HI, I started with a really fast and irregular pulse and heartbeat last Wednesday night and took myself off to A&E. I spent the night wired up to a monitor and had a saline drip with some other medication to try to bring down the rapid heart rate. During the night I had an injection of a warfarin type medicine (claxol?) and beta blockers. The following day I was taken to the Coronary Care unit where I was given a further injection and more beta blockers, bisoprol fumarate. I met with the cardiologist whe explained that I had Atrial Fibrillation, althought my heat rate had come down the irregulare beat was still there. Further treatmenst a couple of months down the line were explained to me but now, one week after discharge I have a few questions I would like to ask fellow sufferers who have permanent atrial fibrillation. Oh, I am currently on 5mg of bisoprol fumarate and 3mg Warfarin.
1. Do people have any tips for getting off to sleep, I can't seem to settle at all with a banging heart even though my pulse is sort of normal, (with a few missing beats).
2. I have just come back from a cycling holiday and usually walk about 4 miles a day, after a very slow walk today I am exhausted, any tips on getting back to normal.
3. I saw my own GP yesterday and he said that I should get back to 'normal' cycling etc, I did ask if I could have a glass of wine or beer, he said that's fine, however I have read that this can make the AF worse. Any thoughts?
I know that this condition affects people in different ways and have read a lot of negative things which seemed to frighten me to be honest so any positive thoughts would be appreciated. Cheers.
Fellow sufferers will know how you feel; your A.Fib seems exactly what I've experienced for the last seven or eight years.
Getting to sleep: this can be difficult when the heart is thumping scarily. I used to get up and sit in the living room, trying to read a book. I used to find that lying down seemed to make matters worse and sitting up helped calm things down. Nowadays I feel quite used to the occasinal night frights and just try to take my mind off it by, wait for it, mentally singing the words of a song I know well, such as "What's New". It seems to work for me, but no guarantees.
Feeling tired and exhausted: I think Bisoprolol is the main culprit here. Warfarin should not cause such a problem but my GP suggested that the beta blocker can make one very tired.
Alcohol: I have gone to decaf tea as caffeine is a big problem for A.Fibbers. But a glass of wine or a not-too-strong beer does me no harm now and then. Like most booze items I make a little go a long way. Whisky is a no-no (for me) but a small gin and tonic is an occasional OK, but as you say: we are all different.
Good luck. I'm sure you will get over your initial anxiety and hope the Bisoprolol does not give you the problems I experienced with it. My cardio has put me on Flecainide and I have had no problems since then.
Hi there, Thankyou for that 'George', I will try the advice for getting to sleep, strange as it may seem the second night I was in Coronary Care I slept very well, the patients were all very quiet and I felt much calmer and of course was monitored which I suppose gave me more confidence. Last night was the seventh night at home and the worst, just felt scared and the heart rhythm felt really 'notchy' and 'bumpy' not a medical term but quite apt for me. I will try to get back to 'normal', my doctor was quite 'blase' when he said that it's quite a common problem. My problem seems to be that it is in permanent AF, I have a cousing in N. Zealand a bit older than me, (I am just 64) who has AF but the heartbeat is now regular although she does take a beta blocker. Anyway George, thankyou for your advice I really do appreciate it, and good luck with your own health. Cheers.
Hi, sorry to hear you've joined the ranks of AF people! Re getting to sleep, try to avoid things like coffee, tea and cola at night (all contain caffeine) and also (sorry to say it) alcohol if at all possible. If I've had a glass of wine I can feel my heart beating harder than normal. It helps to dilute wine with sparkling water if you want to have a drink. And I find red wine tips me over into AF - despite it's meant to be good for you! I've got bottles of the stuff in the cupboard.
You will have exhaustion after a bout of AF (I take it yours is paroxysmal, i.e. not all the time?) It's like you've run a marathon without the actual exercise. Listen to your body and don't push yourself. (I get cold sweats too which are horrible and nobody has been able to explain why! My AF bouts used to last 12-14 hours - now they seem shorter but more frequent.) And 4 miles a day is quite a long way to walk, especially if you have hills but good idea to keep your fitness up. Avoid very strenuous stuff like squash, spinning, high intensity cardio - they're not a good idea with AF.
GP's tend to downplay AF as it's not actually life-threatening (it's the associated stroke risk that is) so they will usually say to keep up normal activities. But I really would go easy on booze (binge drinking not a good idea) and just rest when you feel you need to. Make sure you take your Bisoprolol and warfarin at regular times and don't be tempted to skip them.
And stop reading scare-mongering websites! I've read scary stuff on US sites especially but they are after your money so have a vested interest in frightening people into unnecessary procedures! Listen to the cardiologist and go back and see him/her (insist on it like I did) if you need reassurance.
And don't let this thing rule your life - just accommodate it and go easy on yourself. There are worse things to have!
