I had an Echocardiogram done 20 months ago following my first PAF. It showed a moderately dilated left atrium.
Since then I have not received an appointment to see a consultant (either Cardiologist or EP) I have written several times, phoned and told it is ‘backlog’ of appointments. Early on I had a private appointment, which was tbh a waste of money!
What is the significance of a moderately enlarged left atrium, or is it just old age!
I had an echocardiogram last December and the report to the GP said that both my atria were dilated. I wasn't offered a cardiologist appointment, I was simply referred back to my GP ( who originally requested the echo as bloods suggested I might have HF), and had my bisoprolol increased. I was told I had mild HF. Nothing more has been said so I assume that it's not an urgent situation and it's manageable, otherwise I would have been referred to a cardiologist. Well, I hope that's the case.
I'm 67.
Thanx, guess it cannot be worrying, or urgent!!
I hope not 🐰
Hi
Check out your Heart Rate on BB Bisoprolol. I went up to 10mg with no control much on H/R. 156. Day. A private Heart Specialist introduced CCB Diltiazem. AM.
180mg too much so 120mgCD AM works on deducing to 60s Day but it climbs to 80 late afternoon and at night my normal is 47avg bpm.
I have 1.25mg Bisoprolol BB to control Systollic BP. 130/69
cherio JOY. 75. (NZ)
Thank you .
Hi, having found out I had AF at the age of 61, I went into permanent AF a year later. My cardiologist referred me to an EP at London Bridge, a very wise experienced man. He said if I carried on with meds my heart would go “saggy”, so with a 70% chance of an ablation working, i went for it within 6 weeks. I’ve been in sinus rhythm since, 2.5 years on. Post op he said my left atrium looked ok. I had a couple of echos 3 and 6 months post op and it has decreased in size…
Everyone has a different history, it’s so hard to know what’s best to do, but a man to man, “tell me how it is please” chat, was the catalyst for me to opt for an ablation, that and I felt so washed out on the meds.
No one has ever suggested anything other than taking the medication so I'm assuming that it's doing what it's supposed to. The echocardiogram showed everything else was OK, but the cardiologist said I would benefit from further afib control and furosemide for fluid retention . Ablation has never been mentioned so hopefully the Afib is settled. I am a relative newbie to all this so this site is so helpful .
Neither my GP, nor my prior cardiologist ever mentioned an ablation. It was not until I came to HealthUnlocked that I learned enough to ask for a referral to an EP to discuss ablation. I did the research and told my cardiologist which EP I wanted to see. I had my ablation on October 2 and am hoping it gives me as much time as possible before I need to discuss medical control again.
Hopefully it will. I've learned so much since I joined the site.
Hi, very similar with my Cardiologist. He seemed content to leave me on the meds after my AF went permanent. Same after the ablation, he kept me on Bisoprolol etc far too long. I had to change cardiologists to wean off the meds, only just off em now, well over two and a half years after my ablation.
Yes everyone is different . My husband was advised another ablation would be too risky as he had a stroke last year . His heart function was 33% last august . It hs at least gone up a bit to 37% so hopefully the meds are doing the trick being digoxin , bisoprolol , eperplone (spelt wrong .
I hope they work for him🤞
Very common in people with AF and as long as your rate is under control not much else to be done (or worry about). You may have had AF before diagnosis in which case treating the AF may improve it.
In the interests of those newbies who may be considering a private consultation, what was unsatisfactory about yours?
It's a such a relief to read your reply. I was beginning to worry I was being ignored by the doctors .
Well!!! Basically he listened to my heart and took my pulse and explained how the heart worked. I think when you are first diagnosed it is an enormous shock especially if you are fit and living a healthy lifestyle!! On reflection what was completely lacking was empathy. I needed him to recognise that it was a ‘big deal diagnosis’ for me.
When anyone finds a cardiologist who shows empathy re their AF diagnosis do tell…….
I agree with Buffafly. An enlarged left atrium is very common amongst Affibers. You are unlikely to see a Cardiologist for hypertrophy. You will be fine if the ventricles are functioning efficiently. The EKG should indicate your ejection fraction which should shed some light on this. It will also indicate if there is any valve leakage/regurgitation.
I have a dilated right atrium. Am not on any meds since an RF ablation in 2022 but being in NSR hasn't made any difference to the size. My ejection fraction is 72% and I have good BP. I am not a athlete either 😃.The cardiologist doesn't seem bothered. I suppose 12 years of PAfib has altered my heart permanently.
Is an EF of 75 per cent good? I imagine so.9
According to certain studies normal is 55 to 7O% EF. However others say up to 74% for women is normal too. The best is for your own dr to do a check up and ascertain what is normal for you.Take care
Your ejection fraction is really good. My husbands is only 37% I’m hoping it will keep improving albeit slowly
I hope for him too 🤞How long has he had a low EF?Actually mine is a little high and you can have HF with preserved EF. Not saying I have that ( I hope!) but it is not always good to have a high EF.
After my ablation my EF dropped to 37 % but crept up again slowly .
I wish you and your husband all the best.
Not sure how long as we don’t know how long his heart rate was in high hundreds as he doesn’t feel it when it’s beating fast . If we d have had an Apple Watch then we would have known about it .
I was told my left atrium was enlarged and was told it was a consequence of decades of AF. I was also told it was nothing to worry about.
