and flutterings. Recently I had three spells of severe pain in the middle of my chest as well as short but fast runs of heart beat. I mentioned it to my GP who after three week wait performed an ecg and has referred me for a 24 hr heart monitor. I have been waiting six weeks for an appointment and when I phoned the cardiac department at the hospital the other day to find out when it would be they told me it will be at least 71 weeks as I’m not registered as urgent 🫤. If the pain happens again I’ll probably try 111 instead.