Feeling like “the old me”

[Kaz747]

Well I was .... I had been feeling great. Last week I flew across the country for a work dinner (fabulous gala event with delicious food and dancing) and an overnight stay. Then quite a busy weekend with a concert Friday, dinner out on Saturday and Sunday lunch with friends.

I had a bit of a headache and wasn’t feeling quite right on Tuesday at work. Around the time I was due to take my night tablets my heart decided to go tachy. I took a full tablet (Atenolol) rather than the usual half but for 30-45 minutes my heart fluctuated between sinus rhythm and racing between 130-160 bpm.

I took a couple of readings with my Kardia and emailed them Wednesday to my EP who confirmed it was atrial tachycardia (no AF) and told me to take a full tablet for a couple of days. I’m very grateful he is available whenever I need any advice - I can call or email him anytime.

Today I took my mum to a medical appointment and out for lunch. I had planned to do some work this afternoon but was too exhausted so had a sleep instead. I’m assuming the extra beta blocker added to the tiredness and my busy week caught up with me.

It’s frustrating as I’m only 55 and I’m not ready to slow down too much just yet (I’ve gone from full time work to a 3 day week).

So 8 months post ablation, I think I’ll be staying on beta blockers. I know many people have an ablation, get off drugs and get on with their lives but I think I’ll be on drugs and under the care of a cardiologist/EP for the rest of my life. Still, it could be worse 😉

As everyone says, I’ll have to listen to my body and rest when needed (and have to stop feeling guilty and lazy). I have a lot of living to do and I’m trying to learn how to pace myself.

[CDreamer]

Sometimes it's a never ending journey......hope you feel better soon.

[Kaz747 in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks CD - I’m feeling pretty good now after my nap 😴

[Angie06]

Oh Kaz, that's so disheartening for you but at least you had the high of your award weekend away and I guess there's always a price to pay. Really hope you feel better soon and maybe slow down a tad as these things always take time. Its better to do more, slowly than less, quickly , ( that's my motto and I'm sticking to it!) 😀xx

[Kaz747 in reply to Angie06]

Great motto Angie x😀

[Surreychica_1 in reply to Angie06]

I'll drink to that

[KazDD in reply to Angie06]

Must remember that motto 😄👍

[Angie06 in reply to KazDD]

Are trying to do too much quickly again Kaz! 😲

[jeanjeannie50]

Sorry to hear this news of yours Kaz. Lets hope it's just a one off blip and the tablets will prevent it happening again. It's true what you say and there are a lot of worse things we could have.

Wishing you well.

Jean x

[Kaz747 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean x

[irene75359]

What a worrying episode after all you have been through. Rest up and be kind to yourself, Kaz.

[Kaz747 in reply to irene75359]

Thanks Irene x

[Hidden]

Hiya Kaz,

Been following your posts even though I don't comment. However, this time, you wild party gal you, I must say I was sorry to read of your latest escapade ........... mind you, flyin across to the Eastern States (which is where I guess you went) you gotta be looking at a 3 and half hour flight with tail winds and maybe 5 and half hour if you had head winds. Geeeeze, in Pommie terms that would put us somewhere between a third and half way to Hong Kong from Heathrow.

Then you go out partying ..........but hey Kaz ... you done the hard yards, don't go and bugger it up, take the time to smell the roses or the frangipani and take in and enjoy the views that you have shown on here with your photos. That waterfront view gets me

Hope you are soon feeling your old vibrant self again.

John

[Kaz747 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks John - yeah 4 hours there and 4 1/2 hours back and both flights within 24 hours 😃

I’ve been working from home today and about to go out for a walk by the water - I haven’t moved enough today. I am planning on a quiet, relaxing weekend.

[Auriculaire]

Feeling guilty and lazy if we are not busying about has been brainwashed into many of us ( especially women!). At 67 I find it hard to have a day doing nothing but lazing around. Cooking and washing up do not do themselves. Even if we go out for lunch we often combine that with food shopping ( I 'm not keen on supermarkets) to save making another trip and wasting petrol. I have just done 3 days running of slightly heavier than normal work in the garden - only about 2/3 hours each day- and I ache all over. But the pleasure from the sense of achievement helps to offset it! I am getting better at slowing down but at 55 I would have really resented it. Never feel guilty about a nap- they do you good.

[Kaz747 in reply to Auriculaire]

Yeah, I think I wouldn’t mind as much if I was older but I’m supposed to be in the prime of my life 😃

[Cat04]

Sorry you are having a blip. My GP put me back on beta blockers Bisoprolol, as my heart rate was running too high and making me feel rotten. Have a 5 day Holter next month and due another echo soon so hopefully get some answers from my cardiologist/ EP.

Be kind to yourself (but glad you had a rave weekend!)

[Kaz747 in reply to Cat04]

Thanks. I hope you get some answers too x

[Ianc2]

Hi Kaz

Do you have an exercise recorder? (Apple watch /fitbit or similar) It is very possible to a have lots of activity/stress etc, be very busy, and yet have no continuous exercise, nothing to get the heart pumping just a bit harder for a period of time, get the blood flowing and stop all the stop start excitement. Worth a try?

[Kaz747 in reply to Ianc2]

Yes I have a Fitbit and make sure I meet my step and exercise goals(and eat well, drink lots of water, avoid alcohol and caffeine, sleep well, relax and meditate). Having been diagnosed with multiple arrhythmias over the last 3 years I’m used to my heart doing crazy things. On Tuesday it felt like someone was sitting at the start line in a race car with their foot on the accelerator- revving it up, taking their foot off the peddle then revving it up again 🏎😀

[Ianc2]

No easy answers then. Have you thought of having an implantable loop recorder put in to catch what is going on? Having said that I find the flying process a bit of a pain as it tends to totally disrupt my eating/drinking/moving patterns, lots of rushing round with virtually no exercise. I hope everything is settling down for you now and you are back up and running well.

[Kaz747 in reply to Ianc2]

Yep feeling good now. I think I may end up with a loop recorder eventually. We have a big trip to Europe next year so I’m hoping I’ll be fighting fit for that.

[Ianc2]

I fly to Spain quite regularly. I used to get up about 2am, drive through the night, get caught by road repairs/closures/detours, park the car, catch airport bus, and once arrived with minutes to spare as in last one to board.

Now I travel the night before, stay in a hotel on the airport, have a reasonably leisurely breakfast and stroll across to departures. The cost of the hotel is balanced by the savings on parking charges and I arrive at my destination feeling much fresher. All part of life's rich pattern.

[Kaz747 in reply to Ianc2]

I agree - I no longer take the red eye flights. If I’m traveling long haul I’ll try and arrive at our destination late afternoon or evening so we can go to bed and get into the right routine as soon as possible.