Night Episodes

[Janshep]

Does anyone else wake up feeling as though they have done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson ? I can only assume that I am having AF episodes and not waking up which is scary ! Would be grateful for any replies from anyone with similar

[CaroleF]

Yes. Me! - though this was before I was diagnosed. I also used to have nightmare-ish dreams in which I chased round various (known) places in a completely aimless fashion. Looking back I suspect these may well have marked AF episodes.

Now that I take a betablocker (bisoprolol) - and now split this (with GP permission) in two doses a day taken morning and night - the waking exhausted thing doesn't seem to happen.

PS. I'm not sure that you need to be scared about events when you are asleep, though I understand where you are coming from.

Carole

[Janshep in reply to CaroleF]

Thanks Carole I take bisoprolol In the mornings Maybe I should ask if I can take them at night xx

[CaroleF in reply to Janshep]

It's certainly worth asking about. Seems to have worked for me - but do remember that we are all different

[Janshep in reply to CaroleF]

Don't we know it lol x

[jennydog in reply to Janshep]

I take my 2 5 bisoprolol at night because I have often woken up in AF. Others on this site do the same in order to reduce side effects during the day.

[Janshep in reply to jennydog]

Thank you Will definatelly ask

[CaroleF in reply to Janshep]

Let us know how you get on, won't you? I'd also add that, for me, splitting the dose in two has reduced other side effects during the day as well. (eg freezing cold hands no longer freezing but just cold now, legs feeling like lead no longer so leaden)

This is all anecdotal rather than clinical evidence so I do wish that someone would do a proper clinical trial and then we patients might have sound arguments on our side when requesting 'permission' to change the timings.

[Janshep in reply to CaroleF]

Will let you know thanks again xx

[seasider18 in reply to jennydog]

I found that the side effects of bisoprolol were cumulative as it built up in my system and I was only taking 1.25mg.

[jennydog in reply to seasider18]

seasider18 that's interesting. Can you specify the particular cumulative side effects? I am very confused about what causes my own particular problems because of the drugs/ spinal stenosis/ age.

Very best wishes.

[seasider18 in reply to jennydog]

This was from January 2015 till June. I did not know if it was a side effect or caused by AF.

I was light headed, sweaty, dizzy with pre syncope and suddenly it all worsened at the beginning of June when I became unsteady on my feet when standing and walking. It was as if my legs had turned to jelly.The occasional numbness I previously had in my foot changed to a lack of feeling and I was unable to cope going down hills or slopes, changes of surfaces and the camber when crossing roads. It was as if my brain was not communicating with my left foot. I had one bad fall and several near misses and became unable to walk without holding on to my wife’s hand or arm

I stopped bisoprolol and apart from the lack of feeling in my foot it gradually went back to normal. I have been to a podiatrist, a neurologist and a neurosurgeon about the lack of feeling that has changed my gait and caused back pain. I have had a CT scan, an MRI and a back X-Ray when standing. Apart from normal wear and tear nothing has been found. They guess at a type of neuropathy or even a form of CMT.

[jennydog in reply to seasider18]

seasider18 thank you for your reply. It has made me think! What you describe is very similar to my current experience which resulted in an operation for 2 herniated discs in my neck causing severe stenosis. I am seeing the spinal surgeon on Friday so will ask what he thinks.

[seasider18 in reply to jennydog]

The other med that that gave me terrible side effects including a tremor and loss of equilibrium was Amiodarone. I was taking it from May 2012 till December 2012 and again from January 2015 till around June of that year. After effects from it can even take years to appear. I mentioned both drugs to various consultants and they agreed the possibilities.

Let me know how your spinal consult goes. For years I have had a problem where my hip becomes painful and stiffens up. It usually goes away overnight and has never lasted more than a few days.This time I have had it for about two months. An X-Ray earlier this month did not show the arthritis part looking any worse than three years ago. My thought is that it is trochanteric bursitis.

An 'assessment' with an ESP at an MSK clinic ignored my back as nothing shows up on the scans that they can treat! He referred me to an orthopaedic consultant for a cortisone injection into my hip hoping it may help but said that I really need it replaced.

This will be interesting as he is the consultant I first saw around 2011 when he said that I would probably never need a hip replacement. I saw him again in May 2015 where he said the numbness must be a form of neuropathy that would never be identified and that not to let anyone near my back as they would just make it worse.