My electrophysiologist diagnosed me in 2017 with atrial fibrillation and prescribed Flecainide and Metoprolol Succinate (and Pradaxa), all of which I’ve tolerated well. When necessary, I have the option to take either diltiazem, or metoprolol tartrate, as a Pill in Pocket to restore me to normal sinus rhythm.
A few months ago, I wore a 2-week Zio and while it showed some short “runs” of fibrillation and PVCs and PACs, my specialist says not to worry but he’s always focused on an ablation. At this point in time, for a number of reasons that I will not disclose, an ablation is not an option.
Since the beginning of this year, my Kardia has shown the following results, now and then, not all the time, but I’m scared especially when I read more about things and wonder if I have a bundle branch block or something equally as frightening.
*Sinus rhythm with supraventricular ectopy
*Sinus rhythm with premature ventricular contractions
*Sinus rhythm with wide QRS
*Tachycardia
*Bradycardia
*Possible atrial fibrillation
*Unclassified
*Unreadable
I’m trying not to be a hypochondriac about this, but the least little thing related to my heart is so worrisome!
I would appreciate honest input about the Kardia readings but don’t make it too too scary please!
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Doggiemomma
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Stop looking at your Kardia, it is feeding your anxiety. You basically experience ectopic beats, interspersed with episodes of afib. During these times your heart rate sometimes exceed 100 or goes below 60. All of the above are a common experience for most of us with Afib.From what you describe I suspect that it is unlikely that you have BBB.
I’d agree exactly with what Popepaul described and also suggest that you stop looking at your Kardia which is feeding your anxiety. It’s a really useful tool but the more you focus on the sensations you feel from these arrhythmias, the more you will feel them.
A feeling of doom is also a symptom of anrrythmias but it doesn’t mean you are doomed! The feeling of doom is your ANS - autonomic nervous system gone slightly awry - that is the Fight, Flight, Freeze Anxiety instinctive reflex kicking in which results in anxiety and feeds all of these arrhythmias. Breath - slow your breathing and take Long Slow Deep diaphragmatic breaths and the feeling will lessen. Reassure yourself that you are OK, self talk is important.
I’ve had all of above for over 15 years and more and live a good life without feeling in the least bit doomed. If you AF is well controlled with meds then treatment options are of course your choice.
Life is short, focus on enjoying it as much as you can..
Fortunately Kardias are not readily available where I live, otherwise I have no boubt I would have bought one by now and spent half of the day hooked up to it. I am so grateful for small mercies !!!!!
I completely empathise with your anxiety and absolutely agree with Popepaul, CDreamer and Bob.
For me, Kardia was initially a massive relief, really a life saver. Just to know, 'yes this is AF or no it's not', after months of uncertainty prior to diagnosis, was fantastic. But now there's no doubt when PAF is happening and I only use Kardia to help me decide when to give up on 'natural techniques' and reach for Flec PIP.
So I'm not throwing away the key but I'm learning to resist that temptation to check with Kardia when there are bumps and clunks, runs of tachycardia etc and try to practice relaxation and reduce any anxiety. I think it's helping me to cope better...
My Cardiologist told me I was getting it right by only taking a reading once a month at the same approximate time in the day , after sitting with my legs up for 20 minutes to get a guideline. You keep whatever device or meter you are using next to you so that you don't cause inaccurate readings by standing up and moving about to collect things which artificially raises your readings again.He suggests a blood pressure and heart rate reading should be done every 1-2 weeks.
You keep a copy of these monthly Kardia/ BP/ HR results to take and show at any appointments to help them see how well you are progressing.
The only other time he suggests using it is using the same process if I'm having significant symptoms like aFib like palpitations combined with breathlessness when I haven't been physically active or dizziness or chest pain. And usually he suggests that a couple of blood pressure and heart rate readings are taken first.
With a reading of Atrial Fibrillation it's always a good idea to go and sit with your feet up and relax as much as you can then recheck your BP/ HR and then Kardia to see if the results are replicated.
Then, it's always symptoms that are key , if you are having significant symptoms you follow the care and medication guidelines you've been given.
You relax and rest if you have intermittent aFib conditions to help ease the symptoms and recover quicker.
If you are still having difficulty or symptoms are getting worse you ring for advice.
I get the majority of those readings.
If it's unreadable or unclassified it usually just means their has been too much movement or background electrical interference from another device in the room to get a proper reading rather than there being something wrong.
If you get certain readings you haven't had before or aFib with no symptoms on a monthly test have a think about what's been happening in the week before. Is there something that might have caused a one off change like Stress, an injury or an infection. Many of the results you list can have been caused by something like that rather than something more worrying.
As others have said , a Kardia is only meant to be a handy device to give you a guideline , although it is better than a Smart watch it is still not as accurate as a Medical Grade ECG in a hospital so if you were consistently getting aFib results and symptoms it would still need to be tested in the hospital or GP surgery.
