7years ago I had AF episodes brought on by untreated high blood pressure . Once on medication the episodes stopped and I haven’t had any since. Does this mean that I now don’t have AF ? I’m a 73 old female
Am I still classed as having AF - Atrial Fibrillati...
Am I still classed as having AF
Written by
Blackbrook
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BobDVolunteer
If you rely on meds for NSR then yes you have AF. You may also be asymptomatic and unaware of your events.
So ...if you have an ablation and stay in NSR without meds ( except anticoagulant and you always know when AF hits), does still mean that you have AF?
No. I don't though I also have a pacemaker and some other electrcial problems. Just not AF.
I was speaking in general, if the above applies to a person....are they still classed as having AF,no other co morbiditites? Thanks
I had a (so far) successful ablation 5 months ago and at the 3 month follow up with the cardiologist I asked him if I'm still classified as having afib (the only medication I take is statins, which is only due to having afib, and I want to come off them). He said it was a good question ... but didn't answer it. He recommended I stay on the statins though.
My guess would be - it depends on who's asking.
One of the most critical ones is insurance - health, travel, life, even household and car - as insurance companies will use every trick in the book to worm out a claim! The safe bet is to declare it as an existing - or at least remissive - condition. Unless, that is, you can get someone from the insurance company to advise and commit on the matter, which, in my experience, is highly unlikely.
Hiya Blackbrook,
Now my story is a tad different ..... in 2007 (63) I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and put on Ramipril and Simvastatin. Then on 6 January 2010 (nearly 15 years ago soon, age 65) I felt unwell, like I had flu. 9 hours or so later I was in hospital where paroxysmal AF was diagnosed along with the Consultants comment ... I could at times be asymptomatic ! In hospital I was prescribed Warfarin for life, also in addition was prescribed Felodopine and Bisoprolol ( now revised to Sotalol).
Sorted.
So, nowadays (age 80) I am still on these meds, my AF events are few and far between, say every 4 or 5 years - sometimes with a bit of help with an increase dose of meds - they sort themselves. No worries. I did identify food as a trigger to my AF events and so having consulted a Nutritionist I have modified my diet and just keep on carrying on.
The one thing I have learned is that AF is the most untrustworthy thing I can think of. It will always have its wicked way whenever it feels so inclined ...... for that reason there is no way on this planet, no matter what inducements, would I ever abandon my meds. AF will always strike back. That said, I rejected all notion of ablation, right at day 1.
John
Many thanks for your insight , the meds must be doing their job!!
At 81. I had an ablation last April.It was the new technique called Post field. Despite the fact that I have poor pulmonary function from scoliosis, I did very well. I definitely feel better. The first few months I had. ectopics, but those are gone All I take now is Eliquis. My watch hasn’t shown any afib burden .I don’t drink alcohol so I don’t have that trigger.
Yes. It's like having high blood pressure controlled by medication. The original condition is there still.
Exactly wilsond ..... exactly ... the meds are like, the control mechanism ... iz all !
I wonder what is the longest time anyone has gone between episodes
I’ve read of one person in this group go 10 years between their first and second episode, but after the second episode they began to experience more frequent episodes. So it’s one of those “how long is a piece of string” questions really.
I always feel a bit of an AFib fraud when I read of other forum member's experiences, for I have never had 'an episode' or 'an attack' as such. My heart, however, beats irregularly all the time, which surely is the definition of AFib? This was diagnosed around six years ago, though my heart was probably wonky before then. Happily, with my cardiologists' grudging approval, I have gradually reduced and eventually dispensed with all the meds except my anticoagulant which I'll be on for life but doesn't bother me with side effects.
The definition is a little more than an irregular beat - morphology wise it is a beat without a p wave and one that is irregular. You can also have sinus arrhythmia which is where your heart is beating normally but in an irregular spacing pattern between beats.
