Fatigue

[DukesMam]

If your AF is under control do you still find it hard to walk any distance or simple household chores like bending to put washing in the machine makes you breathless?

[BobD Volunteer]

If you still have AF and all you are doing is alleviating the palpitations symptoms then yes your energy levels will be low as the hart isn't working properly. IF you are on antiarrhythmic drugs then provided that you are in NSR you should feel better but then the drugs may cause side affects. Many beta blockers such as bisoprolol will make you feel dreadful as they slow your heart right down.

Bob

[DukesMam in reply to BobD]

Thanks for your reply.

[cbsrbpm]

Had normal rhythm restored by cardio version 7 weeks ago and must say I still feel just as fatigued as I did before. I put it down to the Bisoprolol 2.5mg a day which has slowed my heart rate to 50-58 bpm and sometimes it's lower than that. I just feel permanently tired and yet when I get to bed I can't sleep, weird. Have a word with your GP, which is what I should do too, although mine are pretty useless.

regards

B

[Hidden in reply to cbsrbpm]

Hi Brenda, as you know, I'm no medic, but your heart rate seems a bit lowish. My Arrhythmic nurse has agreed to a reduction to 1.25 Bisoprolol and after a few days, I have felt the benefit. My heart rate we 63 on 2.5 and has only increased to around 65

best wishes, John

[Hidden in reply to cbsrbpm]

Brenda , I couldn't function properly on 2.5 mg Bisop. & reduced it to 1.25. It made a big difference to energy levels. I don't take it at all now. I am on Disopyramide & feel much more human. You must be assertive & tell your GP that you can't function on Bisop. It is not at all unusual to feel wiped out with this drug. It affects people differently. My Gp is on 10mg a day & he feels fine!

Sandra

[cbsrbpm in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Yatsura, I will be seeing the cardiologist in March to discuss ablation and I will talk to him about the bisoprolol. Glad you managed to find an alternative.

B

[Hidden]

My PAF was under control for 3 months but still felt a bit breathless when doing simple things, which I attributed to the Flecainide drug I am taking and my PAF - then just as one of many random lifestyle changes, I tried cutting out 90% of gluten and that removed the sluggishness and foggy head.

Try it for a week….Sainsbury's do 'Genius' gluten free bread which is like normal and you have to look for other flour alternatives when cooking cakes etc.

If it works for you, you should know within a week and no side effects for me apart from stools not as joined up as usual.

[bebe7637]

For me Bisoprolol is a nightmare.

My Cardiologist took me off it and within days I felt more human and had more energy.

[jayedeebee]

I'm so glad I picked up this thread. I find the breathlessness and fatigue the hardest to cope with. The simplest tasks leave me gasping. I am presently taking 10mg Bisoprolol and despite repeated requests for a different betablocker, or at least a review of the dosage, nothing has changed. I feel as though the life has been sapped out of me. I have to will myself to walk up the stairs and if I get to the bottom and realise I have forgotten something, the very thought of going upstairs again has on occasion reduced me to tears. Stupid I know, but by the time I get to the top of the stairs again, my heart rate is crazy and I am on the point of collapse.

Can I reduce the Bisoprolol myself or must I check with my doctor first? I can't live like this.

[DukesMam in reply to jayedeebee]

I'm glad someone else feels like this. I was beginning to feel like a hypochrondiac. I must admit, before being diagnosed with AF I had all the symptoms since the 80s, perhaps earlier. Although I would feel totally worn out I would still battle on, except some days I couldn't walk from my settee to my living room door before turning back because I thought I was going to pass out. I would be out and have to get somewhere to sit down, usually went into a shoe shop to sit until the feeling passed. I feel as if I have lived with a time bomb and survived. Now I don't push myself as hard and take things a lot slower.

[soupersue]

I was the same until I saw my EP and he took me off the Bisoprolol and put me on Verapramil, now I have energy again, thank goodness. Still not as good as before though.

[iris1205]

Yes, I had to juggle between the two states, the rapid rate or reduced energy... work it out with your doctors but I found combinations which allowed me to balance the situation with time! Good luck!

[jayedeebee in reply to iris1205]

I just wish I could get to see my cardiologist.

[jayedeebee in reply to jayedeebee]

btw, I still have the rapid rate, the breathlessness, lethargy, fatigue and general feeling of being on the point of collapse. I'd swap one for the other, just for a change...I'm feeling sorry for myself and it won't do

[iris1205 in reply to jayedeebee]

It isn't feeling sorry for yourself, it is pure frustration and fatigue. The not knowing if it will ever end is also exhausting. I am sorry to hear of your struggles -it is a familiar one to many of us. You've found a place of compassion on this site.... now find the same compassion for yourself. I truly believe it is what we are missing the most! Hope you get in to see your cardiologist soon.

[Hidden]

I also get very breathless like you DukesMam when I am filling the washing machine,walking up the stairs,getting dressed or showered even washing the dishes. I am on Bisoprolol 5mg as well as lots of other meds but im sure its the betablocker making me feel this way. I cant walk my dogs or walk my daughter to school go shopping or anything anymore.My legs feel heavy and I have zero energy. I have an appointment with my Arrhythmia nurse this week and will be asking her to consider trying something else.

[DukesMam]

Thanks for all your replies to my question. It's good to hear all your messages. I've been thinking that I am lazy and using AF as an excuse for not doing simple thing like walking up stairs, or dreading going to town because two shops I want to visit are the opposite end to each other.