Lockdown , Alcohol equals A Fib - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Lockdown , Alcohol equals A Fib

01maxdog profile image
19 Replies

My second ablation was 1 1/2 years ago , and I felt great until 2 weeks ago . Thanks to my Apple Watch I know exactly when my heart popped out of NSR . I’m back in persistent 135 bpm all day every day . Boy - is it tiring ! Breathless climbing stairs , bloated stomach, listless, little sleep. I’m back on 125mg of digoxin along with the 10mg bisoprolol , beta blocker and rivaroxaban. I blame it on the glasses of wine I have consumed since Christmas and the rubbish diet , lack of exercise hasn’t helped . I’m on my own and found this lockdown hard . Now I am suffering even more, I’m waiting for an appointment from my cardiologist so not sure what my options are , at 66 maybe a cardio version. But it was my own fault . So anyone thinking of of downing the champagne this Valentines- don’t , stick to the chocolate !

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01maxdog
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19 Replies
Guitar335 profile image
Guitar335

Have u been to A&E?I was in AF persistent 132 at Xmas and they were concerned after 20 hours

I agree regarding the alcohol. Definitely a factor for me

01maxdog profile image
01maxdog in reply toGuitar335

No, I knew straightaway that I should go back onto digoxin and call the GP, trying to avoid hospitals at all costs

Peony4575 profile image
Peony4575

So sorry you are having such problems . And everything is worse when you are on your own . Can I ask how much wine you were drinking ?

01maxdog profile image
01maxdog in reply toPeony4575

To be really honest , a couple of bottles over a weekend

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

Sounds like you have had a very hard time of it and unfortunately knowing what you did wrong doesn’t help you do things right. Start over by stopping beating yourself up about it as you are where you are.

However, it’s now down to your choices of how you change your behaviours of where you could be and ditching the alcohol and eating well and taking a little exercise will help, I promise it will help you feel better about yourself and then give yourself credit and appreciation of what you have achieved.

To be honest, chocolate can be as bad as alcohol.

Best wishes

01maxdog profile image
01maxdog in reply toCDreamer

Yes, I don't even like chocolate !

CDreamer profile image
CDreamer

PS - are you taking Bisoprolol & 10mg is a high dose (which is a beta-blocker) + beta blocker + Digoxin?

The affects of the drugs alone may account for a lot of your SOB and other symptoms. When was the last time you had a review of your meds and spoke to a cardiologist?

01maxdog profile image
01maxdog in reply toCDreamer

been on 10 mg Bisop for years now with no problems, and 20mg Atorvastatin. Saw a cardio last Nov , all was well, just had bloods taken , apparently I have a slightly higher than average Thyroid, they call it hyper these days !

Tryfan profile image
Tryfan

I'd follow Guitar"s advice. Being in constant AFib has its issues as you are experiencing. A&E is the place I would go. You have taken the meds prescribed with no effect. Time for the hospital to take over your care. Best wishes.

01maxdog profile image
01maxdog in reply toTryfan

The digoxin has been raised to 250 and I've been on 10 of bishoprolol for 5 years plus now, I've been in persistent A Fib since 2013, except for the 2 ablations of 1 1/2 years relief

Beeflower profile image
Beeflower

Thanks for that

Buffafly profile image
Buffafly

If it’s any comfort I know that my ablation officially’failed’ after just under two years so maybe the indulgence didn’t make too much difference. Hope you get back to NSR soon 💜

gentlefawn profile image
gentlefawn

Hi ,sorry to hear you are not feeling well , I am answering to the statement in your last post ( champagne and chocolate ) don't touch either of them they will give you palpitations .

Tapanac profile image
Tapanac

Hello John, how did you feel ill on flecainide? I have been on it for about 5 days and although it has done wonders for putting my heart back in rhythm and for the tachycardia, I can't sleep (59 minutes night before last and about an hour last night), and so (pardon me for being too much information) so constipated, and I can't put my finger on it, but don't feel full of beans like I would when back in rhythm. I was on it about 3 years ago for about 5-6 months and found it a miracle pill, but not sure now I'm on a regime of others with it.

Tapanac profile image
Tapanac

Sorry to keep asking questions, but were you put on flecainide because of afib and tachycardia? My pulse heart rate kept going up and up from 168-240. I still don't feel right, but at least back to a normal pulse with flecainide, but had to stop the bisoprolol and losartan temporarily because of the low BP.

Tapanac profile image
Tapanac

Thank you but with this pandemic my appointments with the hospital are very muddled, but I will get on to my GP who is very helpful. Stay well

cuore profile image
cuore

How did you get "back on 125mg of digoxin along with the 10mg bisoprolol , beta blocker ?" if you are waiting for an appointment from your cardiologist? You area now persistent for two week? Can you not go to A &E rather than waiting for when a cardiologist will get back to you? I was told that the remodelling of the heart is done in the period before the first ablation, so since you have had two ablations, the remodelling doesn't come too much into the forefront.

Is it Europe or in the States that Digoxin is no longer prescribed, so why suddenly Digoxin, especially since you were in sinus for 1 1/2 years? Let us know how you get along.

01maxdog profile image
01maxdog in reply tocuore

I really want to avoid hospitals for obvious reasons, I put myself on the 125 of digoxin as that is what I was on before my second ablation , as it was a weekend , then called my doc, nightmare trying to get a phone consultation, but he was ok with that dose and called me in for blood test and ECG. Been on 10mg of Bisop for years with no problems, have been in persistent Afib since 2013 apart from 2 ablations, 1 1/2 years free each. Now on 250mg Digoxin and going in for another ECG next week. As for the cardiologist , just have to wait for an appointment. Only on digoxin when I'm out of NSR, works for me........so far

01maxdog profile image
01maxdog

Flecanide didn't seem to do anything for me , and a couple of bottles of wine a week, diet wise, not junk food, just eating more frequently, grazing I suppose, not much else to do.

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