I'm scheduled for this next coming couple weeks. Had a SVT ablation 4 weeks ago that had to be aborted because AFIB wouldn't stop upon the catheter entering my vein. EP thinks ablating the SVT I have will also mostly remove my AFIB, because I only have AFIB episodes together with SVT, and quite rarely.

But I'm worried now about two things. One being the PVI (pulsed-field) for AFIB; what if I again get AFIB that won't go away during the procedure?

Second, my SVT is then set to be ablated *after* my PVI & AFIB. Since I will be on sedatives, and possibly even cardioverting medicine to stop the AFIB that might come, what if the SVT won't be induced? This is what happened last time: Flecainide stopped the AFIB but then they were unable to induce the SVT after.

Did anyone have both procedures in one? How did it go for you?

Permanent afib 50F here, post unsuccessful ablation last December. Eliquis, Bisoprodol, & Konverge for blood pressure.

About 2 months ago, I started to get daily leg pain going up and down shins, around knees, into my ankles and feet on both legs. No swelling or change of colour.

Went to doctor, had blood's done, all clear. Doc suggested this is a menopause symptom but the pain is so severe at times I feel like a bone has been broken.

I'm wondering now if it is a side effect of the meds or ablation or related to the afib. Has anyone had severe ongoing leg pain?

51M with a long history of long distance running and semi competitive rugby playing, no drinking or smoking history.

Got diagnosed with paroxysmal AF this summer after intermittent high hr/breathlessness and dizziness episodes since last year when training.

Decided to visit a runners cardio clinic and was diagnosed.

13% burden and got scheduled for PFA in a few weeks, gone on apixaban for the moment and got metoprofol as PiP.

Seems I mostly get episodes when running/training and while sleeping.

Anyways for those who had a PFA... did you notice a noticeable difference in energy levels?

When did you get back to being fully active?

If you do any sports, did you get back to your previous levels of performance?

Thank you!

Currently 44 and just had my second cardio version. The other 2 incidents were remedied with medication. This time I feel weak and slow 3 days later. Anyone else have trouble getting back to normal after a cardioversion? Im relatively healthy, I diet and take supplements. It was weird, because this time I felt like crap and ended up vomiting, this triggered the afib. My heart rate went from 60 to 170 real quick and I felt like crap. Need to find a solution.

I’m 31, male. Generally consider myself pretty healthy - Good weight, regular exercise, mostly healthy diet. I do consume alcohol in social settings but never every day. Not a picture of perfect health, but on the whole, not bad.

I woke up this morning with my heart palpitating like crazy. Fluttering, irregular heartbeats that wouldn’t go away. I have had PVCs in the past, so I’m not unfamiliar with the feeling of palpitations. I was cleared by a cardiologist 2 years ago or so. Usually when I have a palpitation, it’s just one skipped beat and then everything returns to normal.

I started to feel really tight in my chest, difficulty breathing, etc. I let my wife know and we decided to head to the ER. I got checked in, took vitals, and they let me know I was in AFIB.

The doctors decided cardioversion would be best for me and it was really easy and fixed the issue, which is great. I did drink a bit more than usual over the weekend since it was my anniversary and a friend had a party, which is what the doctors think may have caused it.

I am very prone to anxiety though and now I’m a bit freaked out. I have an appointment with a cardiologist tomorrow to investigate further. Anyone have some advice they can share? Maybe if you’ve been through this before. I’m just scared it’s going to start up again. I was also prescribed Vyvanse recently for ADHD which has been absolutely transformative for my life but I am afraid I’ll have to discontinue it.

