Many of you know that I’m concerned about the relationship between sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation and also about how atrial fibrillation can overwork the heart and lead to heart failure.
Thus, a newly launched study about sleep apnea and heart failure may hopefully provide information useful for those with atrial fibrillation.
What are the implications today for those with afib and should you be tested for sleep apnea?
Read more at Why Afib Patients Must Know Whether They Have Sleep Apnea
Then please come back here to post your comments, thoughts, and experiences.
Dear Melanie,
I was diagnosed with paroxysmal A-Fib in Dec. 05. Since then I have seen 4 different cardiologists in the great medical center heaven of Houston, TX. None have ever mentioned sleep apnea which seems strangely awful. Since my first attack, I have had 2 more attacks, the last of which was in June. Each time, I am converted to sinus rhythm by taking more Beta Blocker (Sotolol). Each time, I am almost unable to recognize the event which has always occurred at bedtime. The only symptoms are a headache, difficulty falling asleep and frequent urination. My current cardiologist feels that I may be a candidate for a pacemaker in that my heart rate goes too low when the Sotolol dosage is at a level that he thinks would prevent A-fib episodes. Because there is a possibility that I had 2 recent ischemic strokes, he put me on Pradaxa even though he never mentioned a blood thinner previously. He has never mentioned the risk of the beta blocker wearing off.
During my last hospitalization, a sleep lab MD visited me and urged me to be tested at his lab. They have since concluded that I have sleep apnea and I will see the MD at the end of this month and imagine he will fit me with a CPAP or ??.
When I last visited my cardiologist, I asked him about ablation and he referred me to an electrophysiologist. Now I am wondering of I should put that off until I learn the effects of the CPAP.
I should point out that as best I can tell I feel fine and have good energy levels for a 72 year old.
Any suggestions???
I have been living with paroxysmal a-fib since 2004, its getting worse now and after 10 doctors one decided to send me for a sleep study. Now i have been diagnosed with OSA. Now what? I am told now this cpap may correct the a-fib if not then its time for the pulmonary vein ablation??? Im afraid and i dont know what to do HELP???
I have been in A-Fib for 20 days. Nights are unbearable, up and down, very
little sleep. Days are better, I even have played golf at 130 and have it come down to 92, always with broken HB. The meds to nothing to bring it down.
I have an appointment Monday with the cardio, after having to wait for a referal
even though I have seen him 7 times. I am 79 and athletic all my life, but
this is hard to deal with.
I have been on BiPap for 5 years and recently had A Fib. I was told that the key is not to undergo cardioversion until you have been scoped for blood clots in the area of the lungs or been properly treated with anticoagulents such as Pradaxa. I was insructed that if you are cardioverted, without addressing the danger of a blood clot becoming an emboli, you could be returning with a stroke. I have been on Toprol or Rythmol to control my arrythmias but it is CRUCIALto treat the dangerous side effect of blood clots. BiPap is wonderful and you will be amazed at the rise in energy and memory you will see returning. If the CPap is too uncomfortable make certain to tell your physician so that they can cover you through insurance for BiPap which allows you to breath out comfortably without a constant force of air. I hope this might be helpful in questions for your physician. Check with your doctor though!
I have been battling AFIB since my MI in 92 and my bypass in 95. I recently went back and had a sleep study. They prescibed a BiPAP and honestly while it is a real challenge getting to sleep with the mask on it does reduce the episodes of AFIB and it is nice to dream at night again. I usually wake up after a few hous of th emask on but to sleep without it on a nite means a certain episode of AFIB after a few nites.
Wow, I have been having paroxysmal A-Fib since 1997. I have never been cardioverted and always return to a normal rythum on my own typically within 6 to 10 hours. 95% of all of my occurrances start between 1:00 AM and 3:00 AM. I wake right away and don’t fall back to sleep during an attach. I met a fellow who had both A-Fib and Sleep Apnea and said I should get checked. Since I started having A-Fib (about 2 to 4 attacks a year) I always asked my Cardiolgist about what may be going on during the night to trigger A-Fib. So last night I had a sleep study done and bang, i have severe sleep apnea and went into A-Fib that started at 1:00 AM and ended at 3:00 AM. Interesting. So I am going to treat my sleep apnea and I bet it fixes me right up. so I hope. Thus, take it into your own hands and make sure you ask the question. It may help you like to looks like it will help me. Oh, I was 44 when this all started.
David
I have read all comments on your blog and notice that nobody said that their Drs
suggested Pacemaker. I have had PVC’ and irregular heartbeat for years. Recently, my cardio doc put me on a halter monitor and found A-Fib with 2 to 3 second pauses during sleep. I had a sleep apnea study but apnea wasnt enough to cause the pauses. He suggests a Pacemaker because I have the pauses andTachacardia and bradycardia. Pacemaker will adjust slow rate but I will need meds for the fast beat. I’m also on Pradaxa to prevent blood clots and stroke. Has anyone else been suggested to get a pacemaker for these pauses, fast beats and slow beats. I’m going to see an electrophysiologist to confirm that a pacemaker is necessary.
