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A-fib and hot flashes
I am 61, female, have been going through menopause since November 2000. At the same time I began menopause, I also began intermittent episodes of some sort of flutter or fibrillation. At the time, I didn't know what they were, and since I never went to the doctor when they were happening, I was clueless as to what was going on with my heart. I didn't stress out too much over the episodes---I just waited for them to pass, which they did after 10-15 hours.
At first the episodes happened maybe twice a year, then they began happening about once a month. About 3 years after I began having them, I went through a stress test and ekg, but of course nothing showed up, so I wasn't overly concerned. In 2011, I happened to be having one of my episodes when I was scheduled for my annual physical, so it was finally "captured" on EKG! The cardiologist said it was Atrial Flutter, and a month later I had an ablation for that. While I was still under anesthesia, my heart apparently went into A-Fib... So the ablation for flutter worked, but I now have episodes of A-Fib, usually monthly, lasting 10-15 hours, very annoying, to say the least!
A year ago I began taking a low dose of Estropipate, in order to alleviate my hot flashes, which seem to worsen prior to an A-Fib episode. Cardiologists don't seem to think the two are related at all, but I do. The Estropioate has made my hot flashes somewhat tolerable, until it's time to go into A-fib again, and then, a few days prior to the episode, my hot flashes intensify, 2 per hour, and last longer that usual. Then sometime during the night, I go into A-fib, and my hot flashes continue coming in waves, leaving me wiped out, along with being wiped out from the A-fib episode.
I am seriously considering ablation for Atrial Fibrillation, but then part of me keeps thinking that if my hot flashes would just STOP, the A-fib would stop as well... But will my hot flashes ever stop??? It's been 12 years. I don't drink, don't smoke, am not overweight, I work outside and am active, though not as active as I used to be. My thyroid is normal, I didn't have rheumatic fever as a child. I consider myself to be healthy, more-or-less... (I do have Hep-C, but was told that doesn't have an effect on A-fib.)
Anyone have any insight on all this? Sorry my intro post is so long-winded, but I felt I had to lay it all out on the table!! ;-]
At first the episodes happened maybe twice a year, then they began happening about once a month. About 3 years after I began having them, I went through a stress test and ekg, but of course nothing showed up, so I wasn't overly concerned. In 2011, I happened to be having one of my episodes when I was scheduled for my annual physical, so it was finally "captured" on EKG! The cardiologist said it was Atrial Flutter, and a month later I had an ablation for that. While I was still under anesthesia, my heart apparently went into A-Fib... So the ablation for flutter worked, but I now have episodes of A-Fib, usually monthly, lasting 10-15 hours, very annoying, to say the least!
A year ago I began taking a low dose of Estropipate, in order to alleviate my hot flashes, which seem to worsen prior to an A-Fib episode. Cardiologists don't seem to think the two are related at all, but I do. The Estropioate has made my hot flashes somewhat tolerable, until it's time to go into A-fib again, and then, a few days prior to the episode, my hot flashes intensify, 2 per hour, and last longer that usual. Then sometime during the night, I go into A-fib, and my hot flashes continue coming in waves, leaving me wiped out, along with being wiped out from the A-fib episode.
I am seriously considering ablation for Atrial Fibrillation, but then part of me keeps thinking that if my hot flashes would just STOP, the A-fib would stop as well... But will my hot flashes ever stop??? It's been 12 years. I don't drink, don't smoke, am not overweight, I work outside and am active, though not as active as I used to be. My thyroid is normal, I didn't have rheumatic fever as a child. I consider myself to be healthy, more-or-less... (I do have Hep-C, but was told that doesn't have an effect on A-fib.)
Anyone have any insight on all this? Sorry my intro post is so long-winded, but I felt I had to lay it all out on the table!! ;-]
Has a possible neuroendocrinological tumor been excluded? Eg. faeochromocytoma or gastroendocrinological carcinoid tumors.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I'm a guy so I don't have any experiences to share, but being a man married to the same woman for over 50 years I have been an observer of menopause. With the one sample (I don't have any averages) I say: first things first, find out what can be done to complete the menopause, stop the hot flashes. Maybe the hot flashes are caused by something else.
Have you posted any question on the menopause subject on the Women's Health" or other Communities that might bring your question before more female eyes?
Have you posted any question on the menopause subject on the Women's Health" or other Communities that might bring your question before more female eyes?
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