Alan(41)edinburgh had a-fib last night

I am ten days into having my pacemaker and everything has been going fine appart from yesterday when i checked my pulse with one of those stupid watches and it gave me two readings below thirty so of course i panicked thinking my leads had come un done so i called my surgeon who luckily advised me that my pacemaker clinic was actually that morning.

So i went along and they checked me out and everything was ok they said my a fib was at 1%.( Is that good or not?)

I have a two chamber lead with an additional a-fib suppressor lead(does anyone know about this type and how successfull is it when switched on at controlling attacks of a-fib?)

My technician on the day after my pm implant said that they would leave my a-fib suppression cable switched off for first month just because if cables were to dislodge it is more complicated if the a-fib suppressor cable is switched on (Why?)

My technician at my ten day check up offered to switch on my a-fib suppressor but i said i would rather wait.However she said that she could fine tune something to make it more sensitive to a-fib???

Last night after a really long day i think i had been up and about from 8 am till about mid night i had apiece of cake and a cup of tea and went to bed.I had a session of a-fib it lasted about twenty minutes.

When i looked down at my chest you can tell it was a-fib because the skin above the heatrt kind of wobbled like a jelly not that i am fat but i cant think of any other way to describe it.It sort of freaked me out.

Do you think my attack was due to tiredness or the cake or both?
Does a-fib get worse with a pacemaker?
Can I expect it to go away when suppressor is turned on?

I have been feeling much stronger and that is why i feel really depressed by this recent a-fib i want so much to get completely well again am i not being realistic?
can anywone else tell me what i should expect when you have small amount 1% of a-fib what my future expectations should be?
Sorry to bore you all but just a little concerned

Allan (from Edinburgh)

3 Comments

A-Fib and Caffeine

by ted - 2007-10-20 05:10:58

I can't imagine cake triggering a-fib unless it is chocolate cake. I would think that tea could be the culprit. All of my doctor friends told me to quit caffeine to help prevent a-fib. Try it and see. It has worked for me. ted.

Ah, the Sensitive Heart

by Carol - 2007-10-20 06:10:21

Hi Allan, I'm so new to all of this (implanted 10/01/07)that I certainly am no expert to offer advice, but I do want to offer you encouragement, support, and understanding. I don't have A-fib, but prior to my surgery, I would have episodes of PAC'/PVC's that made my heart feel like it was tumbling and my rate would drop to 40's (also have Block), felt SOB, you get the picture! Well, 1 week after the surgery imagine my surprise when it happened again (I too had started to feel pretty optimistic), the same fear/anxiety but I don't think my rate dropped low...too freaked out to really check it well. I was so rattled, I thought those days were over, so I was feeling alot of what you are-depressed and anxious and fearing the next "attack" wondering if my newly implanted heart could "take it". Talked to my Doc, he just increased my Beta Blocker and essentially said it might happen from time to time, "having a Pacer won't put an end to some of the other blips and skips". b
But man, doesn't it just knock you off balance?!?
In looking back, I too was tired-hadn't slept well that night. In your case I agree that caffeine too could have an added effect.
I'm still working on the trust issue with my heart and PM, I'm a nervous nellie, but I'm working on it. Everyone in this Club is wonderful and so helpful, so I hope someone can help with the more technical questions you've asked. I just want to say "hang in there" and let's continue to support ea. other as we run into those bumps in the road as we are sure to do. Again hang in there, I'm thinking of you and sending good vibes! Carol

afib

by Vai - 2007-10-22 01:10:46

I would refer to the EP to decide whether to switched on the afib suppressor. The technician & you should not be the person making the decision.

A 1% afib load (or occurance rate is low) - it just means "on the average" you get about 15 minutes afib per day. Of course, from your experience you would know you probably don't feel the afib every day. Sometimes the afib is so mild, you don't feel it at all. Sometimes the episodes are so short duration, just under 1 minute, you don't realize it. This would show up on a detail interrogation of the PM - they have all neat charts and histograms. Just ask for a copy in your next interrogation. However at times you may suffer a heavier episode that can last 20-30 minutes or even sometimes hours. For instance, in the last 6 months I had several episodes that were under 2 minutes (without my knowledge or feeling it), a few lasting between 15-20 minutes (which I felt) and a "biggie" lasting 3 hours (that left me totally exhausted). It happens. Incidentally my afib load is 2%. Your doctor is the best person to decide on turning on the afib suppressor function of the PM based on your current experience and how you feel.

For me, overtiredness is a major contributing factor to triggering afib. So lots of rest & adequate sleep helps. I gave up caffiene products long ago to reduce afib epsidoes to the best of my ability & discipline - minimum coke (or any soft drink with caffiene), chocolates, tea, coffee.

You did not mention any medication. I was prescribed sotalol to manage and reduce the afib and I think it was a big help.

Wish you the best in your recovery and afib management.

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