Marian,
Generally pacemakers aren’t used for treating afib itself, other than keeping the fast afib from transmitting to the ventricles (the lower chambers of the heart) and causing life-threatening issues. Pacemakers are generally for other types of beats that are regular, usually the slow beats (bradycardia). The electrophysiologist should be able to judge whether or not you need a pacemaker, but you may wish to do your homework first so that you don’t end up with an AV node ablation. See our story here for more details:
AV Node Ablation: Why You Shouldn’t Have It
Mellanie
Mellanie,
Thanks for the advice about AV Node ablation. I see the EP soon and will keep it in mind. Also, have u ever heard of a mild case of sleep apnea causing A=Fib.
I had a sleep study and they said I didn’t have enough to cause my A-Fib. I’d like to have another study done because some nights I snore much much more than others and maybe I didn’t snore as much during the little sleep I got during the study.
Thank you,
Marian
I just had an left Atrial Ablation for persistant AFIB. I woke up from the proceedure and immediately felt like a million dollars. I had been in continuous AFIB for many months before the ablation, and couldn’t believe how relieved I was to be back in Rythym. The proceedure was not that bad and I did not even require pain meds at all afterwards. My proceedure was done at Memorial Herman Medical Center in Houstn, TX at their Cardio Vascular Institute. I highly recommend them for the great service I received. Now I am going to do the CPAP portion of my APNEA test since I was also diagnosed with mild Sleep APNEA prior to the Ablation.
Hope this helps anyone considering an Ablation for AFIB. I’d do it again in a “Heartbeat”.
Is there anyone who has paralyzed diaphram after byPass surgery with AFib and OSA?
I am a 34 yr old male. Was diagnosed with paroxysmal A-Fib 2 yrs ago after I went to the ER with tachycardia. I did not need to be cardioverted, but was given about 4 hrs of medication via drip to get me back to “normal”. Previous to this incident I was seeing a cardiologists and having the routine tests done. All came back as a “normal and healthy” 32 yr old. I knew I was having weird sensations that were not right, but they never seemed to happen when I was actually being watched or tested, go figure. They were all telling me it was just anxiety. I have medication that I can take if I have any symptoms. I seem to go without any hiccups its seem for weeks, if not months, then all of a sudden, starting with last week, I am waking up in the middle of the night, feeling like I was holding my breath. 2 days ago this was accompanied with 2 hrs of A-fib or another arryhthmia. Really got me worried, being 34 and in decent shape and all. I find this correlation between these 2 conditions interesting and just want some answers. I will be seeing my doctor (new) about this and see what else can be tested.
Juyeonsong,
“Is there anyone who has paralyzed diaphram after byPass surgery with AFib and OSA?”
Can you elaborate to help us better understand your question?
Mellanie
Gary,
Have you been tested for sleep apnea? It sounds like a good possibility in your situation. Please keep us posted.
Mellanie
I have had a-fib for years. Usually 4-6 attacks a year lasting several days. I am on Flecanide which seems to help with controlling it. In late July I had an episode that went on for ten days. I had a cardioversion to get me out of it. At the end of the cardioversion, the doctor said I should have a sleep study done. I did, and was found to have sever sleep apnea. I have not had an episode now for 11 weeks since I have been using the CPAP. I am cautiosly optimistic.
I am actually the reverse of many of our posters here on the forum. I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea about a year ago and was prescribed a CPAP machine. I tried to use it, but eventually just gave up on it. Then I had my first, and hopefully only A-fib episode this past December. As soon as they found out that I wasn’t using my CPAP, they agreed that that may have very well been the cause of me going into A-fib. The A-fib episode scared me so badly (my heart was as high as 234 at one point), that I began using my CPAP there in the hospital and haven’t stopped since. I have already begun to see the daytime fatigue fading away and some of my mental capacities such as memory come back, as well as having just the basic energy level to do chores, etc. In the past I had been napping quite often. I continue to have what appears to be A-flutter, but no A-fib again yet, although it has only been about 30 days. My cardiologist hopes that if I resolve the apnea, through weight loss, that hopefully the A-fib won’t come back and I will be in a better state of health overall. I never knew how dangerous sleep apnea was until I ingored it….
Jackie,
I’m glad the CPAP is helping. Hopefully you will never have afib again.
Mellanie
Dennis,
That is excellent news that the CPAP is helping. I hope that you don’t have afib ever again.
Mellanie
Aubrey,
Congratulations on your success. Please stay on the CPAP in order to help keep that afib beast at bay.
Mellanie