Since I’ve developed AF I’ve had a number of instances where I feel ‘foggy’ headed and when I’ve checked my oxygen saturation level it’s been low (usually around 94% but very occasionally down to 70%). This has always been when I’m in AF
I had an ablation 3 days ago and am in NSR. I’ve checked with my Kardia 6L several times and no sign of AF. However pretty much all day today I’ve felt slightly foggy headed and just checked my saturation levels and it’s varies between 93% and 96%.
Has anyone else experienced this even when in NSR?
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Peakoverload
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Your sats will vary throughout the day and night depending upon what you are doing. Today mine varied from low of 87-97% - I did not feel foggy headed but I haven’t been that active today.
As long as your sats do not stay below 92% for any length of time there is no cause for concern. I would suggest that you feel foggy headed from the drugs which in all likelihood haven’t yet cleared your system. GA or Sedation?
Recovering from ablation often takes a lot longer than you are given to believe so give yourself time to rest and recuperate for the next couple of weeks and hopefully you will gradually recover, this is a marathon, not a sprint.
yes and I was diagnosed with Sleep Apnea, apparently SA can be connected with AF. Since I’ve been on the CPAP treatment I have been so much better. Sats very rarely under 90. Get yourself tested
I take those readings as a guide only. If I take mine it starts at 97% but if I leave the device on my finger it wanders all over the place, down to 90 , up tp 99. If I take it off and try another finger, same results. I don't think OTC pulsesox meters are too accurate.
Are you testing your blood oxygen (SpO2) by a fingertip oximeter? If you are, you may have reduced blood flow in your finger. I've had hypoxia from pulmonary toxicity, fortunately the respiratory team put me on 25 litres/minute of oxygen. In adults, SpO2 declines on a slope until a 'knee' at about 92%, then it drops in a straight line. I was measured at 76% by a GP and sent straight to a respiratory 'hot clinic' where I refused to be sedated and put on mechanical respiration, nor allow my wife to be telephoned at 1:15 am. In recovery in the following days, I took off my oxygen mask to go to the bathroom. On the way back, I came to a halt and had to be helped back to bed (they put up the side rails so I couldn't get out again).
I have been told that these "foggy heads", which I get also although I have insomnia, too, are caused by the heart arrhythmia and things like bradycardia. Apparently, a BP machine cannot detect the reduced blood flow to the brain that the arrhythmias can cause.
Thank you everyone for your replies. It’s very reassuring to see I’m not alone. I’m not worried about it but it is annoying and it was something I was getting a fair bit of several months ago but then seemed to go away but has now returned with a vengeance since the ablation. I’ve no doubt it will settle down again but I was curious whether people still have this symptom even months later after a successful ablation.
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