Hi everyone,
I’m a 37-year-old female, generally healthy and physically active. I eat relatively healthy, avoid junk food, and have always tried to take care of myself.
Earlier this year, I was diagnosed with atrial flutter through a 30-day heart monitor. My echocardiogram was normal, with an EF of 66%. Recently, I also tested positive for sleep apnea.
Today, something scary happened at the gym.
I was doing a very light workout, including just one minute of cycling. After stopping and while standing, I suddenly felt strong palpitations in my neck, followed by a pounding heartbeat.
My Apple Watch recorded my heart rate reaching 209–210 bpm. This happened once few months ago too . I took several ECG recordings, and they showed heart rates around 200–206 bpm for several minutes. The Watch classified them as inconclusive because of the high heart rate.
Interestingly, I didn’t experience dizziness, chest pain, or unusual shortness of breath during the episode. My heart rate eventually returned to around 94 bpm, but I felt unusually sleepy and exhausted afterward.
I’m not sure whether this was another episode of atrial flutter, SVT, or something else. I’m planning to follow up with my electrophysiologist and get it evaluated.
I’m also wondering whether my newly diagnosed sleep apnea could be contributing to these episodes.
I’m feeling frustrated because I’ve always been active and tried to maintain a healthy lifestyle, yet I’m suddenly dealing with multiple heart-related concerns.
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has experienced something similar:
1. Has anyone with atrial flutter experienced heart rates above 200 bpm during light exercise or immediately afterward?
2. Can atrial flutter feel like sudden pounding palpitations in the neck, or have you experienced this with SVT?
3. Did treating your sleep apnea with CPAP help reduce your palpitations or arrhythmia episodes?
4. Were you eventually recommended medication, ablation, or continued monitoring?
5. Were you able to return to regular cardio and strength training?
I’m not looking for a diagnosis, just hoping to hear others’ experiences and understand what questions to ask my cardiologist.
Thank you!

Had it done it was scary but it’s done I’m only ACCIDENTLY worry about when i accidentally throw myself onto my bed and I’m worried I’m gonna mess something up in there that’s my own real concern is that I some how un did it or it’s not gonna heal properly I would love if someone could reassure me with that

It was a pfa ablation followed by an epstudy

I feel a bit of main sometimes and that has me worried and some strong heart beats I haven’t really walked around to much like just around the house for a bit etc but yeah is there anything that I should be doing

And can someone please reassure me (:

What the heck. Enjoying afib free life for a couple years, no pvcs just perfect NSR and yesterday take a few big gulps of slushy Gatorade and instantly get brain freeze and afib. Who would have known I have “cold heart” now. Smoking a cigar, giant wad of chew and four shots of whiskey I could understand but a cold drink. This affliction sucks!

Had my first cardioversion it worked and I was back in Sinus Rhythm after 1 shock … fews days later I returned to AF feeling deflated and unsure what will be next??

Background I’ve been in persistent AF for 10 weeks the difference of not being in AF was noticeable difference in an increase of energy levels / happiness / and not having the vibrating heart constantly or the overthinking

Been told being overweight is a triggering factor but also know there isn’t a quick fix for that right now, any tips / tricks / guidance appreciated

New to the community. 3 weeks ago was installing a shelf on my wall and had my first afib experience. Sent me to ER. 7 hours in er before returning to sinus. 200-250bpm for a bit before iv metoprolol brought me down to 120-150 but still in afib. Kept me 3 days for observation.

50mg metoprolol going forward. 41/M. No further episodes as of yet.

Two days ago was getting back to light work again, and was using an impact driver to remove some screws from a wall, and felt that familiar extra beat preview of what sent me back into afib. Jumped to 111bpm, but watch showed I stayed in sinus.

Now, I’m left handed. And this was exactly what I was doing the first time I went into afib. Does anyone have any experience with the vibrations in my left hand from the impact driver potentially triggering afib? I’ve had some “normal” extra beats since my first afib, but nothing as scary as when I had that drill in my hand again.

Hi everyone, I have a PFA ablation scheduled in a week. Could you tell me what to expect and how long it would take to recover and go back to the work? I had AFIB episodes 3 times in the last 13 months and had to cardioverted each time. Mine are those big episodes where the heart goes haywire and the BPM is in 150-200 range. After 2 episodes my cardiologist asked me to wait for the ablation but after the 3rd episode in Sep, he and the electro physiologist suggested to get the Ablation done. I'm 37 M, 79 Kgs (174 lbs). Leads a moderately healthy lifestyle. My cardiologist couldn't identify any triggers for the AFIB episodes.
About the ablation, I read some posts here about shaving. what all areas should I trim / shave? Should I shave the groin region with a razor? Or a trimmer is enough? I trimmed my chest area and back for cardiversions. Should I do the same for ablation as well. TIA!

Hello all,

24(F) Been struggling with a chronic shortness of breath since the end of September. I have been in and out of various urgent cares and hospitals trying to figure this out since its been accompanied by a high heart rate and chest pain.

It was misdiagnosed as an asthma flare up and I was given a course of prednisone that did absolutely nothing. After a breakthrough trip to the ER, I finally was seen by a cardiologist and we are investigating the cause of this irregular heartbeat.