Also meant to say, Bisoprolol 5mg is what I take as well and you get used to it very fast - it shouldn't cause fatigue. I would say that when doc tried to increase it to 7.5mg I did feel drowsy so dropped it back to 5mg. Flecainide is a much more heavy duty drug and has more potential side effects. It can also only be prescribed by a hospital cardiologist, as far as I am aware. But we are all different. Give it a chance to get into your system.
Hi there, Thanks for the advice about the scary webchats. I have been scared enough this past week, not having any health problems at all for 63 years, have just come back from a cycling holiday in Catalonia!! Cycled up to 26k a day in 33 degrees, even the locals were surprised at the temp!! As I told George earlier, this came on suddenly, no prior warning at all, just very fast pulse and irregular heartbeat, my pulse/heartrate seems to have settled with the medication but it is in permanent AF, there has been no reverting back to 'normal' since I started with this, I think that's the scary thing. I don't smoke and 'did' excersise regularly with fairly long walks every couple of days but one of my 'life's' pleasures was a bottle of wine, (shared) with a meal, and real ale, we have a micro brewery where we live which does monthly tastings. It will be a very miserable existence without the occasional tipple.
Thanks, the bisopropol 5mg, seems to be slowing the heart, (and me!) down but that's what it's supposed to do. I don't really know about any of the other drugs being newly diagnosed but I really don't want to have an increased dose at the moment. I just hope that as I get used to the permanent aspect of this condition I will be able to sleep a bit better and therefore feel better in myself, thanks for your advice. Cheers.
If you're in permannt AF I'm surprised they haven't suggested catheter ablation which is a surgical procedure and mean to be very successful (sometimes needs two goes). That bike holiday sounded a killer - 26K a day in 33 degree heat? Worse than the Tour de France! but shows that you have a basic good level of fitness which can only help with AF treatment. And no need to deny yourself a drink - just not vats of the stuff!
Hi, Just read the bit about catheter ablation on one of your previous posts. I only started with this last Wednesday and the cardiologist at hospital saw me on Friday before discharge so I suppose in his opinion I had only had it for 3 whole days then and only for a week when my own doctor saw me this Wednesday morning. I have had it non stop for 8 days now, maybe someone out there has had it for longer and it has stopped? Perhaps it will do so after the tablets really kick in. I am very new to all this. Thanks
I trust you're going back to see the cardiologist and not just been abandoned midstream. There are other options - cardioversion among them. I hope your AF stops of its own accord, however.
Hi lankylass
I remember how shocked I was to find myself with these symptoms so I can imagine what you are feeling right now. I am 63 too and have had terrible exhausting bouts of AF on and off for 4 years.....sometimes passing out and feel like I'm dying. I struggled on Bisoprolol and Asprin and was hoping for a Cathetar Ablation but in October '13, I was prescribed Flecainide and now feel really well. I've had no side effects so I'm hoping this drug continues to work and I won't need the op.
I can now have an occasional glass of wine etc. and I'm overjoyed that I can sleep at night and lead a normal life.
It's difficult for friends and relatives to understand just how ill AF can make you. Good luck with your treatment.
Jessie
Hi Jess, Thanks for that, I was prescribed bisoprolol in the hospital, it was all new to me so I wasn't sure about alternatives. The AF is still there and that's the problem, difficulty settling to sleep. Friday night is usually pub night, I said I would go but instead of the real ale I think it's half a shandy!! Whoop whoop!!!
Yeah I certainly miss my weekend tipple too but it beat me in the end and have to settle for an odd glass..... it's not worth the risk of being ill. Have also given up caffeine - I'm a right party pooper these days!
Hope your Friday night at the Pub was ok.
Jess
HI Jess, My Friday night was ok, just had one half, however had a good natter with friends so that was ok. I think for me the worst thing of all is that for 63 years I have not been to hospital except to visit someone, my one and only stay was when I was 26 and had my appendix out. After the shock of the racing pulse and irregular heartbeat last week when I was initially in A & E, I sort of thought it would go back to normal, unfortunatly 9 days later I am still in AF, perhaps someone out there may know if it can go back even after so long. I go back to the warfarin clinin next Tuesday and every week for the next 12, after that I can go to my local drop in centre where they will do the blood test. I will probably hear from the hospital about seeing my cardiologist in 8 weeks time to see about further options, until then I am getting used to life with AF. Cheers,
Hi Lankylass,
I would not be too worried that you are still experiencing AF, it's early days.
A couple of months ago I was diagnosed and the Cardiologist put me on an anticolagulant and Cordorone to get the rythum regular.
After a month the rythum was still all over the place so I was scheduled for a cardioversion.
The day before I was still in AF but by the time they had me prepared for the zap, my rythum was nice and regular so they called the cardioversion off. It took about 5 weeks for the initial meds to do their job.
I was still regular a week later so I was put on Metoprolol to keep it regular and at a much lower rate.
