Atrial Fibrillation and DBS surgery

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1

Hi everybody,

I was diagnosed in. 2017 and boy has this been a roller coaster. After nearly 2 years of discussions, tests and phyciatric assessments and hope of a better life I finally got the green light on the 10th June to be officially on the DBS waiting list and promised my surgery will take place by xmas, hopefully sooner. I have recently completed the Pre-Ops online form. My light in the tunnel is in sight. Accept I have a potential problem.

I routinely check my blood pressure just to make sure I’m all in order. The first test was a bit high so i did a few more and averaged them out. The final result was dam near perfect except the symbol for irregular heartbeat was showing on every test. So i booked an appointment at my GP’s. Long story short my GP diagnosed me with Atrial Fibrillation.

I am absolutley gutted and broken as this could potentially stop my surgery. I have emailed the NeuroSurgeons secretary but she wont be in work until monday. Does anybody have experience of this. I could do with some positive feedback. Fingers crossed

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Hi, Wildrover.

It’s great to hear that your surgery is on the horizon and that you’ve come so far, despite the challenges. I can understand how frustrating and worrying the diagnosis of Atrial fibrillation must be, especially with everything you’ve worked toward.

It sounds like you’ve taken all the right steps by checking your blood pressure and reaching out to your GP, so you’re already being proactive. Hopefully, your neuro team will be able to offer guidance once they get the full picture. In the meantime, please know you’re not alone, and we’re all rooting for you. Hang in there, and best of luck with everything! :blue_heart:

Parkinson’s UK Moderation Team

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Good afternoon Wildrover … I have Atypical Parkinson’s. I do have troublesome gait freezing which my latest neurologist thinks to be caused by something else. Apart from this my Parkinson’s symptoms are fairly mild. I do have a slight tremor that can be bad if I carry anything, but hardly in the need of DBS surgery.

About 6 months ago I was watching TV when for no reason my heart rate started beating at an extremely rapid rate. Having never experienced this before I thought I was having a heart attack. So I phoned for an ambulance, but it was the night of extreme storms and winds and I was told it would be at least a few hours before an ambulance arrived. So I got in my car and drove the 10 miles to my local hospital.

I was seen immediately and plugged into a machine where an alarm went off immediately. My BPM was up to 175BPM and fluctuating by the second up and down.

I was put on Bisoprolol, a beta blocker and within about 6 hours my BPM was so low that I could not hear it. With my BPM at 40 I was released and went home.

My BPM has remained around 40BP To 60BPM. I am 71 years old & my current BPM is good.

I did try stopping my Bisoprolol, but after 4 days my A Fib returned so I was back on the Bisoprolol pills. I also take Apixaban, a blood thinner.

While taking these drugs I have been fine. I assume you are not taking medication for this.

Hope this info helps.

Best wishes
Steve2

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Hello everybody. I had a phone call today with my neurosurgeon who confirmed that my recent diagnosis won”t stop me having DBS surgery. I can relax now following a few anxious days :grinning::grinning:. There is a BUT though;

  1. My pulse rate is controlled and is not through the roof on the day
  2. I will have to stop taking the blood thining medication (anticoagulation) on a day or two before my surgery. This increases the risk of a stroke. A risk I am willing to take .

I hope somebody else in the forum will benefit with this information in the future.

Apparently there is a link between PD and AF

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