Atrial fibrillation post op

[Bargod1958]

Hi everyone, well I’ve had my bypass(triple) and I’ve been home for a week now. After the operation I am one of a small number who has AF. I’ve been told that it’s fairly common it will settle as my recovery continues. I was wondering if anyone else has had similar and timescale that others have experienced for symptoms to ease. At the moment I’m going in and out of AF every day or so. Thanks in advance.

[Isobel1]

Hello, I had AF when I was in hospital after my heart op . but it settled. Are you on any medication for it ?

[Bargod1958 in reply to Isobel1]

Hi thanks for your response. I’m taking Atorvastatin 20mg and bisoprolol 2.5 mg along with ferrous sulfate and furosemide. At discharge I was told that the second two tablets were short term use. The statin and bisoprolol I was taking before the op and will remain on them. Glad to hear that your AF has settled.

[Isobel1 in reply to Bargod1958]

Do you know if any of those meds are specifically for AF ? Could you contact your GP, or your hospital cardiac nurse if you have one, or best of all your surgeon's secretary , and tell them you're still going in & out of AF , and should anything be done about it ?

[Bargod1958 in reply to Isobel1]

None are specifically for AF. I spoke to the Dr two days ago and had ECG done but he was satisfied and told me to keep an eye on it and get back to them. My cardiac nurse is due to call me early next week but I also mentioned it to her this week. Generally feeling ok. Thanks.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Bargod1958]

I belong to the AF Association (Atrial Fibrillation) website on Health Unlocked and I can assure you a lot of people on that forum are taking the beta blocker Bisoprolol to reduce their heart rate.

Jean

[Bargod1958 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean.

[Isobel1]

Good that they are keeping an eye on things . You could keep a note of the frequency and duration of your AF ,so you can report back to your GP if necessary , and your cardiac nurse.

[Bargod1958 in reply to Isobel1]

Thanks and I will do.

[road2ruin]

Hi,

I went in to AF after my AVR, about 7 or 8 days after. I was kept in over night and put on an Amiodarone drip (during the night I went back into sinus rhythm), then given a 3 month course of tablets of the same. When I went for my post op check up they took me off the Amiodarone (not very nice stuff apparently) and put me on Bisoprolol 1.25mg only, so very small. Touch wood and crosses fingers furiously, I have been fie since, over 2 years now.

Pete

[Bargod1958 in reply to road2ruin]

Thanks, I was on Bisoprolol before my op. I was told that AF after surgery is fairly common and should settle down.

[seantemp58]

Good morning. I had my triple bypass in April of this year and like yourself contracted AF. My cardiologist prescribed apaxiban for a couple of months to help control it. I am happy to report it settled down after that and have not had any symptoms since. If you have any doubts please speak to your cardiology team/nurse. Good luck with your recovery.

[Bargod1958 in reply to seantemp58]

Thanks, it’s nice to hear that it settles down(which is what I’ve read and been told) my Dr has told me to contact them if it doesn’t settle. Good luck for your continued recovery.

[seantemp58]

Good morning. I had my triple bypass in April of this year and like yourself contracted AF. My cardiologist prescribed apaxiban for a couple of months to help control it. I am happy to report it settled down after that and have not had any symptoms since. If you have any doubts please speak to your cardiology team/nurse. Good luck with your recovery.

[Bargod1958]

Thanks and sorry to hear of your husbands issues. I’ll speak to the nurse next week and take it from there. The bisoprolol I’m on should help but will keep an eye on it. Best wishes to you and your husband.

[Hidden in reply to Bargod1958]

It is still early days for you - your heart and body have been through a lot and need time to recover - heart meds are amazing these days so fingers crossed for you - and yes speak with the nurse

[Gooner045]

HiI had a triple over 3 years ago and have permanent AF, my cardiologist says it's like I'm in the gym 24/7.

Its finally under control, I used to be on 10 mg bisoprolol, but found it wiped me out, so we agreed on 7.5mg per day and digoxin another beta blocker not sure on the amount. Some nights I'd wake and my heart rate was around 180, but seems settled now.

Wish you well

G

[Bargod1958 in reply to Gooner045]

Thanks and best wishes.

[Markp7119]

HiI had AF in hospital post my cabgx4 and had a cardiac version that settled the heart rate

After about 4 months I had AF again

I am now on Apixaban a blood thinner and bisoprolol 2.5 mg

Thankfully now settled down

Take care

Mark

[Bargod1958 in reply to Markp7119]

Thanks very much.

[Chappychap]

"After the operation I am one of a small number who has AF. I’ve been told that it’s fairly common it will settle as my recovery continues. "

I was told that the symptoms of AF following a bypass were very common (as in the majority of recovering bypass patients show at least some evidence of AF), but that in the vast majority of cases it's purely temporary. I had a bypass three years ago and woke up with AF, I was prescribed a medication whose name I forget but the nurse said it was one of the nastier meds and I didn't want to be on it any longer than necessary. Within a few weeks all traces of AF had disappeared.

Because AF puts you at higher risk of a stroke it was something I wanted to monitor closely, so I bought and used a Kardia Mobile device at home for a few months, but it never showed any evidence of AF.

If I were you I wouldn't worry too much, the odds are very much in your favour.

Good luck!

[Bargod1958 in reply to Chappychap]

Thanks it nice to hear that it settled eventually.

