Hi there, I had an episode of atrial fibrilation about five years ago and had my heart rate reduced with flecanide. I was told that my af had been treated and that it may come back.
Recently, I have started to have episode of arrhythmias where I have had irregular heart beats, palpitations and strong heart rates. I have had four episodes now and two in the last two days. The first episode, I called the paramedics out and they took my ECG and said it was fine. I took an extra bisoprolol about 20 minutes before they came out. I felt confused, had a vice like headache, some stomach discomfort but not exactly pain.
A week later, I had another episode where I started to feel dizzy, the headache and light feelings in my arms and went to see my GP. He felt my pulse and said it was fine. I also took a bisoprolol that day and for about three hours had a terrible headache where my head felt like it was in a vice for a good few hours. My GP said the next time it happened, I needed to get an ECG done.
Yesterday, my heart felt strange and I got the headache again. I didn't feel irregular heart beats but was getting palpitations where my heart was beating and I was aware of the beats. I went to accident and emergency, they did an ECG but I was very dizzy, getting slow and confused, had a tight feeling in my face, light arms and some stomach discomfort but again not pain. They did an ECG and it was fine. They took bloods and said everything was fine and said it was probably anxiety.
Today, I have started with the headache again, tight arms, my heart has palpitations, slightly irregular and slowness in my head and brain, and the vice like headache. I am worried that something bad is happening and wondered if anybody out there has experienced this. I have taken extra aspirin as am worried about the risk of stroke and another bisoprolol. A and E are writing to my gp and they said I might need a 24 hour ECG. Any comments would be so greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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mikey2767
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All I can say is you really have my sympathy. Others here may be more helpful, someone usually has shared these symptoms and can offer encouragement. I feel your anxiety at such worrying events, and hope you can get a resolution very quickly. I would hang on to the fact that they can't find anything wrong, but keep pestering anyway! Good luck. JanR
Keep going to your GP until he sends you for tests and make sure he knows exactly what you are having to put up with. If it's not your AF causing the problem then you need to know what is.
Could it be some other problem with your heart? It really is important that you don't ignore what is happening. Perhaps you need an echocardiogram to see how well your heart is working.
Another thought is could the Bisoprolol be taking your blood pressure down too low? That would certainly make you feel dizzy. Do you have a machine to measure your heart rate and blood pressure?
The fact that your ECGs have all been normal is good news and not indicating AF.
Having your bloods all come back as normal is also good.
Could it be your blood pressure going too low? If it is, taking an extra Bisoprolol would make it even lower if that's the case. Do you know what your BP is?If the Bisoprolol reduced your HR too much that could make you dizzy and lightheaded, not sending enough blood up to your brain.
A 24 hour monitor sounds the right thing to do now and will spot anything else if it's happening. If you're having stomach discomfort keep away from large meals and eat little and often instead. Constipation can also do strange things. Could it be that or gall stones?
I wouldn't worry too much with the good bloods and ECGs.
Also ask your GP for a full blood count if you didn't have a full one.
Pat
A vicious circle with the anxiety could be making things worse maybe? I had very bad attacks of arrhythmia, a very scary one.Took an anti-anxiety pill prescribed by my GP for use on such occasions and it subsided. Did that twice so quite sure now that my anxiety played a very big part.
I'm not sure whether anxiety is likely be a root cause, but definitely it can make a small problem into a much bigger one. Might be worth trying some treatment and see if anything happens, if you haven't already.
Diazepam 5mg. Only for use when needed as they are addictive. Funny thing is, that once I proved to myself that it was my head making things worse, I don't need to take them any more, if that makes sense. Still got some and will take one if something bad happens, like recently when we had some bad news in the family, that sort of thing.
I reckon that 80% of my attack was "self-inflicted". Or put it another way, the pills reduced the severity by about 80%.
The bisoprolol will lower your heart rate rather than your BP so try and take your pulse and see if it's too low when you have these attacks- also check to see if it's regular
I think you should ask your GP for a 5 day ECG to try and work out what is going on.
Don't hesitate to go to a and E again if you feel bad- also you mention taking asprin- were you advised that this would stop stroke? It's not used as an anti-coagulant now so ask your GP or a and E about your chadsvasc score to see if you need anticoagulation
Yes, do try to get to the bottom of this. Easy to think it's medication or a heart problem but make sure there's not an underactive thyroid as well, although this may have been checked.
I do not want to add to your worries but aspirin is of no use in stroke prevention whatsoever if you have AF and might even be causing problems for you. As Rosy says you need to be anticoagulated if your CHADSVASC risk score say more than 1 or 2. You can work it out yourself by going to AF Asociation website and looking up CHADSVASC where you can do your own calculation. If all your ECGs are coming back normal then either this is very short attacks of AF which have passed by the time you get treatment or something different. My guess would be de-hydration if you are in UK with our current weather. You must drink AT LEAST 2 litres of water -not tea, coffee or any other drinks.-- WATER a day.
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AF but erratic pulse rate is below 100
Sorry, just having a moan
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