So on the 9th April this year I started with my first know Afib episode. My heart rate was >160 for nearly 12 hours when I went to the walk-in centre. They called an ambulance and I was in A&E within an hour. They immediately diagnosed afib and debated whether to try a cardioversion on me but started me on bisoprolol which did bring my rate down within a couple of hours. In the end they sent me home with no further treatment, but a prescription of 2.5mg bisoprolol daily. I'm 47, in good health with no previous medical issues and this came as a real shock to me, they literally turfed me out with no advice other than i'd be referred to the afib clinic. I was in afib for 9 days, thinking that i would never come out of it. i was exhausted, breathless, light headed and had to lie down after walking up the street. I can remember the exact moment 9 days later when my heart went back to normal rhythm. I have a GP appt in two days and first cardiology appt in 2 months, but what i don't understand is whether the bisoprolol is maintaining both my rate and rhythm or whether i have converted to normal rhythm spontaneously after 9 days. Any practical advice whilst i'm in this limbo phase of not really knowing anything? I'm going to ask the GP if i can come off the bisoprolol as i'm feeling tired and achy although 100 times better than when in afib! I feel like i'm at the start of an unknown journey, but remaining positive. I've given up caffeine and alcohol for now!
New Afib Diagnosis: So on the 9th April... - Atrial Fibrillati...
New Afib Diagnosis
Hello cmundo and welcome to the place you would rather not be.
First, the Bisoprolol is a betablocker which reduces the heart rate only, this suggests that you have paroxysmal AF, the type which comes and goes without any medical intervention, so it is unlikely the Bisoprolol will have caused normal rhythm to return. The best thing to do at this early stage is to read everything you can on the AF Association webpage by clicking on the link below.
heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...
This will tell you everything you need to know about AF, including things you should ask your Cardiologist when have your appointment. You say you are 47 and in good general health therefore you may not need to take an anticoagulant but please check this with your GP.
The important thing is that you are now on medication that will help to keep your heart rate below 100 beats per minute....60/70 is better! Some Betablocker can cause the side effects you mention, but your body might adapt, but if not, there are other alternatives but you need to discuss this with the Cardiologist. Sorting out treatment plans that are right for you is likely to take time, but you are in good company. There are 1.2 million folk with AF in the U.K. and most lead relatively normal lives so don’t despair .....
Thanks very much for the good advice!
Sadly a common tale. First thing to do is go to AF Association and read till you drop as knowledge is power and will help you to engage with those treating you.
Bisoprolol is a beta blocker which merely slows the heart when you are in AF. It is not an anti-arrhythmic drug to stop the AF. Many people convert spontaneously to normal sinus rhythm (NSR) so by definition you have paroxysmal AF which comes and goes.
I would also suggest that you use the search facility (top right box on PC) to look up life style changes. Obvioulsy alcohol is the first no no as to many people is caffeine, stress and quite a few other possible triggers. Weight is a big topic right now as over the last couple of years it has been found the diet and BMI can make a huge difference to AF burden. A reduction in meat intake and more natural plant based food plus a BMI of 25 or less have all been shown to help.
Of course we all worry on first diagnosis thinking this may be the end of life as we know it but be assured that AF is more life changing than life ending and you will find a way to live a normal life.
Ask any specific question and we will do our best to help.
Thank you I’m finding this site and users’ first hand experience and advice invaluable!
This sounds like a spontaneous conversion. In your position I would make a private appointment to see an electrophysiologist, usually a 1-2 week wait. It will cost you around £200 for a proper management plan. The tests can then be done on the NHS, because they are very expensive in the private sector. You may have a 2 month NHS appt but it’s not unusual for them to be cancelled.
Thanks, I’m seriously considering a private appt and will discuss with gp tomorrow.
Agree with Oyster. The thought of waiting 2 months was too much to bear for me so I opted to go private. £165 plus £60 for ECG in my case, plus £120 for a follow up 2 weeks later.
My lovely brother paid £300 each for me to have an Echo and a 24 hour monitor. Knowing my heart was structurally sound was a huge relief & commencing treatment (Flecainide & Apixaban)10 days post AF diagnosis was great. I’m now back under NHS care.
