Atrial Fibrillation After BC Radiation?

Hi! I had an afib episode (my first) when I was 40 years old...for no apparent reason. I was hospitalized for 5 days, went home on all the ugly afib drugs, felt awful, and suffered greatly. I then found a naturopathic cardiologist who agreed that I shouldn't be treated the same at the 70 year old men who most commonly get afib. He believed mine at least to be a disease of deficiency, as opposed to excess (a lot of people who get afib are either heavy drinkers, extreme exercisers, excess weight, older in age, etc.). As expected, ALL of my hormones were out of whack. Once my thyroid problems, adrenal problems, etc. were under control, the afib disappeared.

I had a partial hysterectomy in March, and I've had some brief afib runs since then. I was estrogen dominant with an enormous fibroid - even though they left my ovaries, I still had tons of hot flashes just from the estrogen depletion. That settled down, and then in July I was dx with breast cancer! I will be doing tamoxifen, and given how much that messes with hormones, I expect I'll be experiencing afib once again. Actually, I haven't even started tamoxifen yet, but had my first real episode of afib in 7 years this week - I think with the "reset" from my hyster, my thyroid hormone doses are probably too high and I'm all out of whack again.

Some traditional cardiologists recognize that hormone imbalances can contribute to afib, so it might be worth asking to be tested! I hope it settles - afib is no fun - especially if you are symptomatic, as I am. I can hardly breathe, get weak and dizzy, my legs go numb, etc. It's incapacitating. Other people don't even know they have it, which is scarier as the risk of blood clots goes up significantly if you're out of rhythm for a long time.

Good luck!

I was diagnosed with paroxysmal afib right after I was told I had breast cancer at the age of 48. This was before I had surgery or radiation, so it was not caused by radiation in my case. My triggers seem to be stress and not enough sleep. My afib is highly symptomatic so I know exactly when it starts and ends. Because of my young age and the fact that my episodes are fairly infrequent, I only take aspirin to thin my blood. And I take a beta blocker for heart rate control. Over the last two years, I've had more frequent episodes, so I take my beta blocker morning and night and my aspirin dose has been increased from a baby aspirin to a regular aspirin daily. Now I also carry propafenone tablets with me to take when the afib starts; it's called "pill-in-the-pocket."

jlbestmcg - I've been told that those of us who have symptomatic afib are the lucky ones, because we're aware of it and can be treated. Maybe it was a blessing in disguise.

sorry to hear this & hoping all goes well for you with your cardio appointment. I developed afib 6 years after left sided radiation. The cause of mine is from a damaged mitral valve, likely caused by radiation. I need to have the valve repaired or replaced soon- I have what is called severe mitral regurgitation, untreated it can cause heart failure. Like you I don't fit the typical pattern for Afib- I am in good physical condition, fit, low blood pressure- it's a long term side effect from my treatment. Hoping the best for you:)

Welcome to you TimeForCure, We are glad that you shared your story and hope you will stay connected here. Keep posting and let us know how you are. The MOds

you betcha. one of my favorite fb friends after. soon after such a session his heart failed and he was just able to pull over to the side of the road before he died. miss you john.

jenn32214,

That is how the radiation machine does mine -the nurse and Dr. told me that it by-passes my heart this way but a very tiny part of my lung will be scarred. If I ever need a lung x-ray, I need to tell them that I had left side radiation. I, too, hope that what I am being told is correct because I am anxious about my heart getting damage.

Celand