AF and heart failure .

[Highhandicapper]

I had no symptoms and discovered fast pulse and AF when I had blood pressure checked at pharmacy . Since then have been on beta blockers and blood thinners ! Am now breathless am retaining water feet and legs swollen so have to take diuretics (double dose ) which doesn't make me wee! Have been told I have heart failure

Wish I had never found out but daren't come off medication !!

Anyone had similar experience?

[IanMK]

Hi Handicapper,

Although initially diagnosed with HF & AF, I now understand from my EP that my AF was a mis-diagnosis. I wasn't aware that I had any symptoms. What started me on my 'journey' was a realisation one day that I had become exhausted carrying one not particularly heavy box upstairs. I saw my GP who called an ambulance - I had fluid on the lungs. With hindsight (a wonderful thing!), I should have realised that a niggling cough and difficulty removing my wedding ring wasn't normal. I was already on medication for high blood pressure but I had no idea what these other symptoms had any significance. The diuretic quickly solved the cough and excess fluid but I now have heart failure and an arrhythmia. I have had one ablation in an attempt to improve my heart function but it was not successful. The next step is an AV node ablation and pacemaker - probably around October.

Although I'm not breathless, I am limited a lot by Bisoprolol. I still take my diuretic (Furosemide) and expect to have to continue with my anticoagulant (Apixaban) due to an enlarged left atrium. Heart rhythm controlled by Ramipril and Amiodarone (which is a low dose and only in the short term).

I am not anxious and look forward to an improvement in my condition, but what will be will be.

Take care,

Ian

[Highhandicapper in reply to IanMK]

Good luck I hope things improve for you ! I am 83 so expect to have these problems and I assume most of you are younger people so again good luck and thanks for replying.

[Highhandicapper in reply to IanMK]

Good luck

[Wodney1966]

Wow when I take my diuretics I'm peeing for England lol I've got Af n heart failure cardiomyopathy

[etheral]

Are you still in aFib? It is difficult to control CHF while in aFib. I went into CHF when my aFib started and since being converted back to NSR with Tikosyn I havehad no problems with CHF.

[Hidden]

I wonder if Digoxin would be a good choice for you. It used to be the go to medication for AF and heart failure. Now it is used in combination with a beta blocker or calcium channel blocker. It is still recommended on it’s own for older people who are less active.

I would suggest you ask your GP to refer you to a geriatrician for a holistic assessment. In my experience you won’t get that from a cardiologist and your GP may lack the necessary time, expertise or interest.

[Highhandicapper in reply to Hidden]

Yes that is what I am trying for !

By the way before this I was playing golf and very active ( very lucky I know)

[Buffafly]

If you felt fit before I wonder whether the betablockers are the problem? I would query that I think. I can't see the point of medication that makes you feel worse unless absolutely necessary.

[Mickhall in reply to Buffafly]

Buffafly, what you said about taking meds which make you feel worse hits the nail on the head but it is difficult to search out the chaff from the solid trees. If we try to do it ourselves and stop this or that med, when our heart rate keeps busting through the 100 bpm we thing sod this where is that tablet I better start taking it again. Well l do anyway. Whenever I see consultant and that is not very often, I come home with an extra medication. I will soon need a larger med cabinet as I am now taking 9 pills a day and often feel like shite. A month or so ago I was having a pree opp assesment for thyroidectomy with the hospital pharmacist and I asked him whether any of the pills are replicateing what others tabs do. I thought he would explain the what and why of the drugs I am taking. But no he said you will have to talk to consultant about that and any way they wouldn’t be prescribed if they weren’t doing you good. I thought this guy is stupider than me and that was the end of the conversation.

[Mickhall in reply to Mickhall]

By the way the Thyroidectomy was cancelled just before they were about to wheel me into operating theatre.

[Highhandicapper in reply to Buffafly]

Yes I have questioned it but they say if I hadn't found out about high pulse rate I might have had a stroke so I can't really argue with that!! But I am very tempted to gradually cut down on the beta blockers and take my chances.

[Buffafly in reply to Highhandicapper]

As Oyster says, betablockers are not the only medication available, there is more than one betablocker anyway, and as I understand it the blood thinner is what deals with the stroke risk, the betablockers slow your HR so your heart doesn't wear out. As you are 83 and hadn't noticed a problem before it seems your heart had been coping - of course you don't know how long you had AF before diagnosis! I shouldn't encourage you to tinker with meds without supervision but I do encourage you not accept your poor QOL without a fight 😀

[Barb1]

Yes, I have AF and heart failure. You say the diuretic is not making you wee? If that is the case you should tell your consultant asap.