I've at last succumbed to the ravages of a Cornish Winter. Brief story .... no AF for about 4 years, just stay with meds for life and a continuous monitoring of diet. Simples ! Managed to get a brilliant cold with the most devastating cough - ever !
Q ..... So, has anyone who has had no AF ( not cured, just highly controlled ) for some years been kicked back into AF from coughing fits. My lower rib cage feels like it is about to disintegrate. Not even describing the pain ! Time for a face to face with my GP I'm afraid ............ well, that'll be a lifetime opportunity for her, to see me face to face, the first time since April 2022 !
Many thanks.
John
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BenHall1
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We have both had this horrible bug but as OH has pm for total heartblock. and I’ve had pace and a late don’t know what AF is up to. Only it hurts to cough as you say
Sorry you have got it John. I'm into week 6 of "the cough" and it is fading. At present only really starts with change of atmosphere. e g from outside to in or vice versa. Sam has had it too but despsite startng a week after me she has all but finished. But then she is considerably younger than me.lol 😁
Thanks Bob .... interesting, yes, Chrissie ( also younger than me ) and I have both got it, hers seems much milder than mine. Spot on with the 'change of atmosphere bit' .... that is so correct. In fact when I'm driving, my car or bus, I have the drivers side window open and I feel great. But the change of environment, its like I've stepped out of a train wreck. Then again, if I'm home and indoors, a coughing fit will start for no reason and I start running out of air for the lungs 😱
Onward and Upward
Your final comment amused me .... it took me back to my youth of the 1950's and the Eagle comic - Sergeant Luck of the French Foreign Legion ( amongst many other characters ). 🙂
Dan Dare. Pilot of the future! Written and drawn by Frank Hampson, a cousin of my mother. He was never able to imagine a face so all concerned were members of family. Prof Peabody was my mother, Dan Dare was Frank himself, Digby was my Uncle John and I have spent years denying that I was inspiration for the Mecon. lol 😁
So Bob, who procured for you the little flying saucer boat thingy that the Mecon flew/buzzed around on. 😂😂That comic strip contribution to Eagle was awesome and I truly loved Dan Dare. I also was totally absorbed by the centre pages which comprised a cutaway picture of a piece of engineering, transport or something which explained how the subject worked. Often the centre pages were a steam engine back in the day. Or a car, or a ship. In those days growing up I lived near Weybridge ( Brooklands to you ) and so each year I used to go up to Earls Court and visit the Hulton Press Boys and Girls Exhibition. Kept me out of trouble - until I became a teenager 😂😂then it all went pear shaped.
Exactly the same for our family Bob - but - I have to admit I'm sure my Dad got as much pleasure from Eagle as I did. My sister was similar, started on Swift, then progressed to Girl ..... and the Annuals at Christmas too. Just wonderful, happy family days. Dandy and Beano were smuggled in at times along with Lion and Tiger - 'Roy of the Rovers'. 😂😂😂
My brother and I were not allowed the Beano or Dandy as it was classed as common 😱. My brother had The Eagle and I had Jack and Jill then Jackie. Christmas annuals were Rupert. Still got one.
Thanks for your comments. Yep, fairly much like me - BP stays about normal, HR sky rockets, not dramatically normally my resting HR is around 68 bpm and now with all this coughing rubbish is resting at 88 bpm. I guess at the back of my mind was the curiosity of the coughing and a high heart rate possibly kicking off AF ( despite my having it so highly controlled and for so long ).
I have escaped the dreaded cough but I know it's doing the rounds. Anything inflammatory- and you'll have had a virus - can trigger AF so over the last 4 years you've done well. Do see your GP in case pneumonia is lurking. My recommendation for seeing off the bugs is high potency VitD3 with K2 (Holland and Barrett do as liquid spray) plus vit C, B12 and Magnesium. Zinc is also good and I take Selenium as well, good for those wuth hypothyroidism. If your not a supplement kinda guy, just get the VitD spray.
I’m hoping when my husband gets out on digoxin again his resting heart rate approx 100 will come down . I’ve got a fluey bug at the moment achey with a cough and really sore throat . I’m hoping hubby doesn’t get it with his AF
Hi John - like you I was able to manage my AF by diet and lifestyle changes together with medication- primarily Flecainide and Bisoprolol- I was averaging maybe 2 or 3 episodes per year which was manageable for me - I’m in my 70’s and retired with a part time job.
