Broken heart . . . Literally

[Megaloo 4]

Hello! I have a kind of quick question I'd like to throw out there, but a longish back story that I'll try to shorten.

Was sleeved on 4/2 and about a month after, I started having dizziness/lightheaded ness several times a day along with fatigue. I attributed it to eating changes. At a check up, my doc was concerned that my pulse was only 43. Tests, holter monitor, EKG, all revealed I had atrial fibrillation presenting as bradycardia. In other words, irregular and slow heartbeat. Average was 50bpm, lowest 31.

Saw an electrophysiologist the other day and he told me to out more salt on my food and come back in 4 weeks. He said he thinks I have increased vagal tone from surgery. He said it's very common after WLS.

Now the question: is it common? Anyone else here experiencing the same thing? My surgeon was sure stumped, which is alarming if it is indeed that common.

And more salt? Seems kind of counterintuitive seeing as how my sodium levels were on the high end of normal range.

Thanks for reading this far!

[slvrsax 301]

At 4 months out I had similar issues - lower pulse (in the low 50s), lower blood pressure, and dizzy spells. I had an ekg and everything was fine. My heart rate is now in the 60s and normal blood pressure 7.5 months out. I do, however, get dizzy sometimes when I stand. All my bloodwork was fine back in April but I do wonder what the dizzy spells are from.

[momohime 121]

Haven't heard of it as a common issue.. but the vagus nerve is super sensitive, so it doesn't seem too far out there. Even simple things like pooping (pardon my French) can cause a vagal response. I think symptoms of AFib usually include rapid heartbeat. Adding salt on top of that is only going to increase your BP and make things worse. Since your HR is slow, that's probably why salt is suggested. Salt will increase your blood volume/fluid, which should also increase your pulse. Even if your sodium levels were normal-high, it's less about that and more about keeping your heart beating at a higher rate than it is currently.

Also, dizzy spells when standing up could be because of orthostatic hypotension. When you stand or stretch, it can cause a temporary drop in BP which gives you a head rush kinda feeling!

[hollym123 10]

I am just two months out and constantly get the dizzy, weak in the legs had rush. Then it passes and it's ok. Hope you get a solution soon.