Thanks for that..no one ever told me that before.I have irregular Heart Beat and H Failure.. and never understood the difference between AF and irregular..thankyou again
You could also be having ectopic beats. Premature atrial contractions (PACs) also feel like an irregular beat. AF is just one type of heart beat which feels irregular. You can only really confirm what it is with an ecg. Hence why a lot of people like the watches and other devices. I’ve often suspected a lot of people on this forum are not always experiencing AF especially when I hear people refer to palpitations. AF can feel like palpitations but for most it doesn’t.
Sounds a lot like my situation too.
AF is a specific type of arrhythmia where the atria beat uncontrollably and very rapidly ie fibrillating. There are other arrhythmias which are not AF, and there are ectopic beats which are not really considered an arrhythmia but a variation of “normal” — although I had constant ectopics before I developed AF and it was very unpleasant. If you’ve had AF in the past it should be on your medical records. People can go a long time between AF episodes but if you’ve had AF in the past you may be vulnerable to it flaring up during illness or something like that.
After my first cardioversion I went ten years, the next 5 then 2, then a year, then two again, since last one 6 months, I'm persistent when I'm in AF, and I'm one of those who become pretty much dibilatated, I feel every little thing , also sometimes fast and sometimes slow, there may be times when I haven't "felt it" I suppose but I don't think so
I felt unwell for a week before I realized that my heart rate was much increased and my BP decreased. My FP sent me to the ER, where the diagnosed AF (early June). I was sent home on metoprolol and apixaban (both twice daily).
The only time thereafter that I had symptoms was when I accidentally missed two (or three?) consecutive doses of metoprolol. On metoprolol, my HR and BP improved.
I had a successful cardioversion in early December and remain free of symptoms and fibrillation, but my BP increased enough that I've had to increase my daily amlodipine dose.
My first episode was in 2009, since a cardio version at that time, I've not had any repeat .Any medications I was given at the time have gradually faded to 0,ive often wondered if i still have AF.sometimes I get the odd misplaced heartbeat but nothing really.
My son had an ablation when he was 36 - he's 54 now and has never had another episode - takes no meds - but he was an extreme athlete (white water rafting and canoeing) still does some canoeing but lots of hiking, cycling and swimming, so that may be different. sort of scenario. He thinks he's cured, but I have told him to wait and see, as it's familial in old age in my family, myself, my 4 sisters and father were all diagnosed in our 70s. Myself and one sister by chance as we were asymptomatic (she had Hyperthyroidism and I had a bout of extreme vomiting caused by a drug that did not suit me).
many thanks for your input
I would disagree. Having controlled high blood pressure would typically mean you are taking medication to control it. If you stop taking that medication your high blood pressure will immediately return. If you have a successful ablation that destroys the heart tissue that caused the AFIB and you know through monitoring that you don't have undetected AFIB, I would say that you no longer have AFIB. It may come back some day just as someone who never had AFIB may develop it some day as well.
It’s a significant factor in your medical history regardless of whether you are still having episodes, so you have to bear that in mind. Just because it hasn’t happened in a long time doesn’t mean it will never happen again. You are at greater risk of having AF in the future compared with someone who has never had an episode of AF. I don’t know whether you can be “undiagnosed” but AF will remain as part of your medical records.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed but thanks everyone
I had two afib episodes 10 years ago at this time of the year. Terrifying. I was prescribed apixaban and took it for six months. I felt very unwell on it. I’ve had no episodes since. I am acutely aware of my heart and check for af using Karia and Apple Watch. I know there can be unknown episodes which are dangerous. I’ve made lifestyle choices in relation to alcohol and sleep. I consider myself potentially at risk of further af as everyone is. I found this group so so helpful
Are you taking apixaban now on a daily basis?
No. I’m not. Took for six months 10 years ago
Yes , also Ramipril and Bisoprolol
My first episode was probably about 2014 but it may have been earlier and I just put it down to indigestion, over strenuous exercise or inebriation.
I consulted my GP and saw a cardiologist and had a 24 hour holter monitor but could they never capture any of my symptoms. My GP was convinced it was just the odd ectopic blip.
It was only in 2021 that a Kardio monitor convinced my GP to refer me to a cardiologist again and I was eventually diagnosed with AFib and put on Edoxaban and Bisoprolol.
I therefore had AFib for at least 7 years but never had it on my medical record.
