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One episode and no more ever...is that possible?

Posted , 6 users are following.

frances26250
frances26250

Anyone heard of people experiencing AF just once? Is it that once your heart has done this it just has to it again ? A friend said" oh I think I had that once years ago and I took husbands beta blockers for a bit!Never happened again so I just forgot about it" Is this more likely to just have been a fast sinus rythmn and not real AF?

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Bob37393
    Bob37393 frances26250

    Posted

    I have re-read the BHF web site piece on AF and there is not a clear distinction between the diagnostic evidence that distinguishes between AF being 

    ​a) the absence of a p-waves in your ecg (an irregular heart beat with no sinus rhythm)

    ​b) an irregular heartbeat in the presence of a p-wave in your ecg (ectopic beat/s in sinus rhythm)

    ​This implies that there is some uncertainty amongst medical professionals as to whether you are in what is being called AF or if you just have an undiagnosed irregular heartbeat.

    ​This could be quite crucial particularly if you are about to have your heart stopped before a cardioversion.

     

  • li29885
    li29885 frances26250

    Posted

    I think everyone had asked such question after the first episode and hoped the answer is yes, I was one of these people. Unfortunately I had another three episodes after the first one. I always hope the last episode was the last one I ever had though.
    • frances26250
      frances26250 li29885

      Posted

      Thanks I thought unlikely...but possible those people don't appear on sites like this once done with it!

  • suzanne48640
    suzanne48640 frances26250

    Posted

    You may also be having episodes with no symptoms but still having a-FIB.  A HOLTER MONITOR would determine that.  It's like portable EKC machine that you wear for24 hours or longer and it shows if you've had any episodes.  I had no symptoms at all but monitor showed I was in afib even while I slept.

    • frances26250
      frances26250 suzanne48640

      Posted

      Yes I have to gave that 48hr monitor thing early Jan. J did assume if I couldn't feel it it's not AF. So beta blockers don't stop it...they just mask it from one's awareness is that right?

  • jx41870
    jx41870 frances26250

    Posted

    Well, there's a first time for everything, lol.  I had an isolated incident like 16 years ago, and that particular thing has never recurred, but a few years later other variations started happening.  Don't need to go looking for trouble, just wait and see if your luck holds.

  • t53151
    t53151 frances26250

    Posted

    I posted similar question on bisoprolol thread. I had one episode of AF six months ago while having chemo therapy. Been on bisoprolol ever since. GP says I will probably be on something forever now, though they might change what it is.
    • frances26250
      frances26250 t53151

      Posted

      Yes this seems to be the standard medical response. Once you've had it you are most definitely going to get it again. ..

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