heart failure

[execz1]

I am wondering if any of the members in this fine group ended up with heart failure due to AFIB of any kind? If yes , Would you please share how was your AFIB symptoms were leading up to the heart failure diagnosis.

Thank you

[Gumbie_Cat]

I think that quite a few people might experience this, as it is the other main risk, in addition to the risk of stroke.

If the rhythm, or failing that the rate, are kept controlled then it lowers the risk.

I was in paroxysmal AFib last year in the summer and an echocardiogram said ‘good left ventricular function’. Went persistent last Autumn, and had an MRI as part of a study, which showed reduced function. (40%) However, they thought it was just the way it looked in AFib. A more recent echo and it was called ‘only mildly reduced’ - apparently this was 49% EF.

Although I think that I had undiagnosed AFib for years, it seemed to be that move to being in it all the time that has made things dip. The dreaded ‘heart failure’ words have not been uttered, though I do worry. I think things are fairly steady now, and the rate is reasonably well controlled.

[CDreamer]

Further to Gumbie’s remarks, my husband was in HF 5 years ago with persistent AF and problems with valve regurgitation and aortic stenosis. He had had a pacemaker inserted prior for sick sinus syndrome. Otherwise quite fit apart from hypertension. He went for cardioversion which didn’t convert him to NSR so then put on Amiodarone which in time lessened and then stopped the AF. He is still on Amiodarone maintenance dose and his EF has risen from 36% to 57%.

There are many reasons for developing HF and AF is one of them but not the only one. If you also have cardiomyopathy then your chance of HF is higher and may be the cause of the AF.

Heart function was explained to me in very simple terms of workings of a house

- the structure = the heart muscle a dysfunction of which would be cardio myopathy - literally heart muscle something wrong -

- plumbing = cardiovascular - blockages in the pipes or faulty valves,

- electrics = arrythmias which cause the heart misfire.

Anyone can have dysfunction which can cause problems to the whole.

What causes the heart failure is important to know in order to help.

I don’t recall that my husband had any definitive symptoms which could not be explained by AF ie: gradually more easily fatigued, occasional breathlessness on exertion ie: talking whilst walking became more difficult, walking uphill etc. Only echocardiogram and scanning and angiogram scanning determined the diagnosis and the cause.

[Rainfern]

I remember learning about heart failure as an OT student and later meeting people with this condition. I always thought it was a horrible term to use because the heart is succeeding as long as it is beating. As for the person dealing with the condition I have only witnessed courage and dignity in the face of the fear and anxiety such a life changing diagnosis can throw at us. I have so far avoided it following a year of persistent Afib but am more afraid of dementia which is another risk factor. Hopefully I can put my struggle to remember names and find the right word down to senior moments!

[BevCynfelyn]

Yes,. I've had persistent AF since April 2016. My heart only goes back to NSR after DCCV ie it doesn't revert spontaneously or with medication only by a cardioversion. I've had 3 cardioversions which is the maximum number anyone living in my Health Board Area (South Wales) can have.When I'm in AF the left atrium of my heart is being "stretched" causing heart failure. My current bout of AF began autumn 2022

I've just spent 3 weeks in the local hospital and have had transesophageal echo cardiogram, angiogram etc to confirm the damage to my heart. My mitral valve is leaking badly due to the atria being stretched so much that it will have to be replaced by a mechanical valve. This is going to be done by open heart surgery as too much damage to be repaired via catheter. It is hopefully going to be done in a major teaching hospital, as my local General hospital can't do it. I may also end up with a pacemaker. Tests this week (I finally got out of hospital Tuesday after nearly 3 weeks) seem to be pointing to the leakage and regurgitating blood caused by the mitral valve possibly even being the cause of the AF in some kind of vicious circle.

I should hopefully only have to wait till January for the op and the cardiac surgeon will sort out any other problems at the same time so I could end up with a triple bypass too, or an ablation, or a pace and ablate procedure.

But like being on a Mystery Trip combined with a Big Dipper.

[waveylines]

Sorry to hear this. What stage of heart failure were you diagnosed with? The York scale has four. I didn't know I'd been diagnosed with HF stage 2 until post op. It was on my discharge letter! Bit shocked.I had persistent Afib. Started with intermittent 8yrs ago but had progressed. The op I had was a minimal invasive Maze proceedure to sort out essentially the electrics of my heart. Been in NSR since. No Afib now!

Cause of my heart problems was cardiotoxivity from successful cancer treatment. I've struggled with the heart drug treatments as I have hypothyroidism and a fair few of them interfered with the management of that condition. In addition I'm sensitive to drugs these days. This severely limited drug treatment options making it harder to control my fast heart rate and Afib.

I'm 11 weeks Post op & I can now walk at moderate pace for 30-40mins per day including a few little hills. It's a miracle. I keep away from caffeine and alcohol.

You need to keep moving as much as poss but at low to moderate level. My cardiology nurse told me to build my walking up using lampposts as a guide. So you start of with one or two lamp posts then walk back daily and then increase slowly every few days when you are ready. Build up slowly. It was great advice and that's what I have done.

I've no idea what the future holds for me but none of us really do. So I don't think about it. I enjoy my life now. Do what I can to keep fit and get fitter keep my heart in check.

Heart faure does not mean the end. A friend of mine had a heart attack 18,yrs ago and was diagnosed with HF due to the damage it caused to his heart. He walks miles goes on walking holidays. Still doing well.

