Thanks for sharing. I'm so glad it went well for you. That's the thing about a-fib - expect the unexpected.

glad to hear that everything worked out well for you.

I think you made a wise decision as the risk of colon cancer is greater than risks associated with afib (e.g. stroke ).

Perhaps you might check with your doctor to see if you could get your next colonoscopy in 10 years rather than 5 years. I checked ACS website and it looks like they recommend every 10 years - see http://www.cancer.org/healthy/findcancerearly/cancerscreeningguidelines/american-cancer-society-guidelines-for-the-early-detection-of-cancer

Or perhaps you could do a flexible sigmoidoscopy in 5 years as an option.

Thanks for sharing your story. I wondered how many other people develop afib for the first time when undergoing this procedure so I found the following at the stanford website.

"Patients undergoing surgery or medical procedures seem to have an increased likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation. Almost any type of surgery seems to be associated with an increase in the likelihood of developing atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation may even prior to surgery with the administration of sedatives or anesthetic agents, may occur during the surgery, or after the surgery. Heart surgery is associated with a significantly increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation, in many series up to 20-30%. Medical procedures such as endoscopy (looking down into the esophagus or stomach with a camera) or colonoscopy (looking into the intestine or colon with a camera) are also more commonly associated with atrial fibrillation. Even the colonic washout preparation for colonoscopy may precipitate atrial fibrillation. Surgery and medical procedures may alter the autonomic nervous system, stimulating to different degrees the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Endoscopy and colonoscopy are associated with a particular degree of parasympathetic activation."

opsyn

My first a-fib episode was triggered by the prep for a routine colonoscopy. The morning of my procedure I felt very dizzy and noticed that my heart was beating fast and strange. I showed up for my appointment anyway since I didn't want to go through the prep again; however, the doctor wouldn't perform the procedure and instead called the paramedics and I ended up in the ER. I was placed on an IV drip and converted a couple hours later. I left the ER with a beta blocker prescription (metoprolol ). This kept me out of a-fib for 4 months. In the meantime, I had to go through the prep/colonoscopy again. This time the doctor suggested I have the procedure performed at the hospital instead of the GI lab in case it happened again. Thankfully, everything went okay. Eventually, a-fib did come back (with a vengeance). After numerous ER visits, drs prescribed flecainide. This drug didn't work well initially, but for whatever reason, things have calmed down and it seems to be working now.

I guess it is not unusual for the prep or the procedure to trigger a fib. I think I would have developed afib at some point anyway because I had had some very brief episodes (2 or 3 seconds) before and didn't know that is what it was.

Thank you so much marikay for sharing your experience. I am due for colonoscopy in Dec. My Sister had terminal colon cancer, so I can't ignore it. I have had many, but not since afib diagnosis.

I'll be taking my Metoprolol before my tooth is extracted next Friday, and have Rythmol with me. This might be the ticket for successful stressful procedures.... I hope so!!!!!!!.

So Thankful you were OK this time~

Thanks for posting your story Marikay. Glad to hear you did so well, it's a good feeling to have that over with.

I've had a colonoscopy twice without anesthesia for the same reason. I didn't want to be put under since I was in Afib both times. Not the most comfortable way to do it but it wasn't all that bad.

Steve

marikay,

Thanks for sharing. I'm due for a colonoscopy next year and am very worried it will send me into a fib. It did last time.

I had the first one with anesthesia but I still felt the same thing. I wouldn't want to go thru that experience again. Not as brave as Steve! My mom had colon cancer and Dad had rectal cancer, so I guess I have to have these things done. I'm on a once every 5 yrs also. I absolutely HATE these things!!

Thanks my friend !!!!! This is my year for colonoscopy and while I sailed through the first one I actually think it was just before my actual a fib diagnosis but now , like you, I have my flecainide to help me.
jan

Glad to hear that things did not repeat the second time around!! From what i've read and been told it's a good and very valuable procedure to have done. :)