Has anyone who has had an ablation, caught Covid and it’s brought their AFib back. ?

[Sixtychick]

My Sister in law has just tested positive with Covid and we were at her 70th birthday party last night.

When I have an AFib episode, I have been told by the Doctors, to go to A&E, as my heart rate and blood pressure soar and they want to keep an eye on me and try and stop it, so when I had a AFib episode in February last year, I duly went to A&E and they were still testing everyone for Covid then and I was told my test was positive.They said it was more than likely, the Covid had brought on the AFib.

I had an ablation last September, so my question is - Has anyone had Covid after they’ve had an ablation and it’s brought the AFib back. I am now living in a state of fear, as I was close to her last night and I’m so scared I have caught it from her and it will re-start my AFib off again.

[Fanfab1]

The obvious thing to do is do a test, then you’ll know if you’ve caught it or not?

Your anxiety over this will push up your BP and heart rate anyway.

👍

[Sixtychick in reply to Fanfab1]

Thanks. I know, I must stop worrying about it. No point in taking a test for a couple of days, as I was only in contact with my sister in law yesterday, will do one on Wednesday morning. 🤞it’ll be negative.

[Tos92]

It can take upto 10 days after exposure to Covid to test positive. If you test earlier, the result might not be correct. I have tested for Covid in the past where I had a negative result, and 2 days later, I had a positive result. If you’re symptomatic, however, then you should take a test ASAP.

If you happen to have a positive result in the week, you can contact your doctor for Covid antiviral treatment to see if you’re eligible. However, these antivirals must be taken with the first couple of days of testing positive if they are to have a good effect.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you that you haven’t caught it 🤞🏽

Tos

[Sixtychick in reply to Tos92]

Thank you.🤞🤞 I have no symptoms yet and I only had a bit of a cough when I caught Covid last year and didn’t feel ill, it was just the AFib that started. I wouldn’t have thought to test for Covid, because I wasn’t ill. Wouldn’t have known if they hadn’t done a test in the hospital.Will ask about an anti viral if I get a positive result.

[Cat04]

Yes - I had an ablation in 2018 which held until I caught covid in 2022 which put me into atypical atrial flutter. I was initially hospitalised for 3 days but the flutter lasted 6 months and eventually brought under control with Tildiem 300. I ended up having another ablation in January 2023.

[Sixtychick in reply to Cat04]

Sorry to hear that, but hope the 2nd ablation will last this time. I woke up at 5pm in a sweat last night. It was very hot in our bedroom. My heart was racing at over 100 BPM, which panicked me. I put the fan on and it cooled it down a bit. It kept me awake for a while. My husband made me take a Covid test, but it was negative. I assume my heart was racing because I was hot. It did slow down to under 100 after a while.It is at 88 now. Since having my ablation and reducing my Sotalol, my heart rate has gone up from the low 70’s to about 85. Time will tell if my ablation will hold.

[MoretonCross]

Regrettably I can make no comment about the "testing" for covid as it would be removed on this forum. Suffice it to say I have never had any such "test" and therefore have never been accused of having the illness.

[Displacedheart]

Sorry to hear of your worry and fears, I believe your concerns are valid. Have you spoken to a nurse or somebody today, there is no harm in raising your concerns with a health care provider before hand, I would speak with your gp or somebody. Do you have somebody with you? That can help monitor you? Do u have some covid tests? Sorry I can't answer the question you asked. Please do try not to worry, but I think reaching out for professional advice now bcould be beneficial to you. I hope ur sister has a speedy recovery and I hope the nasty virus skipped you this time

[Sixtychick in reply to Displacedheart]

Thank for your good advice. I’m trying to keep calm. Felt a bit panicky at 5am this morning, when I woke up in a sweat. It was about 25 C in our bedroom. My heart was racing at over 100 bpm. I put the fan on and it cooled down and my heart rate dropped a bit. I suppose I could ring the cardio nurses at the Hospital I had my ablation at. Difficult trying to get an appointment after 8 am in our surgery, even for a telephone appointment. My husband made me take a test this morning, but it was negative. My Sister in law has gone to the surgery this morning. She is immunocompromised, so has to have an anti-viral. I took an ECG and it said no abnormalities and my BP is 120/64, which is fine. Heart rate is 92 now. Still a bit too fast, although it may be be because I’m reducing my Sotalol. I won’t be able to stop it altogether, if it’s going to make my heart race. Time will tell if this ablation holds.

