AFib

Has anyone out there been diagnosed with AFib after their pacemaker and then been put on medication.  If so did they have any futher tests prior to the medication?

 


4 Comments

AF (atrial fibrillation)

by Gemita - 2021-02-25 19:45:12

Liz,

Yes I have AFib which was diagnosed before my pacemaker and continued after my implant too.  The two most important treatments are rate control meds to keep heart rate under control (like beta blockers or calcium channel blockers) and anticoagulation if you have risk factors for an AF related stroke.  

Although the arrhythmia is a real pest and if it is not firmly controlled it can become persistent or permanent and lead to many health problems, with the right treatment (medication and/or an ablation) it can be kept in check and may even, with a successful ablation, go into remission for years.

Before being treated with a beta blocker and anti arrhythmic medication, I had an angiogram to check the state of my arteries to look for blockages/clear signs of any heart disease to ensure that I could safely take Flecainide, since this med could be dangerous in the presence of any heart disease.  Some anti arrhythmic meds may need to be started in hospital to make sure that they do not cause any serious rhythm disturbances or harm at the start of treatment. 

Your doctor may also want to check for any obvious signs of thyroid disease, diabetes, hypertension, electrolyte disturbances and look for any other health problems which might have triggered your AFib and there are many potential triggers.  Hypertension is a major trigger, as is sleep apnea, heart disease, valve disease and many inflammatory conditions.

Hope that helps a little.  

 

Afib after pacemaker

by Julros - 2021-02-26 12:25:06

I have intermittant Afib since my pacer insertion. Sometimes it is very brief, sometimes lasts 2-3 days. The rate is usually around 70. I can sense when I am in it as it gives me a sl. feeling of nausea, and I am more easily winded when I jog. I have been offered medicine, but because the rate is less than 100 and I am concerned about side effects, I have declined further meds, other than my anticoagulant. I had an echo and  nuclear stress test prior to my a flutter ablation and pacer implant, so I don't think I would have to undergo any other testing. 

Afib After Pacemaker

by Marybird - 2021-02-27 10:01:49

I  had atrial tachycardias for years before I got the pacemaker. I was diagnosed with SSS, with both tachy and bradycardia, and one episode of a- flutter several years ago. But none of the monitored tachycardias ever turned up a-fib, the EP said they looked like atrial tachycardia. 

Until recently. It seems my last two remote pacemaker monitoring reports have turned up short runs of afib. It's not much, they told me it was less than 1% of the heartbeats, so I don't think I'm ready to own afib as a diagnosis at this point. I'm not sure how often these occur as all I feel are very mild flutters that last only seconds, a minute would be a long time, and I don't know how many I don't feel, though sometimes I think I do feel a bit tired and have even had to "catch my breath" ( not really short of breath). They don't last long enough to be really symptomatic. I think I may have several of those episodes on most days, but it's hard to tell.

For now, the cardiologist has increased the metoprolol I take ( from 50 to 100 and now 150mg/day) to try and stomp out that bit of afib. He said at that level ( less than 1%) he doesn't think I need a blood thinner, for which I am exceedingly glad. They will continue to monitor the pacemaker reports,  increase the metoprolol as needed ( seems to work for me) and go from there. I'm not currently scheduled for any testing, though I have an in- office pacemaker check and visit with the cardiologist in a few months.

 

AFib

by LizB - 2021-03-01 20:03:51

Thankyou all for your answers, I do have an underactive thyroid, and am at present taking 2 blood pressure meds, Gp is going to do some blood tests.  I also have Factor v Liden so I think they may send me to an anticoagulant clinic first I am not sure yet.  Before I had the pacemaker the cardiologist did say I could have had a betablocker but it has never been changed so I will see what happens.Pace maker was for braddyicardia 

 

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