[Heyjude31 in reply to Chappychap]

Hi Chappychap , would you mind sharing if you would recommend the Kardia Mobile please. Thank you for your help, Judi

[Chappychap in reply to Heyjude31]

Hello Judi. The Kardia Mobile worked brilliantly, and provided information in a format and to an accuracy that makes it acceptable for your GP or Cardiologist.

The only thing I’d say is that you should make sure you really do have long term AF before investing in one, and it’s not just a temporary thing following heart surgery. I bought one after a brush with AF following a heart bypass, but after reassuring me that my AF has genuinely passed it’s languished in a drawer ever since!

[Heyjude31 in reply to Chappychap]

Thanks ever so much Chappychap. I had to stop my meds for a short while due to chronic nausea from my meds at my Cardiologist recommendation. Due to stopping the bisoprolol, I think that may be the cause, but not sure. I took one yesterday and it settled down, I have heard of Katrina so thank you ever so much for your advice. I will leave it a while and hopefully it will settle. Thank you again, I really appreciate it, Judi

[WeaverShaz]

Hi. I had this problem while in hospital following an avr. I was on an amiodarone drip for a while and, since I have been home, so far so good. I was told it was a common problem. Good luck with your recovery.

[Bargod1958 in reply to WeaverShaz]

Thanks and best wishes.

[Handel]

Hi and really good you're back home and recovering. My husband had AF following his quad bypass and was put on a low dose (1.25mg) of Bisoprolol a week after he got home. That sorted out the problem!Have a lovely Christmas and an amazing New Year. Best wishes. Jan xxx

[Bargod1958]

Thanks and good luck.

[Bargod1958]

Thanks Jan and Merry Christmas and happy new year to you and yours.

[Hidden]

Dear Bargod1958

Fantastic news that you now are recovering at home.

Like you I had a heart bypass and my heart went into AF, I was told that this was very common.

They tried a few things in the hospital and I went in and out of it. I was sent home with Amiodarone and Apixabane along with all the other standard heart meds.

Long story short the nurse a few weeks ago could find no sign of the AF and this week I had my 12 week post op talk with my consultant/ surgeon who after an echo and ecg said that I could stop those extra meds as the AF had gone.

He did say that along with the usual heart failure team’s checkup that I would need another ecg now and then to confirm it still has gone.

Also ask your GP for a thyroid test as Amiodarone can affect that area.

Speedy recovery to you

[Bargod1958 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks and glad to hear that your AF has gone. My consultant just said that mine would settle. I was on 2.5 Bisoprolol before the op and I’m still on it now so hopefully it will eventually settle. Best wishes.

[Trog1]

Hi,I had to wait in hospital to have an emergency triple bypass in May 19 due to a genetic condition I was unaware of which caused an nstemi HA. Fortunately, despite the shock, all went well and I am doing okay but I do now suffer from occasional Paroxysmal AF and, besides the medication I need to treat the genetic condition and prevent cholesterol build up in my arteries again, I was given 1.25mg of bisopralol and Apixaban (which I still take). A few months after my op due to a few AF attacks the bisopralol was increased to 2.5 mg but since then it has settled somewhat and as my resting heart rate was quite slow, around 15-18 months ago the bisopralol was reduced back to 1.25mg. I seem quite well settled on this and only have very rare AF attacks now. Hope you are soon feeling much better and the AF attacks settle down so you can continue to recover.

[Bargod1958 in reply to Trog1]

Many thanks for your response. I’m glad that you’re doing well now. Best wishes for the future.

[Chickenlou]

My fiancé had AF the day after his bypass, and then had further episodes along with heart flutters and tachycardia. He was given a amiodrone drip and something in a drink ?magnesium? his heart had a few hours of being all over the place.

His settled a bit in hospital, but he was discharged on the amiodrone. After 3 months his ecg showed no AFib and he was taken off this.

Unfortunately he’s had further issues and is now waiting for further investigations as it looks as though he may still have AFib.

[Bargod1958 in reply to Chickenlou]

Thanks. Sorry to hear that he’s having issues still. I don’t know what lies ahead for me but I wish your fiancé a speedy recovery. Best wishes.

[Douglas91]

my husband had a/f many years before he needed a cabgx3 so it wasn’t a surprise when a few days after his operation whilst recovering at home suddenly went into a/f again Pretty frightening tbh because although we knew the symptoms we thought it was something going wrong with the surgery. He landed back in hospital overnight and everything went back into nsr over the course of a few days. You will get a lot of strange beats and you will be aware of them. However these strange beats are normally etopic ones which although unnerving are actually harmless. I would have a chat to your cardiac nurse you should have been given her name and contact details when you were discharged from hospital She could arrange a 24 tape recording of your heart to reassure you that things are OK. I’m sure in a few weeks you will start to improve. In my husband’s case he was back driving with his consultant’s approval after 6 weeks. Then back at work in 8 weeks. He’s self employed so was anxious to get back to work. Although I suspect he needed a further few weeks of recovery but the medics said he was fine. Everyone is different but the key is to pace yourself don’t overdo things especially in the first few days. If you feel tired rest but you will need to do a substantial amount of walking at first then more structured exercise regimen overseen by a cardiac physiotherapist part of your cardiac recovery support team. You will be well looked after so don’t be afraid to ask for help. You will be Ok probably feel better ironically than you did before. Good luck x