Then last winter I had the 2023 version of the 100 day cough virus and also found out I was anaemic. So a double whammy for me as both were triggers for AF and the frequency of my AF episodes increased until by May I was into persistent AF.
I had seen my EP earlier in the year when my episodes were becoming more frequent and he had put me on the list for an ablation- ablation had always been my worst-case scenario but by the time I climbed to the top of the list in August last year I would have done anything to make the episodes stop.
So I’m here now having had PVI ablation for AF and RF for atrial flutter - all done under GA. Having avoided this for many years I can only say now that I don’t have a single regret - since the ablation I haven’t had an AF episode - still get ectopic beats and the odd grumble but nothing I can’t deal with. Followed the pre and post ablation guides from this forum - thanks to Bob!!
I know there is no guarantee the AF won’t come back but I have no regrets and wish I had asked for the ablation earlier - so just saying, if you can’t get back to how you were once you get rid of the cough - it may be worth finding out if ablation is an option for you?
Thanks for all your info. I make it a practice in life to never say never .... because I know the moment I do is akin to letting the genie loose. Also, I've lived with this demon, AF, for some 14 years and I believe it is the most untrustworthy thing and just because I've had 4 years AF free, doesn't mean it will remain so. It is also another reason for remaining on this forum .... because of the wealth of experiences of others there is always something to learn, if only to file away mentally for a later date and I've had the pleasure of meeting face to face many on here who post regularly and always have some little gems for me to dwell on.
Yes, in a word. I had that cough - 3 weeks of it and it was vicious! Only just recovered and still exhausted from it. I ended up having antibiotics as it turned into pneumonia, again.
Surprisingly, apart from a few very brief episodes of AF and a lot of ectopics and a bit of tachycardia my heart behaved this time.
Hope you recover very soon. Take care John. Best wishes
Thank you for your encouraging outlook. Although I am an archcritic of my GP and the Surgery practice my GP ( who is also my wifes GP ) was quick enough to get Chrissy into hospital where she was diagnosed with pneumonia a few years ago. So last week when Chrissy also developed this cold/aggressive cough she was seen by our GP faster than instantly. For me the cold symptoms are nothing ... a cold is a cold is a cold .... BUT the coughing is starting to lead to feelings of lightheadedness and feeling a bit remote. Thank you again and hope you guys stay fit and well, only a few more weeks and April will be here and warmer ( hopefully ) weather.
Sorry to hear you're suffering John. Take care that you don't have pneumonia. I was shocked two years ago to hear I had it. If I hadn't had chest pain and difficulty getting my breath on one occasion I would never have known. Admitted to hospital where they gave me COVID too. It kicked my AF off big time.Take care and yes, please see your doc tomorrow, just to be on the safe side. Have you done a COVID test? Although the latest variant is meant to be milder I've known several people that it's hit hard. X
As I said to CD just now ( the coughing is starting to lead to feelings of lightheadedness and feeling a bit remote ), maybe I should accept I'm not superman. I'll phone in when surgery opens. No I haven't done a CoVid test, I have an 'in date' test kit in my medical kit in the house and I'll give that a go before I phone GP.
Maybe its time I accepted that I'm not young anymore nor do I have immortality. Funnily enough our bus company Dr. when giving me my annual medical ( last week ) for my bus licence renewal asked why I'm still driving ........ so I said, big toys for big boys ! Then I said ..... all about brain .... use it or loose it, then there is a social aspect, and then there is then constant challenge of dealing with badly behaved students ( who I mostly carry ) and the challenge of wending a double decker through traffic. Also at the back of my mind is ..... 1) my mum died from dementia and .... 2 ) dad died from diabetes. So I like to use my brain and try and keep fit ( AF and osteoarthritis permitting ). The company Dr. agreed, wished me luck and said you can take this as a pass. Yaaaay ..... but that was before this wretched cough thingy.
Thank you for your kind words, stay well, stay safe.
Well just to warn you, I think I'd had pneumonia once or twice before the last episode was diagnosed, I'd had a few occasions of a nasty very productive cough. When I had a chest x-ray my lungs were found to be scarred. We tend not to think about how infections can scar our organs and make them less efficient, especially as when up to a few years ago we were very rarely ill.
I think now may be a good time for you to retire, you can always do some voluntary work to keep your mind active. I volunteer for the National Trust as a room guide and love it. A male neighbour volunteers at an old steam train station, doing repairs to the trains and carriages. So many different volunteer opportunities you may not be aware of.
