Hi Shanny: Do you take an anti-arrhythmic drug to control your Afib? I have heard that sometimes the drugs to control heart rhythm can cause long QT syndrome or other undesired rhythm problems. Did you get a copy of the ECG? If not, ask the doctor that you seen to provide you a copy of the ECG or ask them to fax it to your Cardiologist. That way, the Cardio can have a look at it, interpret it and ask to see you sooner if necessary. Try to relax. I know that is easier said than done when we are talking about matters of our hearts. Take care and keep us posted.

thank you for replying so quickly CLane, no I didn't get the copy of the ecg I was kind of panicking ..I will go tomorrow and get a copy of the ecg and fax it to my cardiologist...

I asked the dr who did the ecg if this long qt was dangerous and he said oh u can die from it if it turns into VT...so that didn't make me feel any better..

trying to relax here...not easy im a very very anxious person at the best of time...thanks again

sorry I forgot to add..im not on any anti arrhythmic drug at the moment...I use flecanide as a pill in the pocket..

Hello dear Shanny......
I can only do my best to soothe your fears a little til you get into the Dr.....I do preadmission testing for surgery and if someone has a prolonged QT I always show the EKG to anesthesia to see if they want Cardiac Clearance and they dont 99% of the time.....there are a couple of things that can happen with a prolonged QT but more often than not dont and so most time they sign off on the EKG and the pt has their surgery and does fine ....... having said that I too know when it comes to our hearts it takes a lot more than a few words to relax us , and our stress level is of course a big part of our problem to begin with.....circular , eh ? I am also going to assume that if you told your cardiologist the reason you are coming and they felt June 1 was reasonable they arent terribly concerned.......take a breath.....live your life and try ( said the pot to the kettle ) not to obsess :)
jan

Shanny - I agree with Carrie as its best to send a copy of your ecg to your cardio doc. I developed long QT from taking tikosyn and I am now on flecainide until my 3 month waiting period is over from my ablation 2 weeks ago. I had long QT for about 6 months and it did concern me. I spoke to my doctor and we both decided to switch my meds around to see if that worked. I am not sure yet as I have not had another ecg. I do know that long QT is usually inherited or comes from taking anti-arrhythmics. Talk to your cardio to ease your mind. Take care. Pat

Remember that a long QT interval and LQTS (Long QT Syndrome) are 2 different things. Read this and ask your doctor now:

"The diagnosis of LQTS is not easy since 2.5% of the healthy population have prolonged QT interval, and 1015% of LQTS patients have a normal QT interval.[5] A commonly used criterion to diagnose LQTS is the LQTS "diagnostic score".[6] The score is calculated by assigning different points to various criteria (listed below). With four or more points, the probability is high for LQTS; with one point or less, the probability is low. A score of two or three points indicates intermediate probability."



I'm not sure what in the hell all the points are about, but 2.5% of the healthy populatio has a long QT (not syndrome) and remember that rhythm drugs like sotalol and amiodarone can prolong it.


petey

shanny,

If you know you have long QT, be aware NOT to take certain meds which make this worse like Z-pak and Zofran (for nausea) to name a couple. Check with your doc or pharmacist.

*nodding* what Petey said is what I was trying to say........he communicates it better than the nurse :)
jan

hi everyone, ok...spoke to my cardiologist who said there is no way I have long QT..he rang my local dr and said do another ecg and fax it to him in Melbourne...anyway got the ecg done and faxed it off...guess what?? NO long QT...

not sure why the other dr said I have long qt...maybe he couldn't read ecgs I don't know..i am so angry with this dr...all the stress he caused me over the last two days is unexcusable in my eyes...

anyway thank you all for support again..hope you all stay well...im going along happily in NSR and now phew no long qt...shanny

Maybe he thought you were using Coppertone QT Self-Tanning Lotion "too long".

Shanny, I am so glad you are OK!!!!!

I have also learned Dr.s can say things that are inaccurate. ....big sigh!

Shanny:

What a reilief for all of us to hear your good news! And this serves as another reminder for me to be informed/educated about new information and not hesitate to forge ahead and seek answers/clarification from medical professionals.

I was on soltolol when I was first diagnosed with afib. They took me off of it and I had an ablation. They had put me back on it because I was having more issues. Apparently this time around it was cause prolong QT waves and they had to take me off of it. I feel so much better since I got off it.

shanny,

So glad to hear of your good news. I wouldn't be pleased with your first doctor either. Terrible to make you worry about something you don't even have.

Detalented-sorry to hear about your problems. Good you could get off the sotalol.