Having a grim time of things...

My AF seems to have taken a turn for the worst. After a long and stressful day yesterday I had loads and loads of ectopics in the evening and at night. They more or less disappeared today but reappeared during the evening. Only they were not, apparently, ectopics but AF, albeit slow AF . Am now in A and E awaiting blood test results and chest X-ray result. As I have some chest discomfort I may be admitted to the hospital. Possible 3 hour wait to see the doctor for a discussion as this is Friday night. Main worry at the moment is the AF have gone permanent. My pulse is slow, and such is my ignorance that I thought this could not be AF. Almost every beat for the last few hours has been irregular and I am finding it very grim indeed....

[robboian]

How sad. Yes AF certainly is an emotional rollercoaster. Every time I have an attack it lasts for hours, and I always wonder if it will ever stop. Be assured that you are not alone in feeling upset. I wish you well.

[Hidden in reply to robboian]

This is a completely new phase for me. Up until now I have had PAF, perhaps a couple of times monthly, which usually disappeared after taking an extra Sotalol. AF lite I think. What I have now seems to be a much stronger version. The heart seems to be beating slowly but heavily and irregularly- at one point I got a reading of 38 bpm on a pulse oximeter. It has been beating slowly and irregularly whenever I am stationary- bizarrely it seems to be alleviated when I move around. Kardia shows either unclassified or (just now) “possible a fib” with a pulse of 78. The doctor discharged me on he grounds that the Sotalol was acting a “plaster cast” and suppressing the AF, and advised me to stay off work. Heart now feels very irregular after a sleepless night and very uncomfortable. I think the AF may have gone permanent, but the doctor says it’s impossinle to determine. Very concerned and not sure so I have been correctly diagnosed.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Hidden]

Sorry to hear that you are having a bad time. Maybe some rest and deep breathing exercises might help a bit? Best wishes.

[Hidden in reply to djbgatekeeper]

Thanks. Yes, trying to stay calm but not making a very good job of it. The symptoms are much more intense than usual.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Hidden]

That's the trouble with AF, the anxiety feeds the problem, mind over matter challenge but easier said than done.... Take care it will pass 👍

[Hidden in reply to djbgatekeeper]

I just counted my pulse at 32 bpm. Something not quite right.

[djbgatekeeper in reply to Hidden]

I would just check with a medical professional as a safety net as that is quite low. Try not to worry just take some steady steps to getting through today and you will be fine. I'm off to work now but do let me know how you get along, best wishes. Dave.

[Hidden in reply to djbgatekeeper]

Have followed your advice and rang 111. They will ring shortly.

[Bagrat]

Sorry you feel so unsettled and concerned. If you don't feel right ring GP and ask for urgent appointment to discuss or ring ambulance if feeling awful. If tbings have changed since you were discharged you may need reassessment. Certainly worth breathing slowly, various ways. I breathe in for 7 out for 11. Some people breathe in for 4 pause and out for 7

[Hidden in reply to Bagrat]

The symptoms have now settled a bit but the pulse is slow now. Will try the breathing.

[Hidden]

Yes, it puzzled me. Kardia showed some AF with a pulse in the 70s, but at other times the pulse is slow and irregular. The doctor said that was because Sotalol was suppressing the AF, but usually it doesn’t.

[jeanjeannie50]

Morning Sam, sorry to hear that you're having all this worry.

Did you take an extra Sotalol pill and could that be why your pulse is so low now? You sound very afraid of what is happening with your heart and you really need to get some reassurance that all is well. I'd make an appointment to see your GP, that's what doctors are there for and let's face it, it's your heart that's worrying you and not all the minor things that others will see the doc for.

It's far too early to say that your heart has gone into permanent AF. I've often had AF for months, but then my rate has suddenly gone back to normal.

Please let us know how you get on.

Jean

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks. I took two Sotalol yesterday morning; I’m not sure if that effect would wear off by evening or not. I’ve just got up and have got some very mild ectopics. Awaiting a 111 call from a doctor for advice. Haven’t taken the usual morning Sotalol yet. I think all of this is brought about by anxiety- I had a fairly stable pattern of PAF but that now seems to be changed for the worst.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Hidden]

After years of having AF (at least 14) I've learnt how powerful the mind is and how it can make AF so much worse if we are anxious about what's happening. Do anything to take your mind off what your heart is doing. Watch tv, read a book, potter in the garden or go to the supermarket. I was feeling quite ill with it once, but decided I'd still go out with a friend. After a while i realised my pulse had gone back to normal sinus rhythm.

