I have had AFib for many years now (a lot of those were drs not believing what was going on so no treatment. I’m in the uk) finally caught it on ecg in 2008 and had ablation which worked well for 4 years and then it came back. I am 36 and for the past year have been feeling awful everyday. Struggle with fatigue, weakness and generally feeling unwell. Docs have put this down to stress but I’m not convinced. I am under a lot of stress as my husband is on palliative care for bowel cancer and I have 4 children under the age of 11 so life is tough and busy but I felt like this before hubbys diagnosis but drs always use his diagnosis as to why I’m feeling this way and I have to explain that I felt this way before his diagnosis. Just feeling and struggling with daily life at the mo. Wanted to know if others feel the same everyday??
I am on bisoprolol.
Thank you for reading.
Lisa.
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Loobyloo34
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Has your thyroid been checked? Afib. and thyroid often go together. I was dragged down for years with an undiagnosed thyroid disorder.When it was, even partially sorted, i felt heaps better.
I feel so sad when I read of those, like me, who were unwell for years due to thyroid function. It's just not fair! I had a diagnosis of thyroid 40 years ago and was put on meds by hospital but when discharged g.p. couldn't accept that was the problem. So I endured decades of disbelief about my weight with rude comments from dr's like ' eat 1 cake instead of 2'. So last year a blood test proves it and I'm on tabs and feeling less tired. I hope you pick up a bit. You need all the strength you've got!
Bless you. It is so horrible when people don’t believe you. You actually start to question yourself and wonder if it is all in your head. So glad you are getting the help you need now. Thank you for your reply x
Yes it has but all the symptoms point to thyroid and I have read that it doesn’t always show in the blood work.? My mum has Graves’ disease from thyroid probs and that is hereditary. Will ask at my next appt next month. Thank you for your reply. Glad you are feeling brighter x😊
Ask to see the result of your blood/thyroid tests....you are entitled to have a copy.You may be borderline and some doctors do not accept that as medical evidence requiring Thyroxine /T4..... or as in my case I needed T3 and only recently have started to take T4. alongside of T3 medication.Tyroid treatment can be complicated and few GP's admit to not being very knowledgeable about treatment other than the basics.
Sub-clinical is a term used to describe someone who displays the symptoms of a disease but show levels within the ‘normal’ range on tests. The lab that supplies your thyroids test results should also supply a guide to the normal range of results and how they should be interpreted. If they don’t you can ask them for this.
Hi, I’m on 5mg daily but felt like this before starting on bisoprolol but really don’t think this has helped. I see my cardiologist next month so wondering if a pill change will help. Thank you for your reply 😊
I can`t really add to the thread except to agree about talking to your cardo about changing med`s.
It sounds like you have a lot on your plate at the moment. Could you maybe grab a weekend break somewhere nice. It can work wonders and maybe a relative could look after the kids. If your husband feels well enough I`m sure it would do you both good. I don`t know where you are located but Wales or the Lake District are very peaceful.
Good luck with everything. I hope you feel better soon.
Thank you for the reply Paul. A break would be amazing but hubbys treatment means that we are at the hospital 4 times a week every week which leaves him exhausted and ill for the rest of the week. I would feel guilty going away on my own but the thought it’s lovely 😊.
Sure Lisa - I understand. It`s not good traveling if you don`t feel well.
One final thought - what about booking one night for the 2 of you in a really nice hotel close to where you live ? No traveling involved and you get pampered a bit. Evening meal and a glass of wine sort of thing. If your hubby felt really poorly you could return home.
Hi Lisa, You have my sympathies. Looking after 4 children under 11 and a husband with cancer and then topped with AF is no mean feat . Life is not fair in your case and I so hope you have improvement soon. 10 Ginger cats has a very valid point. Have you had bloods done for TSH. If not I would suggest you do as thyroid problems can have an effect on your well being.
Thank you lizardo. It’s tough at times but carry on and keep smiling 😊 things would be so much easier if this problem was sorted though. I will ask at my next appointment and hopefully they will re do bloods and listen to my symptoms. It’s been going on for so long now. Thank you for your reply. Appreciate it.
