New to AF.
Hi everyone . I have just been diagnosed with AF and feeling worried. I have been prescribed Bisoprolol. Does anyone know if this can stop the palpitations completely. So nice to find Health unlocked and all these lovely helpful people. I feel better already reading your letters and answers. I became very depressed when I was diagnosed and quite shocked, I cant stop thinking I might have a stroke. Any advice would be appreciated.
Hi - welcome, it is quite a shock when you first get diagnosed. I've been diagnosed for just over 3 years now. I have AF all the time (permanent persistant or what ever it is!), but have never really noticed any palpitations. The Bisoprolol slows your heart rate down, so I'm guessing that if you do experience any, that they will be weaker so you may not notice them so much. I worry about the stroke risk too - it's one of things I use as motivation to try and keep myself as healthy as possible.
Bisoprolol is a rate controller, so will stop rapid heartbeats, but won't change the irregularities. Hopefully you have also had your chads2vasc score done to see if you should be on an anticoagulant .
Think positive, at least you have been diagnosed and can take action to prevent a stroke.
Hi Jacksnana and welcome. AF is a rather unpredictable condition so every experiences is differently. Please visit the AFA website where you will find a lot of information about stroke risk, anti-coagulation, rate control, rhythm control and ablation therapies and who may benefit and what the risks are. Once you are informed, then you can have a dialogue with your doctors.
Please feel free to ask any questions or just have a rant. It is bewildering and rather scary at the beginning but it does get much easier over time.
Very best wishes CD.
Hello and welcome to the forum and our crazy world of AF. Diagnosis is the worst part, in my opinion, as we suddenly have to cope with something which seems so dangerous and frightening and our sense of wellbeing is shaken. However, things do get better as we learn about the condition and how it affects us.
AF is not likely to kill us - it just feels like it sometimes.
Read all you can about the condition, its symptoms and therapies - the AFA website is full of information and downloadable leaflets - and you may be lucky enough to live near a support group. Website is heartrhythmalliance.org
Bisoprolol is usually the first drug given after diagnosis to keep the heart rate down during AF but it does not control the arrhythmia, only antiarrhythmic drugs like Flecainide and Propafanone do that. Stroke risk may be increased by AF, depending on an individual's CHADS2VASC score - there is a lot of advice on calculating your score and on anticoagulants on the AFA site.
A good treatment plan, formulated in consultation with a heart rhythm cardiologist - an Electrophysiologist - is the best way forward in leading a fairly normal life.
This is a great forum to belong to and you will find all kinds of people here, willing to help and advise, so please ask anything - someone will be able to help.
Hi, I would just add that i understand that some of the treatments on offer have better chances of success if not delayed, but because of our numbers we have to wait months to see specialists, especially the crucial EP Consultant!
My mistake, at the end of this consultation, was to ask for time to think about suggested cardioversion. This hesitation was to put me back a year waiting for next available appt.
Then It was decided that 5 plus years down the line there probably would be no meaningful improvement
My hesitation (because this was before I found this site) added to delays that could have been critical.
So getting all the info and knowledge from this site in order to get right treatments and not waste time is vital! It will also help you knowing we are all on side with you
Hi Sebhel, my paroxysmal AF was diagnosed almost 3 years ago. I have only ever had one hospital appt with a member of the' cardiac team' not even a consultant cardiologist, who, when asked if I would have an annual check up replied ,'If we had everyone in for an annual check- up who has PAF, the hospital would be chock full!!' I have never been offered an appt with an EP even though my problem is with rhythm. I told my GP I would go privately to see a cardiologist whereupon he said, 'I can refer you on the NHS, but I know what he'll say, take Bisoprolol and an anticoagulant!' I didn't bother to pursue it--I took Bisoprolol in the beginning, and it did nothing for me except make me breathless. I've never been told about support from an arrythymia nurse --perhaps we don't have those in Gloucestershire. Now I am only on Ramipril ( I have mild hypertension) and Rivaroxaban as I am 65. I am now being treated by a medical herbalist and am feeling very well.( fingers crossed as I say this) She is treating my digestive problems-- the GERD I had from my hiatus hernia, which used to make my PAF kick off has completely gone, and I have not had an episode for 6 weeks now. Her mixture also contains hawthorn for my heart. How do all you guys out there manage to get to see EPs/ cardiologists/ arrythymia nurses?? Your treatment is streets ahead of mine. dizzielizzie1
Hi Jacksnanna
Sounds like you and I are in similar situations. I have also just been diagnosed and put on Biprosolol. I've only taken the meds at a low level for 4 days and have had some adverse effects (stomach problems, feeling cold etc ) but I'm hoping these will ease in time.
