A-Fib and Pacemaker

Afib and Aflutter?

by AgentX86 - 2019-10-14 21:51:16

Afib is usually an irregular beat, though Aflutter is usually fast but very regular. The key word is "usually". How does your doctor (an EP?) know what it is "all the time"? From your PM?

Afib

by Theknotguy - 2019-10-14 22:36:13

Some of the afib is very hard to tell.  The only way you can see it is to have a monitor and see the squiggles on the screen.  You won't be able to tell by testing your pulse.  

You can have chronic afib - that's where you go in and out of afib.  Persistent afib is where you go into afib and it never stops.  

You'll find that very few doctors give you a good explanation.  I volunteer at a hospital on the heart floor - since I am a heart patient.  I'm always surprised at the number of nurses who know less about heart issues than I do and they work on the heart floor.  I always have a good audience when I talk about my pacemaker as they usually never see their patients after they have the implant.  

In the meantime, start asking questions and don't stop until you get an explanation you can understand.

Hope things get better for you soon. 
 

AF

by Gemita - 2019-10-15 05:29:48

Hello Raghbir,

i am certainly no pacemaker expert but I do have Atrial Fibrillation and other arrhythmias, including Flutter.
 

My pacemaker is set up to give my EP/cardiologist the percentage time I am in AF.  If your pacemaker is set up to show % time in AF and it shows 100%, then I would suggest your doctor is likely correct.  

It is true that Atrial Flutter is usually a regular, fast arrhythmia (unlike Atrial Fibrillation which is irregularly irregular and can be fast, normal or slow in speed). I am lucky (or unlucky) in being able to tell the difference between the two arrhythmias from my symptoms alone. AF being so irregular affects me more although the speed of Flutter takes my breath away. 
 

i do wish you well and hope that you get some answers soon.  Learning about my arrhythmias has certainly helped me to feel more in control.

Why

by jcb - 2019-10-17 14:08:48

did you get the pacemaker?

Was it for some kind of block? That could explain a regular pulse while being in constant flutter.