Bigeminy

[Mdonalds]

Been diagnosed with heart failure and Bigeminy thru chemo. So far have been given bidoprolol and am due to get diuretic from HF nurses on Wed. Not many people have heard of Bigeminy Does anyone else know anything about it

[BobD Volunteer]

Basically two ectopics together. Annoying but probably not dangerous. It is something that some of us have developed following ablation for Atrial fibrillation. Trigeminy is when three ectopics come together.

[Mdonalds in reply to BobD]

Thanks for that Thankfully it doesn't sound dangerous so it's just the HF I need to worry about Was told chemo for breast cancer had caused that and HF but was shocked at hearing that so didn't ask any questions

[Polski in reply to Mdonalds]

Stephen T Sinatra in 'Metabolic Cardiology - The Sinatra Solution' has some interesting things to say about HF.

[Hertbeat321]

Bigeminy is a heart rhythm problem in which there is a continuous alternation of long and short heart beats. Most often this is due to ectopic beats occurring so frequently that there is one after each sinus beat. The two beats are figuratively two twins (hence bi- + gemini).

Normal beat then ectopic normal then ectopic,

As Theatre nurse we do see this a lot,

[Mike11]

Of the two, bigeminy (or trigeminy) aren't even worth discussing. Focus on dealing with the heart failure - preferably by seeing the consultant.

[Mdonalds in reply to Mike11]

Have seen Consultant as he was one who diagnosed it but not really given very much info about HF which is why j was asking for info on this forum. I dont know how much I can exercise or how it will affect my life. Seeing HF nurses this week so hoping for more info

[Mike11 in reply to Mdonalds]

Ok. I assume he/she will give you an X-ray and ultrasound scan of the heart. If not then ask he/her why not as this is the best way to have a record of how the heart is now so that any degradation can be spotted in a years time.

[philologus]

If the bigeminy or trigeminy burden is high and is present for a long time it can cause the left ventricle to get very mixed up and not be able to pump out the right amount of blood. (A scan would discover this and the HF would be estimated in severity from 1 to 4 - four being the worst.)

This causes it to back up and so you begin to retain fluid.

This happened to me and I was given advice by the HF nurse.

When I get up every morning I go to the loo then weigh myself.

If I have put three pounds or more on in a couple of days then I know that I am retaining fluid and need to take Furosimide for three days.

I was initially told to take furosimide every day but this caused me some unwanted side-effects so I talked to the HF nurse and compromised and only take it when necessary now.

If you can reduce the ectopics then your heart can heal. Mine has gone from level four to level one.

[Mdonalds in reply to philologus]

Thanks that was very helpful

[Mdonalds in reply to Mdonalds]

Did you find thd HF stopped you exercising of living normal life. I haven't been given much info Seeing HF nurses on wed so going to ask stage etc. Your answer was very helpful. Thank you

[Evefay]

I had bigiminy and it was like my heart was doing a regular beat followed by a very weak beat. It was causing me to almost pass out. My EP implanted a pacemaker which took care of that. I also have bouts of SVT and I have Afib and was recently diagnosed with HF because my Afib was too fast for too long. I had a cardioversion recently and am back in nsr and hope that will help heal my heart.

[Mdonalds in reply to Evefay]

Thanks for replying So what treatment are you on for HF. Has it stopped you doing anything like flying or exercising Si far I havd been given bisoprolol by cardiologist but seeing HF nurses on Wednesday to get diuretic and hopefully more info as this was really just sprung on me Quite frightened to be honest as I was very fit before j had my chemo and then HF symptoms

[Mazza23]

I was admitted to emergency with heart failur now 4years later with good treatment it has resolved I also take bisoprolol10 mg but I have developed AF

[Mdonalds]

I didn't realise it could improve Thought they could only stabilise it. Quite heartening to read that