On September 27, 2022, I went to the hospital for the first time because of A-Fib. I posted my experience in my A-Fib blog entry. After that time, we tried to figure out the cause. The final solution was to increase my daily electrolyte and hydration consumption.
By early September 2023, the sporadic PVC readings I was having disappeared. I was off blood thinners, and I thought the issue was behind me. Because of the unknown source, I’ve been doing a Kardiamobile ekg each morning.
On November 11, 2023, I tested positive for COVID-19 and was told to keep my pulse low and no heavy breathing for 6 to 8 weeks. I followed this plan, walking daily with a few minute interspersed runs. Between Thanksgiving and December 9, I completed two 5km and a half-marathon without running more than 3 minutes at any one time.
During the week of December 11, I did four miles daily using a 2-minute walk and 4-minute run pattern. If the run portion caused heavy breathing, I would stop and walk. The six walks that week were without incident.
The week of December 18, the four-mile daily pattern changed to walking 2 minutes and running 5 minutes. With the elapsed time, I needed to start including heavy breathing. The first day went well. Temperatures were in the 50s.
On the morning of December 19, my Kardiamobile reading was “Normal Sinus Rhythm.” The temperatures had dropped into the mid-30s, and I dressed as I would for running in those conditions. I wasn’t dressed appropriately to walk in those conditions.
This day was the first time I had no concern about heavy breathing and pushed more than I had in 38 days. When I got home, I felt my pulse. It was all over the place: fast, missing, slow.
After lunch, my pulse was still in the high 80s. By 4 pm, still having an elevated pulse, I took a Kardiamobile reading with an Atrial Fibrillation result. I immediately went back on blood thinners, hoping a reading in the morning would be different.
Getting up on Wednesday, I was still in A-Fib. Around 8:10 am, I headed to Oracle Heart and Vascular, my cardiologist. They open at 8:30 am. Either they could see me, or they would send me down the hill to the ER.
After arriving at Oracle, a nurse saw me within 5 minutes, took an EKG, and confirmed my findings. Since I was shocked back into rhythm in 2022, that was no longer an option. They put me on heart rhythm-smoothing drugs that should pull me out of A-Fib.
I’m back on Eliquis and now Metoprolol. I’m to take the latter twice daily as long as I’m in A-Fib. Once I’m no longer in A-Fib, I will take a 1/2 dose one hour before running.
A side effect of Metoprolol is a drop in blood pressure. It is one of the drugs used to treat high blood pressure. When I went to pick up my prescription at CVS, the clerk said 204. I was thinking $204 and saw on the pad $2.04 for a 90-day supply. I’m happy about another inexpensive drug.
I will monitor my blood pressure before taking the Metoprolol at breakfast and dinner. If my upper number is below 100, I can’t take the drug.
On Friday morning, my wrist BP cuff had my pressure at 96 over 57. So, I skipped a dose and called Oracle. In the meantime, I went to Pratt Lab to check my thyroid levels. Walmart is close to Pratt, and I had some year-end flex dollars available to use and bought an arm BP cuff.
My new arm BP cuff may be more accurate than the wrist model as the high number was 20 higher on the arm.
With these BP readings, I can stay on Metoprolol. After three doses, my heart is still in A-Fib. The blood thinners are protecting me against clots, strokes, and heart attacks.
My 4-mile run is now a 3-minute walk, a 3-minute run. The run portion this morning was difficult, But I kept on moving. I made sure I dressed to walk in the below-freezing conditions.
I have a follow-up visit on January 8, 2024. If my A-Fib is not gone by then?
Where does A-Fib come from?
In 2022, my TSH thyroid reading was above normal. This is one cause. Yesterday’s test was normal. I can eliminate this as a cause.
Endurance athletes can stress their hearts into A-Fib. Being old is a cause. Bad diet and not much exercise are causes. Dehydration and low electrolytes will stress your heart.
Alcohol and caffeine consumption are causes. Until the FARC Christmas party on December 16, my last adult beverage was January 2023. Could it have been those two beers?