Even now the only condition showing on my online medical record is non diabetic hyperglycaemia which was only recently identified. That sent alarm bells sounding and they immediately put me on a 9 months diabetes awareness course.
I guess my AFib has regular symptoms unlike pre diabetes which is usually free from symptoms but nevertheless a potential timebomb.
Interesting reading everyone’s experiences , I’m taking notes and thank you
Hi
Research says there is no such diagnosis as pre-diabetes.
Its to scare folks into reducing their sugar.
In 2010 I was diagnosed with it. I lost weight. Never had much added sugar. My Dad was diabetic 1. He offered us caramel bars cut in 5 portions. Yuck I would say.
Never had prediabetes mentioned again.
cheri JOY. 75. (NZ)
My friend (age 63) had her bi annual MOT and was told she was pre diabetes. She was put on an awareness course and the only result at the end if the course was she made 2 new friends.
As a result of going for blood tests after a night of afib or sometimes whilst still in afib I discovered that the afib puts my fasting blood sugar level up into the diabetes category whereas it is usually normal or occasionaly just edging into the prediabetic category.
That's interesting as my last blood test was taken when I was in AFib.
It would not have affected my HbA1c though as that relates to the average glucose levels over the last 2 to 3 months.
I was thinking whether any other blood results would have been affected. Let's see what Mr Google says.
Although not nearly as long as you, I haven’t experienced any AF that I’m aware of for roughly 20 months. I asked my cardiologist if I could come off eliquis given I wasn’t experiencing any AF and he explained that unless I wore a monitor 24/7 we couldn’t be sure.
I do wear a monitor like this in some ways as I wear a watch but as AF is not my biggest concern it isn’t set to read it all the time. The watch can either notify of high/low heart rates or record AF but not both at the same time. Mine is set to high/low rates.
that’s interesting , maybe I should ask about a monitor . I keep a check now and then with a blood pressure monitor and my rates have been pretty consistent for the last 7 years
As ForensicFairy said, current Apple watches do not monitor for AF in real time. However, in the REACT-AF trial currently underway, patients use a modified Apple watch to detect AF 24/7. And, quite correctly, the public aren't being informed of the changes to the Apple watch (software?/hardware?) being implemented during the trial. We can only hope that if the trial and the "new" Apple watch with 24/7 monitoring are successful, then this watch will eventually be made available to the public. I would certainly buy one, and I don't own any Apple products! Although sadly the completion date of the trial is estimated at mid 2029.
For information purposes (as I mentioned it above) only, here's a link to the current REACT-AF trial being undertaken in USA on a PIP approach to anticoagulation ...
I had nothing for 9 months then had 8 in 16 days..after lunch,
It happens from time to time after lunch so now am making a conscious effort to sit up at a table for lunch . I can go out for lunch and eat significantly more and it’s fine. On a list for 7 day monitor…just 6 weeks waiting so far . Of course it won’t happen when I wear it .lol afib is like a naughty child,
That’s exactly what happened to me Peacockmumma. I went 18 months free, then all hell let loose. Started after eating lunch with ectopics thrown in. I am waiting to see EP., with view to an ablation, but my heart has settled again so l am at a loss to know why or what route to take. Everything with AF is complex and difficult to understand, for me!
Sad to say it won't go away that's why I went ahead and had an ablation
Yes, l am sure you made the correct decision. It’s the long term strain on the heart that is worrying and don’t want to end up with heart failure on top. I believe people with HF have had an ablation and their heart has improved, so that is a plus. Was your ablation successful Karendeena? I am coming up 77 and quite honestly l sometimes think, do l really want to keep recovering from ablations if they don’t work. I will see what the EP suggests and go from there. I have had echo, monitor etc. so see what condition my heart is in..,,,,,, Thanks.
My episodes were awful often lasting 36 hours with a fast heart rate, I just couldn't cope with not knowing when the next one would hit me. My ablation was in March 2024 and my last episode was in January 2024. My EP says my ablation was successful. I have seen him twice since and he has reduced some of my medication but I will be on an anticoagulant for life unfortunately. He tells me sometimes you can be in AF and not know it. I am so pleased I had the ablation and whilst there is no guarantee it will stay away for ever at least for now I have my life back!
