PAF with other Arrythmias

[Cablecar]

My Kardia device has recently recorded other Arrythmias along with my normal PAF. I have been getting mainly Super-Ventricular Ectopy, also Atrial Fibrilation with Wide QRS and Sinus Rhythm with Premature Ventricular Contractions. Does anyone have the same experience and could this be caused by Flecainide usage?

[CDreamer]

Yes, had similar readings. Yes wide QRS can be caused by Flecainide but I wouldn’t rely on Kardia for that diagnosis - you should see your specialist & ask for analysis. If you have a pacemaker that can also show up as wide QRS.

PVC’s unless very numerous are normally considered ‘benign’ but don’t always feel that way.

[Cablecar in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you CDreamer. I have been taking Flecainide PIP and have recently tried twice daily Flecainide only at 50mg dose. It's only after this that these other conditions have surfaced.

[Tellingfibs]

Hello, I have all these, especially SVEs. My cardiologist knows about them and even let me have an extra Echocardiogram because I kept pestering about them. They also gave me a 48 hour monitor and apparently I have a 20% SVE burden and they will do another echo in 6 months to compare. I have two leaky valves and I get the impression he is ‘forward thinking’ about when to deal with these. I feel that as long as the heart rate is controlled, the cardiac gods at the hospital are fairly unconcerned.

Annie

[Cablecar]

Thank you "Tellingfibs". I like your tag. I don't think I have a leaky valve, but if the SVEs continue, I'll do some pestering of my own. Good luck with your issue.

[Sixtyslidogirl]

I had a lot of ectopics and found that magnesium sorted them out. I don’t get too many now. My last (pre-ablation) holter said I had 8 ventricular and 84 atrial ectopics which is apparently not untypical for someone my age (64).

[Cablecar in reply to Sixtyslidogirl]

Thank you, Sixtyslidogirl. I went on a Magnesium binge a while ago because I was told that my Magnesium level was low anyway. However, it also raised my Potassium level which caused another problem. But, in light of your comment, I will make sure that at least it won't be too low in future.

[Ppiman]

A wide QRS can be caused by flecainide and should be reported and investigated, I believe.

Other causes are left- and right-bundle branch blocks. I have the former (LBBB). This apparently ruins a home ECGs ability to know quite what is happening, as its AI algorithm cannot cope.

Your next step, I would say, should be a call to your GP or to the arrhythmia clinic.

Steve

[Cablecar in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks Steve. So far, I've only had a few of wide QRS. However, the only alternative offered to me rather than Flec. is Amiodorone and I dread its fearsome reputation.

[Ppiman in reply to Cablecar]

Search for “low dose amiodarone safety” and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. It’s reputation comes from early usage at higher doses, I believe. I would want careful monitoring of liver, lungs and eyes, though. In many ways it’s likely safer than flecainide as there’s no pro-arrhythmia risk. I might be wrong but I think flecainide can bring on atrial flutter, too, so is often given with a beta-blocker to try to prevent that.

Steve

[Cablecar in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks again Steve. You've given me a bit of hope. I'll do some more research. More often than not I will succumb to side effects of one type or another.

[Unakap]

I'm 61 and have had PVCs and SVE (or PACs) for several years, escalating in 2019. In 2024 I started having PAF with tachycardia. It seems when I have afib the attacks are surrounded by these other arrythmias. I self-convert and am scheduled for an ablation in 2 weeks. I don't think it will make a lot of difference to the other arrythmias. Complicating it all is I have mitral valve prolapse with regurgitation. I'm researching supplements of magnesium taurine to see if that might be advised; however, I don't want to start anything right now before my procedure. I'm on bisoprolol and apixaban. No rhythm regulators.

[Cablecar in reply to Unakap]

Thanks Unakap. Every time I raise a Post I come across other conditions that are new to me. Something else that I should worry about, perhaps. I hope not.

[ForensicFairy]

You should definitely reach out to your cardiologist.

I have all these arrhythmias and don’t take flecainide. In fact, flecainide is contraindicated for me as it will make my arrhythmias worse and possibly cause me to go into VT. If you have a condition which affects the sodium channels of your heart, you should not be put on antiarrythmias such as flec.

[Cablecar in reply to ForensicFairy]

Thank you ForensicFairy. I haven't been told about this before but I will raise it with my Cardiologist.