Help please

[Stephanietee]

My friend has been in AF since Wednesday evening.  Her GP has upped her bisoprolol but it hasn't worked so far.  GP said come back on Monday if it has t settled.  She looks and feels dreadful. I feel she should at least ring the NHS helpline but she is reluctant to do so.  Any advice as to how I can help her?

Thanks,

Stephanietee

[Hidden]

As I understand it bisophonol will reduce the speed of the heart and not reduce the erraticness of it - Drugs like Flecainide deal with the steady pace. Is she prone to AF attacks - if so she will probably know whether more help is needed or not. However if in doubt get more help and advice. If you ring 111 I would have thought that they would urge on the side of caution and suggest a visit to a and e. Some hospitals have arrhythmia nurses who you can phone but as it is a Saturday that might not be possible. 

[jan-ran]

If I were feeling that Poorly and anxious, I would go to a and e, right away. I hope your friend feels better soon. JanR

[Perrylees]

I agree that if she feels really dreadful your friend should probably get some help but do bear  in mind that there is no real issue with being in AF per se as long as she is taking a beta blocker and anti-coagulation of some sort.  A lot of people have issues with bisoprolol - I know when my dosage was temporarily increased I felt terrible.  I believe AF "attacks" can be upsetting and disturbing so perhaps if she sits tight and tries to relax she may feel better - easy to say I know!  In my experience A&E will probably just administer more bisoprolol  ( if her heart rate is too high) and then just monitor monitor monitor.... In the end though it's a personal choice - she must do what she feels happiest with.

Hope she feels better soon !

[Lcpatrol]

I agree with Richard, bisoprolol plus flecainide worked for me. Several years years ago I went to A&E during the tail end of a prolonged AF when I was only on bisoprolol; the doctor added flecainide and it did the trick.

[absolutepatsy]

I have AF and feel dreadful each time. Everytime I go into AF I call out an ambulance as it helps to record how many times I am having AF. Because I had been in A & E so often I was admitted to Cardiology ward,  I now am in the system and am about to see a cardiologist. Do not be put off, it was the Paramedic who advised me to do this. Stefanietee, if your friend won't do it then do it for her, she doesn't need to suffer like this and the GP will eventually tell her to go to A & E anyway. Hope this helps. 

[Stephanietee in reply to absolutepatsy]

Yes , I agree with you. She has PAF and the attacks are slowly getting more frequent.  

Thanks to you and all who have replied on this post.

Stephanietee

[Hidden]

I had AF for about 22 hours once and my doctor told me off, said I should be going to A&E if it went over four hours (!). I think myself four hours is a bit previous. One of the other doctors in the practice said if I was feeling bad definitely go in and so I'd say to your friend to let that be her guide - if she's feeling unwell then it's worth going to A&E. 

[Stephanietee]

I agree but there's no telling her!! Thanks all the same. 

[dedeottie]

My husband has just come back from A and e after feeling unwell with fast A.F. they told him he was right to go in even in an ambulance. The result is that he now has an appointment to see a n E.P. that it took me nearly a year to see and my A.F. is much worse !