AFib secondary to Sinus infection?

[wolfman]

I'm 100% disabled (P&T). Of my disabilities, I'm 10% for Allergic Rhinitis and 10% for Maxillary Sinunitis. Last year I developed a sinus infection that morph'd into pneumonia. I was given an antibiotic for the sinus infection and pneumonia,  but had a bad reaction to it. It killed all the good bacteria in my gut, caused an overgrowth of bad bacteria, and also put my heart into AFib. I'm on meds to keep my heart in normal rhythm as well as for preventing blood clots (which can happen in AFib as the blood is not circuating properly). It took almost 10 months to get my gut back to normal, and although my heart is in rhythm for the most part, I do have periodic episodes where it goes into AFib.  My question is: With my history of sinus infections (I usually get 1-2 per year, should I file for my heart condition as secondary to my sinuses, being that the sinus condition that caused me to be prescribed the antibiotic that eventually caused the chain of events that lead to the AFib? I know I am 100%, but I am thinking for my wife and DIC if I pass away from a heart issue that was brough along by my AFib? Thanks for the help.

 

[GBArmy]

Hi Wolfman Welcome to Hadit. If you're 100% P&T, sure. I think you have a good case; but, as you know, you need a nexus for a secondary claim. Get your heart doc to do a nexus/IMO for you. Just because it is straight forward, the veteran himself can't diagnose med opinions by themselves. You need a diagnosis of the heart condition and it is in your best interest to provide it when you submit your claim, rather than expect the VA to make the connection IMHO. If you use the VA for cardiology, get an outside opinion instead. 

[Berta]

Thanks for thinking of the spouse-I am a widow of two disabled veterans and I can sure attest to the fact that widows can have a very hard time with the VA.

Aside from the antibiotic what has VA prescribed for you for the Sinus condition?

Reason I ask- the VA prescribed a high level of Sudafed,to take  daily,  for my husband ,for 6 years.

After he died I filed a FTCA case- wrongful death and I won.

Because one of the malpracticed conditions ( there were multiple medical errors in his treatment records) was the fact that I proved he did not even have a sinus condition at all. The records revealed an X ray of clear sinuses.Also the Sudafed contraindicated a low dose HBP medication, causing him to have a major stroke.

He died of Ischemic heart disease very suddenly, and VA had told me he had no problems with his heart ( after they did an ECHO)- when I got his medical records, the ECHO revealed significant heart ischemia.I also proved ,in addition to wrongful death, that he also had DMII from AO and also AO IHD.

I sure assume this is not the case with you- and the VA saves lives everyday-but it is one more possible theory of entitlement , as I think you would need a very strong IMO/IME to service connect the Afib as secondary to the Sinus condition.

GBArmy gave you superb advice and I second it.

A good IMO/IME doctor has to follow the IMO/IME criteria here at hadit,and they should also consider a possible medical error aspect, if the VA's treatment of the sinus condition was medically unsound, or if any other treatment or medication prescribed from VA , caused  or substantially contributed to the A fib problem.

Also, If you have 100% with a documented P & T status, for ten continuous years ,your wife should not have a problem getting DIC.

 

 

 

 

[Berta]

To add, there is certainly an association of many medications that can cause Afib:

https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000905

There is also a medical association between decongestants and AFib:

https://www.sharecare.com/health/atrial-fibrillation/can-cold-medicine-atrial-fibrillation

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5531271/

[Vync]

As someone who is SC for allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, heart attack, but also has Afib, I can tell you that medication side effects can be SC as secondary. 

Start by looking at the medication inserts for any prescription which was given to you, even if you do not feel it might be related. You can find them on the FDA web site. They contain a ton of small print. I had to look up some medical definitions in order to figure out what they meant.

They list side effects and contraindications (meds and conditions which conflict or are dangerous with each other) will be listed. The side effects are usually listed as common, uncommon, and rare. The VA tends to focus more on the common or uncommon side effects. Sometimes additional assessments may be recommended for patients who meet certain criteria. Look up any antihistamines, decongestants, or steroids (including nasal sprays) and you will find they are not always heart friendly. Instead of relying on your doc to figure it out, you can then show them any side effects or contraindications that are mentioned in the product inserts. At least it will give them a potentially good starting point.

When I had my heart attack, I filed for it as related to side effects of migraine meds, but the VA tried to dismiss the rare side effects due to the low statistical occurrence or possibility. I won via HLR, but had a very strong nexus/IMO from a board certified non-VA specialist. The migraine med's product insert also included strong recommendations for precautionary diagnostics when used in patients who met the same criteria I had met for years. The VA never bothered to do it.