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[Tolkien]

Hi all. Had one episode of afib two years ago and none since. Just had an ablation for tachycardia at Lancashire Cardiac Clinic but it hasn't worked unfortunately. I'm on 5mg Bisoprolol which makes me feel trembly and tired. I hate this drug but my cardiologist said I had to stay on it because I'd had afib. I also developed pulsatile tinnitus just after I started the Bisoprolol and this is at times very uncomfortable - I get to feel and hear my heart misbehaving! I've no idea what happens now about my failed ablation other than seeing my GP in a couple of weeks, as the LCC gave me no follow up appointment or information and their website is hopeless for email contact. Good to join an on-line community of like minded sufferers.

[Hidden]

Welcome

I think you will find Bisoprolol is the problem if you type it into the search facility you are not alone.

Di

[Tolkien in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Hylda, I thought it was but I have to keep reminding myself i'm only 55 not 95!

[Hidden]

I’m 75 and changed from Bisoprolol to Nebivolol. So much better.

[Paulbounce]

Don`t despair Tolkien - there`s hope yet

Bisoprolol does knock some people about but there are other med`s you can take if it doesn`t work for you.

If you have just had an ablation then give it time. They can take a month or so to 'kick in' and you are likely to be `told off` by your heart for the first few weeks* so don`t worry to much just yet.

Talk to your cardiologist about these problems rather than your GP. It`s unlikely the GP will do anything unless it`s cleared by the cardio guy.

Good luck.

Best,

Paul

*applies to afib but not 100% sure about tachycardia - I would think though both conditions would take the heart a little time to recover after the procedure before the benefits are felt.

[Tolkien in reply to Paulbounce]

Thanks Paul, I'll keep my fingers crossed but still having same tachy I've always had.

[jedimasterlincoln]

Bisoprolol doesn't work for everyone. I'm one of the lucky ones, having been able to tolerate double your dose for 5 years on/off (I'm 36 turning 37 now)

I would agree with Paulbounce that your heart is still recovering regardless what the ablation was for, it's probably too soon to say it "hasn't worked"

I would consider checking with the cardiologist about changing to another rate control drug, or if you can't get in touch/an answer asking GP to write to him/her and ask them to alter/discuss/asses your regime.

I find it surprising you've had no follow up or advice given and I'm hoping this is an oversight not the norm.

[Tolkien in reply to jedimasterlincoln]

Thanks for your advice. My GP thinks it may have failed too but as you say it is early days and things may change.

[IanMK]

Did the EP tell you it was unsuccessful? It can take months for the arrhythmia to resolve after an ablation. My first one was unsuccessful but I had to wait many months for a 2nd. My EP advised this could gapped at the outset.

Best discussed with your EP or cardiologist rather than your GP.

[Tolkien in reply to IanMK]

My GP thinks it has based on repeated tachy episodes since ablation, but it's only been two weeks and no one has given me any advice at the hospital.

[IanMK in reply to Tolkien]

Sorry - autocorrect!! “gapped” should read “occur”.

The AF Association publishes an information sheet regarding recovery after an ablation. It’s relevant to ablation for other arrhythmias too : heartrhythmalliance.org/res...

The lack of follow-up that you have received is appalling but is probably the result of over-stretched resources. I have been fortunate in that my EP and cardiologist have copied me in with letters to my GPs (I don’t have the option to see the same one every time) but I have found that the GPs are often unable to explain the parts of the letters that I don’t understand. I usually have to wait for my next hospital appointment.

[Seventy9]

Hi Good Morning Tolkien.

I have been on Bisoperolol ( Spelling )

3.7 for about 3 years switched from

Atenolol with No side effects .

It was to reduce BP also good for

Palpitations?? So the say.

But now I also take Ramiprill 2.5 mg do find with both very Tired can fall asleep

Just Reading the Mail.

Fortunately No problem Driving seem wide awake.

