Atrial Flutter.

[ETHEL103]

Hi everyone I'm new on here and so pleased I have found this group. An ecg on Wed showed atrial flutter and I'm very anxious about it . I have been prescribed Bisoprolol and my heart rate is now less than 50 . Before I was diagnosed my heart rate was normal then on a couple of occasions rose to 140 where it stayed. My question is how do I stop checking my pulse all the time , its driving me mad?

[BobD Volunteer]

I share your concern,. It is very normal to do what your are doing at this stage and all too easy to become fixed into this habit but I urge you to find ways to distract or it will take over your life.

[Finvola]

Hello Ethel and welcome to our forum. We all understand exactly what you are talking about - at diagnosis I certainly checked my pulse constantly and worried equally constantly. Both actions certain to raise pulse levels and anxiety levels.

It's a matter of information, having trust in your docs and knowing that the condition is being managed. Best thing to do is find out all you can about arrhythmias and their treatment - the AFA welbsite is full of info and downloadable leaflets at heartrhythmalliance.org/afa.

Have you been referred to a cardiologist? I would advise you to read up on anticoagulation, ablation - especially for atrial flutter and drug therapy so that you can be ready to ask questions and discuss a treatment plan.

Any questions at all - just ask, someone will be around to help.

[ETHEL103 in reply to Finvola]

Thankyou. I have been started on beta blockers but as hospitals are overrun with covid, doubt I will get to see a cardiologist let alone an ablation.

[Palpman]

When I was first diagnosed with AFlutter I placed a rubber band on my wrist and everytime I reached to take my HB I would simply snap on the band instead.

[Diver2]

I checked mine a lot in the beginning and the Doctor told me that he wanted in down to 50 because the flutters and Afib actually react in the heart as a faster hearybeat

[jondeanp]

I would try and contact your GP at least due to your HR being in the 40’s. what dose of Bisoprolol are you on?

My normal resting HR is only mid 50’s. I was prescribed 2.5mg and my HR when in AF was mid 40’s which I queried. It’s been a while now, I don’t think it affected me, it was more my awareness of my normal HR that made me question it.

I was prescribed 1.25mg which kept me in the 50’s

[ETHEL103 in reply to jondeanp]

Hi I'm on 1.25 and my low heart rate and low blood pressure really freaked me out. I have developed a bit of a wierd buzzy feeling around my left rib especially noticeable in bed. I lie awake thinking is the Atrial flutter fluttering or is it something else. Heart rate in the 40's at night.

[Shrek1974]

Hello Ethel103, In Sept after 18months diagnosed & my most recent medication change, my heart just blips under 50bpm at rest quite regularly. I mentioned my concerns to my cardiologist & he replied that that is fine as long as I wasn’t experiencing any issues with it. I’m very used to seeing low numbers now on my Kardia device and they no longer concern me, I only take notice of the rhythm & form which appear fine at that level. Of course relaxation and ridding yourself of anxieties over this can be key to not feeling uncomfortable about it.

Hopefully you’ll find some reassurance on this site and with your GP or Cardiologist, I can honestly say that the more I’ve read on here & found my hearts’ habits & patterns - the more I’m relaxed about it all (even when it kicks off a bit & tries to worry me).

My old school reports give clue to my management of the mental side - “easily distracted” was a common thread & now, for the first time I’m quite thankful of such a “skill”.

Stay safe, distracted & strong. 💪

Steve

[secondtry]

If I was you I would pay privately for a prompt remote cardiologist consultation to be reassured and discuss drug options.

[Ppiman]

If you search my posts on this forum from about April 2019, you'll be able to read my own experiences with atrial flutter, the symptoms I had and the progress of treatment from drugs to, eventually, a successful ablation.

Did your doctor tell you that your atrial flutter was "persistent" (i.e. never goes away) or "paroxysmal" (i.e. comes and goes)? I was told that of the two main arrhythmias, atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, the second is much less common but much more difficult to live with and treat with drugs. My elderly friend, for example, has had persistent atrial fibrillation for very many years but has a normal heart rate and hardly knows he has fibrillation. When I had atrial flutter, I very easily developed an over-fast heart rate and I felt pretty terrible, not least very anxious. Eventually a combination of bisoprolol (5mg but variable) and digoxin (125mcg) kept my heart rate down, but often brought my blood pressure down too low, also, leaving me light-headed and feeling weak.

I understand that the arrythmia itself isn't harmful to the heart, only the tachycardia (i.e. a heart rate persistently over 100bpm). I was planned to be given an electrical cardioversion but, in the end, was able to have an ablation procedure and that solved it. I still have bouts of high heart rate that makes me feel lacking any energy, but the flutter is a thing of the past.

Steve

[Hidden]

Hi I was the same every day would check my pulse and having anxiety it didn't help that was 2years ago now I'm good do meditation and just dont thing about I'm on what you are on its heard but works for me

[goldey]

I had 4 cardiac arrests back in 2018, where my heart stopped completely. Fortunately I was in the ER at the time. They inserted a pacemaker/icd, and it is SO COMFORTING knowing that it is there. If I drop below 50, it gives my heart a little kick and everything is just fine. I never have to worry about it stopping again. You might consider this. The peace of mind is wonderful.

[Karendeena]

Hi there, I'm afraid I'm the same so you are not alone my friend. I was taken into A &E twice last year a month apart when I was diagnosed with atrial flutter (heart rate of 170 bpm) Since then I have developed atrial fibrillation which I am told is expected progression . This to me us just as bad and I am now under an EP . My heart flutters are becoming more frequent and I keep checking which is making things worse

[ETHEL103 in reply to Karendeena]

It's just awful isn't it. I think what worries me most is the fact that hospitals are so full of covid patients what does that mean for cardiac patients. Thankyou for your reply. It's comforting to know I'm not alone as we are all so isolated at the moment for the foreseeable.

[Karendeena in reply to ETHEL103]

If it's any comfort to you, my EP (who is a top Professor) told me that if my af starts and goes fast or slow and irregular, I should stay out of A & E and sit it out unless I feel particularly unwell (dizzy, fainting, out of breath etc). Normally I will eventually return to NSR, scary and can go on for up to 36 hours but have got a little more confident since he told me the condition itself is not life threatening and because I am on blood thinners and meds it's likely they wouldn't do anything anyway just monitor me and then send me home x

[ETHEL103]

Thankyou for your rely.