Loobyloo you are dealing with layers of stress! Family ones are overwhelming .
Added to these you seem to have little support from your gp.
You are going to have to summon up strength to push for tests and advice. Book a double appointment with your go, make a list of your symptoms and worries and take a friend with you. Phone your cardiologist’s secretary and get your appointment brought forward.
In the meantime just pat yourself on the back and realise that you are a brilliant daughter, wife and mum.
Ahhhhh thank you so much. Lovely words. Yes the stress is overwhelming but I feel that I manage it well mentally but have no idea how it may be affecting me physically. My gp just seems to switch off when I start reeling off the symptoms and when I explain that this was happening before hubbys diagnosis. I will see if I can see another gp and do as you have said.
Loobyloos ever so often I read a post on here that puts our own cases of AF into perspective. Yours is one of those and I send you my very best wishes.
Where do you live? Is there an AF group there? None here in Cambridge.
Being a woman over a certain age is b annoying sometimes! We tend to get stereotyped!
Be forceful but do take a friend! You are entitled to 6 NHS sessions with a counsellor ( at your doctor’s Surgery) this could be a place to be listened to!
Hi, I’m in East Sussex. Not sure if there is one here but will defo look in to it. I’ve always been told that I’m too young for this and that as heart problems started at 18. They only listened when I collapsed 1 evening. That was a while back but they don’t seem to listen much better now lol. Thank you will look in to the sessions. Will give anything a go if it helps x
My daily struggles are similar to yours tired, brain fog, tinnitus buzzing like anything, lack of spontaneity, my diabetes is erratic, struggle to motivate when I'm up for an hour or so; just feel so down with it all.
It must be a tough time for you with 4 little ones running about and your hubby not in a great place all that I'm sure does have an effect on your wellbeing, but as it's ongoing makes it even more worry-some and it's about time these Doctors start listening to the patients; we're not stupid we know what is right with our body and mind and what is not right body and mind.
Probably because I believe it, but I feel the Dr's really don't give a huff anymore. People are becoming acutely more aware of their feelings and symptoms these-days and thanks to the explosion of the internet; not everything there is correct we know that, but mostly things are legit and when we are diligent in our research for things that we mean well and understand more about what's going on with ourselves I think most Dr's in general really dislike this which can reflect on their attitude towards the patient; they're not the only clever ones I'd say.
I think you have got the nail on the head there completely. I too fell like the drs (not all) just sweep what you are saying under the carpet and leave you to struggle and get on. Everyday I think “tomorrow is another day” and with hubby being so ill I just hide how I feel and struggle on as fell it’s not fair of me to go on about feeling ill when his prognosis is awful. Sorry to hear that you are having a rough time. Really feel for you and hope that things can improve soon 💖
You're right not all doctors are like this. But I know where your situation is at the moment I lost my wife of 25yrs to stage IV Cervical C, in January this year and that has devastated me and with my heart issues and that spark not being there makes it all more challenging to carry on with things. But I am eternally grateful, that if these are the experiences laid out for me and that I need to work through them then I have done my best. I wish you all the best and pray that your husband will get through these tough times for you and your loving family.
I’m am so sorry to hear your sad news about your wife. You totally understand the emotional struggle and stress that goes with caring for someone with cancer. I will and would do anything to help him. The prognosis is that he has 6months to a year life expectancy so we are making the most of life and taking each day as it comes. Doing your best is all you can do.😊
Many thanks. Treasure every moment with him and do as much together and as a family as often as you can and try to forgive all the pains and disagreements you guys may have or have not had, it lifts a lot from your heart, it certainly helped me with the process of my dearest wife/partner/best mate/soul mate/ after 25yrs together. My loving prayers always.
Or you could just be exhausted because you have one hell of alot on your plate! Children, hospitals, supporting your husband, who supports you?
You need some time to yourself if you can get it, to meditate, swim, read a book, whatever. Ask for help and there maybe more support than you expect. We are quick to label things with medical diagnosis but stress can be the most weating thing of all.
I take 10mg bisoprolol a day plus others, it slows me down, my theory is that it slows you down for a reason. So I plod on and never feel great and energetic but I am still here!
