slow heart beat

[maggie789]

hello first time here

six weeks ago ended up in hospital with af put on apixaban and betablocker felt so bad with heartbeat down to 44 beats per minute now off betablocker and hoping for the best iam 68yrs young

any help would be welcome

maggie

[BobD Volunteer]

Hello Maggie and welcome. AF is scary we all know that and this is a very supportive place. Beta blockers are not always the right way to treat this condition as you have found out, but usually the fall back position for most doctors in the early stages. there are plenty of other alternatives. The most important thing is to be on anticoagulation which you are (apixaban) so that you are protected against stroke. Ask any question here and we will try to answer.

Bob

[maggie789 in reply to BobD]

thank you what is the other alternatives

maggie

[Stratton-sully in reply to maggie789]

Hi Maggie, mine came on for the first time just before Christmas so I had Christmas in hospital. They asked me if anyone had mention AF and said you have it now.

So put on Warfarin and roovastatin. In August taken off Warfarin as the Vegitarian diet made it unstable and put on apixaban.

At the same time given the electric shock treatment to the heart and much to my suprise it worked. ( I have a valve problem which can hinder the cure)

The food regime I'm on is the Dr. Dean Ormish one that Bill Clinton swears by.

I have a normal life and swim every day,cycle and do yoga, walks on 3 miles plus are on the daily agenda and 70 in January .

I'm in Spain and when I return to the UK in a few weeks I keep it up we see.

The weight lose from the Vegan diet is amazing 78k in hospital 69 now.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to maggie789]

It is natural that when you start your AF journey you will be afraid of all sorts of things but you need to understand that many of them are there to help you. "electric shock treatment " as you call it is DC Cardioversion where they basically re-boot your heart like turning off and on your computer when it has a hissy fit. It is an easy procedure done under a very quick acting general anaesthetic and for many people works a treat. There are also different drug treatments such as rhythm control which aims to keep you in NSR rather than control your rate when you go into AF.

If drugs fail altogether there is ablation which you can read about on the main AFA website . I had this done three times and it is NOT the terrible thing you might think it is. I have yet to meet anybody who says they wished they hadn't gone that route. Most ablatees seem to fade from the site after a few months as they no longer need our support.

Read all you can and keep an open mind.

Bob

[maggie789]

glad to hear you are doing well but dont fancy electric shock treatment anyway odat maggie

[fallingtopieces]

Maggie, I can't take beta blockers either, as my heart is naturally low and taking them made me too lethargic. Instead I've been given Flecainide for rhythm control to be taken as and when (pill in the pocket).

Is your AF sustained or does it come and go?

Pat.

[Hidden]

Hi Maggie, I can't take beta-blockers either, even though I have a fast heart beat. I have always been put on rhythm control drugs like "fallingtopieces" above (but not Flecainide in my case, we're all different so need different drugs).

Most important thing of all I think is, are you seeing a Heart Rhythm Specialist (Electrophysiologist)? If not, personally, I'd ask for a referral to one. I'm not medical, just my opinion.

Koll

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[purple]

I agree with Koll, are you seeing a Heart Rhythm specialist?

[Hidden]

Hi Maggie,

I have had various heart rhythm problems for best part of 40 years, at one point had open heart ablation, that worked well but 2004 I developed AF and later got the slow heart called Bradycardia, where it beat about 45 and had pauses between beats of just over 3 seconds, so then I had what is called a dual chamber pacemaker fitted, and that cuts in when heart drops lower than 60 to put it back up again, its brilliant. I don't notice the pacemaker cutting in at all. Makes a huge difference for me as I can do more things again.

I take Diltiazem for the AF which started with little runs but progressed, as it does, and now can go for days at a time, but its not too often so Im not on any blood thinners or aspirin, because consultant weighed the risks of anticoagulants against stroke for me. and it wasn't needed. I cant have beta blockers as they made me too short of breath.

I do have lots of other health conditions going on as well just to complicate things, and live alone, you need to write down and discuss any concerns with the Cardiologist and don't leave there till you understand what you need to know, if you haven't got one ask Dr to refer you to one. I do hope you get sorted soon and feel much better again. It makes a huge difference..

Carole

[maggie789 in reply to Hidden]

hi carole i am only on apixaban came of betablocker and waiting for app with cardioloigist on 16th dec dont know how i will be till then

thank you maggie