Wishing you a speedy recovery. Let us know how you get on at the docs.
I was on the line at 08.32 this morning to my surgery ........ " you are now 20th in the queue " .... in fairness I was speaking to a receptionist in around 10 minutes. I asked for an appointment with my GP or any GP ... wasn't fussed. In response to being asked what was wrong I explained my problem .......... then I got told my GP would phone me tomorrow (Tuesday) - no time given.
Actually, strange you were talking about retirement, I have been shifting more and more of my thoughts in this direction since winter ( 2023) set in. I have decided to go through to the end of the summer College Term, probably early July '24. Meanwhile I'll explore other opportunities. I know you'll think I'm crazy, BUT, I just can't stand the thought of doing nothing ... I don't think a normal healthy human was ever designed to mentally do nothing. Use it or loose it, and I explained this to my company doctor recently at my medical ... he totally agreed.
Anyway Jean, I'll keep in touch with events and progress after I've had my telephone Dr. interview tomorrow. Thanks for your interest and good wishes.
Saw my GP and it seems I have two quite seperate issues ..... long standing cough which won't disappear fast. 2nd is, chest infection .... so I gotta scoff 15 penicillin tablets between now and Sunday. 😂🙂😇 if no improvement come back and see her.
I understand the C-jab has reduced the immune system for some and maybe the reason behind the extended acute coughing period, assuming you had one or more. The good news is many highly qualified doctors worldwide are testing protocols to remove the spike from the body and hopefully a trustworthy path will emerge soon.
I didn't have the jab as was concerned when members here reported heart issues. I have had a cough/cold for a week or so but pre-C you would just call it normal for winter or man flu 😆.
Yes I have had all my C jabs and am uptodate . Yeah, in the good old days I would have called it a heavy dose of man flu .... the runny nose symptoms of a cold I can live with, the coughing is causing me to run out of air to breathe, then lightheaded, then a strange remote feeling and beyond crap. The only relief I get is to sit outside in the cold. I have done a CoVid test and that's okay.
My concern about my heart arises from the continuous coughing triggering an AF event.
Hi, have never been AF free for years. I too manage by meds only and I have phases of AF where I might feel it everyday for two weeks and then nothing for two months. However a cough can bring it on so I hate getting a nasty cough. All the best.
hi Ben After my CV I stayed on low dose of metoprolol. Back in January 2023 i had been in Sinus for 4 mths doing well then got Covid and then when i got better copped a bad cold sore throat cough etc.. somehow I stayed in Sinus. Apart from my magnesium, vitd3 and CoQ10 I added Zinc to help shorten duration of cold and it seemed to help. Should only take it at the beginning of a cold and then finish taking shortly after your better
I to succumbed to the dreaded cough before Christmas, I could cope with the cold but the coughing was something else.turned out I developed pneumonia. I wasn’t on any AF medication after my hybrid mini maze. And yes I went into AF, The local hospital where I ended up for the AF said it was common in respiratory infections, even in folks with no history of AF, unfortunately antibiotics and steroids can also trigger AF in some folks so a perfect storm. The AF lasted 4 days then self converted. I’m gradually weaning myself off the bisiprodol they put me on.
Hope your GP doesn't come over all anyhow with the shock of seeing you.
Gosh! Poor you! I’ve had an off and on cold for some time but haven’t had an AF episode for over a year as Flecainide 100 mg twice daily keeps my heart in order. We know we are all different but
i had a hib chest infection aug 23. Loads of steroids and antibiotics, Horrendous cough. 4 weeks which kicked off my af til november. Then got another horrid cough and a faint pos covid. Lasted 3 weeks. Af not bad. Started spironlactone. Which totally dried me out. Kicked off af again and still not gone back down 6 weeks after stopping spiro. Tachy 100 ish. So annoying but nothing much to do after 3 ablations and third pacemaker. Such an annoying condition. (Had all my vaccs). Retire and enjoy life a bit if you can afford it or go part time. And join u3a. Google it. Keeps me busy and sane at 72. God bless.
I've had this cough since November. X3 different antibiotics which did nothing to help. Chest xray clear and spirometry test ok. I'm now waiting the results of a chest CT scan .I've had the pace and ablate so not sure if its effecting the AF but the cough is awful.
I had flu and pneumonia last year in January which put me in hospital for a week and I think they're now wondering if its left some fibrosis on my lungs.
I've tried everything to get rid of this , its driving me nuts.