Pete
I too have an enlarged atrium which my Cardiologist is not worried about . I take zemtard and Telmistartan for my BP and AFib
Hi
I have a severely dilated (enlarged) left atrium.
I was immediately a Dr in hospital as helicopted to base hospital in Sept 2019 and diagnosed with Stroke - Embolic (clot to left frontal lobe), rapid & persistent AF and 4th day during carotid arteries scan (clear) thyroid papillary cancer (shadow on my right lobe thyroid.)
I was immediately put on meds PRADAXA 110mg twice daily - my choice, metoprolol 23.75mg x 3 daily (refused) but disregarded.
I had a thyroidectory + in February 2020.
Breathlessness and too fatigued to exert on metoprolol reduced it.
But 1 year 5 months later and no followup to stroke I demanded a heart specialist.
An ECHO, ECG and 24hr heart monitor proved m... not good ned for me 186 bpm Day and my normal 47avg bpm Night and pauses.
Changed to Bisoprolol better for AF patients. But 156 I remained Heart Rate uncontrolled on 24hr heart monitor.
9 months later went to a private specialist who introduced CCB Diltiazem. 180mg too much so decreased dosage to 120mg CD. Control at last. Under 100 but now 60s until afternoon creeps up to 80bpm day.
Bisoprolol 2.5mg PM for BP control.
It should have explained to you that medical staff are reliant on you saying how bad your symptoms are.
The ECHO shows an abnormal heart structure. So I think like me no cardioversion, ablation or anti-arrhythmic med allowed.
You don't say how fast/ slow heart rate or BP. They have given you an anti-co.agulant to lessen the risk of a stroke or heart attack because of AF.
Any worrying AF symptoms and your Dr should send you to a heart specialist urgently. An EP
is not interested with a patient who cannot have the above procedures.
You would be better under the heart specialist and he will weight up with you whether you should be started on meds for your AF or leave it until it gets worse.
Some folks can live with AF without meds for AF but remain on the anti-co.agulant.
All the best.
Cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)
Not to put the wind up you but my left atrium enlarged due to the AF and caused severe mitral valve regurgitation, which requires surgical repair.I think mine is probably more than moderately enlarged but I'd keep badgering the hospital to say that you just want reassurance that there is no major issue. There probably isn't, as they've not been urgently dragging you in but I don't like to assume anything where the NHS is concerned.
not a not ! I have an enlarged right atrium caused by some tiny holes in the atrium wall. My cardiologist said it was not serious. Just do all the things that keep your heart healthy ie exercise , keep your weight down etc and don’t worry!!
Hello, I had very large left atrium for several years due to moderate to severe mitral valve regurgitation. I ended up having the valve repaired along with repair of aortic valve in 2021. The atrium returned to normal size and still is, according to my last check up 3 weeks ago.
I wish you well!
I have enlarged left atrium and moderate mitral regurgitation, shown in recent echo. I am in line for an ablation, pulse field, but have been told it may not be effective and will need a second one.
. I know that the London hospitals now do a ‘mitraclip’ operation for mitral valve leakage. Has anyone had this. Has anyone had a ablation with this problem and what was the outcome.
Hello
Moderate enlargening of the left Atrium isn’t an immediate worry in my book, but best to keep an eye on it with regular Echocardiograms. As other responders have said, the effect on the mitral valve over time is the long term issue I think. This is also what a Thorascopic surgeon said to me quite recently.
Relatively reasonably priced private Echocardiograms are now available more readily which is good because the NHS is in free fall. I had one done in November
I have a severely enlarged left atrium, due to many years undiagnosed asymptomatic AF and the first EP I saw 5 years ago excluded me from any chance of an endocardial ablation working. Now my AF is symptomatic I’m having to deal with the situation quite drastically.
So yours being only moderate is nothing to worry about right now, don’t let anxiety creep in.
I was told by my EP that slightly or moderately enlarged atria are consistent with AFIB. Both of mine are slightly enlarged, but my EP didn't seem too worried based on the condition of my ventricles, both normal.
But best to get diagnosis from your cardiologist/EP.
Hi, having found out I had AF at the age of 61, I went into permanent AF a year later. My cardiologist referred me to an EP at London Bridge, a very wise experienced man. He said if I carried on with meds my heart would go “saggy”, so with a 70% chance of an ablation working, i went for it within 6 weeks. I’ve been in sinus rhythm since, 2.5 years on. Post op he said my left atrium looked ok. I had a couple of echos 3 and 6 months post op and it has decreased in size…
Everyone has a different history, it’s so hard to know what’s best to do, but a man to man, “tell me how it is please” chat, was the catalyst for me to opt for an ablation, that and I felt so washed out on the meds.
Everyone talks about their left atrium with Afib but it is my right atrium that is enlarged. Feel a bit left out 😀. Anyone else got an enlarged right atrium after years of PAF?
I am 73 and was first diagnosed with AF in 2015. ECG's and 24 hour monitors are all I've ever been offered. Last July I was informed that I had e a bunch block bundle, and have received no further explanation. The previous year, I'd had a fall getting out of bed and informed the consultant, his non chalante reply was I can feel a pulse. He went on annual vacation and now working in Dubai. Now have very poor circulation in both legs and feet
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