Pat x
Please try not to worry too much as anxiety will usually make AF worse. You have been given the Bisoprolol to slow your heart rate which will help to keep you out of AF but can take some getting used to. I had to have my dose reduced because it lowered my blood pressure too much and I was getting too dizzy. It can also make you feel tired and sluggish so keep a note of any side effects in case you need a lower dose or an alternative beta blocker. But most importantly listen to your body. If you feel tired then rest and find your limits regarding exercise and caffeine etc. AF is very common and can be managed to have a normal life and there are many of us Afibbers out there. X
Thanks for your kind advice Janette I was extremely anxious but trying to keep things in perspective now x
When I was finally diagnosed with afib after 5 years after it being misdiagnosed as a symptom of the menopause I found this forum and found it a great source of comfort and am really grateful for all the support the people have given me and is my go to if I have a query and still find it a great support. What I have realised is that everyone is different and treatment is certainly not a case of one size fits all. My sister has since been diagnosed with paroxysmal afib and it seriously affected her quality of life as such she decided on an ablation. At the other end of the scale, 3 years down the line and varying advice from different consultants, apart from the erratic feeling of my heart during an episode I don't really have any other side effects so it doesn't really affect my quality of life. Because the medication for paroxysmal afib is
about improving quality of life I don't take any at the moment. It's all down to your individual case. The positive thing about my afib is it makes me take care of myself or watch my weight, Eat healthily, most of the time, exercise more, stress less. I'm convinced without it I would not be as healthy as I am at the moment and have lowered my risk of other diseases that affect us as we get older and have in fact improved my quality of life in between my episodes. Good luck on your journey and hope you find comfort as I do through this forum.
Thank you. I can't believe the amount of information and support on this site, so glad I found it when it did. I agree, this diagnosis has definitely made me focus on lifestyle choices to give myself the best quality of life.
Such good best advice above, and remember you are never alone or cast adrift here. Make this site your go-to for the best information and help. Best of luck.
Bisoprolol is primarily rate control
Oh another thing. My hospital told me HR greater than 130 go to A&E.
Don't suffer at home. In A&E they may do sonethi g to help you
I gave up coffee and tea does help honest, didn’t even have decaf. Back in NSR after ablation but still not going to go back to drinking them, don’t want to tempt fate, sticking to water....l boring I know but a change I made to help myself along with stopping smoking after 54 years..... even more boring but feel loads better. All I need to do now is try and get the stone of weight off I have put on!!!! Feel a bit of a beach whale at the moment but I suppose it’s better than being slim, stressed and in and out of hospital with svt. Daring not to go out in case I have an episode. Need to buy Spanx lol and everything will be fine lol x
I know I gave up alcohol and caffeine immediately. Small price to pay to minimise risk of afib x
I agree x
Nothing to add to the excellent advice above other than Hi & welcome.
The thing with a-fib is every event jams calcium ions into heart cells and makes the next event easier to have until finally it is constant. I was given Bisoprolol after my first diagnosis and recurrences went from semi annually to monthly. After reading this board I asked for a rhythm control drug and was put on Flecainide. I dropped my BMI to 21, quit drinking and have been fib free for 3 years. I carry extra Flec as a pill in the pocket just in case I have another event so hopefully I can minimize damage. I am on warfarin to prevent a stroke. There are several stroke risk evaluation tools on line that you can access.
I continue to follow the site and the people here are wonderful
Best of luck.
Thanks This is very interesting. I’ve checked strike risk and don’t think I score a point. I’d rather come off Bisoprolol but reckon they will keep me on!
Can I ask a question. You say you've been fib free for 3 years. Do you experience any ectopic/palpitations? Or, as far as you're concerned you feel 100%? The reason I ask is I've had 3 afib attacks in the past 6 years, 2 in the last 6 months, all were successfully cardioverted. But Since Sept of last year I get palpitations. The Cardiologist said it's something I have to get used to and are harmless. I'm on 2.5mg of bisoprolol. It definitely keeps my rate down and feel that the ectopics I get are less severe.
I am working on getting my weight down. I had lost close to 2 stone last year, but it's slowly creeping back up again after a burst appendix, a week in hospital and 2 afib attacks, which I'm convinced were brought on by the burst appendix. This left me rather disillusioned but I'm determined to get me weight down to an acceptable level again.
With my bmi down and no alcohol my cardiologist told me I may never have another a fib. I used to get a 4-9 second SVT daily which I was unaware of. It dropped to once a week when I went on Flecainide. He only found that with the 10 day HR monitor Zio patch, I exercise 10 hrs a week and am constantly dieting. I switched to 100% plant based diet. Life style changes are tough so good luck.
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