If you do become more concerned by using a Kardia or begin to use it too frequently you need to limit yourself , or if you can't and you feel anxious about it , it's better to put it away altogether as your readings are not necessarily going to be a true representation of your general health because your stress will increase the results, much like getting " White Coat Syndrome" at your doctor's appointment.
If you are getting more worried , unless you have other medical reasons that would prevent you having an Ablation it might be worth reconsidering it as an option. It's a game changer and very successful for so many people with aFib , taking all those worries and fears away even if it might make you feel a bit anxious thinking about it , it's actually a pretty simple procedure.
Thanks for all the suggestions and comments, and the understanding!
Over the course of this year, Kardia has told me all of these--I guess clearer questions would be to ask if all these can be true? Is my heart disintegrating? How can I have all this wrong with me and is all of this wrong at the same time?
Thanks!
*Sinus rhythm with supraventricular ectopy
*Sinus rhythm with premature ventricular contractions
I think a healthier way to question these results is: Did I get these Kardia results at the same time as other immediate symptoms which I needed to control with medication , like a PIP, or Self Care?
Did I get the same classification on my Kardia after resting for 30 minutes and retesting? Did I sit in a rested position for the appropriate amount of time prior to getting these results?
Could there have been any reason that the Kardia gave an inaccurate result such as disturbances from movement , wrong placement of the Kardia device. low battery life, disruption from other near by electrical devices, poor synching with your mobile?
Am I suffering from Anxiety or Stress , or did I take part in more strenuous activity in the hour prior to testing?
Now the question becomes what heart condition am I being treated for , and can these results occur with my cardiac condition from time to time with that condition without my heart getting worse?
The simple answers to both parts of these questions is YES.
This is because studies show that even healthy people , both young and old all get occasional episodes of supraventricular ectopics and PVCs everyday without it causing any long term damage to their heart. They also get occasional periods of tachycardia, bradycardia, and even non symptomatic aFib depending on the circumstances on that day without it causing damage to their heart or lasting symptoms. Basically, everyone's hearts are amazing but they can't be expected to be perfect every second of everyday , sometimes they will make a missed beat or need a minute to catch up.
So, technically, if you want to term it as a negative , a healthy human can have all of these things wrong with them at some time in any day as well but still be a healthy person with a strong heart.
One study of healthy young and older adults showed that 50% young healthy participants still got one or more PVCs each day , 5% got 193 PVCs a day. In older healthy participants with healthy hearts PVCs happened 2 times a day and the typical (normal) rate in older people was 2 per hour.
People whom suffer from Anxiety , Extreme Stress or Mental Health related physical symptoms can trigger more regular episodes of arrhythmia and have episodes of symptomatic PVCs more often , but again whilst still having a healthy heart on testing .
And some people can be more likely to feel symptomatic from the occasional change in heart rhythm but without it causing long term health issues or long term damage to their heart.
Not everyone whom gets these occasional results on a Kardia or Smart watch even if they gave them symptoms and they have a family history of heart disease and stroke will get a heart condition or have a heart attack or stroke.
And even if you do have a heart condition , or diagnosed Afib which requires treating, getting these results occasionally or without symptoms does not necessarily mean that your condition is getting worse or you will have a heart attack or stroke either. Especially so if you have made the lifestyle changes required, including pacing and relaxation. and are using the treatment you require to control all of your health issues and reduce risk.
It's how frequently these events happen, how long episodes last. what symptoms you get and how severe those symptoms are while you are having aFib or regular arrhythmia episodes that counts to your future heart health and risk.
One thing you should be positive about within your results is that your Kardia is showing Sinus Rhythm with ectopics or PVCs. This is common and unless it is happening very frequently with symptoms often doesn't require treatment.
It's regular episodes of Atrial Fibrillation that needs monitoring and treating , and may require changes to your medication plan and preventative steps to reduce your risks depending on your age , overall health and family medical history.
And Supraventricular Tachycardia, or SVT, which is of more concern and can without treatment be more likely to cause a cardiac event , stroke, or if untreated, heart muscle changes that could require surgery as well as long term treatment.
It may be time to reconsider taking the option and advice to have an Ablation unless you have other individual medical reasons that it wouldn't be right in your case.
It could improve your situation as it has for many others and you could reverse your aFib activity and other Arrhythmias for years.
But, at the moment it would appear that your Kardia is mirroring the results of your Holter , and showing that you get occasional arrhythmias for short intervals which are being controlled by your medication. That's why your EP was not sounding worried or pressing for other treatments with more seriousness.
So, try to think of the positives here, you have these Arrhythmias but you've got them under control with what you are doing currently, you've got this babe.
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Back in the hospital after my AF ablation 5 days ago 😫
Atrial flutter
Flecainide advice
