Prolonged Qtc

[Roseeva]

Hi

I have recent onset of Atrial tachycardia and AF. Started on flecainide and bisoprolol. No more atrial issues, however, I have been suffering with painful ventricular bigeminy and my QTC has been at least 578 (ecg confirmed)

I've been sent home from hospital and told to continue with the medication. My QT was not prolonged before starting medication 3 weeks ago.

[Kristin1812 Heart Star]

Hi Roseeva. Sorry you’ve been having problems, but I thought put I’d just mention that I had a hard time with your posting, and it’s abbreviations.

Most likely someone with your issues would understand very well, but spelling them out a bit would have helped me.

I did, however look up bigeminy, or Big Emily as my spell checker calls it!

So something was learned today.

[Roseeva in reply to Kristin1812]

Hi,

Thanks so much for getting in touch.

AF = Atrial Fibrilation

Bigeminy = ectopic (extra) beats from the ventricles occurring every other beat

QT = the time it takes for your ventricles to recover between heart beats, a normal time is 440 milliseconds and below, 500 is considered dangerous. Having a prolonged QT puts you at risk of life threatening heart problems and cardiac arrest.

Mine was measured at 578 milliseconds yesterday.

Flecainide = an antiarrhythmic drug to stop the atrial tachycardia and AF.

Bisoprolol = a beta blocker slows the heart down

Xx

[Tabbyjune in reply to Roseeva]

Medication can definitely cause it to be pro longed

[Tabbyjune in reply to Tabbyjune]

Also what did they say about the etopic beats bigeminy is quite a bad form of them and they can be dangerous you should definitely see a cardiologist x

[Roseeva in reply to Tabbyjune]

See the thing is, despite me expressing that view they said it was normal.

I was stuck in bigeminy few days back for 12 hours and it was so painful in my chest.

Have you ever heard of R on T?

[Tabbyjune in reply to Roseeva]

Well I told by a doctor that bigeminy of etopics are dangerous as the heart cannot function as well and having the pain dose not sound right at all no what’s r on t ??

[Roseeva in reply to Tabbyjune]

They won't listen to me at all. I'm actually having to pay to see a specialist.

R on T happens when the ectopic beats happens too early in the cardiac cycle causing a life threatening rhythm.

I've told them I've been close to collapse as well which to me, would say the heart is having a hard time.

But they just tell me to stay on Flecainide and be on my way.

I'm medically trained and was told that too much knowledge is 'detrimental' by the A and E doctor.

But surely, having such a high QTC and extensive family cardiac illness history (including sudden cardiac death) would worry them? Or am I being silly?

Xx

[Tabbyjune in reply to Roseeva]

OMG wow, firstly after reading all I don’t think your stupid at all Infact I think they are by not taking you seriously what is wrong with people !!! And I think you have done the best thing going private even no you 100 percent shouldn’t have to be paying they should be seeing you ! Yea feeling like your going to collapse is a massive warning sign I really hope you get to see somone soon who takes it seriously x

[Roseeva in reply to Tabbyjune]

Thank you so much for listening to me. I feel that my local hospital is putting my life at risk and getting to see a cardiologist in a decent time frame is near impossible.

[Tabbyjune in reply to Roseeva]

I agree with you sounds like they are when is private appointment? Not that I expect you will want to but you know own body if your worried or anything in the mean time go back up there x

[bee2 in reply to Roseeva]

I have acquired Long QT Syndrome and usually have to point this out and check medications prescribed myself. It's your body if you feel they are putting you at risk them stop taking whatever you think is causing the QT issue and look for a replacement. Good luck

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Roseeva]

Thank you, I like things easy....probably just lazy!

[Nicky3]

Hi,

I have prolonged QT caused by medication Gabapentin but need it so I have Nebivolol beta blocker which has shortened it. I need to keep an eye on it and my Cardiologist did take it seriously when it got to 500 so I would follow it up with someone else.

Good luck

Nicky

[Roseeva in reply to Nicky3]

Hi, so the saga continues.

A private specialist told me to stop it with immediate effect. And within 48 hours the ventricular bigeminy stopped and so did the chest pain and general feelings of being unwell.

However...

My levels have not reduced despite being off flecainide for over a week now.

I see another specialist Tuesday, this is looking like a case of silent congenital Long QT. Which, given my family cardiac history, has not shocked me. But, as you can imagine, this is extremely scary and confusing.

Will update as soon as I know more.

Thanks for the input everyone ❤️