[SaxmanAD]

Hi, first of all I hope you're okay and please don't worry too much as you know stressing will accelerate you into Afib and if you worry about it it won't change the outcome. I had an ablation earlier this year and unfortunately tested for covid three days later after knowing I'd gone back into afib. The sad thing was that I probably took the covid in with me & eye tested negative before going in. My cardiologist was amazing and I had another cardio version about 10 days after which put me back into sinus rhythm. Always I would say his stay calm and if you feel or test and you're in Afib to speak to your support team. Good luck 🙏

[Sixtychick in reply to SaxmanAD]

Thank you. I will try not to worry.You hope, when you’ve put yourself through an ablation, that things will be ok. I’m sorry to hear you had problems after your ablation. I hope things will be ok now. Unfortunately, it’s not like having something taken out. You’ll never know if your ablation has been successful, unless your AFib returns.

[Wanderinglady]

Hi I can’t comment on whether you have caught Covid and if so how it will affect your Afib, but what I can say is that my husband caught it twice despite having all his jabs and neither time did I catch it from him. I’m the one with the low white blood cell count who usually catches everything going! It’s not inevitable that you will catch it or that if you do, it will bring about a change to your Afib. Try not to stress, easier said than done I know.

[Sixtychick in reply to Wanderinglady]

Thanks. Good to know. 🤞I’ll be lucky and not have caught it. I ‘m trying hard not to worry. It’s difficult after having AFib for all these years, to believe that an ablation might have stopped it and I keep wondering if it will come back. I really need to try and put that thought at the back of my mind.

[Come2jesus]

lm with Mortoncross I cannot believe this illness is still ripe with all the jobs that have happened.

[Smitty1956]

Hi, Sixtychick,

I’m so sorry to hear that you are afraid that you may have contracted COVID. I would definitely be worried too.

I know that what I am about to write sounds simplistic, or silly, but it is still true. Try to relax—you can’t get a positive reading for a few days anyway (even if you are positive)—don’t cause yourself additional worry for several days for possibly no reason. Try to occupy your thoughts with something else—walk in a garden, sit outside if it is cool enough, read a good book, etc. Try your best to relax until you can accurately take a test.

Plus, you are planning to speak with a health care professional about all of this. That may help you to feel some better too.

The heat this summer has been awful! Perhaps you can cool your bedroom more right before you go to bed. Experts say that we sleep better in cooler temperatures.

I know that you are scared right now, and I understand. Worry has never changed one thing though. Worrying too much about something does not stop the bad thing from happening. Plus, worrying does not make the good thing that may happen any better. Try your best not to worry—-try to distract your mind—-take the test as soon as possible.

I wish you the best in all of this—a negative test result—-and a positive ablation❤️

[Sixtychick in reply to Smitty1956]

The weather has not been that warm where I live. Thank you for your good advice. 🤞🤞🤞I shall be ok. I feel fine at the moment. Hopefully neither my husband or myself will come down with it, as we have booked a few days away in our touring caravan, at a site in Lincolnshire, on Thursday. Hoping the rain goes away by Thursday. !!

[Smitty1956 in reply to Sixtychick]

lol! I am in the U.S., as you probably suspected. Good catch!

It has been incredibly hot here—in places (like where I live) that usually aren’t as hot. Plus, no rain. Just brutal.

Your caravan trip sounds lovely, and I hope that you get to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Best wishes to you! ❤️

[Sixtychick in reply to Smitty1956]

Thanks. Hopefully, we’ll be ok to go. Send some of your nice weather to the UK. It’s been an awful summer weather wise here, so far this year.

[Jetcat]

hi sixty, I suppose any infection or illness could possibly bring a episode of AFIB on but I could be wrong? Iv had covid twice and I never got an episode while I was ill with it. But I can be illness free and feeling great but get a episode of afib so I’m at a loss as to what actually brings an episode on.🫤

[Sixtychick in reply to Jetcat]

AFib is horrible and unpredictable. Just wish the scientists could come up with a 100% cure for it. With millions of people around the world with this, you would think someone would be working on it.

[Jetcat in reply to Sixtychick]

I hope there is people working on it. It’s a very strange condition I must admit and very complex too. It’s so unpredictable and it definitely gets the anxiety levels going sometimes!

[Sixtychick in reply to Jetcat]

I was very anxious, I’ve had hypnotherapy to help me. I find being on this forum helps a lot too. Everyone is very helpful.

[Jetcat in reply to Sixtychick]

Yes I totally understand. Iv had a few counselling sessions over the years because of the anxiety it causes and some different meds to get my anxiety more manageable.!! this site is great and Iv also had a great deal of help from all on here over the last few years. Their definitely a super bunch.👍