How to manage tiredness with af

[mwallace]

Do you feel a necessity to lie down after some exertion with this condition?

[PeterWh]

It certainly makes me tired.  I end up having to take a sleep almost every afternoon or early evening.  I am in persistent AF.

[Nannie-C]

I always seem to be very tired especially after a bout of af. Bad overnight last night so done very little today. I also have PMR which makes feel very fatigued at times, not sure which is worst. I just have to plan my days well and try and have breaks between activities. Finally going for echo tomorrow so see what that shows. Fed up with all this but that is the hand I've been dealt ! Good luck with your tiredness mwallace 

[souljacs4 in reply to Nannie-C]

What I don't understand is how very tired I am even when I don't get AF. my GP  said I shouldn't be tired if I am not getting AF but he didn't offer any reason as to what could be the cause of the constant fatigue

[Paddinton in reply to souljacs4]

You can have AF with no symptoms, so you may not be aware. I sometimes get some very short burst (a second or two), some of which leave me exhausted. I certainly get tired much more quickly than I used to.

[Annekw in reply to souljacs4]

Are you taking Bisopral,depending on the dose that you take,that can make you tired, mine was reduced to 1-25 mgs! Much better!

[souljacs4 in reply to Annekw]

No I am only on flecainide PIP

[Beancounter Volunteer]

Hi Mwallace,

Like PeterWh I am persistent and mid afternoon is really hard I feel very tired, but I do not nap (as I have to work) and anyway if I do I fnd I don't sleep well, and I sleep nbadly already.

What I do about 3pm is walk to a coffe shop not the one close by but 5 mins away and grab a latte and that managed to keep me going through to work end. The other secret is never ever give in to the I'll just close my eyes for 5 mins when getting home and grabbing that cup of tea in the armchair. Guaranteed to miss dinner and more.

Be well

Ian

[Gracey23]

It could be the medication you are taking. Since I've been on Flecanaide I'm tired all the time. I have sleep apnea which also will make you exhausted because you wake up all night and struggle to breathe. I'm on a CPap machine which has helped but still tired. The medication is the culprit for me. Anxiously awaiting an ablation so maybe I will have a chance to be off meds. Keep talking to your Dr because there has to be an answer. Good luck to you! 

[souljacs4 in reply to Gracey23]

I will keep trying my thyroid tests came back borderline but GP didn't seem  to think it was a problem

[HastyHeart]

Hi All!  I thought I would be romping around full of energy when I came off Bisoprolol 10mg about 2 months ago. I'm now on 240 Slozem (diltiazem), 250 digoxin, and Warfarin. I'm in persistent Afib, age 72, heart rate around 100bpm, swollen left ankle by teatime for which I've just been prescribed "water tablets", etc and seem to be permanently knackered!  Been blaming the heat and, of course, my age!  Good news tho' is that my wheezy chest and breathlessness on exertion has gone post Bisoprolol.  Just off to U3A IT  Group on Windows 10 post update niggles......got to keep up my enjoyable activities, whatever.  Got to keep going.  Happy days!

Sandra

[Kodaska in reply to HastyHeart]

Water tablets?  Did anyone suggest lying on your back with your feet up in the air - e.g., against a wall or on a chair - to drain the fluid from your legs?

Your tiredness may have to do with reduced circulation, thanks to the rate control drug(s) you're on.  Have you looked into the interactions among the various drugs you're taking?

[HastyHeart in reply to Kodaska]

Hi Kodaska! Not yet taking water tablets, but prescribed them to take early evening to hopefully drain leg and stop having to getup 2 - 3 times in night to pass large amounts of urine. Yes, GP is aware of problems: was on 10mg Biso and swapped to 120mg Slozem, 125mcg digoxin, the dose was soon doubled to settle palpitations. Told yesterday to sit with legs up in evenings. By morning my ankles are nice and slim again. Had a busy day today and very tired again have have ongoing palpitations since teatime. Taken meds and now relaxing with legs up, so hope to feel better soon

Thanks for your post. 

Sandra

[Kodaska in reply to Kodaska]

Good luck!  Another thought is to get a pair of knee-high compression stockings.  They're sometimes used by people on long flights to keep their legs from swelling.  Drug stores sell them in the US.  Maybe in the UK, too?