Think Tiredness comes on when you get

Bored and Lethargic that’s why you need to keep on your feet rather than sit down ?

I find a 2 Mile Walk sorts you out !

[Tolkien in reply to Seventy9]

Thanks for your reply Seventy9, I enjoy a toddle round on my electric bike but find too much exertion brings on the tachycardia. Walking is difficult too as I have a bad knee, but as they say - you've got to keep moving!

[Seventy9]

I agree trying to seek info is very difficult

that’s why these sites are good .

People dealing Day to Day with similar

problems .

I would like to know if the two drugs I’m on

Has helped anyone else get rid of AF?

Bisoperolol and Ramiprill ?

John

[Ppiman]

Like you, John, I'm on bisoprolol but for atrial flutter rather than fibrillation. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to be helping to do anything at all for the flutter, although my heart rate is a little slower overall. My doctor thinks an ablation would be the best way forwards.

[Lien-Ju]

Hello Tolkien! My cardiologist gave me Bisoprol 1,25 mg but I almost didn't take it because it makes me feel very tired and uncomfortable, I'm only 23 but I felt like I was 103 years old and I ran a marathon. Maybe you should talk to him to switch?

Julien

[Tolkien in reply to Lien-Ju]

Hi Lien-Ju, I've tried Verapamil but that didn't touch my tachycardia. I'll have a chat with my GP though, thanks.

[MydogBrandy]

If you are getting nowhere with Hospital it might be worth booking a private consultation , at least you will get answers and they can access your nhs records. Worth £180 good luck. I was lucky my ablation seems to have sorted my tacky condition.

[Tolkien]

Thanks MydogBrandy, it's a consideration, yes.

[Tapanac]

It is very early days to know whether the ablation has worked or not. I’m sorry to say and not being rude but a gp only has a scattering of knowledge regarding cardiology you really need to speak with your EP.

My heart took over a year before it got over being angry at being lasered all around it. It takes awhile before it settles.

My follow up after my ablation was about 4 months and like you when I left the hospital after the ablation only a nurse discharged me. Didn’t see a soul. I wondered what to do but the follow up check came through the post.

Chin up and hopefully all will improve. Try not to worry. Best wishes

[Tolkien]

Thanks for your kind and reassuring thoughts Tapanac.

[Ianp66]

Im 52 and found bisoprolol tiring and a little disabling with shortage of breath on exertion or stairs when I first took it last April,it was prescribed after a bout of afib with fast tach / hospitalisation last April, but after a month or so the symptoms settled dramatically after thing s your describing , and its done its job well as I didn't have any fast runs and now just three weeks out of ablation myself advised to stay on it 4/5 weeks or how I feel then stop . I tolerate it quite well though it did seem to tire me at first, but after setting up a walking and cycling regime to get as fit as possible prior to the op, I didn't really notice any side effects anymore or do now so I tolerate it quite well. My EP last year when arranging the cryo ablation said its one of the best drugs to curb fast tach so was happy with that and just got on with it .

I think sometimes it's easy to blame bisoprolol but it's the afib especially if it's permanent which for me turned into after that time that is actually the main reason for my fatigue and lethargy.

Does sound like you've been left with little help and reassurance, but I was told even though mine was rated an "acute success" there still maybe bouts of afib, or fast tach/flutters to follow until the heart settles,which maybe 6-12month in some cases, though after 3 month to expect some stability.

Luckily I've been better than I thought 3 weeks later, and so far doing 2 mile a day walks at a decent pace and full of energy, before even coming off the bisoprolol, which I hope to discontinue when I can .

There are people a lot more knowledgeable than me on the subject on here who will be a great help and comfort, and am sure it's early yet for you to be judged "unsuccessful" , it's a waiting game for what I've read and been told by my EP, but hopefully itl settle down for you soon, I'm sure itl improve given a chance , and the less you worry, if your like me! Itl calm down and be more promising.

Ian.

