Another " is this normal" question.

[kernow43]

After a few months of very little AF activity, I'm now having a bit of a rough time of it feeling quite ill a lot of the time, light headed and aching neck and shoulders but no noticeable heartbeat extra activity. Have been diagnosed AF/SVT for about a year now and am on 10mg Bisoprolol, 50mg Losartan, Warfarin and 40mg Simvastatin. Saw my GP today to query the possibility of meds causing this, the AF performing again without any noticeable heart activity or have I got something else entirely on top of everything. He is writing to my Cardiologist, who I am not due to see until November, after a quick check of BP etc, but no answers really except to say come back if it persists. It's all beginning to play to my imagination a bit, everything from stroke ( I know I'm on Warfarin with a fairly stable INR between 2 and 3), and cancer. Can't help it when I feel so rotten. Sorry for the long moan, I 'm normally quite laid back about things, but would be interested to hear if anyone else has any similar experience.

Regards to all, Ray.

[amanda26]

Hello Ray! I suffer with AF and have done for 9 years! When I'm in AF I feel like this, also the past year I feel tired and a lot when I'm not in AF! I get my bloods checked also coz I'm on warfarin waiting for the second part of my Catheter Ablation and they came back ok with my INR coming in around 2.4. I don't always have to be in AF to feel lousy I also suffer from ectopic beats which cause dizziness but it's never dangerous and I have to put up with them!! It's annoying and effects my life so I know how you feel. Ask to see ur cardiologist sooner, have u seem them before? Contact that department or ask ur doctor to get an earlier appointment! I hope you are feeling better soon and you get sorted out! Hope my blabbering on as helped in some way - Amanda

[Annaelizabeth]

GP's are by and large wonderful people, but they are not cardiologists! I would make a nuisance of myself and really push for a much earlier appointment. It sounds as though apart from getting all meds checked you need a good dose of reassurance. Keep reading and stay in touch with this website and its contributors, the wealth of common sense advice and just the ability to connect with many in the broadly the same situation is invaluable.

[BobD Volunteer]

Hello Ray, Both lots of good advice. One of the "hidden" symptom of AF is anxiety, something I have been fighting to get medics to understand for years. Many cardiology departments, especially those with an EP,-- an electrophysiologist,--have special arrhythmia nurses who should be available by e mail and telephone for just such reassurance. If so far you have not seen an EP then bang the desk till you do as normal cardiologists are seldom up to speed on the best way to tackle AF .They are the plumbers to the EP's electricians and you wouldn't get a plumber to re-wire your house now would you?

There is a list by area on the main AFA website and you do have the right to be seen by whoever you want so look one up near you and ask your GP to refer you. He may not like it but insist or change GPs..

All that said AF is a pretty mongrel condition which affects us all in different ways but you sound pretty normal to me! Don't go looking fort rouble and try to be positive.

BobD

[kernow43 in reply to BobD]

Thanks BobD, and to Amanda and Annaelizabeth, I really appreciate you all taking the time to reply. Reassurance seems to be the key, but short of calling out the ambulance service in the early hours or at weekends, it's in short supply around here. I do intend to present myself at the GP's again on Monday morning, feeling better or not, and I've a good mind to refer him to all of you.

[Dadog]

Nothing's 'normal' with us AF people, kernow43! We all seem to be on different treatments, simply because we are all affected differently by AF. All I can say is you are on a fair number of drugs and the 10mg Bisoprolol seems on the high side (I have settled on 7.5mg as a good happy medium). I reckon you should have a good chat with your GP and suggest you have an assessment before November. Query a reduction of the Bisoprolol and query the 40mg Simvastatin. I used to take this and suffered bad leg and muscular pains until my GP took me off it and I felt so much better. Yes, I tired and lethargic at times but getting over the dizzy spells since reducing Lisinoprol I take for hypertension. There is a happy medium in there somewhere and you deserve some effort from your doctors to help find this place where AF and its treatment, tolerable. Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

[kernow43 in reply to Dadog]

Yes I'm realising how nasty this "condition" is for sure. I have noticed since finding the AFA that people on Bisoprolol seem to talk of much smaller doses than I've been on for the last 12 months or so. My question to the GP yesterday was simply about the long term use, armed with more info from everyone now, am certainly bringing the dosage question up on Monday. Thanks for your reply.

Regards

Ray

[mkp589cmn]

I think that a GP is great but with our condition you should see a cardiologist. I had a cryo-ablation in March and can not believe how good I feel. I go back to my surgeon and hopefully will be off all heart meds. The main reason I wanted to address your concerns is that I too had light headness and had not been diagnosed yet with AFIB. I had a seizure and was in the emergency room and out of the clear blue my heart rate went to 202. I was so glad that something had finally shown up. I had been to all sorts of Dr's and lots of tests done and every time everything came back normal. I am on seizure meds and will be for life. Also will be on a blood thinner and I take Pradaxa and have been very pleased. The heart medication I am on for now is Propafonone which is a rhythm med. I was on a rate med and it did nothing to help my AFib. But the cryo-ablation has been a miracle for me. I put up with numerous episodes daily until I had the surgery. Please also think about seeing a neurologist. He is the one who has me on seizure meds. Did not mean to go on so. Hope all goes well for you.