Exhaustion with AF

[Victoria2017durham]

Hi new to this site. I am 72 have AF. Does anyone else suffer from extreme exhaustion after doing the least physical work ie washing a car or mowing the lawn? I also fall asleep very easily in the evenings watching tv.

[Hidden]

What medication are you taking Victoria?

[Hidden]

I see you that you may have or had problems with asthma. Some beta blockers, especially medium to high doses of Bisoprolol, should not be used by asthmatics. There are alternatives, such as calcium channel blockers (Diltiazem), so I suggest you discuss this with your doctor.

Breathlessness and tiredness are symptoms of AF but they are also the side effects of some AF medication and it can be difficult to sort out which is causing what! Diltiazem worked for me, but we are all different.

[Mickhall in reply to Hidden]

Flapjack if you don't mind me asking are you also on a beta blocker with your Diltiazem and if so which one slows heart rate, apologies if I have asked you this before but my memory seems to be having an off day.

[Hidden in reply to Mickhall]

I only take Diltiazem but both beta blockers and calcium channel blockers reduce heart rate and blood pressure too.

[Hidden]

Hello Victoria, I think the short answer is yes, most of us have felt like you particularly early on. The good news is that there is nearly always a way to improve our symptoms.

If you tell us a little more about your particular AF story, maybe we can help. How long have you had it, is it persistent, what medication do you take/ How fit were you before you developed AF?

[jedimasterlincoln]

Yep! Both when in AF or in the week or so following a cardioversion. Actually a lot worse when in AF, I can barely make it up the stairs without feeling like I'm going to collapse.

I'm on 10mg Bisoprolol and 100mg Flecanide daily. Generally when "unstable" I:

Get dizzy crouching/bending to change nappies/tie shoes, sort groceries

Need a sit down for 10 mins after walking for more than about half an hour

Need a sleep during the day, usually after lunch

Fall asleep just about anywhere comfy once it gets past 7pm and I'm doing something passive or I close my eyes

Find carrying or lifting constantly to be exhausting. Daughter and dog are around 9kg each which is a struggle, I can hold for a while but hold and walk tends to wear me out quite quickly.