Not tolerating any of my drugs .

[Dolly1962]

Since being diagnosed with P-AF at the age of 55 I’m totally fed up I can’t tolerate any of the anti quags I’m on dabigatran 2x a day and 1-25 mg 2 x day of bisoprolol. My heart rate is up and down even when I’m doing nothing I can awake with it the same as AF like last thurs awoke with it from 7.45 till about 2 pm ending up in A&E cause they think I had a TIA and today attending a stroke clinic , I cannot tolerate flecinide , I went to the GP yesterday and she wants me to be referred back to my cardiologist as I can’t tolerate these drugs to ask about alblation . I want my life back and go to work . Half the time I can’t sleep , if I do I’m up about three or four times wanting a wee ( is anyone else like this ) when I do it’s a struggle to pee or sometimes holding it till you get to the bathroom . I have days where I’m breathless not doing a lot at all . Any one else feeling like this ? N

[Hidden]

Hi Dolly1962. Diagnosed with afib/2011. After trying various meds and having side effects I optedfor an av node ablation with pacemaker in Nov 2016. Have done very well and am off all those *****cardiac drugs. Am doing fine and would have done it sooner if I had known how much better I would feel and how many of myside effects resolved after getting off all the rhythm and rate control drugs. Last Monday I had a Watchman Procedure so I can begin to get off the anticoagulants. The procedure went well for me and am happy to be starting the weaning -off process for the anticoaguants. BTW I am a 73 yo retired nurse and so far these two procedures aew working for me and love getting off all the drugs. Take care irina1975

[BobD Volunteer]

Firstly I do understand how you feel but your life hasn't ended. Changed yes so best work with what you have and try to enjoy it while you can. Having met Mr Death a couple of times I can assure you life in any form is great!

Yes peeing a lot is a natural side effect of AF caused by an enzyme released by the distressed heart which tells the body to shed salt.

As far as the future is concerned you need to be referred to an electrophysiologist to discuss ablation but do understand that all and any treatment for AF is only ever about improving quality of life and ablation MUST be considered part of ongoing treatment.

Go to AF Association main website and read all you can so that you fully understand this mongrel condition..

[RajaRua]

Hello Dolly, I'm so sorry to read about your experiences with afib. I have been on Flecinide now since 2013 and I lowered the dose from 200mgs a day to 50mgs per day with the permission of my Electrophysiologist. I went down by degrees over the space of a year. I think Flecanide is quite hard on the body and mind but it does control afib for me. I've only had a few short episodes in the last 4 yrs. I was on Bisoprolol for high BP but felt so tired and depressed on it as well as having an irritating cough. My GP put me on Valsartan and I'm doing fine on that. The Bisoprolol is a betablocker so it works to lower BP and also lowers pulse so that you don't go into afib. I so long to get off all drugs. Some of us are more sensitive to drugs that others. I'm one of these people and it sounds like you are also Dolly. My doctor started me out on a high dose of Flecanide and I reckon I'd have been better to start out on the lower dose. When it works it works well. Maybe suggest to him to try you on a low dose perhaps? Flecanide also lowers the pulse. Hope you find some good relief and look at diet on here also. No caffeine no chocolate or alcohol as these can be triggers for afib. Hope all this helps. Bill and Ben

[Dolly1962 in reply to RajaRua]

Thanks for advice will do got my appointment through for next tues to discuss what to do ...

[RajaRua]

Let us know how you get on Dolly? B

[Dolly1962 in reply to RajaRua]

Hi billandben

Had my appointment to cardiologist and he’s going to refer me to a EP , I can then say what’s been going on .

[fluttered]

Have you tried the anti-coagulant Eliquis? I could not tolerate Pradaxa. Your risk of stroke has increased because of Afib.

Dick

[Dolly1962 in reply to fluttered]

Yes couldn’t get on with that one either .. I’m on a anti quag but I’m suffering from headaches my back aches and my neck , I’m going to see the cardiologist next tues so I will talk to him about these symptoms but most of these tablets are not agreeable with me but I will carry on till I see him ..

[Brizzy50000]

Yes my Afib sounds very similar, if I'm in af when I go to bed I'm up several times a night wanting to wee, also during the day af certainly makes want to go to the toilet frequently, my Afib seems to last 12 to 24 hours and at the moment I seem to be in permanent Afib, I was at A&E dept to day for 4 hours not a lot they can do except give me extra bisoprol and flecanide. I have been on the list for an ablation op for nearly a year now, tried to see my cardiologist but no joy have to wait until March, just hanging in there and waiting certainly can't afford to go private, Yes I have bouts of breathlessness and seem more tired than I used to be,

I hope you have more success than I have and hang in there, I'm told it will get better

[Dolly1962 in reply to Brizzy50000]

Thought it was just me as it’s nice to think I’m not the only one with some of these symptoms, every one of us is different my sleep is affected don’t know about anyone else but I can sleep one night the clock round then I’m not wanting sleep, I must admit I have good & bad days just lately bad my blood pressure is starting to level itself still keep getting pain in my chest gtn spray gets rid but noting every thing so when I see my cardiologist on tues I have a brief notes of what’s going on .