Question about “other arrhythmia”.

[Japaholic]

my Kardia is giving all sorts of new readings since my flair up, ectopy, wide qrs, pvc, pac basically everything BUT NOT SO MUCH AF.

do you have other arrhythmia?

if so how does it affect you?

for me it’s just as uncomfortable as the regular af

[Finvola]

I had different arrhythmias at the beginning of my AF journey when drugs were being tried out. I don't have much to say but it may be helpful.

Sotalol gave me tachycardia - 160/170 bpm which made me feel nauseous and spaced out - couldn't have walked more than a few steps, so worse than AF for me.

Trying to reduce Flecainide caused massive amounts of PVC's which, as you say, were as debilitating as AF. Flecainide at the beginning caused AFlutter which wasn't pleasant but not as bad as AF. I don't react well to irregularity of beat as it affects my breathing.

It sounds as if your heart is irritated by something - good that the AF is being kept down. I hope you get an explanation - I remember your posts at the time of your successful ablation - best wishes.

[Japaholic in reply to Finvola]

Just seeking a little reassurance, the only people who understand are those who go through it themselves. Thanks…..

I was asked “do you want a 2nd ablation” no not really, it sucked looking back, shaving my twig and berries, catheters, huge bruises etc etc

If it can be managed as it has so far with drugs I’ll manage. If my quality of life sinks much further I will choose that path I guess.

[Ennasti]

Yes, I also have ectopics (both pvc and pac) and wide QRS (a left bundle branch block), bradycardia, and some AF.

It depends on what is happening, and how much of it, when it comes to how it affects me. I often feel when I go into or out of the LBBB as I get a tightness at the top of my chest. Bradycardia and high burden ectopy can make me dizzy, sometimes with chest tightness, and the obvious flutters across my chest and up the side of my neck.

[Japaholic in reply to Ennasti]

So it’s not just me? How do you cope?

[Ennasti in reply to Japaholic]

It doesn’t unduly worry me to be honest. My cardiologist is monitoring me, my heart is structurally good. I put my faith in him and his care. I play my part in the deal by taking my meds and I walk several times a week and keep active. I eat healthily, I have greatly reduced alcohol intake, and I’m living my best life and not focussing on my heart dancing about. If anything, it’s the breathlessness and fatigue which affects me mostly. It can be a little debilitating but I’m determined to battle it. I know my condition will continue to worsen over the years but I’m not waiting around for it it to happen!

[Japaholic in reply to Ennasti]

Good attitude, however in my case it was the speed of change from no arrhythmia other than 1 af episode every 4-6 weeks to daily arrhythmia of several types that worried me.

[Ennasti in reply to Japaholic]

I’ve been through periods like this also. At the moment my dancing heart is relatively quiet. But this time last year it was having a dance party 24/7 and my left bundle branch was all the time and I was having brief AF episodes at low rates almost daily. In my experience over the last few years it comes and goes, sometimes for several months at a time and sometimes just for a few hours.

[bean_counter27]

Ectopic beats are common in adults. I was initially diagnosed with ectopics when Holter monitor failed to pick up my AF. I still have the occasional ectopic beat or 2 (PAC's and PVC's) but don't notice them most of the time, especially if I'm busy doing things. Couplets (2 in a row) are more noticeable.

According to my Wellue recordings I probably have a dozen PAC's most days and several PVC's.

If your ectopics are frequent they should be investigated

[Japaholic in reply to bean_counter27]

I agree, sadly my EP/cardiologist didn’t and was quite rude so I changes clinics.

My new cardiologist said I am not the first to say that, he has other patients who left that clinic for the same reasons.

[Ppiman]

Is there a club to join? We should both be in it. Since my last AF episode I have had far more palpitations, mostly PVCs but also PACs.

A wide QRS can be a sign of a temporary or permanent right or left bundle branch block, I gather. It means the timing of the ventricular contraction is longer than 120ms. Both I and a friend have this, and he has a replacement valve, though, with no bundle block, so there must be other causes. I have the more unusual LBBB, for example. I have been told by my specialist that in themselves these are not problematic but they do fool the Kardia at least if the heart rate is over 100bpm and unless you pay for their extended analysis.

Steve

[Japaholic in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks for you reply. I feel ok today but have had PAC and PVC on and off for a month now daily

[Ppiman in reply to Japaholic]

Pretty much like me. Here’s a Wellue ECG snip from last night when it was doing its best to get me worried. Having been reassured it’s all okay though, I tend, when I am able, to ignore it. It waxes and wanes.

Steve

Wellue AI ECG snip

[Japaholic in reply to Ppiman]

I hear you, this is one of mine that the guy who did my ablation said wasn’t AF. I dont like to 2nd guess Doctors but I strongly feel that it was his ego refusing to accept his ablation failed.

An EKG of AF reading

[Ppiman in reply to Japaholic]

I have had similar from Kardia where the cardiologist told me it wasn't AF. I think the doctor looks for the presence of atrial P waves, which indicated NSR and which seem to be there on yours. On some Kardia ECGs, maybe owing to its smoothing algorithm, these are nigh on invisible.

On yours, there could be P waves, but there's also a lot of irregularity. Did the doctor say what the ECG did show, if not AF?

Steve