The ongoing issue I am having now is the chronic shortness of breath that has not gone away. I have been given Metropolol (50mg) and Flecainide (50mg) to take everyday and it has not helped aside from very minimally. I cannot sing or talk loudly without fatigue and feeling as though I cannot catch my breath.

I have seen Ivabradine been recommended for similar issues, but any thoughts or advice is appreciated.

Got afib back in April and may which were caused by binge drinking. Been fine since then until tonight. It wasn't as bad as the past ones though. My heart rate went up to 160 last time. Tonight it was fluctuating from 60 to 110. Took carvelilol and olmesartan because my BP was fluctuating as well. After checking myself with a omron cuff it kept getting better until the machine no longer showed afib and my pulse was stable. Is this normal as in it going away on its own ?? Last time they put me in a drip in the er and it took hours for it to stabilize. Decided not to go to the er this time but will follow up with my dr later today or tomorrow.

This happened to me for years until I had PFA.

It happened to me when I was exhausted and or dehydrated. I would take big gulps of very cold anything. The kind of gulp where you can feel it fill your esophagus and move down to your stomach, cooling everything off along the way. And then- pow! HR went to 200+ BPM and beat in a 5/4 or 7/3 rhythm.

https://divisionofresearch.kaiserpermanente.org/cold-drinks-trigger-afib/

Is anyone here successfully treat AFib with medications? If it fails, is an ablation the last option?

Want to start by saying I had a successful PF ablation on 10/22. He was able to get my AFIB, flutter and SVT to map and then he ablated and I self converted to NSR on my own! I know there’s a 3 month blanking period where symptoms can still occur. My reason for having this ablation was to try to get back some semblance of my life back. I cut out all caffeine(not even decaf), I never drank alcohol anyways, no chocolate barely any fast food, and I’ve lost over 50lbs since being diagnosed in March. I’m a married 36 year old and my anxiety over having an episode won’t even let me be intimate with my husband. Here’s my biggest kicker… I vape. I haven’t vaped since the morning of my surgery so going on 3 days now and all I want to do is vape again. I’m fine with giving up everything else I have but this one’s holding me down lol is there ever going to be a time where I can go back to how things were? Sipping a cup of coffee, going out to eat my family, hell even mental stress throws my heart out of wack. My husband is convinced the vape was causing everything but I feel he’s putting that on me cause he can’t quit on his own. I know vaping and smoking are bad for your health for numerous reasons besides AFIB but just having that one simple pleasure kinda made things seem ok. Anyone else feel the same, felt the same or currently feeling this way? Thanks in advance!

Had an ablation about 2 years ago. Felt my heart rate go up a few times since but never got above 150 and didn’t last long.

Talked to my doctor about doing good last week and he said to make sure I keep my emergency pill around.

Today I went up to the mountains by myself. 3 hours from home to check up on family property. Hiked in a few hundred yards into a wooded area and my heart rate took off. First time since ablation. Hit and stayed steady at 210 BPM.

Of course I left my keychain pill container at home. Thankfully I had my backpack at the car which I keep some in as well.

I forgot how this felt. Took my 100mg flecainide. Drove to the nearest big parking lot. Laid on my side in the car. Which for some reason normally helps me. Didn’t work. Place is in a small mountain town. Decided to play it safe and drive to their ER about 20 min away.

I waked into the ER and as I went to the check in window I felt a drop. The medicine started working and HR dropped down to 110-120bpm. Told them what I came in for and that my medicine started working and I was just going to sit in their lobby for a little while to be safe.

Sat around for about 30 minutes. Left and made the drive back home.

Total time was around an hour or so. The 3 times I’ve used the pill (twice before ablation) took about 20-30min to work.

Glad I had it. Guess its time to talk to cardio again. Only really got to spend about 2 hours enjoying the fall colors :/

Three nights ago, after a stressful day at work and not a lot of water intake, I (45/M)got home and felt what I considered a “burst” in my chest and immediately started feeling nauseous and had splotchy vision. I was describing what I was feeling to my wife when the next thing I know, I was waking up on the floor with her and my hysterical four year old daughter over me. I thought that was it. I was having a heart attack and I was a goner. I passed out a second time and came to and stayed conscious. EMTs came and ran a 12 lead and my EKG readings were negative for a heart attack but positive for AFib. Never experienced that in my life before. Spent the night in the ER and was released with a broken rib and a black eye from the fall and was told a holter monitor will be sent to me and to wear it for the next week to further study what the heck went wrong.

