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[Kapoole]

Hi all i started having heart palpitations 4 months ago when i get them thry make me feel dizzy at times. Some palpitations last a few minutes some have lasted 30 mins they seem to come on whatever im doing resting ect i feel a bit odd before hand and just know they are going to happen. I was getting them a few times a day until i was put on bisoprolol but only 0.65 as it makes my normal low blood pressure even lower and makes me feel awful. Seeing a cardiologist in 3 weeks what do i expectto happen at the appointment and will he offer better meds than beta blockers.

[CDreamer]

Expect an ECG, possibly bloods, a consultation and perhaps a monitoring device to wear for a period of time.

Are chasing a diagnosis because without one it would be really difficult to really comment on drugs that may or may not help as there are a number of Arrythmias that would fit your description, many of which are harmless but a few of which may not be. What do you call low BP? Do you self monitor? If you do it could be helpful to keep a BP diary for the few weeks prior to your appointment. Bisoprolol helps stabilise BP - I took it for quite a few months with an average BP which was habitually lower than 90/60 and lowest recorded was 60/40 and I found Biso actually helped stabilise my BP - but that’s the only positive I could say about it because it made me feel terrible as well.

Go prepared - write down your questions - keep them precise and concise. It can help to take a second person with you to help you process as it sometimes can feel the information given is a little overwhelming and it is natural to be anxious which can impair your ability to take things in. Take notes and ensure that you are copied in to any correspondence between your GP and consultant. You may have to register that with your GP & consultants’ clinic beforehand. Keep a record of all correspondence for future reference - do NOT rely on the clinic to do this for you as I have had numerous occasions I have attended where letters were never copied into my files and without my copies - I couldn’t prove that or this had been investigated etc.

[Kapoole in reply to CDreamer]

Hi thankyou for reply, i have had several ECGs and a 24 hr monitor ECGs were normal and monitor showed a few palps but in normal range. I dont getcthem so much on the meds ifi do they do not go high. My blood pressure is 90/52 and resting heart rate as low as 53bpm. All this is very scary for me feel like my life been turned upside down, i have 2 daughters one is 14 and my 5yr old is autistic and needs me around.

[CDreamer in reply to Kapoole]

It is scary for most of us at the start of this journey - you only have one heart so anything that affects it causes anxiety - but I have lived with very symptomatic AF for 12 years now, done the meds, the interventions and still have some Arrythmias but I don’t get anxious anymore, I survive and more than that, I thrive so there is life with Arrythmia.

You may find life more challenging if you become symptomatic but there is nothing too alarming for me in those numbers - my resting HR will range from low 40’s to 120 on a daily basis. My BP hardly ever exceeds 100/65. Numbers are just that - numbers but it is how you feel and how you react which is important.

Anxiety is your worst enemy - find a way of managing your stress and you will be half way there, whatever the findings. Worrying piles stress on the body worsens symptoms and actually causes disease so finding things to do that bring you pleasure is the antidote. Pleasure releases endorphins - feel good hormones - which counters the stress hormones - doing something you enjoy does you good!

I wish you luck with your appointment and hope you can find some reassurance that nothing is showing up on your tests.

Best wishes.