Episodes of AFib

I have had sleep apnea for years and was untreated. This summer I started having palpitations and recently wore a holtor monitor. Results show rare PVC's with a brief episode of afib. I now have to have an echo and stress test. I have read that untreated sleep apnea can cause heart problems. Anybody know anything about this?

It's very true, which is why using Cpap is paramount if you have apnea, but afib is not uncommon with OSA and hopefully should improve on Cpap. I'd push for a new sleep study asap and then (likely) get a new machine.

Yep, it's one of the outcomes of untreated sleep apnea. Hopefully, yours got diagnosed early enough so that cpap treatment will arrest the progression of the heart issues and possibly reverse them. Do not delay in getting a sleep study, a titration study and a machine.

[edit] I see from your other post, that you are currently using a cpap machine. Make sure to use it every night.

As you are getting the other tests scheduled and done, ask your doctor to refer you to a sleep specialist (or schedule the sleep study himself) so that the apnea track can proceed in parallel with your cardiac studies.

BTW, some cardiac data is collected during the study so the cardiologist will be interested in the results.

I had a catheter ablation to correct AFIB. The Cardiologist that did the ablation told me the procedure was 80% successful but success rate goes down to 30% with sleep apnea. So yes, if you have sleep apnea, I would get a sleep test and start CPAP therapy. I had the surgery which is done thew the groins Oct 23, 2013 and have been on CPAP since. AFIB free, no medication for AFIB other than an aspirin a day.

Coincidentally (perhaps?) I had been waiting for a sleep study and had a new one done in August and started using the CPAP machine about 3 weeks ago. I am having difficulties finding the correct mask for me tho and am very frustrated. But I will keep at it.....especially when you tell me that it can arrest potential heart problems.

Just want to make a point that while ablation may help correct Afib, it doesn't mean your OSA goes away or that other cardiac problems (because you have OSA) are not still potential dangers.