Can anyone advise

[Weemidge]

This is all in last hour . Tho I feel off all the time. Sometimes palpitations if that's what they are make me pass out . Consultant didn't seem to concerned 2 years ago but its getting worse. Should I bother her again or is this harmless. Thanks

[Desanthony]

Any changes should always be investigated, so if you are feeling worse than you were or experiencing more episodes get things checked out again. First make an appointment with your GP and then a referral to a cardiologist or better still an Electrophysiologist (EP). Unless you are still on your consultatnt's list from 2 years ago in which case you should be able to call and ask to make an appointment.

Good Luck.

[Weemidge in reply to Desanthony]

Thank you

[CDreamer]

Many doctors will tell you they are harmless however if you are so symptomatic that you have syncope (pass out) and you don’t feel well all of the time you need some help so yes, contact again! Syncope should always be investigated.

I had quite a lot of ectopics and tachycardia following second ablation which made me feel worse than AF - so empathy. Mine disappeared, eventually after about 9 months without a need for intervention.

Things that I found can make them worse - postural such as bending over with head down, overdoing things ie: not getting enough rest, getting dehydrated, low electrolytes, fast shallow breathing and stressing over something. Needless to say the reverse helps.

[Lizty in reply to CDreamer]

If you feel tired, faint and giddy that is difficult enough.... but not uncommon for those of us with arrhythmia. If you actually pass out completely... then that is a red signal. Go back to your consultant asap. Otherwise you probably need to follow CD's advice.

I suffer similar arrhythmias when I have slept badly, got very stressed, overdone things and consequently am really overtired. Good luck!

[Ppiman in reply to Lizty]

I suppose it must vary by individual, but my now elderly friend has collapsed or fainted a few times over the years from his AF and on none of those occasions did his specialist or GP show any great concern, blaming it on blood pressure changes caused by the AF.

Steve

[Lizty in reply to Ppiman]

Yes.. that is possible and it has happened to me.. although I have never passed out completely. Indeed we are all different.

However, I was told that if the collapse lasted longer than a few seconds I had to stop driving. Another friend who suddenly fainted was diagnosed with left bundle block and kept in hospital until he was fitted with a pacemaker. Best get fainting checked out and if unstable BP only issue then this can be treated. Believe me, I was very unhappy to be warned to alert DVLA and stop driving!

[Weemidge in reply to Lizty]

My blood pressure is always in normal range. I was told to stop driving for around 6 months while under consultant then allowed again. Originally I seen her due to racing heart rate and palpitations after having covid. I was given beta blockers but they took my heart rate to low was told to discontinue them then never seen her again. I have an ejection murmer or something like that. They were quite vague tbh.

[Ilovedogs12 in reply to Weemidge]

Did the consultant link your palpitations to you having covid?

[Weemidge in reply to Ilovedogs12]

Not entirely. I got vaccinated then took covid a fortnight later and the heart stuff and also neuralgic pain in my body all started and hasn't went away . Also been constantly anaemic since. She said it could be coincidence or not. I just know it was at that time. I'm sick of listening to myself.

[Ilovedogs12 in reply to Weemidge]

This is interesting. I had covid last year and I have gone downhill since. I can't help thinking there's a link but whenever I mention it to the doctors they don't comment.

[Weemidge in reply to Ilovedogs12]

I have been unwell since covid. I have been left with nerve pain constant burning mostly left side of body. I'm self employed and had to cut my hours between pain and falling off my feet with dizzy with this heart thing. It doesn't pay me to be unwell .it's inconvenient. There's just no sense of urgency when speaking to drs. I often wonder if they think I'm at it.

[Ilovedogs12 in reply to Weemidge]

That's awful for you, I know how hard it is to be off work when you're self employed.Like you I have bigeminy. My heart is almost constantly thumping and I frequently have dizziness, nausea, headaches, terrible brain fog and fall asleep when I sit down.

Thankfully I don't have any pain, I'm just worn out.

I had every covid jab up to my catching it, and I was called for the last one but didn't take it up because I didn't feel confident having it when I have all this going on.

My GP practice said it would be fine, not to worry about it. For once I followed my gut feeling and declined.

I don't know if I did the right thing, and I don't know if covid has anything to do with my heart problems but it's a big coincidence and it seems other people in the forum have found the same.

I'd like to know the answer, then I would know whether to have the jabs in the future, but either no one knows or they don't want to say.

