Are you sitting comfortably……

[Frances123]

….then I’ll begin.

On the 26th July I had abdominal surgery and was in theatre about 2 hours. 3 days later I went into Afib. Not too surprised but this went on for 47 hours. I average Afib between every 3-5 weeks for 18-28 hours. Never been a problem and I let it do its own thing. 3 weeks later I had a few days of SVEs in NSR and a couple of times HR spiked for a second or two. It stopped and a couple of days later had flu jab. Never been a problem before but 2 days later another 42 hours of Afib.

A week or so later I was having SVEs again. Felt like all day every day and then after a week it seemed to be only in the p.m.

Have to say that all through this my tinnitus (10 yrs ish both ears 24hrs) has been off the scale along with a thick muzzy head etc. Got exasperated and went to GP last Tuesday. She gave me a thorough check and heart was fine (it was a.m.) but has arranged blood tests with thyroid check, 7 day BP check and a 24 hour holter test.

Thursday evening I went into Afib and still in it some 68 hrs later!

I now have a couple of questions please.

1. Could my abdominal surgery have caused these ongoing problems in some way?

2. Could my worsening Tinnitus have a part to play?

3. Could my usual no problem flu jab be a cause?

4. Could it be all 3 or something completely different.

I am symptomatic but not overly so and HR hovers around 100-120 in the beginning but settles into Afib about 95-100 so in normal range.

Afib @ 18 years. 2 failed ablations 2019 and 2021. Flecainide 50mg twice daily since beginning of Afib journey and apixaban 8 years.

Cannot tolerate 100mg flecainide at once but can take an extra 50mg a few hours later.

Any insight or first hand experience would be gratefully received.

Many thanks and apologies for long post.

p.s. I will message my EP in the morning and maybe the abdo surgeon too.

[FraserB]

I can only speak about tinnitus because I also have it, along with AFL/AF. From my experience, tinnitus itself doesn't directly cause AF or vice versa. The only exception may be pulsatile tinnitus and change in blood flow. However, possibly the stress and especially temporary inflammation associated with your surgery may have played a role in triggering your tinnitus further. It does in my case. Even lack of sleep and neck positioning will do it. I hope you find some relief and it settles down.

[Frances123 in reply to FraserB]

Thank you. Was thinking similar too.

[Ducky2003]

Maybe it's the GA you had for surgery that has caused the AF, increased tinnitus and muzzy head. 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Frances123]

Thanks Ducky an is what I’m hoping and thinking as it’s only been going on since surgery. My concern was will it ease off as I recover fully or has it triggered something else and leading to persistent Afib?

Of heavens to Murgatroyd, I’ve just gone back into NSR. Phew, that’s 82 hours! I’m hoping the marathon run will have kicked the SVEs into touch as well. At the moment though I’m just thankful for NSR. Think I’m going to have a mug of tea and a garibaldi to celebrate lol. x

[Ducky2003 in reply to Frances123]

Living the dream eh? 😁 🫖🍪

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

On the subject of tinnitus.

At the time I first got it I was stressed.

I destressed myself and the tinnitus left.

Mine was due to stress.

On the op side I have persistent. No symptoms except the pills make me have to stop walking, a rest.

cherio JOY. 75. (NZ)

[Cavalierrubie]

l think it could probably be the after effects of the GA and the stress of surgery that goes with it. I think you need time to recuperate from all of that and I hope your heart will settle as time goes on. Good that you are asking the experts and hope they put your mind at rest.

[Frances123]

Thank you. Mine is most probably caused by the Flecainide. I was also born partially deaf but grew out of it around 4-5 years old. It may well be a residue of that as well. Have noticed as I got older how childhood things do affect you as you get older (71 but that can’t be right as act and think like a 35 yr old). My surgery was due to a congenital problem but wasn’t found until nearly 2 years ago.

[Tapanac]

do you not take a beta blocker (like bisoprolol ) with your flecainide which is usual practice. Beta blocker for rate control snd flecainide for rhythm control

[Frances123 in reply to Tapanac]

Thank you. No, never had a beta blocker. First dose was IV in hospital and then tablets ever since. When I had my first ablation my EP did mention it but when he realised my resting rate is 58-62 it was decided not to have it.

[Snowgirl65]

I'm certainly no expert, but it seems like there's a lot going on to tip the scales. My first thought was that, like when you have an ablation and the burns start to heal, is when those prone to a-fib during the blanking period will have episodes, your recent operation could now be healing and causing a similar reaction; add to that the flu jab which normally isn't bothersome, may have caused a reaction because of your out-of-sync system at the moment. Just relaying to you my unqualified thoughts! I certainly hope you stabilize soon and get back to feeling well again.

[CDreamer]

1. Could my abdominal surgery have caused these ongoing problems in some way?

Possibly but it would be difficult to say with any certainty, the GA is also a strong suspect.

2. Could my worsening Tinnitus have a part to play?

Unlikely, more likely to be connected to hearing loss in range but could also be cranial/spinal misalignment along with many others. That is assuming that it is not pulsaltile tittinus - when you hear your pulse very loudly? Certainly the stress the tinnitus causes could be a factor

3. Could my usual no problem flu jab be a cause?

Very possibly, only times I now have AF is after vaccine or infection.

4. Could it be all 3 or something completely different.

All could be contributory factors but so many things contribute to AF there is rarely one cause.

Sounds as though your GP is doing all the right things so wait until the results come back and you may get certain things at least ruled out.

Take care.

[Frances123]

Apologies to those who I didn’t respond to. Sadly I had a nasty health scare last week that came suddenly and out of the blue. A lot better now but It has knocked me for six and feeling rather fragile. Thank you to all who responded and please accept my apologies for not replying.