Feel weak and lightheaded

[skipthebeat]

Hi , I started an afib attack 8 days ago and was in hospital for 4 days while the doctors tried to lower my heart rate. I'm now on 10mg of Bisoprolol and 125mg of Digoxin.

I have felt not too bad today until teatime when I felt really weak and dizzy. This is the first time I've had an episode of Afib last longer than a few hours and had to start taking medication.

Can anyone tell me if my symptoms are usual please?

[CDreamer]

Hi and sorry you are suffering. I don’t think anything is usual with AF as we all react differently but weakness, fatigue and feeling light headed are not uncommon symptoms when in AF,

Trouble is that they are also affects of the medication so really hard to tell what is the cause.

If the symptoms persist for some time then I would go back to see your doctor. It normally takes about 2 weeks for your body to get used to the meds.

Hope that helps.

[skipthebeat in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for this. Hopefully it is just getting used to the medication. I think anxiety may be adding to my symptoms too. I see the arrhythmia nurse on Friday. Thanks again.

[CDreamer in reply to skipthebeat]

Great - sounds like you are in the system.

Anxiety certainly exacerbates everything. May I suggest looking at some breathing/relaxation techniques? Here are a selection but mainly breath Long, Slow & Deep into belly. Ideal is 5-6 secs in, out.

drchatterjee.com/5-breathin...

It’s really hard at the start of your journey because so many unknowns but know this - we have all been where you are now and get just how scary all this stuff is but also know that you can live well if you manage AF well. Lifestyle changes in addition to medication, really help & by that I mean:- Manage Stress, Get enough quality Sleep, Eat well - lots of plant based foods and do some moderate exercise and learn how to breath well.

Best wishes CD

[skipthebeat in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you so much. It really helps to know im not alone.

[TracyAdmin Partner]

I'm sorry to hear that - if you would like any support or advice, please visit the A F Association patient resources or contact the Patient Services Team heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

[skipthebeat in reply to TracyAdmin]

Thank you!

[skipthebeat]

Im thinking that's what it could be. Its just all so scary when you don't know. Thanks for replying.

[KMRobbo]

Hi, I had Afib from Sept 2015. Initially for 20 months I could/ would self convert although I had overnights in hospital 4 times. Unfortunately my AFib progressed and i would not convert and ended up in hospital for 5 days and I was at 130 to 195bpm lying down. I was OK in as much as I was asymtomatic even at those rates but was getting tired after 8 days of this high rate! I was eventually cardioveted by flecainide infusion in the Coronary care unit. I then had to take daily Flecainide as a rhythm control drug, as it was clear it was getting increasingly difficult to get me out of AFib ( and Afib begets Afib, the more you have it the more you will have it). I did not want to be in it permanently. I also took Diltiazem daily as a rate control drug ( so if i went into an arrhythmia my HR did not go too high. ( I do not tolerate beta blockers).

So the two drugs you are taking are rate control drugs not rhythm control. They dont get you out of afib, they just stop your rate going too high when you are in it.

I suspect you need to see an EP (electrophisiologist) as soon as you can to get some advice on keeping you in rhythm, if it takes 4 days to get you out of AFib. My experience is it gets worse.

I am not medically trained , just commenting on my experiences and absorbed knowledge.

However in AFib and drugs we are all different. What happened to me may not be for the same reasons of what happpend to you, and response to drugs can also differ widely. 1.25mg of bisoprol put me to sleep in 40 minutes and massively affected my functioning even after I woke up 40 mins later for example.

I also must point out i was 58 years old at that time, in good health, reasonable fitness and no co morbidities, so it was a pure AFib issue.

My eventual solution was an ablation as it was clear ( to me) I could not depend on drugs and I hated the side effects, but again this would need to be discussed with your medics / an EP to ensure it would suit you.

Best wishes