Post ablation update

[Ochg]

Hello everyone,

I do hope you are all keeping well and managing to enjoy the nice weather while it lasts!

I am now in week 14 following my second ablation, fingers crossed seem to be progressing well. However, I am really getting concerned regarding the ongoing breathlessness, legs that feel like lead weights and heightened anxiety.

Thankfully I am now able to manage my daily walks, mostly on the flat but have now added a couple of steep inclines. This increases the breathlessness, but it will lessen after a few little stops! My HR is good, 60-68 at rest up to 90 when walking. BP 108/60 -120/70 . So this all seems to be going in the right direction BUT. I am now waking very early (4am), and feeling very panicky and anxious. No heart issues, all seems normal on that front but just do not know why I am feeling anxious, it can also come on out of the blue throughout the day. I was wondering if these symptoms could be related to Bisoprolol?

I have been taking 1.25 Bisoprolol daily as prescribed by the medics since my last ablation (21 Dec 2020), along with Edoxaban. I appreciate you cannot offer medial advice but was wondering if anyone else has had these kind of issues whilst taking Bisoprolol?

My three month follow up review is now due but not sure when it will actually take place. Will send an email to EP secretary next week to try and find out.

Trying really hard not to stress about it all but of course that is easier said than done! Feel as if I am in a bit of a circle . Waking early feeling panicky then getting all stressed about it !!

I would really appreciate any advice you may be able to offer me, thank you.

Shirley

[CDreamer]

Hi - sounds like you are doing well, apart from the anxiety, the sleep issue and the breathlessness but that’s not too surprising on Bisoprolol. Biso also interferes with Adrenaline so theoretically it should block anxiety but the reality is often very different and I couldn’t tolerate it at all. Add weight gain and brain fog to the symptoms you described above and very jittery. Can you talk to your doctor about coming off the Bisoprolol completely and see how you go? You may need to titrate down and withdraw very, very slowly as some experience withdrawal symptoms with increased anxiety.

Be careful that the sleep issue doesn’t become a habit so it would be good to get to the bottom of what is causing that. Sleep is your best friends so interrupted sleep shouldn’t be ignored.

Certainly look at improving vagal tone and look at stress management - anything that works for you but start by focussing on breathing so when you wake up at 4.00a.m don’t just lie there - get up and do something positive and do some Long, Slow, Deep breathing exercises. Write whatever is going through your mind down, then when your sleep drive kicks in again go back to bed.

You might also like to look at PlanetaryKim’s post on the book the AF Cure, post after yours. Being proactive is so important and if your GP knows that you are, hopefully they will support you to their best ability.

[Ochg in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you for your advice and very informative reply. Unfortunately my GP won’t do anything without input from my EP so will need to try and have a conversation with my EP.The disturbed sleep has been going on for a while now, also having night hot flushes ( age thing there I think), but will definitely try what you have suggested. Thank you again for your support, advice and kindness it has been a great comfort, must admit the issues I described were really getting to me, but now I have a way forward, thank you.

Will let you know how things pan out.

Take care,

Shirley

[The_Lord_is_with_Us]

Cursory search led me to this statement:

Stress and anxiety is found among people who take Bisoprolol fumarate, especially for people who are female, 60+ old, have been taking the drug for 1 - 6 months.

[CDreamer in reply to The_Lord_is_with_Us]

When I was still practising as a psychotherapist it’s a one of the first questions I asked and a surprisingly high percentage of women were prescribed Biso for panic attacks and as their anxiety increased referred. Mmmm.

[Ochg in reply to The_Lord_is_with_Us]

Thank you for your reply, will be looking to come off this medication as soon as I can make contact with my EP who undertook my ablation. Fingers crossed, once I can manage to reduce and finally stop taking this med I will start to feel better.Thank you again for your support,

Take care,

Shirley