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What Causes Deep Venous Thrombosis While Having Atrial Fibrillation?
Question: I have P.O.T.S (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome that I believe I got from past chemotherapy treatments. I was highly sensitive to chemo and was told I had the option of continuing chemo that was giving me serious infections or to stop. So I decided to stop treatment. I only had it for one month and not one year as recommended.
I am cancer free right now and I do not feel it at all. Every test has been done just to make sure my fainting, blacking out, chest discomfort, high heart rate, low blood pressure, arm pains, and weakness is not heart related. I went to a hematologist who tested my blood for Lupus and Lupus type disorders and they were negative. I recently went to the hospital with chest discomfort and leg heaviness to find out I have DVT in my right leg. Atrial Fibrillation has not been ruled out, because no doctor will do more than a 24 hour Holter monitor (inly one got done 2 years ago) when I need the event monitor.
There is no reason a young female, 24 year old who is active in working to just get blood clots out of no where. I didn't take a plane and I'm not on birth control. I have felt weird heart beats and pounding in my chest that make me so lightheaded I need to sit down. I have become unable to work due to all of this. My chest begins to hurt everytime I walk up stairs or do anything slightly strenuous. I am not overweight or a smoker. I am only experiencing stress now because of how debilitating this is, but anyone would feeling this way on a daily basis after beating cancer. I don't have depression and no the difference between my anxiety and this. I am not stranger to misdiagnosis either.
I guess my question for you is "can this be afib?" I really do not think that all my symptoms are P.O.T.S related. I am on blood thinners and if I faint or the clot travels to my lungs (which was negative several times) I wouldn't know. The doctor isn't concerned and the NP keeps pointing to anxiety. A psychologist cleared me of mental problems and said my symptoms are very real. So I am in need of help of what this could be, besides P.O.T.S. My aunt had a heart attack at 30 and was told at 25 she was anxious. She had no coronary artery disease either, but the spasms that she had aren't able to be seen on most tests. She had very tiny veins too. I'm worried they will not find out what else is going on until it's too late.
Any suggestions on what this could be or 8f this this could be afib would be helpful.
I am cancer free right now and I do not feel it at all. Every test has been done just to make sure my fainting, blacking out, chest discomfort, high heart rate, low blood pressure, arm pains, and weakness is not heart related. I went to a hematologist who tested my blood for Lupus and Lupus type disorders and they were negative. I recently went to the hospital with chest discomfort and leg heaviness to find out I have DVT in my right leg. Atrial Fibrillation has not been ruled out, because no doctor will do more than a 24 hour Holter monitor (inly one got done 2 years ago) when I need the event monitor.
There is no reason a young female, 24 year old who is active in working to just get blood clots out of no where. I didn't take a plane and I'm not on birth control. I have felt weird heart beats and pounding in my chest that make me so lightheaded I need to sit down. I have become unable to work due to all of this. My chest begins to hurt everytime I walk up stairs or do anything slightly strenuous. I am not overweight or a smoker. I am only experiencing stress now because of how debilitating this is, but anyone would feeling this way on a daily basis after beating cancer. I don't have depression and no the difference between my anxiety and this. I am not stranger to misdiagnosis either.
I guess my question for you is "can this be afib?" I really do not think that all my symptoms are P.O.T.S related. I am on blood thinners and if I faint or the clot travels to my lungs (which was negative several times) I wouldn't know. The doctor isn't concerned and the NP keeps pointing to anxiety. A psychologist cleared me of mental problems and said my symptoms are very real. So I am in need of help of what this could be, besides P.O.T.S. My aunt had a heart attack at 30 and was told at 25 she was anxious. She had no coronary artery disease either, but the spasms that she had aren't able to be seen on most tests. She had very tiny veins too. I'm worried they will not find out what else is going on until it's too late.
Any suggestions on what this could be or 8f this this could be afib would be helpful.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that DVT is not related to atrial fibrillation.
But, DVT is usually a common complication of cancer or chemotherapy.
You should know that it is a disorder affecting the veins, and it is caused by coagulation disorders, including the changes in blood biochemistry (which are really common in cancer or chemotherapy).
While atrial fibrillation usually causes arterial embolism, causing blood clots in the arteries (including the limbs, brain, etc.), not only the heart.
I don't think that the episodes of tachycardia are related to atrial fibrillation. POTS can explain your symptoms. You should know that this is a common complication of chemotherapy, caused by a dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system (which controls the cardio-vascular function and also other organs).
But, if you need to be sure about this (to exclude atrial fibrillation), I would recommend performing the following tests:
- a cardiac ultrasound to examine your heart function and structure
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring (Holter)
A loop monitoring would be more helpful compared to the Holter to detect possible cardiac arrhythmia, because you can hold it for a long time and press a button when you feel palpitations. It can register your heart activity during these periods and the doctor can analyse those recordings directly, after sending them to him in a few minutes.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would explain that DVT is not related to atrial fibrillation.
But, DVT is usually a common complication of cancer or chemotherapy.
You should know that it is a disorder affecting the veins, and it is caused by coagulation disorders, including the changes in blood biochemistry (which are really common in cancer or chemotherapy).
While atrial fibrillation usually causes arterial embolism, causing blood clots in the arteries (including the limbs, brain, etc.), not only the heart.
I don't think that the episodes of tachycardia are related to atrial fibrillation. POTS can explain your symptoms. You should know that this is a common complication of chemotherapy, caused by a dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system (which controls the cardio-vascular function and also other organs).
But, if you need to be sure about this (to exclude atrial fibrillation), I would recommend performing the following tests:
- a cardiac ultrasound to examine your heart function and structure
- an ambulatory 24-48 hours ECG monitoring (Holter)
A loop monitoring would be more helpful compared to the Holter to detect possible cardiac arrhythmia, because you can hold it for a long time and press a button when you feel palpitations. It can register your heart activity during these periods and the doctor can analyse those recordings directly, after sending them to him in a few minutes.
You should discuss with your doctor on the above issues.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Feel free to ask me again whenever you need!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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