This is an update from my previous post regarding the afib episode I had tuesday , I was originally prescribed 1.25mg Bisoprolol to take as a PIP but Tuesday episode was very different with shooting pain in between my shoulder blades, I had an ECG showed no abnormalities so paramedic said highly unlikely to be a heart attack called gp repeatedly they eventually called me back today I explained I was diagnosed 3 years ago with PAF and was put on the waiting list to see a cardiologist at which point she told me actually that never took place I'm afraid you have wasted 7 months and you have not been referred although I see a gp did say you needed to be but more as an opinion than a referral. I was devastated to be honest as the waiting list is 12 months in Cornwall, she said due to their mistake and from the fact my symptoms are progressing she increased my dose of bisoprolol from 1.25mg to 2.05 mg and also a prescription for the spray under my tongue as she thinks the crushing feeling I get could be angina 🤫 she told me to go private so I rang the medical secretary and she said it will be at least September before I see him obviously due to covid_19 ... my gp has also referred me to have a echocardiogram and I'm guessing that will be sept/Oct time . I'm just confused where the angina thing came from iv not had any physical examination just a phone call and need to know will the increase effect my thyroid meds and when is the best time to take the Bisoprolol as iv never taken it daily before ... thanks in advance
Written by
Jodiedebs55
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I take my Bisoprolol at night so side effects don't mess up the day, made me to tired when I took it in the morning. I was also taking my thyroid meds at night but have recently changed back to morning, just tweaking things to see what suits me best.
I wonder, will your referral be to a Cardiologist or an Electrophysiologist (a rhythm expert)?
I take my bisoprolol at night, mainly because my AF often starts during sleep.
Glad to hear your ekg was normal. That is comforting. Sometimes shooting back, shoulderblade pain can be a gallbladder issue. If you arent already, try a low fat , high fiber diet to see if the pain gets less frequent. Are you having any abdominal tenderness, bloating of nausea?
Hi actually yes I am but I'm 100% gluten free no processed or junk food mainly farm bred meat and organic farm veg and fruit , my tummy is very tender I'm wondering whether I should be taking the spray under the tongue I think it's a random guess of angina iv never actually been assessed or diagnosed, I do have hashimoto's autoimmune disease and hypothyroidism this messes with my metabolism a lot and effects my organs too
It's funny you say about gallbladder I just looked it up and that is EXACTLY the pain I feel in between my shoulder blades and as my ECG is clear the gallbladder theory could be right ? I very much doubt I have angina and don't really see how she could diagnose that over the phone in a 2 minute convo
Ahhh really ? That's reassuring I thought my time was up ot was that excruciating. Thanks for this I'm feeling less anxious which obviously wasn't helping
Hi yes it was horrendous I couldn't inhale I felt nauseous but it lasted literally a few minutes then afib followed, just literally got off the phone to gp hes referred me for a scan to check gallbladder
She couldn't. You have been treated in a very unsatisfactory manner especially with the non referral. The mistake should be rectified by putting you on the waiting list where you would have been had they not cocked up. Telling you to go private is a disgrace.
The referred pain in the back from a dodgy gall bladder is often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. Do you get pain in the right upper abdomen? If you poke there under the ribs ( look up a diagram of adominal organs to see where gall bladder is situated) and it feels tender it probably is your gall bladder. But sometimes the pain is not typical. This happened to my sister - she felt the pain on the left rather than the right and her doctor thought "heart" . If the pain becomes very bad and / or continuous you need to get to A&E covid or not as if the gall bladder is infected you will need antibiotics.
Oh that is good news. You could try chewing dandelion leaves to see if that relieves the discomfort. I have used this when I have had gall bladder tenderness.
Even the raised dose is very very small so unlikely to be to much of a problem. I think you have found out the hard way that one needs to be pro-active with one's health and if something isn't happening then go bang some desks and rattle cages.
Really glad you chased this up - it’s not uncommon - similar happened to me but my GP then raised merry hell & I got an appointment through quite quickly - but that was quite some years ago now - 2007.
Bisoprolol. I have taken up to 15 mg with no side-effects. I guess I am lucky. I was very reluctant to take even 5.0 mg when my heart rate went down to 45 bpm. Then I got to thinking: "that consultant has seen 100s of patients, if he says I don't worry when my patients have a 45-55 rate" then I shouldn't worry either. He said his biggest fear is that a-fib would cause a clot, and give me a heart attack, to stop this he was very keen that I took the novel anticoagulant Apixaban.
Just spoke to gp I don't qualify for anticoagulant it's based on a score system and I score 1 so he said theres no need for them . But has referred me for a scan of my gallbladder
Hi. As others have said it does sound like gallstones pain, which imo is the worst pain I have ever suffered (and that includes childbirth). I was due to have my gall bladder removed next month but this had now been postponed. I had the pre op screening a few days before lockdown.
The best advice I can give for managing it is to avoid any food containing fat. This includes all fried food, bacon, cream, cheese, chocolate, full fat milk and yogurt, mayo etc. I'm sure there are more but if this is your problem you will soon find out (very painfully) what to avoid until you can get treatment. Its quite restrictive but a very healthy diet.
I had some salmon for my dinner last night which is sometimes ok but I'm sure it depends on what else I have had during the day. I had just a salad and low fat coleslaw with it. I dont usually have the coleslaw but my son who is shopping for me at the moment bought it for me. I woke with pain and nausea at about 1am. It always comes 6-7 hours after eating something that triggers it. I took 2 paracetamol and an anti nausea tablet which i have prescribed and just laid on my right side which helps me. Sometimes I find that a hot water bottle to the right side helps but it was too warm last night for that. I finally fell asleep for a few hours and this morning the nausea and severe pain have gone but the area still feels tender. I will definatly avoid coleslaw from now on and be extra careful with what I eat over the next few days and weeks.
It's probably worth mentioning it to your gp if you get a telephone appointment again and maybe get prescribed anti nausea meds if you don't already take them.
Thanks so much I'm booked in for a scan of my gallbladder and just ordered dandelion tea bags and I drink apple cider vinegar daily and lemon water I'm strictly gluten free as I have autoimmune disease and hashimoto's thyroiditis so lots of digestive problems, I don't eat any processed food or much dairy but I do love a dollop of butter on my gluten free cracker so I'm gutted about that but rather go without than experience that pain again, its such a worry as my son has life limited illnesses and I'm his full time carer so hes only got me and that episode the other day left me feeling so terribly anxious because I don't know what would happen if he didn't have me . That's my biggest fear
It’s a shame that the communication between the GP and yourself has not been great, you are right in that all ‘non’ essential referrals are being put back, but you do need to be persistent as it is important.
I asked my cardiologist about the Bisoprolol reducing my heart rate too much, he said no, it does. It work like that, but you do need to know the maximum amount you can safely take.
For info, after having an ablation last year, I had a series of AFib & Bigeminy episodes, I was told by my cardiologist the maximum Bisoprolol I could go to safely, so I started on 5mg (I can go to 10) and this along with a daily Flecainide dose stopped both AFib and Bigeminy within 2 days.
That was in December 2019, I have since reduced the Bisoprolol every 4 weeks from 5 > 3.75 > 2.50 > 1.25.... still no episodes, so am staying at this level for now.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Ectopics/Possible Afib
Long episode of AFib
AF and AFL
My first AFib episode since diagnosis 
AFib episode this morning 
