It appears that I have developed AFIB

[dreamshark]

I've had a very irregular heartbeat for many years now, but up until now it was just due to a multitude of PVCs and PACs, which are relatively harmless. About 2 weeks ago my Apple Watch Series 3 (which I have had for 9 months) suddenly started giving me Atrial Fibrillation Alerts. First it was just one every two or three days, but it quickly increased to 1-5 alerts per day. No symptoms, or symptoms too subtle to be sure of. My heart is not racing, I am not feeling faint or notably out of breath. Am I feeling a little light-headed? Maybe, or maybe that's just the adrenaline surge every time my watch sends me those scary alerts. 

Naturally this started while I was out of town and then it was a holiday weekend so I couldn't get hold of my Cardio caregiver. Called yesterday and got an appointment today for an EKG and a little monitor that I need to wear for two weeks. Nobody seemed to think this was an emergency since I don't have symptoms, but it's scaring me. 

Anyway, I went in today and got the little monitor taped to my chest. The EKG results were in my online account when I got home. 

"Atrial fibrillation with premature ventricular or aberrantly conducted complexes

... When compared with ECG of 14-OCT-2016 13:45, Atrial fibrillation is new"

The premature ventricular complexes are the PVCs I already knew about, but as the report says, the Atrial Fibrillation is new. 
Haven't heard back from cardiologist, but I imagine she'll just say to wait until the results of the monitor are in. That can take up to 4 weeks. 

Also, my left hip, which has been gradually recovering from some unknown trauma for the last 6 months, is hurting more again. 

All in all, I am feeling rather fragile. 
 

 

Comments

[quadong]

Welcome to the afib club!

I'm surprised they didn't put you right on a beta blocker after the EKG results. They gave me my first dose while I was in the hospital and sent me home with a prescription for more. Definitely did not wait for a long term study first. Maybe you're already on a beta blocker so it's not as simple as that?

I very much think that scary alerts about irregular heartbeats cause more irregular heartbeats.

[dreamshark]

Well, the EKG results were just a couple of hours ago and I haven't heard back from the cardio team. It was my Apple Watch that diagnosed the AFIB - the EKG just confirmed it. I wouldn't have had the EKG if it hadn't been for the watch alerts. So I'm not complaining about the alerts - they were correct.

I was on a beta blocker for about a year after my initial heart issues were diagnosed in 2015. I stopped taking it because it caused tiredness and weight gain while doing absolutely nothing for the irregular heartbeat. I briefly tried a different one, but it didn't work any better. If they want me to try yet a 3rd beta blocker I suppose I will, but I have no great expectations for it.

How were you diagnosed? I assume that you had actual symptoms? We can discuss this in private email if you'd rather, but I'd love to compare notes.

[quadong]

Oh, I suppose that since your post is public, I'll reply by e-mail.

[dreamshark]

Thanks, I'd appreciate that!

[davidwilford]

As Erin had an AFIB event three years ago, I think it would be good if she got her own Apple Watch. Our anniversary and her birthday are coming up this month, so I do have an opportunity to gift her. Any recommendations about Apple Watches? Erin already had an iPad and a MacBook, plus an iPhone 11, so what's one more device joining the party...

[dreamshark]

Probably a Series 4. The Series 3 (which I have) can detect AFIB. The Series 4 has more sensors, including some kind of ECG sensor that can do more. But before you spend that kind of money, make sure that she wants a watch that is monitoring her vital signs and sending helpful suggestions like, "Breathe!" and "Just one brisk walk will close your exercise ring for the day!" Not everybody likes that kind of thing.

If you don't mind my asking, what was this AFIB event like? Racing heartbeat? And did it resolve itself, or did it require some kind of medical intervention?

[davidwilford]

Erin woke me up that morning and asked me to listen to her heart, which was beating irregularly. So I took her to the ER at our hospital here and while they were evaluating her and about to administer an IV with a drug to treat it, it stopped. It hasn't happened since, thankfully.

As for the watch, maybe I'll get one first and then Erin can decide if she like one too. I have $600 in Costco cash waiting to be used, and that will cover the cost.

[quadong]

Off this thread, I recommended the Kardia EKG to Sharon, and I'll recommend it to you as well. It's only $90 instead of $600 and is supposed to be substantially more accurate than any of the various wrist devices. It is something you use when you want to check your heart, not for continuous monitoring. Continuous monitoring would just raise my anxiety (not to mention the unrelated pestering that Sharon describes), so I prefer checking when I'm concerned. It's a different kind of option.

[dreamshark]

Matt, did you send me email on this subject? Because i don't think I got it. Could you send it again?

[quadong]

Done.

[bibliofile]

Argh! I believe that's one of the things that, when asked, cardiologists will suggest that you not get one. ALas.

[dreamshark]

If you are talking about the Apple watch, that is not true. It's probably fair to say that consumer health tracking devices are controversial, but there is nothing approaching consensus among cardiologists or other relevant experts. You can find articles claiming that devices like this "do more harm than good" (but with remarkably little data to back up that claim) and other articles claiming that they are major lifesavers (also probably an exaggeration).

My cardio team seems perfectly happy to consider data from electronic devices, but of course they want to confirm any such information with more accurate testing, which is exactly what Apple suggests. I just talked to a cardio nurse on the phone, and she spontaneously mentioned that they are identifying many more cases of AFIB these days because of early warnings from devices like Fitbits and Apple Watches. She did NOT say, "Oh yeah, we are overwhelmed with false alarms because of those devices!"

Probably the most ridiculous argument I found in the "more harm than good" camp was the declaration that because most Apple Watch users are young adults they are not highly likely to have AFIB, so it is pointless for Apple to have developed a technology to check for it. As an older adult, I do not appreciate this type of glib generalization.