I have also suffered from anxiety but am trying hard to build my ressiliance.
Good luck with the meds and hope things work out well for you.
Hugs x
Just to say that if you are having problems with your medication, it may be that you are intolerant to this particular one. We are not all the same so the one cap doesn't fit us all. I cannot take this drug as it made me very ill. See how you go as any medication takes time for your body to adapt to. Good luck.
Hi Jacksnanna
I think everyone has given you the best advice so I will just add that some drugs do not suit everyone and there are alternatives, don't suffer in silence let your Dr or Arrythmia nurse know how you are being or not being affected. After 20years I have learnt from experience.
Best Wishes .Jo
Hi Jacksnanna,
Lots of good advice so far which I am sure you will find helpful. Around 1m people in the UK have AF and possibly 200k have it, but are not aware and they are at risk of stroke. As you are aware of the risk, it sounds as if your GP may have discussed this possibility with you. Hopefully, he/she has discussed the need for anticoagulation, subject to your CHADS2VASC score.
Your GP should also refer you to see a Cardiologist, or preferably an Electrophysiologist (a Cardiologist who specialises in arrythmias) as soon as possible, but appointments can be delayed. If possible, consider a private consultation which will cost around £250, but do not cancel any NHS appointments. This will enable you to have a better understanding of the treatment options which you can then pursue with the NHS.
Anxiety is a major problem and this often makes AF worse. If you felt reasonably well before the diagnosis, there is no logical reason why you should feel worse after, but the fact is, most of us do, and that is brought about by fear. This is why you should find out as much as you can, because many of the 1m people with AF, lead a reasonably normal life, and hopefully, so will you.....hope this helps, John
Private EP consultations are often suggested but without further tests how can he/she decide on the treatment you need. I have not been to an EP privately but I have been to consultants for other conditions and that has always led to more costs for tests or scans and follow up visits.
I can't believe that EP's alone then refer their private patients to a place high on their NHS lists. It used to work that way with other conditions but not now.
If you see an EP privately you well get your first consultation quickly, if the EP sees patients privately and not all do. And you can then be transferred onto their NHS list but you will not receive preferential treatment for things like CV or ablation any quicker than others on the list but you will have cut out the time waiting for an initial consultation which can be as long as 12 months in some areas. Least that is how it works here in Devon.
Yes, sometimes you may have to pay for tests such as ECGs as they will usually give you one on the day of the consultation but you can ask when you book about extra costs.
It really depends upon where you live and the referring doctor. Unfortunately it really is a post-code lottery. If you live near one of the Centres of Excellence you probably will not wait too long, but if you live away from these main centres i.e.:- London, Liverpool, Birmingham you may have a much longer wait.
Hi Seasider, you are right, there will be a need for tests and there will be additional charges for these which need to be taking into account when considering a private consultation. In my case, my private consultation was made on the basis that if it was decided to pursue any further treatments, these would be carried out under the NHS and I would have to wait my turn, which is exactly what happened. The forum only tries to make postee's aware of all the options to consider, but any decision has to be theirs, but waiting 10/12 or more weeks can add to the stress and make AF worse, but I appreciate the point you make....best wishes, John
That is the case here in Sussex. In the past seeing a consultant privately did get you high up his NHS list.
