ANY HELP WOULD BE REALLY APPRECIATED

[SilverliningsForNow]

Over the past few months my AF has really settled down and at most is 30 minutes a month but today something strange happened. I felt as through I was getting pressure headaches and was waiting for my heart to kick in. When I checked my Kardia there were 3 or 4 instances in the minute when I was missing 2/3 heartbeats. It went on like this for 5-6 hours. I’ve taken my night meds and its settled down. Should I worry about this?

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Well on Metoprolol I had pauses of 2 seconds each at night. It did not wake me.

Found on 24 hr Heart monitor.

Sounds like you should be on a heart monitor and if you are feeling dizzy or anxious you should be in hospital.

They say "it's how you are feeling". Unwell go to A&E.

cheers JOY. 75 (NZ)

[SilverliningsForNow in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Thank you for this ❤️

[Ppiman]

It’s strange you say this. My AF came on yesterday and was accompanied for the first time by a left-sided, pressure type headache. When I checked one of the many ECGs I took (I’m over zealous), there was a few unusually long pauses between some of the heartbeats. I gave it no more thought but reading this brought it to mind.

Steve

[SilverliningsForNow in reply to Ppiman]

Maybe its just another anomaly we have to live with! It seems to have gone today 🙏 Thanks for your reply x

[Ppiman in reply to SilverliningsForNow]

I have read here that long pauses in heart beats can be a sign of certain things so I’m keeping a weather eye on mine.

Steve

[SilverliningsForNow in reply to Ppiman]

❤️

[2learn]

Hi, was this at night, cos could be related to sleep apnoea. I have that and I can stop breathing for up to 2 mins at a time, so now have to wear a breathing mask .

[SilverliningsForNow in reply to 2learn]

Good point. It was day/night but I’ll get my husband to listen out tonight. X

[TracyAdmin Partner]

It is best not to ignore any new symptoms or changes in your episodes. I would ensure you keep a record of such events. If you find they persist, contact your arrhythmia nurse (if available at your GP surgery) or GP upon your next appointment. Can you recall any triggers that may have caused this one-off episode?

Kind regards

TracyAdmin

[SilverliningsForNow in reply to TracyAdmin]

❤️

[SilverliningsForNow in reply to TracyAdmin]

Thanks Tracy. I honestly think the explanation that these can precede an episode of AF makes perfect sense for me because I remember it occurring last year. I have an amazing EP in London who responds to an email within 2 to 3 hours so if it occurs again and I’m worried I will do just that and write to him. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply. ❤️

[Snowgirl65]

Yours sound exactly what I experienced last month and early this month. After my regularly scheduled EP appointment yesterday, where I showed him my Kardia readings, he said mine were PACs (premature atrial contractions), and for some people, lead to an a-fib episode. Mine did not, which was good news. Mine have since settled down (I was under stress at that time) -- hopefully that'll be the same with yours.

[SilverliningsForNow in reply to Snowgirl65]

That is exactly why I LOVE this site. This happened to me last year and my heartbeat dropped to about 45 with exactly the same pattern. I presented at A&E and by the time I was seen I was in full AF. I live on an Island and not through any fault of our lovely staff the service here is woeful and they asked me what medication they thought I should take to bring myself back into NSR. They never gave me an explanation. for the low heartbeat. However, now you have said this it all makes perfect sense because very often a slow and low heartbeat preceded an episode of AF. I didn’t go into AF yesterday just felt odd. I’m so glad that you wrote this to me, thank you so much. ❤️

[Snowgirl65 in reply to SilverliningsForNow]

You're very welcome -- I'm so glad my little contribution helped in a small way. As my EP told me, everyone's physiology is different. Yours -- with your low heart rate -- and mine with my extra beats -- seem to be our own precursor to having an episode. Best of luck to you!

[SilverliningsForNow in reply to Snowgirl65]

And to you! It has been a great help in quickly making sense of something. Take care ❤️

[Madscientist16]

The missed beats sound like PAC (premature atrial contractions) or PVC (premature ventricular contractions) which are perfectly normal for people to experience with or without AF. The are also referred to as ectopics. They are actually a pre-beat even though they feel like a missed beat. I am surprised as an AF sufferer you did not experience these before. Any missed beat feeling that is longer than a few seconds should be examined by a doctor.

I have suffered from ectopics that affected my heart every three beats for DAYS and despite being extremely uncomfortable, I never went into AF. Over time I realized that this was caused by certain foods that I consumed (caffeine, artificial sweeteners, MSG).

I am not sure if the headache has any connection to this, but MSG always gives me a headache as well as the ectopics.