Atrial flutter symptoms?

[ireneo]

I know plenty of people have atrial fibrillation and discuss their symptoms with that. Anyone have just a-flutter and how does that feel?

[Brooke_38]

Hi Irene...

I, unfortunately, have had the displeasure to experience both Fib&Flutter. An episode of atrial flutter I experienced a very rapid heart rate, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and dizziness. Some people may experience no symptoms, and the atrial flutter is identified incidentally during a routine EKG.

When the heart is in Atrial Flutter, the rate is usually between 250-300bpm. It is considered an irregularly regular rhythm unlike Atrial Fib which is an irregularly irregular rhythm.

Do you think that you are experiencing this?

[ireneo]

The atrial rate runs 250-300 from the way I understand it but the ventricular response can be different depending on the ratio. Am I close?

Do I think I'm having that? Who knows. My heart does ectopics all day and I have atrial tachy bursts (150-198). Sometimes I have a mixture of it all (normal, ectopic, tachy) jumbled together within 60 seconds. That's a thrill.

During my first ablation they found some chaotic atrial flutter and zapped it. As far as I know it was removed at that point. But lately I have something that will cause my rate to increase slightly (maybe 120, enough to notice, but during the minor change I also feel a pressure build up in my chest, up to my throat, feels a little odd to breath and then I have an uncontrollable urge to cough. Again, all this lasts just a minute or so. Long enough to check the pulse, note the rhythm and then bam - it settles down again. It's of no great concern because it's so quick. But it brought back thoughts of a-flutter. I remember feeling this before my first ablation and now it's back. Maybe it's some weird ectopics that just feel "normal"  rhythm-wise.

[Brooke_38]

Hello...

You are very right! The physiologic characteristics of the AV node require that AV block be present in virtually all cases of atrial flutter. The most common conduction ratio in patients with untreated atrial flutter is 2:1 AV block, which produces the typical ventricular rate of 150 beats/min.

In this case the atria would beat at 300 while, due to the AV block present the ventricular rate is only 150.

If it continues you should definitely give your Dr a call, if you haven't already. Maybe an event monitor is a good idea, just to see what it is that you are experiencing. I'll be interested to hear how this progresses. Keep me posted:)

[ireneo]

It may be a long time before I update you. I've worn the stupid heart monitors so many times, I'm not anxious to get wired up again. And this is such a minor event. Doesn't happen daily either so I'll wait till I see my doc in October, maybe mention it then. It's just something a little different.

[twinbee]

I suffered from both a-fib and a-flutter. I could tell the difference because when I went into flutter my heart rate was 300 or more. It gave me chest pain, severe shortness of breath, light headed. I did have a successful ablation for both fib & flutter

[ireneo]

That's encouraging. When I get chest pain, it's pretty brief and usually associated with exertion (like rushing across the parking lot). This is just a funky rhythm, not a lot of discomfort. Just weirdness and I'm a curious person (perhaps I should say I'm a person with a great sense of curiosity).