Hope this helps.

[Dudtbin]

i went straight into persistent af after covid. Was admitted to hf ward put on various meds. This was December last year. In may had a TOE and heart had recovered only a slightly leaky valve . Af controlled very well with medication , still have some breathlessness and dont walk as fast as i used to but otherwise feel quite lucky!

[KipperJohn]

Just to say I was diagnosed with stage 3 HF in early 2022 with reduced ejection fraction of 35%. After 2 reasonably successful ablations in 2016 and 2017, AF started to breakthrough in 2020 and got progressively worse. I’ve had LBBB for years and this was probably the root cause. My EP advised there was nothing more he could do for my AF which is now treated as permanent. I’m under a heart failure team with medication maximised to what my bp and kidneys can tolerate and have been approved for a pacemaker. Currently awaiting appointment for MRI scan to determine what type of device they think I’ll need.

Hope this information is helpful.

[Dancing135]

I had AF for many years not sure when it went from paroxysmal into persistent. Looking back i had an incident on holiday i must have been 45 years old at the time not realising what atrial fibrillation was I had never heard of it or knew of it. I am 61 years old now. Cutting a long story short. My echocardiogram showed symptomatic atrial fibrillation as well as LBBB reduced ejection friction 40% to 45% estimated and regional wall motion abnormalities, that was over a year ago. I have just had a hybrid mini-maze procedure on the 14th November, I'm very happy to say I'm in NSR which is amazing. I'm hoping this will put everything back into working order.

[Madscientist16]

Like any muscle that is overworked, it becomes enlarged. This is what AF can do to the heart. Unmanaged AF just makes this enlargement worse which can lead to more AF episodes, heart valve issues and/or heart failure. Age and general health are also factors. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and limiting AF episodes can give the heart a rest to return to normal size and improve all over function and reduced heart failure.

[Jackiesmith7777]

my husband was asymptomatic before his stroke so not sure how long his first ablation had stopped working . He is currently stage 2 heart failure but hopefully will improve with right treatment .

[Tojo2020]

I too probably had undiagnosed AF prior to 2011. At that time I was hospitalized for for a "tune-up" resulting in the rapid loss of nine liters of fluid, (clearly I had HF). the next morning I asked the ultrasound tech doing my heart study about my ejection fraction and she reluctantly said it's thirteen per cent. The Docs said that isn't possible and wrote thirty five per cent in my chart. Now have been in NSR since second ablation and taking amiodarone as a hedge. Since 2011, when AF has recurred, my heart goes quickly into HF and I have neither energy nor stamina accompanied by shortness of breath. When in NSR life is so good.

[Monomono1234]

I’ve had afib for about 6 years. Just irregular heartbeat. 60bpm. My hf went from 45 to 35. Had an ablation yesterday that was successful but cardiologist said my hf is under 20 now. Probably exacerbated by the afib.

[Scotheart]

Sorry for the late response but I have only come across your post.

I started to experience a "racing heart" in my late 20s. I was absolutely bricking it at the time but the heart specialists assured me this was the benign type - and I went on to go through several decades of jogging, gym workouts, playing squash, etc. This enabled me to burn the candles at both ends - and in retrospect I probably drank more alcohol than was good for me.

Anyway, fast-forward to my late60s and I had a couple of experiences where the "racing heart" went on continuously but after visits to A&E the beat was restored to normal and life went on much as before. UNTIL a year or so later when on climbing the stairs at my home I started to feel out of breath. This developed quickly and the breathlessness extended to short walks. Eventually seen by heart specialist and diagnosed with AF and HF.

Medication has helped enormously and I'm able to go walking in the countryside for up to ten miles at a time without any side-effects (albeit on the flat - can manage only "gentle" inclines). And since taking Apixaban I actually experience less AF than I did before the official diagnosis.

Was my HF caused by my previous lifestyle linked to alcohol (and smoking)? Probably, Although about 6 weeks before the trouble started I had a covid "booster" jab by Astra Zeneca (the first jab was with Pfizer - with no side-effects).

I've never been able to pin down a medical professional to say what he/she thinks was responsible (or partly responsible).

[Bikica1234 in reply to Scotheart]

Hej Scotheart ,I'm afraid that maybe I too have HF because for several years I have had shortness of breath when walking uphill, e.g. up stairs. I often feel shortness of breath. Otherwise, I am treated for SVES and VES. Therapy does not help me too much. I went for ablation, but SVES and VES remained and bother me a lot. I feel my heart skip a beat and then it suffocates me. Doctors say it's harmless. when I lift or work something heavy, I feel shortness of breath. The ultrasound of the heart is good, mild mitral regurgitation and slight enlargement of the left ventricle (42). to get active, exercise, live normally, but I can't. I feel my heart skip a beat every day, it suffocates me. When I walk uphill, I don't have enough air, I get tired. I have to stop. I can't do anything hard and long. Something is wrong. I feel it. I've been to several cardiologists and they didn't find anything special. I had an EKG holter for 7 days. The holter showed SVES, VES, SVT and one short VT (several VES in a row) and the cardiologist says that it is mostly harmless. Should I continue taking the beta blocker and live normally, get active, exercise. But how when I feel discomfort.

It all started with the story ten years ago "Everything is OK, a little VES, a little SVES, work and live normally".