Recent AFib diagnosis

[Danny405]

I'm 55 years old and just got dignosed with A-Fib in March '09.  When I take my resting pulse at the wrist it is normal but sometimes irregular @ 70bpm.  With a sport chest strap it reads anywhere from 80-150.  

I was on Beta blockers Metoprolol (25 mg twice daily) in the springime for about 6 weeks and found that it caused  such fatique with the least exertion that I stopped sporting activities.  I play badminton and I jog 3k 3 times a week (~ 20 minutes).  My BP with Metoprolo was also on the low side - typically around the 100/65 mark.

I subsequentrly stopped the Metoprolol and resumed the running.  When I run, my pulse, measured with the chest strap jumps to ~200 although using a Blood Pressure cuff immediately after the run it is seldom over 140 while the chest strap still indicates 180 or so.  I get a little tired after the 3k but not worse than 10 years ago.

Given this profile, what is my risk of developing a cadiomyopathy or other complication if I do not take the metoprolol?

[Danny405]

Jerry,

I don't have any other risk factors (yet).  The first cardiologist I went to simply said I'd be on Beta blockers the rest of my life.  I didn't like the answer since it impeded my enjoyment of exercize.  The second cardiologist told me to stop the beta blockers and take my pulse for a month.  I did and it was ~70 at rest 95% of the time.  With this information he told me not to worry, stay off Beta blockers and to come back in a year.

They both said that I wouldn't have to worry much about blood clots until age 65.  I guess the real question, is what is the risk of cadiomyopathy is I stay off the Beta blockers and should I exercize.

I was on Warfarin in preparation for cardioversion but stared passing blood.  That resulted in a series of tests which yielded nothing - my INR was 4+ which I suspect was the problem.  When I stopped the warfarin the problem went away.  I'll consier the cardioversion in dues course but want to get educated a little first.  I do take a baby aspirin once daily.

Thanks for your response.

I'm from North of the border with free medicare - unfortunately you get what you pay for.

Danny405

[Jerry_NJ]

It is important that you control you HR, especially your resting HR, should be under 100, better if around 60+.  But more important, with AFib you need to guard against the formation of blood clots.  A simple aspirin a day (or 1/2 or a low dose) with a meal (I take my 1/2 aspirin with breakfast every morning).  If you have other clot risk factors (you didn't give me any, you age is on the margin of being a risk factor) you may need a prescription for an anticoagulant.

I have been in and out of AFib for years, and was a runner until April of 2007 when I could not be converted back to NSR.  While I do not run with AFib active, I feel fine otherwise and am now just trying to maintain a reasonable HR, using 100 mg Metoprolol a day and also taking warfarin for anticoagulant.

I expect the difference in the measures you get with the chest strap is that it is picking up some of the AFib, not just the pump from the Ventricle chambers.  That's the important pulse number.