I wish you well. X

[Weemidge in reply to Ilovedogs12]

That's a shame x I only took one jag and took covid a week later . My whole house took it and the were back on feet in a fortnight they all coughed spluttered and got over it x I never coughed once. Just terrible splenic pain which ended up travelling through all my nerves. Every time I tried to get out bed heart was racing but thought because I hadn't been moving its just went down hill from there. I suppose we will never know. Could literally talkall day about the amount of ailments si ce taking it but these have been the worst onesx

[babs1234 in reply to Ilovedogs12]

Ditto. I blame Covid on the start of my AF That or the vaccunes

[Auberginegal in reply to Weemidge]

Hello there,I have paroxysmal AF and Factor V Leiden. Are you taking an anticoagulant? I take 20mg Rivaroxaban daily and was severely anaemic last year. Rivaroxaban can result in anaemia. Apixaban is less likely to. x

[Weemidge in reply to Auberginegal]

No all I was given was beta blockers then told not to take it because my heart rate was in 40s on it x

[pusillanimous in reply to Auberginegal]

It's so difficult to choose which anticoagulant to take! I started off with Warfarin, which was a nuisance having to go to the path lab for tests. but I stayed on it until my pharmacist said 'Why are you taking that rat poison' and put me right off. I then changed to Xarelto, which was fine, and then I read here that Eliquis was the preferred drug for AF, so I changed to that ! I not only found 2 pills 12 hours apart something that increased my ever present anxiety in case I missed one, and they also gave me heartburn. So back to Xarelto or iXorolo as it's called here in Africa, until something else comes up !!!!!!!! Anaemia has never been a problem. even though I only eat a small quantity of red meat once a week, and I do have an annual blood test

[Ppiman in reply to Lizty]

That would have been a shock. I see what you mean, now - any loss of consciousness while driving would certainly affect the licence.

I, too, have LBBB and was originally told that it is unlikely it would ever be of any consequence. However, it is now being implicated, along with the atrial conduction issues that lead to my palpitations and AF, on making them altogether worse. It's hard to find out much online about the effect of these bundle blocks, with LBBB often only being said to often co-exist with some form of other heart ailment, which I don't have. The internet is a very mixed bag at times.

Steve

[Weemidge in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you

[Weemidge in reply to CDreamer]

Thankyou

[meadfoot]

Yes see a consultant. Try a different one if you dont have confidence in your original one. Always follow up your current symptoms for reassurance and or treatment.

[Weemidge in reply to meadfoot]

Thank you

[Ppiman]

That does show AF, so was this the case before when you were seen? I also have had far greater numbers of ectopics this year although they do wax and wane. I have also had more AF episodes, too, with two this last week.

I don't think what you are experiencing is anything to be especially worried about as it is so similar to my own case, from what you have said, but only a doctor who knows you and your condition can make such a statement meaningfully. Drugs can help alleviate ectopics and AF, or an ablation can help both, too.

Steve

[Ilovedogs12]

Hi,

I have been told by my GP that if I actually pass out and lose consciousness I should call an ambulance to go to A&E (I assume when I come round 🤔 or my husband should call one).

I don't think I would, but I would definitely call 111 and they could assess the situation.

I think it would be wise to get professional advice, and you are in the United Kingdom so maybe you should call 111? They can help and will send an ambulance if necessary.

Never sit back and worry. It might be nothing to worry about but you need to know, and they are a great service.

I hope this is helpful for you.

[bantam12]

Crikey yes get checked out, dont assume it’s nothing to worry about. Being female you will likely come up against Drs who say “ it’s harmless go away” as they generally aren’t interested in diagnosing or treating us, you have to be persistent! and it’s very satisfying to be proved right when they finally have to admit there is a problem 🙄

My arrhythmia turned out to be Afib plus heart block which was causing the pre syncope so needed a pacemaker.

[Weemidge in reply to bantam12]

My gp said my age and anxiety for months before I eventually passed out at work and was rushed to a and e. The trace was high but regular got a monitor and she just said it was an inappropriate arythmia I would be fine so I got this wee device to keep track and its never been a normal reading even when im feeling OK. It shows bouts of a fib daily and constant pacs pvcs bigeminy trigeminy svt but always sinus rythm x i think she mentioned bbb but never elaborated. Also mri showed only speck of calcification . The initial a and e guy said I was very anaemic and had an ejection murmer but was never mentioned again. I would try and just ignore it if I wasn't so symptomatic.