Both me and my husband have ‘the cough’. It’s horrendous, especially during the night. We have heard it’s called the 100 day cough which mimics whooping cough and yes, we both whoop in the throes of a bad bout.
A couple of months ago I had a pacemaker fitted which, along with twice daily doses of Flecainide, has obliterated the Paraoxysmal AF I’d suffered since a mini stroke in the summer of 2023. This dreadful cough has had me concerned that the AF would return but, so far, it hasn’t !
I’ve done three weeks of this ‘ 100 ‘ days cough, my husband going not his 6th!
Both of us sort he’ll from our GP but, because our chests clear, antibiotics have not been prescribed. Rest as much as possible and drink plenty of fluids . Good luck to all finding themselves with this horrendous cough !
there is the bug going round called the 100 day cough. Hope you haven’t got that.
I had second bout of covid about 6/7 weeks ago. Felt bad but like you the cough was dreadful. I was only positive for about 8-9 days, but I still have a bit of a cough after all this time
Honey and lemon in hot water really helps. I was told with afib meds etc not to take shop bought cough mixture.
We had this bug before Christmas. Just before the cough set in in earnest I had high fevers and went into afib 3 times in 4 days - usually my episodes are every 5-6 weeks. We were rid of the cough in about a fortnight - I was quicker than my husband . Women have better immune systems than men . That's why we don't get "man " colds or flu. But we did take measures - upped our intake of n acetyl cysteine . This acts as a mucolytic ( helps you get the gunk up) and also supports the immune system. However it does have some " thinning " properties so those on anticoags might be wary about taking it. I have taken it regularly for years now with no ill effect and this bug was the first I had had in nearly eight years - since I started on the NAC. Hope you get better soon. My daughter in Worcester had this awful cough for about 2 months and was refused antibiotics the first time she went to the doctor. When she finally did get them they did not clear it completely and she was refused another course.
My AFib started because of a nasty coughing virus in 2014 and since then, it’s started again because of other viruses, including Covid, but it’s started for no reason, as well. I had an ablation in September and caught a bad cough, in January, that was going round our area,but, touch wood, it didn’t cause any problems, so🤞🤞🤞my ablation has done the trick, but only time will tell.
I wasn't sure what response my original post would attract ..... and I'm still wading through all comments but it has certainly been a massive revalation. I suppose what is most outstanding is the wide ranging impact this 'coughing' thingy is having.
I am glad for you that you've had such a success following your ablation and I do wish you well in the future.
Yes this cough seems to have gone round many people. I tested negative for Covid, so nothing to do with that. Looking forwards to Spring and warmer weather, when we can start caravanning again. We’ve just bought a newer, bigger one, so can’t wait to go away in it. Hope you feel better soon.
Hi, I live up in Aberdeen and last December I started coughing and it lasted about 8 weeks. 3 courses of antibiotics wouldn't shift it then a 1 week course of steroids. I am 66. It eventually cleared up several weeks later but it put me back into A Fib that's for sure. My resting HR has been as low as 48 and highest 133. I had ablation last March then had a cardioversion last August which took several weeks to settle me back into NSR. Disappointed really but staying positive and coping so far by myself. I am on 100mg of Amiodarone once daily and 5mg Apixaban twice daily. Luckily I am still on the Cardiologists 'books' as he put it when I had my 3 month check up last November and next one isn't until May so heading in the right direction. I am hoping to try a short cycle ride once the weather gets a bit warmer. I hope you feel better soon. Take care.
The 100 day cough with me is 108 days old today! That plus being in AF constantly since Oct 2022, 2 hospitalisations in the last year for pneumonia and a dreadful covid infection which resulted in home visits from the GP trying to keep me out of hospital last May. All of which has caused major heart problems meaning I have to have open heart surgery in the very near future..... Means I am heartedly sick of coughing!!
So sorry to read of your dramatic journey. I must confess, I have to admit now, looking back, I probably started this miserable coughing/ cold, running nose process well before Christmas 2023 at a time when I was already off work sick with a damaged left shoulder rotator cuff and torn tendon. So this damn thing has been kicking along now for around 8 or 9 weeks, it has only been in the last week when it has truly broken out and totally wiped me out. My Dr will phone me tomorrow for a discussion ...... it had better be more than a discussion.
I wish you well in your journey and hope you get things sorted.
The short answer is yes, any cough can trigger AF , even a single coughing fit if you swallowed something the wrong way or caught your breath in a funny way.Uncontrollable sneezing and blowing your nose vigorously during an infection or hay fever can also do the same thing.