As luludean said take a friend and get a page a day diary. Write down your questions before you get there and write down the answers. Most doctors tend to react a bit more carefully if they can see recording their answers. Some don't like it, but smile sweetly and keep on recording. Most GP's are tripwires for the real specialists, they don't always have all the answers Try and Knock down your diabetes (type2?) as hard as you can - if you visit the diabetes web site they have a lot of recipe suggestions?
That is a tough situation you’re in and I sincerely wish you and the family well
Others have suggested thyroid and meds review and that’s a right and obvious place to start. You should also get your iron levels checked to make sure you’re not anaemic and maybe hormone levels, too. You’re young for the menopause but you never know. This next one is a bit left field but do you yawn a lot? I was complaining of tiredness, nausea and tingling sensation in fingers. The doc said ‘I think your breathing is disordered’. I saw a physio and within a few sessions I was so much better. Excessive yawning is a symptom of disordered breathing. Especially when I’m tired, too busy or spending a lot of time sitting at a desk I slip back in to those bad breathing patterns. However a few days of conscious belly breathing and I come right again. uhs.nhs.uk/Media/Controlled...
Just another idea to consider in unravelling what’s making you feel poorly
Make sure they test all 3 components of the thyroid and best done in the morning after fasting overnight. My wife has terrible thyroid problems and it is difficult to get drs. to really pay attention. They want to stay with in set parameters and do not pay attention to how the patient feels.
Oh I am so sorry to hear this Loobyloo. This is such a tough time for you! You are so young to be troubled with AF not to mention everything else. If your GP,s think it is stress contributing to your symptoms & I certainly find that stress can trigger my AF have they recommended any stress management type groups or treatments for you ie mindfulness, yoga, gyms etc? I appreciate however with 4 young children it’s very hard to get time for yourself. I do believe that we know our own bodies however but the stress will not be helping. I hope you have good friends & family around you .
How long have you been on the beta blocker ? (they end in 'lol'). I got my first flutter in early April and they gave me 50mg Metoprolol twice a day. Totally zombified; so after a week I went to 25mg (with doc's ok).. After 3 weeks I got cocky and tried to drop it ..tapering over 3 days instead of 6 weeks.. Result was BP 170 and two hours later, pulse 150 (flutter). Took the beta again and been fine since then (25mg twice)... This stuff is powerful to start and to stop... BP 128/80 pulse 61 (resting). I have THREE monitors... Bought an extra one to check on the first but then which of the 2 is correct ? lol.. So now I have 3... Airbus has 5 computers and flies on the majority vote... Shoveling trailer loads of top soil in the garden...no problem. Would like to get off the anti-coagulant too but the horrors stories are a worry.... Like oh you might have hidden afib.... Surely anyone might if it's hidden so is there any escape from anti-coag ?
There are meditation tapes you can do as you go to sleep if it is hard during the day to find the time. It relieves stress...No one mentioned diet but record what you eat and how it affects you. Diet is important and I can tell a big difference off salt and sugar...plant based and seafood really helped...Bisoprolol made a zombie out of me I had to lower the dose I just could not function on the full dose. We are all working at this and trying different things so good luck and I am sure you will post again and keep us updated.
I was.on Bisoprolol for many years and it was this that was causing my problems and I eventually convinced my cardiologist to change meds. I was switched to Verapamil and immediately felt better and still do.
I’m in the US and we have had the best healthcare system in the world. Politicians here are trying to ruin it by going to socialized medicine. Here in the US you can pick up the phone make an appointment and be there the next day. I read all the post and I feel badly that all of you have to wait so long to see someone when you’re feeling so badly. It’s unconscionable to see some of you wait 2 to 4 months to see someone and then need to talk to an arrhythmia nurse instead of your physician. God bless all of you
I am so sorry you are dealing with all of these things in your life at such a young age not that it’s OK at any age. I will be thinking of you and praying that you stay strong and stay well and that you are somehow able to handle all that is in front of you. Have you inquired about having another ablation or is that just not in the cards right now because of all that’s going on with you and your family
That's miserable. Have you tried a different tablet? I found bisoprolol made me very tired and did awful things to my concentration. This would not solve all your problems but may help.
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