Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

[Gill123]

I caught a bad cold (tested negative for COVID) in November 2022 and on the day that started, I went into AFib. I wasn’t given any treatment because I was already on Warfarin due to my aortic valve replacement in March 2015. I finally saw a consultant about the AFib in May 2023 and was put on Isosorbide Mononitrate due to chest pains on exertion. In August 2023 I had a successful cardioversion and was back into sinus rhythm for 8 months. Last week I caught another cold and guess what? Back into AFib again. Has anyone else had AFib repeatedly triggered by a virus?

[CDreamer]

Oh YES! And by the flu and COVID vaccine, the shingles vaccine and any virus. Immune response = inflammation = AF.

After drug therapy, 2 ablations and pacemaker and no AF at any other times - AF still appears when viral immune response.

Thankfully though, I self convert after a day or so.

[Gill123 in reply to CDreamer]

I’ve had all my COVID and flu vaccines with no problem, it’s just viruses that seem to get me. Do you have repeated cardioversions? If so, I might as well book myself a hospital appointment every 12 months!

[CDreamer in reply to Gill123]

I’ve never had a cardioversion in my life but had 2 ablations and a pacemaker but nowadays no drugs.

[Gill123 in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks. I’ll see what the cardiologist says - when I finally get to see him!

[CDreamer in reply to Gill123]

If cardioversion worked for you there would be a good chance that ablation would however the valve replacement could complicate things for you. Is your cardiologist an arrhythmia specialist?

[Gill123 in reply to CDreamer]

I’m not sure. He did say it would be cardioversion first and if that didn’t work, ablation and if that didn’t work, a pacemaker. I had my valve replacement at Papworth so I’d probably be sent back there if anything else was needed. The cardiologist I saw and the cardioversion was at Addenbrookes.

[CDreamer in reply to Gill123]

Papworth are excellent so I’d go with them. If a cardioversion fails then you are most unlikely to even be offered an ablation so I’m not sure your cardiologist has given you good information there. Pacemaker on it’s own doesn’t work for everyone but was immediate relief for me.

[Gill123 in reply to CDreamer]

Maybe he was trying to calm me down. I was a bit freaked out about having more heart issues after 8 years of being healthy again after my valve replacement. It’s just weird that every time I get a common cold it throws me back into AFib again so I wondered if it was common.

[mav7 in reply to Gill123]

Gill123 . Hi Gill, I have moderate aortic stenosis and persistent afib.

May I ask if you had afib prior to the valve replacement ? And if so, did the doctors mention a possible correlation between afib and AS ?

My cardiologist says it is possible the AS has an effect but can’t be positive.

Thanks ! Happy for you on a successful valve replacement.

[Gill123 in reply to mav7]

Hi mav7, no I didn’t have AFib before November 2022. The only symptoms I had before my Aortic Valve disease was diagnosed as severe were unusual tiredness and occasional bouts of palpitations. My husband listened to my heart one night and said it sounded funny, which was the prompt I needed to go to my GP. After the op, everything was fine for 8 years.

[4chickens]

I had a hybrid mimi maze last May for persistent AF and atypical flutter. Since then I was fantastic until I caught a cold which became pneumonia this brought on 4 days of AF before I self converted I’ve had 2 subsequent colds both bringing on AF both self converting 1 after 7hr and the last 1 after 2 hrs. So yes viruses can certainly cause AF. I’m trying vitamin D3 at present to see if that helps boast my immunity or at least reduces the severity and duration of any colds.

[Gill123 in reply to 4chickens]

I was already on Vitamin D in the vain hope that it might help stop me getting colds over the winter. I’ve been in AFib now for almost 2 weeks so I doubt it will put itself back into SR now 😢. Interesting to see that I’m not the only one who’s having this issue.

[Gill123 in reply to 4chickens]

PS - I also have 4 chickens!

[4chickens in reply to Gill123]

I never self converted before my hybrid mini maze, it alway required a cardio version. Chickens become a little addictive don’t they.

[kkatz]

When paroxysmal really bad viruses would do that.I know this could sound silly but are you sure it is AFib and not just Arrhythmias. I survived COVID in Dec with no AFib but Norovirus in Feb gave me quite a few Arrythmias.I am pretty sure it wasn't AFib.

I use Fibricheck,Emay(Kardia equivalent) & manually.

They went when virus went.

Hope you get it sorted.

[Gill123 in reply to kkatz]

My Apple Watch says AFib and it was definitely AFib last time. I’ve booked to see the GP on 15th April so they’ll give me an ECG then. My cold has pretty much gone now after 2 weeks, just a little coughing and nose blowing left but the AFib is still there.

[DasyB]

Hi Gill, well, well! that is why I logged in here today. I had AVR 18 months ago and have had almost no issues - except A-fib showing on my home blood pressure monitor after my latest jab last Sept- resolved by the time I got a 24 hr monitor check up 6 weeks later.

Now I have gone down with an awful sore throat/chest infection and BP high, HR high, and A-fib showing up again. I feel somewhat reassured hearing about your experiences, so thank you and I hope you are feeling well now. I think I'll just rest and see how it goes

In the old days I'd consider asking my GP for opinion/reassurance but that's off the cards now. .