Hi there I too was diagnosed 18 mths ago, the important thing is you are diagnosed and get the appropriate treatment, it is worrying I would say read up on it will lessen your fears as understanding brings peace of mind. I also have a Kardia Alivecor small gadget that you use with your smart phone and when your getting the symptoms it gives a printable one line ecg, when I first got it I thought dr would think rubbish but no both my gp and cardiologist were very supportive of using it, it also gives me peace of mind as I can monitor what my heart is doing. I started on bisoprolol but side effects sent me back to gp and now take Adizem 120 mg and warfarin, but I've settled now and take it as it comes. The risk of stroke is much more when not on treatment so don't worry to much and enjoy life relax its better to know you have it, Good luck for the future x
Hi. I was diagnosed last February and have been on the lowest dose of Bisoprolol since then. My heart speeds up and kicks or stutters occasionally but quickly settles back down, I'm assuming this is the Bisorolol working! I'm not on anticoagulants as I'm borderline. I've been managing my anxiety by meditation and deep breathing and changing how I eat. I've also found using magnesium spray every night has settled my heart down. I couldn't lie on my left side originally without starting up flutters now I can 
Like everyone says, read all you can and when you finally get to see a Consultant ask all your questions - start making a list now. It took 3 months before I had any tests after my initial stay in A&E and then another 6 months before I saw a consultant. Now I'm just seeing how it goes! Good luck with managing your condition
Thank you all so much for your kind messages x
I'm a newbie, too. Best thing you can do is find sites like this. I don't consider it a death sentence. Choose doctors you can trust and most importantly will listen to you. I know way more than I ever wanted to know about this. But, my biggest struggle, personally, is critiquing every little heartbeat. So, stay healthy and live large!!
Hi jacksanna, try not to feel too down at the af diagnosis. At least it was discovered and as such will be treated with medication. The worry about having a stroke is understandable but with the right treatment ie. anticoagulants this is much less likely. Try not to get stressed as this won't help.
I often still get palpitations only nothing like they were. I am also taking a small dose of Asprin.
I'm not sure when I should see a doctor . Am I supped to go if the palpitations get stronger ?
Hi , just a point on Asprin - it is NO good for AF and this is now widely accepted you need to get back and ask for proper anticoagulation.
Hi there, I was diagnosed as A.F. last March, I had a heart rate of 240 bpm. I was sent straight to hospital & put on Bisoprolol & Warfarin. I now have a heart rate of around 50 pm. and since around June have not had any attacks, in fact at my last two meetings with the cardiologist have been told that I no longer have any symptoms of A.F. I believe that the two together are keeping me away from having a stroke & all the horror that goes with that & in spite of some minor adverse side effects, it is worth sticking with these two medications.
Hope this helps you, John.
Thanks John. The doctor said they would give me Warfarin but they have given me Asprin. Heard its not as good.
Here is why they should not have prescribed Asprin
I will mention this but I don't know if they will listen Thanks
I would be amazed if they didnt it is now in the NICE guidelines.
some more ammo
pmlive.com/pharma_news/nice...
they should be following this unless they can give you a very good reason
Hi, I too was diagnosed with PAF about two months ago, I also have " pill in the pocket" bisoprolol and so far it has worked for me. I seem to be having episode about once a week, I'm still learning what my triggers are, they can vary for from person to person. As soon as I start getting palpitations and a pain / ache in my throat I take one and it seems to nip it in the bud so to speak. Are you on anti coags? My GP says it's virtually impossible to have stroke when on warfarin, which I now take. I actually had a TIA last year out of the blue which was probably to do with the AF ( undiagnosed ). That actually comforts me because I used to worry about what caused TIA. It is a worry I know, but like my GP said "AF won't kill you but worry will", the most important thing is to cover the risk of stroke.
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