I'm pleased to hear that 111 are going to call you back. Please let us know what they advise.

Have you a friend that could pop round and see you for a short visit, to take your mind off it? Try having a sleep after lunch, but don't go to bed, lie on the settee, put the tv on and make yourself warm and snug. You'll soon be turning it off and getting that important sleep.

Best wishes

Jean

[Hidden in reply to jeanjeannie50]

The doctor just supported your analysis- he thinks too much Sotalol is the problem. Told me to stay seated and wait for the ambulance.

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear of this unpleasant turn of events. The thing is, when it all goes off the rails, yes it can be grim and worrying but it makes doctors sit up and take notice and can lead to a better understanding, and to treatment and improvement. Every cloud has that proverbial silver lining.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I’m afraid I am simply not wired to look at things in that way - but Incan see that it is more sensible than endlessly worrying as I am inclined to do.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Well, my horrendously Bad Day in 2010 stopped me from ignoring my heart's naughty ways as I had done for almost 20 years and set me on a much better path.

[BobD Volunteer]

Late to the party here and not much to add but it is important to understand that AF only becomes permanent when you and your doctor agree that no further attempts to return you to NSR are worth trying. Persistent maybe but not yet permanent . As others have opined it doesn't sound like AF being so slow and why sotalol anyway? Not a nice drug to be on.

[RichMert in reply to BobD]

Agree on the Sotalol point but then I did not get on with any other than Propanolol.

[sann in reply to BobD]

Hi Bob, first of all a Happy New Year to you( haven’t been on here since Christmas) h Ave been to the dr today, to get more Bisoprolol , he informs me that the drug makes asthma worse, have you heard that, this was a locus dr I saw, my own dr tell me that. Thanks Sann, take care Bob

[BobD Volunteer in reply to sann]

Beta blockers should not be prescribed for people with asthma and bisoprolol is a beta blocker. Why do doctors not know this!

[sann in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob can they prescribe something else then? The Dr I saw said he was going to write to my cardiologist ,so I guess I will have wait and see what he says, perhaps he can give me something else. Thank you again, take care Sann

[Hidden]

You don’t seem to have any significant physical symptoms, or at least you haven’t mentioned any.

My advice would be to stop counting your heart rate, put away your Kardia and pulse oximeter and go for a good long walk. Try a bit of mindfulness.

For months now, your anxiety and AF have been feeding each other in a positive feedback loop. If you can find a way of dealing with your anxiety, you will have made a good start to dealing with your AF.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Just got a call from the doctor- he insisted on sending an ambulance which I am now waiting for! He wouldn’t accept any other course of action. Says the beat in the 30s is dangerous and may be the result of too much Sotalol.

[RichMert in reply to Hidden]

Good luck and please keep us updated.

[baba in reply to Hidden]

Glad you are getting an ambulance, it would be dangerous to go walking alone with a heart rate so low ( unless that was your normal). As well as fast heart rates AF can cause bradycardia and loss of consciousness. Hope you get sorted soon.

[Hidden]

Big hugs.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your kind words.

[grandmadogs]

Sorry you are having such a horrible time. Hopefully they will sort it out quickly and easily.

[ETFCfan]

Hope you get sorted out soon. Please keep us updated.

[wilsond]

Sending best wishes to you and hope you feel better soon xx

[jgolay]

Hope this gets turned around and you feel better soon.

[fifitb]

I do hope you get this resolved for you soon. My heart rate went down to 26 beats a minute and I was given a pacemaker. I have paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and have had 2 ablations, one when awake and one at a different hospital and under general anaesthetic (much better for me!). My last ablation was at the end of June 2018. In July I had two really bad atrial fibrillation episodes (I am highly symptomatic) and ended up at St Thomas' Hospital in London and my local hospital, in Chichester - at the first I was at an outdoor music event in London (in a private area though, not with the huge crowd) and the second I'd just had a manicure and it happened in the salon! After this episode (where I felt as though I was dying, feeling faint and breathless and unable to speak) and a rush to A&E, I then had nothing for 5 months until more recently, and have had odd wobbles. The latest was when I had just finished meditating (this week) and was all relaxed, and my heart started up and it lasted 45 minutes. What is going on???? I was not stressed! I think my version of AFib is random!! It is scary as you know not when, or why and I want to visit my sons who live abroad and am nervous about it! I think in your case though, you must have a pacemaker and come off horrid Sotalol. I am on Bisoprolol (i would rather have no pills but feel I must at the moment!). All the best to you!