Flutter?

Last Monday I had an injection of Celestone, a synthetic cortisone shot in my knee. Later that evening I had several hours of tachycardia, no higher than 110. It went back to my normal after a few hours. When I sent a message to my cardiologist, the nurse said it could have been due to the shot. She also said it could happen intermittently. This morning I woke up just before 4 a.m. feeling yucky. I took an EKG with my KardiaMobile. I attached one here. I’m thinking flutter. A few of them say unclassified.

I will be sending one to my cardiologist tomorrow. Any speculation as to whether this episode is after effects of the shot almost a week later? I recently stopped flecainide and was told to take 100 mg. in the event of an episode so I did. I also took a 50 mg. metoprolol. I’m still on 25 mg. of it. The rate has gone down some.

Thanks, Pam

Could be flutter, and could also be atrial tachycardia. No way to be sure without a 12-lead.

Interesting that you experienced that. I recently had a cortisone shot in my knee and for a few days experienced intermittent tacky (not as high as yours) and PVC's.
I also had the same experience after getting the various vaccines last fall. RSV, Flu, etc.

I wonder if those of us with AFIB or other arrythmias more sensitive to these injections.
I take a small dose of flecainide on a regular basis

Did your PVCs resolve on their own? I had PVCs and it took 9 weeks of hoops to get my Tenormin which stopped my PVCs cold turkey.

Then foolishly I took a pneumonia booster which returned my PVCs and I can’t get rid of them.

sldabrowski-how long before your PVCs stop? Would a 4 digit drop in hemoglobin (nosebleed with Eliquis) cause PVCs not to convert? Can a ecv convert a pvc?

My episode stopped about 10 p.m.

Took about a week to subside.

I have had at least 30 Anti-Inflammatory Steroid Injections (various forms of cortisol). I usually get 50 to 60% of the maximal dosage because of a history of triggering my AFIB. These drugs amp up your system, as it dramatically increases your adrenaline. Sometimes I hear the Dr's say that the medication stays localized, but I can always feel the impact of the drug systemically within anywhere from 6-48 hours. Sometimes with shots along the spine, the drugs hits a vein, and gets directly into the bloodstream, causing a substantial hyper-aroused state. The adrenal boost from these drugs starts to decline after 3-5 days or so, depending on which form of Cortisol is used, as some have longer half-life's. The Celestone (betamethasone), is a longer acting version, but it should start declining after 4-5 days. My last 2 episodes were caused by these shots, but as I was in so much pain, I took the risk.

The reactions from these types of shots work completely different than the Vaccine reactions, which are more of an allergic reaction, at least in the short term. The MNRA Vax's cause a reaction that is more long term. The spike protein generated to try to combat Covid, unfortunately often ends up causing cardiac arrhythmia's.

The injection I had was Celestone 2 cc with 2 cc lidocaine. I probably won’t get one again. It has helped my knee but it certainly isn’t pain-free.

My EPs NP answered my patient portal question and said it is hard to say at this point if it was the injection or coincidence.

I have never had a reaction to vaccinations. But I don’t get them all. A few COVID ones but not recently. Influenza yearly.

2cc of Celestone is probably the higher dose of 12mg that you got, as from what I discern, it is formulated at 6mg/cc. They give a larger dose for a bigger joint, like a knee. Orthopedic Dr's tend to want to give larger doses, than a primary care dr. To give idea of how much this is, 12mg of Celestone is as strong as 75 mg of Prednisone, or 300mg of Hydrocortisone.

Back in afib and/or flutter. Took Flecainide 100 mg. and metoprolol 50 mg. Very frustrating.

I had just stopped taking flecainide twice a day two weeks ago. Now I’m wondering if that has something to do with these episodes. I’ll be taking it twice daily now. And just in case, I’ll probably never have another injection of Celestone.