Comments on: Do You Have Sleep Apnea and Atrial Fibrillation? Why Does It Matter?

By: heidi

heidi — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 06:09:48 +0000

Does sleep apnea have to be a certain severity to cause afib?
I have had 4 sleep studies- one doc say I have mild OSA and can be th cause of the arrhythmia another says it isn’t bad enough to cause my afib and other arrhythmia. I have been on and off CPAP twice now, no doctor can agree whether I have obstructive sleep apnea, my last study showed an increase in central apneas but not that much of an increase and they say that is because I was on CPAP. I am already prone to arrhythmias due to congenital heart defect ( ASD) and have bi-vent paemaker. all of my doctors do agree that sleep apnea has to be very bad to cause afib. but they don’t agree on whether CPAP would help or hurt me. CPAP seems to help me some days but not others so sleep doc wants me on it but pulmonologist says no. I am confused.

By: Mellanie

Mellanie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:12:32 +0000

Aubrey,

Congratulations on your success. Please stay on the CPAP in order to help keep that afib beast at bay.

Mellanie

By: Mellanie

Mellanie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:10:56 +0000

Dennis,

That is excellent news that the CPAP is helping. I hope that you don’t have afib ever again.

Mellanie

By: Mellanie

Mellanie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:09:57 +0000

Jackie,

I’m glad the CPAP is helping. Hopefully you will never have afib again.

Mellanie

By: Jackie

Jackie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:54:54 +0000

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….

By: Dennis

Dennis — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:17:25 +0000

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.

By: Mellanie

Mellanie — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:06:35 +0000

Gary,

Have you been tested for sleep apnea? It sounds like a good possibility in your situation. Please keep us posted.

Mellanie

By: Mellanie

Mellanie — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:56:46 +0000

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

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:33:16 +0000

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.

By: juyeonsong

juyeonsong — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 07:29:26 +0000

Is there anyone who has paralyzed diaphram after byPass surgery with AFib and OSA?