[Tolkien in reply to Ianp66]

Thanks Ianp66, thanks for your kind words and good luck with your situation too.

[Crystalpalace]

hello I got on ok with bisoprolol only minor side effects. but it didn't stop my afib. I was switched to calcium channel blocker and that has been a lot better. not sure if that might be an option to speak with thr doctors about ?

[Tolkien in reply to Crystalpalace]

Thanks, i'm seeing my GP soon. Take care.

[allserene]

Lancs eh ? We moved from W Yorks and rented a house at Darwen for 10 months before we moved to the US 12 years ago... You will be pleased to learn the US is just as chaotic as the Yookay.. They tell you nowt and put you on drugs without telling you that you will have a stroke if you stop them.. (Eliquis is $640 a month if you aren't a tighto Yorky with alternatives) lol...Had my first flutter in April and they hit me with 2 drugs and stopped my heart for 5 seconds by accident...and five times over ! Last night at 1am, I went for a pee and I had zero balance and I was crashing into the walls (inner ear stuff or low pressure ?)... I am fine now on metopropol (another beta blocker).... They reckon many folk need 3 ablations before they are totally ok and that is normal...... have hope !

[Tolkien in reply to allserene]

Thanks allserene, guess it's welcome to the crazy world of heart trouble!

[Oldiemoldy]

Welcome to post ablation misery. For some folks it’s a piece of cake - which is how the EP’s describe it. But for most of us there is a 3 month recovery period and we are not ourselves at all. And sometimes the drugs the well meaning doc prescribed to prevent AFib breakthroughs just make it worse.

I discontinued Multaq because it gave me a terrible cough, slowed me down so much I got depressed and didn’t help all that much.

I’d rather live through intermittent AFib than feel like I did.

Did start some magnesium citrate on GO’s advice and it helps prevent any constipation.

Just go slow and don’t expect to be your old self right away.

[Tolkien in reply to Oldiemoldy]

Thanks Oldiemoldy, I take mag citrate too - not very nice taste though is it?

[healme]

We're are all so different and react differently to our meds. I also reacted badly to the exhausting side effects of Bisoprolol however in my experience you are lucky if A you can get to see your GP and B if you can see an EP. I have a cardiologist who has difficulty understanding me. He is Greek and I cannot understand anything he says. At one appointment he recommended surgery for a leaking mitral valve and at the next he said I didn't have a valve problem. As for back up and help well I won't even begin to discuss that issue. I think perhaps a private appointment may be a good idea if you can afford it but it is early days and hopefully your heart will settle down. I hope so.

[Tolkien]

Thanks healme, it's a real lottery dealing with consultants isn't it? Nice to know we're all in the same boat. Good luck with your issues.

[Hidden]

two weeks since your ablation? you should still be resting!

I'ts too early to tel if it has failed. How long does the tachy last? 2 years post ablation I have short runs (3 to 30 seconds) of SVT. But it's not AF so I still consider it a success

[Tolkien]

Hi Mikee69, the tachy lasts until i do a vagal manoeuver to stop it and I don't wait more than a few seconds before I clamp down on it. The runs are just as they were before the ablation unfortunately (some days none, some multiple times) which leads me and my GP to think it hasn't worked. If the pathway had been ablated then i don't think I would be experiencing exactly the same problem and I can tell you I was very disappointed the day after the ablation. I have had 1 episode of AF two years ago but the procedure this time was just for SVT. Good luck to you.

[Jupiter33]

Hi Tolkien, I also had an ablation at the Lancashire Cardiac Centre in March for AF. In the first 2 weeks i had intermittent AF but then the ablation kicked in and I have been in a normal sinus rhythm since. Hang on there as it can take up to 6 months to judge whether it was successful or not.

Before I was discharged i had chats with the EP and arrhythmia nurse, and was also given a fact sheet with information and who to contact if need be. Surprised you weren't given the same.

Hope everything resolves it self for you.