[bantam12 in reply to Weemidge]

No never ignore it especially as you are so symptomatic, passing out is definitely not to be dismissed. It annoys me so much how the Drs assume because we are female everything is anxiety related and we are just hypochondriacs, I was told this for years and had to change cardiologists several times before I had one that took me seriously and did more tests. The test that proved I had a problem was wearing a monitor for 14 days which showed the arrhythmias and long pauses, what a relief that was !

[Inovant]

Soynds like you may be havi g "pauses" when your heart is trying to convertback to normal sinus rhthym. Your heart stops and starts to restart. Pauses occur as it takes longer, over time, to restart.

My heart was doung this for a long time. Was in hospital to start a new med tostip afib. Had an episode. They (the nutses) came running from the hall. Asked if I was okay. I said yes. I just had an episode..... they informed me my headt had stopped for 8 seconds.

Within 30 mins my cardiologist was in the room. 20mins later electrophysiologist was in the room. Next morning, zpacemaker was put in.

After recovery, I felt much better. Started to drive again. I had voluntarily stopped driving because of these episodes .

I don't know if this is what you experience or not. I have been able to cut the afib in half by taking 2 electrolyte dtinks daily,no caffeine, smaller portions, appropriate rest, and exercise. I went from 50% to 37% with these changes.

The pacemaker stopsthe rpisodes (aka pauses) keeping heart above 60 beats per minute. I have energy again etc.

See if you can't get in to see a cardiologist. It sounds important to be checked by a professional.

Best to you. Get checked out, please. Passing out is an issue that needz to be checked out thoroughly.

[Weemidge in reply to Inovant]

Thankyou I'm going to go back to gp and see if i can be referred again. Hope you keep well.

[baba in reply to Weemidge]

Definitely need to be reassessed, passing out is NOT normal.Best wishes

[mjames1]

What device is generating this report? And does it also generate EKGs?

Jim

[Weemidge in reply to mjames1]

Wellue duo ek. Yes it records the ekg.

[mjames1 in reply to Weemidge]

I don't know your history or afib burden, but I would definitely print out or email two or three EKGs --especially where showing afib and SVT -- to your consultant, who is hopefully an electrophysiologist (ep).

However if you feel in in distress with chest pains, dizziness,etc, then I would head over to the A&E.

Jim

[Weemidge in reply to mjames1]

Thankyou. I did try this before and consultant secretary told me I would need re referred by gp again. Still been unable to get gp app but I need to be more assertive next call.

[mjames1 in reply to Weemidge]

At least in the United States, a GP does not have the training or expertise to read more than a very simply EKG, which yours is not. Even General cardiology often defers to an EP in these cases.

Jim

[EW518]

I am not a physician, but that said, if something is becoming more frequent or more noticeable, it would certainly warrant a visit with your cardio team. Always, better to be safe as opposed to being sorry you did not pursue commentary from your cardio team.

[MeganMN]

This is my rhythm almost all the time as well and it feels terrible. I'm so sorry that you are going through this! Have you had an ablation for atrial fibrillation previously? Atrial Tachycardia (SVT) can be a common complication afterwards. Mine is also getting significantly worse and I have been trying meds to no avail and am scheduled for another ablation on May 10th. While it is not a rhythm that is inherently dangerous, it is worth treating if it affects quality of life. Sometimes Cardiologists don't take it seriously. It would be good to see an EP. Hang in there. Please reach out to me if you have questions about meds and such. I have been fighting with this rhythm for over a year and a half.

[Weemidge in reply to MeganMN]

It's a relief to know someone else feels this way. I'm at the end of my tether feeling constantly unwell with it x im a busy hairdresser and it just comes on mid haircut or blow dry and I'm literally sitting on the middle of salon floor so not to pass out then when it passes I'm mortified. Or cooking dinner or out a walk or even just sitting watching TV x hearts bounds chest gets sore dizzy uneasy breathless and so tired. It affects my day every day x

[MeganMN in reply to Weemidge]

Me too. I'm an ER Nurse and busy mama. It gets really depressing. Hang in there. I also have a Wellue monitor and it helps me to see the rhythm and know it isn't going to kill me, even if it feels like it. Hoping you can get some relief.