ATRIAL FIBRILLATION & PMR

[Sanekate]

After a long, uncomfortable night in the assessment dept of my local hospital I've been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation, essentially an irregular heart rhythm which can be very very fast. Felt sick and faint out on a walk earlier, and didn’t get better as time went on. Consultant thinks it may be PMR related. Now looking at long-term beta blockers and blood thinners. Can't believe I was fit & healthy & energetic not so long ago - now feel like an exhausted pill-popper. Anyone else here with AF? Or heard of a PMR link?

[Rose54]

Hi

Yes, following a HA in 2019

I developed AF

I have been on Steroids since 2015 at present on 12.5

Is it inked to PMR who knows but we know Steroids can cause fast heart rate.

It's scary when it first happens but with meds it manageable,

Yes, I do get anxious about it can't do much when I'm out but sit and let it pass but at home i do meditate which helps calm me down

[Sanekate in reply to Rose54]

Sorry to hear about the HA. Hope you are recovering well

[Rose54 in reply to Sanekate]

yes l am back to normal thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Yes - my a/f started about the same time the PMR symptoms did and continued with occasional (paroxysmal) episodes until I had a major reaction to an i.v. dose of diazepam- a known but very rare cause of a/f. It was investigated and treated with medication (they don't do cardioversion here except in exceptional circumstances) and I realised those previous episodes ad stopped. The cardiologist is of the opinion it is due to the autoimmune part of PMR having damaged the electrical cells in the heart that govern heart rate. It has definitely been worse when the PMR has flared. And interestingly seems to have been less since I was started on tocilizumab.

I'm on a low dose of bisoprolol and a decent dose of an antiarrythmic, propafenone, as well as Pradaxa/dabigatran as anticoagulant. The dose of bisoprolol seems to have dealt with any increase in BP due to the tocilizumab which is a common problem.

[Sanekate in reply to PMRpro]

That's pretty much what the consultant described. Am now on fairly high beta blockers, plus anticoagulants, and awaiting cardio appt. PMR really is the giftvthat keeps on giving isn't it?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sanekate]

It can be!!!!! I think the paroxysmal aspect is the most annoying - they don't last that long usually but if they happen when I'm out and about it is a bit disconcerting. If I notice one starting though and take a dose of the magnesium supplement they use on the ward here it calms down more quickly.

Oh - forgot to say that a lot of my high pred dose was because it helped reduce the a/fib.

[piglette]

I have been diagnosed with Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation which I blame on the steroids. I blame everything on the steroids though!!!

[Skodadet]

I had paroxysmal AF for a while but now it's persistent and waiting for cardioversion. I blame long term steroids and a long period of trying to keep them too low trying to get off them without knowing i had adrenal insufficiency.

[Pixix]

My husband, mother & father all have/had AF. It made no difference to their lives, though all were on long term warfarin & heart pills! My Dad lived until 96 & was one of the healthiest people I’ve met, & died of ‘old age’…it’s on his death certificate! None had PMR. I can see people say there’s a link, I just wanted to say I think it’s frequently diagnosed amongst those who don’t have it…so it maybe ‘age related’?! Take care!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

Like the Queen - the media seemed quite taken by that fact!!!!

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

Absolutely…and on her death certificate (published publicly) it said ‘old age’…nothing more! S x