Why? A cough does a number of things which increase your heart rate and blood pressure because it causes a type of shock which triggers your " fight or flight" response in your bodies attempt to protect itself from infection. It also aggravates the upper body and airways and reduces the oxygen circulating in your system , even for a short period which again stimulates the heart to increase its activity. The increased need for heart function and spontaneous changes in body reactions cause electrical stimulation which can then trigger AF , atrial Flutter or persistent periods of tachycardia. Even if your AF is usually well controlled in normal circumstances and you are doing everything right and still very fit for your age coughing could be the trigger that brings on new events.
Another thing to consider asking your GP to examine you for if you have had the cough for some time is Costochondritis.
Costochondritis is an inflammation of the cartilage of the rib cage which happens commonly in people of all ages and all fitness levels from frequent coughing.
It can cause extreme pain in the chest as well as the ribs , particularly with physical movement. It can cause pain or difficulty during breathing. Radiating pain similar to a heart attack. It can cause palpitations and lightheadedness and internal dehydration. It can also cause continued bouts of coughing well after an infection has gone because the rib area is still inflamed and easily irritated.
It causes Exercise Intolerance and Fatigue as well as a general feeling of malaise , nausea and sometimes indigestion on too much movement. Yes, with Costochondritis you will feel like someone has attacked your ribs and lungs with a cheese grater.
It can take 3-6 months to clear Costochondritis completely and the recovery from it can be frustrating because one of the main things you need to do is rest.
Physical exercise of the upper area particularly lifting weights or carrying shopping, running , jogging and heavy housework jobs like vaccuuming or scrubbing will set off the symptoms again and trigger the symptoms of Fatigue , Pain and coughing again.
As well as rest , drinking more fluids is key to reducing the inflammation and dehydration it causes, and paracetamol regularly through the day is recommended to help. Pacing physical activity and avoiding over exertion is important to stop aggravating the ribs and triggering more inflammation.
Deep Breathing exercises throughout the day help to restore proper strength and breathing at a rate the ribs can cope with and they do work in time.
As rest is key , it also requires you to rest in a position which helps oxygen flow and rests the rib cage. You need to rest on your back with head and shoulders cushioned and gradually elevated but the chest area mainly flat.
One reason it is worth persisting with treatment recommendations for Costochondritis even for a number of weeks after the initial symptoms have passed is that jumping back to normal activity can aggravate it again and bring it back slowing down your recovery. So it's important to get back to activity gradually and avoid certain movements and exercises until your chest has had time to recover, Fatigue has reduced and breathing is back to normal with light activities .
Increasing your intake of Vitamin D , C , B vitamins and minerals as well as your fluid intake can help speed up the healing process for the ribs but also the airways which will also be fragile after a cough or infection. Hopefully, when you've recovered from this or a severe cough any increase in aFib symptoms will also get back to being fully controlled by your medications and lifestyle again without other intervention.
Take care and let us know what your GP suggests , Bee
Hello Ben, you have been such an inspiration for me with your diet advice! My wife (way younger than me) had been coughing for about 1 month, when she finally listened to me... She did some breath holding exercises youtube.com/watch?v=laal9Mh..., (Patick Mc Keown has multiples videos on that), and she went swimming at the pool, her cough eventually quasi disappeared. Concerning your concern about dementia, keep a non processed food diet and keep active like walking! A great book "In Praise of Walking" by Shane O'Mara. Consult your doctor and make sure you don't have any fever. Take care! Thierry
In six years I have only has a few episodes which have stopped when I take a couple of flecainide. They are usually set off by a few triggers….stress, covid vaccinations and indigestion! I am sure a coughing fit might set one off! You probably wont have another one for ages!! Good luck !!
Haha..... Well, I have had various stages oF AF for many decades. Very controlled but had 2 ablations over 3 years as first had limited effect changing my AF to flutter. Now on flecainide and apixaban but went into AF 48 hours ago, however at 90-100 BPM and not my past 120- 150. Hope I will spontaneously revert to sinus in the next day or so. Had 50 years of various Arythmia hence at nearly 80 I am naturally fed up. My Mother who is 103 and has AF for 20 years , takes Apixaban and has done well on it. I have spent the day doing my own Yoga, exercises and valsalva manoeuvre every half hour. I have a normal resting HR of apx 55 BPM so 100 is an issue for me. Love to hear any feedback. Ian
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