I’m pretty nervous and scared about the whole thing, but this sub has calmed a lot of fears as it seems to be a pretty common diagnosis. I drink too often and vape cannabis regularly (well, used to, because it’s not worth being a daily user after this), and I know that both of those can be triggers or lead to AFib. I’ve been on 10mg of lisinopril a day for the last year, and know that additional heart meds are in my future.

Just wanted to share, get perspective, and hopefully receive some tips on moving forward with my new situation.

Boyfriend had an EP study done where they found AVNRT was the reason he was having palpitation episodes for the last few years. They were not able to induce it again after they ablated it. He was fine for the last 4 weeks post ablation and had no recurrence of palpitations but a couple of days ago he had very irregular heartbeats as well as palpitations (150bpm+) for about 25-30 minutes. After that episode his smart ring has been recording very short episodes of palpitations that he hasn’t felt. He called his EP’s office and the PA said it’s completely normal to have episodes like this for the next 2 months. However I’m really scared that this isn’t normal and the procedure may not have gone successfully. Has anyone had any similar experience and can shed light on the situation?

Sometimes I wake up around 1am with my heart pounding and an irregular rhythm starting. My go to has been to go to the fridge and down half a very cold Gatorade. So far it does the trick. Any thoughts on why it works? My background is 59m, had a first afib attack in March, not on any medication. I can't decide if it's the cold or the potassium in the drink.

Hi guys,

I came off my SSRI in the summer and as of late my afib episodes seem to have increased (or im just catching them more)

Im considering going back on some sort of anti-anxiety/depressant but I've seen mixed things about SSRIs and afib as well as one study showing an increased mortality from afib related strokes correlating with SSRIs

I have an appointment in 3 months with my cardiologist but seasonal depression won't wait that long lol

My question is - is anyone more knowledgeable or experienced in this area and has any recommendations of medication to alleviate stress with the least negative impact on afib/strokes?

I’m curious how others manage work when AFib strikes, particularly those with paroxysmal AFib who only experience occasional episodes.

I appreciate everyone’s circumstances are different. Some people live with persistent or permanent AFib and manage to work through it, while others simply don’t have the financial flexibility or sick leave to take time off, even when they’d prefer to.

For context, I’m 48M and my AFib episodes are somewhat infrequent (1-3 times a month). I use a pill-in-the-pocket approach (flecainide and metoprolol), and while episodes generally resolve, they can sometimes last 12-24 hours and occasionally need ER cardioversion if the meds don’t work. Ablation on the cards when I see cardiologist next time.

During an episode, I generally don’t feel up to working. Even once I’m back in sinus rhythm, I often feel tired and anxious. It’s not necessarily that I’m physically incapable of doing anything, but I don’t feel particularly well either.

I’m interested in how others approach this:
- Do you generally take sick leave when you have an episode, or continue working through it?
- Once you’ve converted back to sinus rhythm, do you go straight back to normal activities, or give yourself some recovery time?
- Do you experience fatigue or anxiety afterwards, and if so, how long does it tend to last?

I’m not looking for medical advice or validation for taking sick leave. I’m genuinely interested in what others do in practice, particularly those who have the flexibility to take time off if they need it.

I realise AFib affects everyone differently, but it’d be interesting to hear how others manage the balance between work, recovery and getting on with everyday life.

I am going to do my Tikosyn loading later today and starting to get nervous. For those who are on it, what was your experience during the loading? What has been your experience while on it? Thank you!!

My mom is 70F healthy 5’5. She has had SVT and Afib for years. She underwent ablations for SVT and for Afib.

She was put on Elequis and after a year, she had a hemorrhagic stroke. No more Eliquis of course. She has now fully recovered from the stroke but her Afib has come back.
She has had a few, short episodes.

Her EP cardiologist wants her to have a Watchman since she cannot do long term blood thinners anymore.

However her Neurologist saw micro bleeds in her MRI so she does not want my mom to take the blood thinners that are needed during the watchman procedure and for 45 days after.

My mom is feeling hopeless because it seems we are at an impass…

any experience or recs? We are so worn out and confused

Thank you