Unfortunately I am having side effects from the Metoprolol so I have asked to be put on something different.
One method of reducing the flutter is to cough or blow out quickly. You can sometimes get the heart to behave that way.
Hi TassyJim, Thanks for that, I bet after 5 weeks of being in AF it was a relief to be out of it. This will be my 10th day now, as I sit here, (watching the Tour de France go about 5 miles from where I live), I can feel the 'odd' movement inside my chest, most of the time it's not so bad. I mowed the lawn this morning and it was fine. The problem is at night, getting settled to sleep, I suppose it's already there in my head that I'm going to struggle, I know that it's been fine in the day, nothing bad has happened, the heart is still beating, it's not really racing, but last night it must have taken two hours before I finally settled. I have a cousin in New Zealand who I spoke to this morning, she is 70, (very fit, goes walking every day) and 6 years older than me,she also has suffered bouts of AF but only on and off, she has medication to lower her BP. She told me to include plenty of bananas in my diet as they are high in potassium and had been found to help AF patients. I've just had one now!! Anyway, you have given me hope that the permanent nature of my AF may go back to 'normal', I am crossing my fingers. Thanks for your help.
Hi again lankylass
I'm glad you were able to enjoy your usual trip to the pub on Fri. I still struggle with having to stick to one drink. I think we are quite similar in that I had my appendix removed too when I was 16 and had been fit and well (size 12) all my life. I also had a good diet (non-smoker) and no family history of heart trouble so I can understand what a shock it is to find yourself in hosital with AF.
As I said before, last year (4th) was a bad year with my passing out 3 times and I felt very ill but now I have found medication to suit me (Asprin, Bisoprolol, Flecainide) I feel I have my life back but most people seem live a semi-normal ife with AF.
I hope you settle into sinus rhythm and can get on with your life soon.
Jess
Hi. I'm sorry to hear that you have joined our exclusive club. I've been reading all the posts and a lot of good comments made. Please remember, we all have AF but we are all different. Listen to your body and don't be afraid to say to your loved ones that you don't feel well. I've been diagnosed now for 2 years and already had 2 ablations and awaiting my 3rd. After that my surgeon and I have agreed its the old pacemaker for me. Also remember it's still not a common illness and most people don't understand what is wrong with you. I've recently been going to cardiac Rehabilition classes where we do lots of exercises but in a managed inviroment. Be careful about how much exercise you do. I walked 10 miles the other day and suffered 2 days later. That seems to happen to me all the time. I found that although my doc was good they didn't really understand the illness. As for sleeping, I don't have any problems, in fact it is the opposite. It maybe that you are not sleeping due to you worrying about it. I have got used to feeling funny when I lay down. This is normal and it goes away after a few minutes. It's the same when you swim. Don't do it as this causes the Heat to work too much. I have joined the AF society and go to a local meeting group where they can help you with diet, questions and just speaking to like mined people. It does help. There have been comments made about different meds. Remember that everyone reacts differently to them, what is best for you maybe different for other people. It may also take time for your body to react and find the right levels/tablets. This is what I found. Good luck.
Hi GrumpyPops, Great Name!! Thanks for your help. I went for a little walk yesterday, about a mile on the flat with my partner, I normally would 'eat that for breakfast' and then some!! Two weeks ago I had just returned from Catalonia from a cycling holiday, up to 26km every other day in 33 degrees, took a lot out of me but enjoyed it, normally do a couple of long walks a week, say up to 5 miles taking in a few hills, this year on Arran nearly made it to the top of Goatfell, thought that next year I would do it. Then yesterday during the walk, I was really breathless, it's the thought that I won't be able to walk up the hills that are all around me, ( near Rochdale, you saw them yesterday on the Tour de France vt) that makes me sad. You said that you did 10 miles, wow, is it that you were breathless or just tired for two days? I did ask my doctor about rehabilitation classes but they were only for those who had had open heart surgery so wouldn't be eligable for those. I did sleep a bit better last night, I am never a great sleeper anyway but it's just the 'clunking' about of the rhythm that stops me from being calm, I know that it's ok, but it's just the noise not only in my head but in my chest that seems to be every where. The bisoprolol 5mg seems to be ok and it's my second visit to the warfarin clinic tomorrow. I had a small beer last night but usually would have shared a bottle of something nice with my evening meal, perhaps I will try a small glass soon, like you said, it's little steps at the moment to see what works and what doesn't, everyone is different. Good luck with your pacemaker.
Hi Jess, Wonder why you passed out last year? I just spoke to GrumpyPops and said that at the moment the bisoprolol seems to be agreeing with me but it's only the 11th day so fingers crossed!! It would be great to get into sinus rhythm again, I'm doing everything right, eating banana's for the potassium, lots of fruit and veg, cutting out most of the alcohol with the exeption of a half on the odd evening. As I said, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that 11 days is not too long being in AF to come out of it again and be normal. Cheers.