ECG - atrial fibrillation (AF)

[KylieSmath1234]

Hi,

I've just recently purchased the Fitbit sense to try and allay my concerns with regards to my SVT and it occasionally comes up with that I have signs of Afib. I cannot understand the ECG, can anybody help shed some light on it?

[CDreamer]

Hi Kylie - it’s really hard to tell anything from the photo you posted but I can say that AF is characterised by 2 things - an irregular heart beat and an absence or coarsening of the P wave.

As far as I can see your HR on the trace is fairly regular but the only way to know for sure is to print out a copy and measure the distances and there maybe a P wave on some part of the reading but it’s really hard to say. I don’t know anything about the FitBit algorithm and how it works and I’m not trained to interpret ECG’s so the only way to know for sure is to get a 12 lead ECG when you feel something is wrong and have a cardiologist or preferably an EP to check it.

Can you print the trace and email it to a doctor?

I relied on the Kardia mobile device, which has a proven track record for analysing AF and some other arrythmias and is FDA approved as well as in Europe and is approved of by many EP’s and GP’s, my doctors love it as it enabled me to email him anything I wanted to check out.

My iWatch will also do an ECG but I’ve compared with the Kardia and only rely on that as iWatc hasn’t been FDA approved and in any case will only show a lead 1 trace whereas the Kardia can show 6 leads which will give much more information to interprete.

Maybe someone on this forum may be able to help further?

FYI - this is what a typical AF trace looks like - this a link to a trace of mine from 2019 which was confirmed by EP that it was AF with fast ventricular response.

dropbox.com/s/i3o2q1y13j4kf...

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

Hello

As we are a peer to peer support group I suggest you discuss your concerns with your GP.

Are you aware of Arrthymia Alliance? They are a support group for people living with heart rhythm problems.

heartrhythmalliance.org/aa/uk

[gilreid1]

Have to agree with milkfairy. Ignore all non professional advice and seek cardio nurses or GP advice.

[BC-10]

Looks like a few a ectopics to me. Do you feel the classic pause/thump or maybe like me the thump/pause at rest?

[Larachez2102 in reply to BC-10]

Hi I get a thumpAmd pause then all of a sudden my heart rates shoots to 210 bpm last around 10 minutes then stops suddenly

[Suzie111]

Hi My FitBit sense ECG looks a lot like yours with longer intervals. Every time I take it it says I am in AF. I don’t like to contact doctor as was diagnosed a year ago and treated with Bisoprolol which hasn’t made any difference except in making me feel very tired and a feeling of a hangover most mornings. I

[tunybgur]

Can't really see an obvious AF indication, but I'm not familiar with Fitbit or Kardia.

I use a HealForce PC 80B and it gives a trace which even I can interpret accurately.

I hold it against my chest for the best reading, and it very clearly shows the P wave or lack of it, and an irregular pulse is also very obvious.

[GreenGuy999]

Cardiologists go to school for 7yrs as doctors plus extra to study for specifically heart related conditions, asking a forum isn’t the best also home technology has it’s own unreliable faults.

Seek out professional help, pester them if you have to but you’ll get answers eventually.

[JK5AEO]

I've just started using an EMAY handheld monitor, but it is obviously not clinical-grade. I don't have any Apple devices so needed something that I could download the data onto my laptop. My trace looks similar to yours; mine is regular but slow, so the machine always diagnoses bradycardia with every reading, (I've tried telling it I'm on bisoprolol so what does it expect, but it doesn't listen).I'm more reassured by my finger on my neck and a wristwatch to be honest!

J

[KylieSmath1234 in reply to JK5AEO]

Have you been diagnosed Afib? I am on Bisoprolol for SVT

[JK5AEO in reply to KylieSmath1234]

Yes, AF; but I'd like to know what sort. Reading entries on this site suggests several different types occur, but I just can't get a follow-up consultation (A&E lost the paperwork!)

[KylieSmath1234 in reply to JK5AEO]

I think there several different lengths of Afib but obviously I'm no expert. I'm hoping that my watch has just picked up on an irregular heartbeat rather than Afib.

[Larachez2102 in reply to KylieSmath1234]

Hi with your svt did your heart rate ever hit 210 mine is always hitting that while having a attack

[KylieSmath1234 in reply to Larachez2102]

Hi, Yes in fact the doctors at A&E told me that 210bpm was my average while in SVT. `I went down to 120 after IV beta blocker and then eventually I was sent home after 12 hours late my heart rate went into the 80s.

[Larachez2102 in reply to KylieSmath1234]

Thank you for the reply. I seem to get these before my period each month they start suddenly i could be resting and it starts straight away at 210 can last between 7-20 mins then stop suddenly. So frightening I’m glad I’m not alone through this. It’s nice to know someone els with the same issue as I genuinely believe I was going to die. Anxiety takes over.

[Palpman]

Not sure what this is as I'm not familiar with the device. A 12 lead will show plenty more.

Heartbeat varies between 60 and 75 and most P waves are missing. Perhaps hiding within the R wave or fibritating.

[edawng]

Hi Kylie - I also have SVT and get the same aFib readings, especially before breast feeding. Did your ever figure out if it is also aFib or the watch misreading? Thank you so much - any reply is appreciated.