For the last few months I had been doing so well. Taking the tablets, brisk 30 minutes walk a day. Last few weeks out of breath even putting my socks on. AF after a saunter!
Yesterday had ECG, echocardiogram, all the tests. Everything perfect! Pulse rate now 40-50 resting but just can’t think of any other reason.
Waiting to hear from specialist registrar. Any ideas please.
Di
Go barefoot for a while?
In all seriousness.... I wish I had a more practical word of advice for you. There's nothing more frustrating than missing a true snapshot of an episode to give to a professional....
How are you these days?
Doing good thanks! 2 years+ since that very involved 5th ablation. Only three or four episodes in that time (one was pretty close to it) which resolved in 20-30 hours after a high dose of flecanide and some bisoprolol. During the episodes I could at least do stairs, and dress myself without feeling like I was about to hit the floor in a heap. I didn't go to work when in AF though, given the nature of everything.
Come through an incredibly tough year on the front line with the AF which is a big plus even with the stress and exertion of it all.
You are certainly to be admired coping with everything!
It’s the being permanently breathless that gets me.
Hylda, are you taking beta blockers?
Only 1.25 of Nebivolol. Have been for years.
It does rather look like your heart rate is a little on the low side and I wonder if this is caused by your Nebivol. I would have a chat with your GP, perhaps ask if you could take the dose to 1mg and see how you are then.
Jean
GP would just refer me back to hospital. Admits he knows nothing about heart. Arrhythmia nurse didn’t want to fiddle with it yesterday.
No support for you medic wise is there! It must be horrible for you feeling so breathless. I'm surprised your AF nurse couldn't advise. Mine was always increasing and decreasing my dose in order to find what best suited me. Would it be an idea to pay privately to see your EP asap?
Welcome to my world.
My wife pointed out to me that I breath through my mouth all the time and mostly hyperventilate. I also hold my breath a lot especially when concentrating. I expect all the years of AF and other arrhthmias gave me bad habbits so now I make a concious effort to slow my breathing and control it.
I met Jonathan Pitts Crick (a top EP ) at HRC a few years ago who was telling me that he was doing research into breathlessness and for the most part it was poor breathing technique so there may be something in this. Haven't seen him for a while so never got to hear the results of his research. He does pop in here occasionally so may respond.
Think you could be onto something there. Wake a couple of times in the night with my tongue stuck to the inside of my mouth. Then have to make a conscious effort to remoisten and try and keep mouth closed
Looked at his site. Might have something there with fluid overload. Have been put on 3 diuretics since I looked 8 months pregnant and sounded like a hot water bottle walking down the road! 🙄🤣
You could be right Bob. When I'm in hospital, they have to switch the monitoring off as my respiration rate drops below 12 / minute and sets of the alarm. If I do that at home, my body goes into panic mode and I breathe hard to get it back to normal. My normal SpO2 is 98 to 100%.
Hi, Reading your bio I noticed you are taking a beta blocker which could cause your abnormally low heart rate. Congestive Heart Failure would need to be ruled out and a Chest Xray would be necessary. The Echocardiogram and ECG may not show this. Do you know your pO2? A pulse oximinator would tell you this and could be used anytime . It would be especially important when you are feeling acutely SOB. That would be available on Amazon and in the USA costs about $30. Your potassium should be checked as you are on numerous meds that can affect this.A complete lab workup would be indicated, including CBC, Urinalysis, BUN and creatinine. Thyroid function studies would be indicated. Further studies would depend on all these results.
I'm sorry you are feeling so poorly and hope yor docs get to the bottom of this quickly. 🤔 etheral
Thank you. Have an under active thyroid TSH 0.02, T4 well over range. Not going to get T3!
Too much thyroxine?
Poor conversion!
Did they check your blood oxygen (SpO2) at the same time as the ECG? You mention being breathless putting your socks on: have you done a tilt table test, or had your blood pressure and pulse checked between sitting and standing?
I just had a brief appointment with my Arrythmia nurse. Am waiting for call from specialist registrar who wants to carry out more tests.
Your thoughts/experiences please about a change to a high dose of Sotalol (120mg twice a day).
Thoughts?
An interesting thought
Thoughts on Magnesium? 
Thought it was menopause