Thank you that’s encouraging. Reducing your medication is good and you must feel much better. The anticoagulant is very important treatment and l will never come off it as it’s not worth the risk. Good to hear you are enjoying life and long may it last.
My mum has heart failure although she is almost 97. She had undiagnosed AF and also my brother didn't know he had it until a stroke hit him suddenly taking his left periferal vision. My EP says this is what often happens if people aren't diagnosed.
Dreadful what havoc this AF can cause. My dad had a stroke and an undiagnosed heart attack. Apparently, he had it in his sleep so no one knew. He should have been taking an anticoagulant so sadly the inevitable happened. When heart problems are in the family, we need to be extra vigilant.
Look after your lovely mum. My mum was 94 when she passed 10 years ago. I still miss her every day of my life.
Thank you for your help.x
I try my hardest with mum but it's so difficult now. She was my best friend and we went everywhere together and some fabulous holidays. Unfortunately, she has changed so much and is often aggressive towards me, it breaks my heart as I do my best, such stress on a daily basis 💔xx
I am making sure lunch I am sitting upright. Dinner doesn’t seem to be a problem, so weird. Luckily my Heart only flutters in the late 70s now.used to be over 100, anyway will be referred eventually to cardiology see what they say or suggest. It doesn’t bother me now just bloody annoying lol
Try to eat a small lunch. Make sure your electrolytes are in sync. and keep well hydrated. My heart is much better and seems to have settled, so have no idea as to why. I am averaging AF once a month, which lasts from 2/8 hours. It’s disappointing when it returns after such a long time.
Thank you. I am trying to have a less stodgy meal. Mine last about 8hrs average, good luck
I’m 65 and have had AFib for 4 years. I’m on medication but once a month usually for one hour I get an episode. I’m asymptomatic I feel every beat and it starts at around 186 bpm but as Bob says its a mongrel and its my mongrel and I do a spreadsheet and this year I was in AFib for 0.24% of the time. I can live with that.
If your heart is beating normally, which is called in sinus rhythm or "NSR", and with no sign of AF or arrhythmia, then you don't have AF. AF is when the top of the heart "fibrillates", which means it quivers some or all of the time. If yours isn't doing this, then there is no AF. If stopping your tablets would cause AF to begin again, then you have controlled AF.
Steve
This is the case , initially I had some episodes of near fainting , this went on for some months and the dr said it was vertigo , then during a routine check up they said my pulse was irregular and recommended seeing a cardiologist . I had a lot of tests and they said my heart was healthy and there was no sign of afib but started me on tablets for the blood pressure , then I had an afib attack which they caught on a monitor so they added an anti coagulant and bisoprolol . After a few weeks everything settled down , my pulse was regular , no attacks , and has been like that for 7 years .
AF is, it seems, particularly hard to diagnose until it's seen on an ECG as the symptoms aren't always very "heart related". High blood pressure can put pressure on the atrium at the top of the heart and cause it to enlarge slightly and harmlessly except this then makes it more prone to AF. After treatment any enlargement can reverse (although as we age that gets less likely, I gather) and the AF will go away. Whether those sensitised atrial cells will become arrhythmic again is in the lap of the gods, I guess. One way to keep the heart at its smallest is to stay a normal weight, I gather, as the heart has a fixed number of cells and these enlarge and shrink with body mass.
Steve
what does your doctor say?
I would say you are very fortunate.If it was me, I would be asking my cardiologist if I could reduce the meds and check for AFib on his timing.
Hi, I am in a similar position - Diagnosed with Afib (which induced an HA), no episodes for a number of years and treated with Flecainide (daily or PIP only).
Do i have Afib? - Yes, I do but it is kept in check with the medication.
As others have mentioned, my concern is always who wants to know, namely travel insurance companies. I've often discussed with my cardiologist and he is very good. He always documents diagnosis, treatment and changes of very precisely so it is clear in my records, in case anyone asks.
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