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Just Diagnosed

Posted , 12 users are following.

Stuart143
Stuart143

After experiencing some palpitations and breathlessness over the past week or so I went to see my GP. I had an ECG, was sent to A&E, admitted to hospital for further tests and diagnosed with AF. My heart rate was not particular fast,

I'm still in AF and have been given Bisoprolol to control my heart rate. I've had problems with palpitations and chest achiness for the past 2 years and have had numerous ECGs which have always been normal so this is a bit of a shock. I'm a bit confused as to what happens now really. I have got an apt with a consultant coming up, but does this mean my life style wil have to change? How can I get back to normal heart rhythm? Can I still drink alcohol?  I don’t drink a lot but enjoy a couple of glasses at the weekends and have some birthday parties coming up. Also, what about exercise? A month ago I was training for a charity cycle ride and was riding 20-25 miles a time. Where does this leave me?  Since taking the Bisoprolol I have been getting headaches – will they subside in time?

I have undertaken some research of my own but I would be good to have some views from other on this forum. I’m 47 years old.

Thanks,

Stuart

1 like, 66 replies

66 Replies

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  • simon56380
    simon56380 Stuart143

    Posted

    Hi Stuart, I recommend googling 'Legacy PI throws down gauntlet to US physicians'.

    A medscape page should come up at the top of your search results.

    Scroll down, There is a 15 min clip that's well worth watching (well I think it is).

  • simon56380
    simon56380 Stuart143

    Posted

    Also need to look at Afib risk factors and address the ones that apply to you.

    I strongly suspect it was my undiagnosed severe sleep apnoea, combined with a big night on the booze that sent me in persistant Afib, and the ensuing heart failure was the result of me not noticing.

    • sian85963
      sian85963 simon56380

      Posted

      Yes sleep apnoea does seem to be a pre curser to AF, my mum has this as well as AF. When she had a cold and was not using her cpap for a few nights, the AF started a few days later, makes you wonder. d
    • simon56380
      simon56380 sian85963

      Posted

      I went to funeral 10 days ago for a work colleague's husband who fell asleep watching TV on the lounge on a Saturday afternoon, and passed away from sleep apnoea!

      He was only 37!

      What made even sadder was that he was booked in for a sleep study on the Monday, but passed on the Saturday two days prior.

    • sian85963
      sian85963 simon56380

      Posted

      Oh no how sad! Well they say sleep apnoea puts strain on the heart so maybe there is something in that, what sad news sad
    • linda51222
      linda51222 simon56380

      Posted

      My PAF started after having a HIb chest infection that went undiagnosed for 3 months I was being treated for nocternal asthma and getting through ventolin like shelling peas (that in istself can cause palpatations)

      The infection triggered the PAF, that went into my pericardium and gave me percarditis. the thing I have always found confusing is I have never has high blood pressure in my life always been around 110/65 pulse rate between 60-70 bpm. so you can imagine being put on Bisoporol dropped my blood pressure even lower, but I was told it was given to slow the heart rate.I have only had a few occassions when my pulse has been over 100bpm the highest 140bpm, now my only trigger seems to be infection I have chronic bladder disease and have to use intermittent catheter 4 times daily to empty my bladder have been doing it for 24 years, so the odd infection is inevitable but since I have been on warfarin treatiing the odd infection has become almost impossible to get rid of pharmacist tells me the warfarin is stopping antibiotic doing its job, GP has agreed to change me to alternative but wants to make sure he gets right one out of the 3 for me because of my dodgy immune system see him tomorrow so hopefully the decision will have been made as I have been nursing an infection since January.

      L.

    • cardiac_congo
      cardiac_congo linda51222

      Posted

      Like you Linda. Never had high BP even in my worst episode. Bisop was originally given to stop the racing. Thankfully, the first ablation did that so could stop the betas.
    • linda51222
      linda51222 cardiac_congo

      Posted

      I often wonder with  all the experience and knowledge we have all got of the condition, if we put all our experieneces together if we would find a common denominator that links us all together somehow, even if it was something that we all had before AF started, we could then inform the specialists and they would not only find the cause but a cure.!!!!!!

      L.

  • betty47298
    betty47298 Stuart143

    Posted

    Its all a puzzlement to me, Meds work for some and put a heart in rhythm and ablation altho yet to have one. These methods work for some and not for others. Seems like no cure but for times can put heart in rythm . What worries me the most is a stroke. heart attack or heart failure and I don't know how successful any of this is. I do not have symptoms that bother me. maybe fatique at some level but not even sure what that comes from. out of breath on exertion like dancing..climbing stairs can be an affort. I do not know what other people feel without afib and with afib other than what I read or have been told. Also worry over the "silence" of my afib although shows on halter monitor.
    • Stuart143
      Stuart143 betty47298

      Posted

      I'm secretly hoping by reducing my caffeine and alcohol intake as well as losing weight I will return to normal rhythm and not have to go through cardioversion. I watched a video today of one and it’s a bit scary.  
    • derek76
      derek76 Stuart143

      Posted

      Some lucky ones get there and are told that it need not be done as they are back in sinus rhythm. I may look scary on Youtube when the body jerks but with sedation you don't see or feel anything. It is over in minutes, Sometimes its like a sunburn feeling/mark on your chest. First time the sedation wore off quickly but the the next one was done on a Friday morning and after getting home I struggled in the afternoon to keep awake. I thought that I would lay down for a couple of hours before dinner but did not waken up until midnight. It was actually Sunday lunch time before it competely wore off.
    • Stuart143
      Stuart143 derek76

      Posted

      How long was it between cardioversions? Have you on medication the whole time since diagnosis?
    • simon56380
      simon56380 Stuart143

      Posted

      Got my fingers crosed for you Stuart, but there isonly a slight chance of going back into rhythm on your own.

      But on the upside, making those lifestyle changes and addressing your risk factors, should hopefully go a long way towards staying in rhythm and may help to head off an ablation in the future.

      Also, I think hydration is important. Being dehydrated can affect your blood physiology, which in turn can increase the potential for jumping out of rhythm.

      (which is what also tends to happen when you go to bed after having too much to drink).

    • derek76
      derek76 Stuart143

      Posted

      First cardioversion was in September 2012 after my heart valve replacement. After going back into AF in December 2013 the next cardioversion was in March 2014.

      From June 2012 I was on Bisoprolol, Amiodarone, Losartan and Warfarin. Bisoprolol was stopped after the cardioversion and I opted to stop Amiodarone and Warfarin a few months after being in NSR.

      After the colonoscopy put me back into AF in December 2013 I was again on Bisoprolol, Amiodarone and Warfarin and again stopped them as before.

      I have now been in AF since January of last year and took Bisoprolol until June when the side effects became too much for me. I would never take Amiodarone again due to its side effects. I only went back on Warfarin by my own choice in February as I want to have a left atrial appendage closure device fitted. Either Watchman Device or Amplatzer Amulet fitted and you need to be on warfarin for that. You may have to Google what they are.

      Previously Warfarin gave me pain in my weight bearing joints so I stopped it. This time it hasn't as research indicated that it was the 1mg tablets that caused it due to the E123 and Amaranth used in the colouring of the tablets. As I have had stomach ulcers in the past I am fearful of Warfarin and the older you get the more likely it is to cause bleeds. The newer NOAC drugs are contra indicated for me as I have a tissue replacement aortic valve.  

      The only other drug I'm taking is Losartan for my BP.

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