Afib related

[Wes487]

Hi my 1st post here,diagnosed with atrial flutter fibrillation a couple of months ago im currently taken 5mg bisoprolol and edoxaban (blood thinners) looking forward to seeing my gp face to face on Tuesday because these palpitations are not going away.

[wilsond]

HiHello and welcome to this great forum. I have Atrial fibrillation and flutter too. Diagnosed 2013 but sure I had it before.

Are you asking for general advice here? If you look on the forum there is a great information leaflet about the conditions and how we can treat them.

It's scary at first! Glad to see you are anti coagulated ( often wrongly called blood thinners)

That will give you protection against the main issue with arrthymia, stroke.

Weird as it may seem just now ,AF and AFL are not life-threatening conditions. My Electro Physiologist ( a cardiologist with specialism heart electrics) said to think k of it as a nuisance rather than a threat.

Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes xx

[Wes487 in reply to wilsond]

Thank you for replying no I don't rearly worry just nice to be among people that understand and I'm sure I'll get a good knowledge about atrial fibrillation as I really don't know a thing about it x

[Jgc61]

Hi there, I’m over in Warrington, was officially diagnosed in April but have had my paroxysmal af for a couple of years prior, like you I’m still learning. I’m on Apixaban, Bisoprolol & numerous other meds. Jude

[Wes487 in reply to Jgc61]

Hi jude yes it is a learning programme isn't it I'm also on a lot of meds levothyroxine, amlodipine,statins,omeprazole gosh the list goes on x

[Jgc61 in reply to Wes487]

It’s a minefield for sure, I did my own med review as my gps are lovely but somehow missed these but we got there in the end, it’s a case of a lot of reading to understand it & then some more again x

[cat3]

Hi Wes. I suffered with SVT for over a decade and was told the only treatment was ablation. But a different cardiologist prescribed Flecainide and the Tachycardia was immediately controlled without surgical intervention.

Years later I developed AF and spent weeks toing and froing to A&E with severe symptoms but with no diagnosis until one doctor said 'Enough is enough' and I was admitted. On the cardio ward I was tested and monitored and finally diagnosed with AF. I'd had some serious illnesses previously, but for some reason this floored me.

I was prescribed Bisoprolol, Rivaroxaban (thinners) and Felodipine and told to continue with Flecainide, carrying a spare tablet with me at all times for emergency use (AKA 'Pill in the pocket'). I still have flutters causing 'funny turns' occasionally but have otherwise improved greatly.

I hope you get the hang of your AF before long m'love ; I came to HealthUnlocked immediately for reassurance at the outset and found great support...

Best wishes, Cat x

[Wes487 in reply to cat3]

Hi cat i found this site by accident and so happy I did don't think my gp could give me as much information as I've received on here. Thank you for replying x

[cat3 in reply to Wes487]

Stay in touch ! x

[Wes487 in reply to cat3]

Will do xx

[secondtry]

Unless you have an exceptional GP, I would go straight to a cardiologist for your next move. Do follow this excellent Forum until you are squinty-eyed. Be prepared to do a lot of reading, you could do worse by starting with your sleep heartmdinstitute.com/heart-...

[Wes487 in reply to secondtry]

Oh thank you I am waiting to see a cardiologist but have been told its a waiting game x

[secondtry in reply to Wes487]

If you can afford it (around £250) cut anxiety and see one promptly. Probably the best investment you can make.

[Wes487 in reply to secondtry]

Thank you I'll consider that x

[Singwell]

Welcome. It is confusing and can be frightening too at first. I'm going to up the ante and recommend you push for a referral to an EP (Electrophysiologist) as these are the specialists in heart Arrhythmia problems. Cardiologists are more about the plumbing. GPs can help with management i.e. to check your bloods periodically, advise on lifestyle changes if you have other underlying issues, they can also be helpful - though mine needed firm nudging - if you have a symptomatic bout of arrythmia.

[Wes487 in reply to Singwell]

Well I go back to see my gp next week so I've been given a lot of information on this site he's going to have earache when I've finished with him ha ha x

[Ppiman]

Hi Wes - welcome! If you have atrial flutter, then you likely know that this is different from atrial fibrillation at the level of what is happening in the top of the heart (AFl top right, regular fast beat; AF top left irregular quivering). Both are similar in how they make you feel with some coping better than others. I had AFl in 2019 and it was just awful for me as I had such trouble getting the tachycardia under control; on top of that anxiety from it added to my woes. If bisoprolol works for you, then that is excellent; for me, I needed digoxin on top. The blood thinner is technically an anticoagulant and is what everyone gets if they are at risk of blood clots forming in the atria.

The palpitations won't go away. These are not AF or AFl but ectopic beats where an extra beat forms too soon, leaving a longer gap before the next, which arrives with more of a pronounced "thump" feeling. If these are coupled with a racing heart (tachycardia) then the effect is hard to put up with and, for me, can make me feel. feel a bit breathless and weak.

What symptoms are you getting? If you have an iPhone and have some spare cash, an Apple Watch (Series 4 on) is a useful extra to cehck for AF (not AFl - that needs a 12-lead ECG). An alternative is a Kardia, which is really good (I have the 6L as it gives better information).

Steve

[Wes487 in reply to Ppiman]

Hi no I don't have an iPhone its Samsung, the symptoms I get are constant palpitations which sometimes last for hours, I must admit though since they increased my bisoprolol they have eased of a lot, I was diagnosed after having a 24 hour ecg monitor still waiting to see a cardiologist and to have a MRI scan to determine whats causing it x

[Ppiman in reply to Wes487]

Hi - constant ectopics wouldn’t be possible, but you can have many, I’ve read! I think if you pay for a private initial consultation, that would be helpful. Expect about £180 plus the ECG costs (£100); if you need a scan, then around £1000!

Steve

[Wes487 in reply to Ppiman]

Yes the gp said it would be over £1000 but asked me to see how I get on 1st with the higher dose of bisoprolol but I am considering it !

[Ppiman in reply to Wes487]

I’d trust your GP. Apart from the comfort of seeing a doctor quickly, there’s not likely to be anything to worry about in the sense of any permanent damage being caused. Arrhythmias from the atria seem to be not so awful if the valves and ventricles can be kept safe and working well.

Steve

[Wes487 in reply to Ppiman]

Thanks I'll keep that in mind !

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Ppiman]

Just wanted to say thanks for your posts Steve - they are so helpful and educating.

[Ppiman in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Hi Ruby - I hope I guessed your name right. Thank you for your kind words. I needed a boost like you gave me with my IBS/DD flaring up nastily this past few days. If it’s not one thing, it’s another. Oh to be young again!

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Ppiman]

Ruby was my dog's name. He was a King Charles Cavalier. Sadly no longer with us. Good shot in the dark! Yes, oh to be young again as you say. Sorry you are not too well. Hope it soon settles down. My mother suffered with IBS so I know how awful it can be. I , and I am sure others, find your posts so helpful and explanatory. Keep up the good work, it is much appreciated. When I see your post I know it is going to be very informative and interesting. Keep well. Christine.

[Ppiman in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Thank you, Christine.

Steve

[Finvola]

Hello Wes and welcome. The main AFA website is a goldmine of information, contacts and downloadable leaflets. Read as much as you can but remember that not everything applies to everyone.

The time after diagnosis is the worst, in my opinion and knowledge is definitely power.

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa

[Wes487 in reply to Finvola]

Yes so much information going to take me some time to get my head around all this but very worth it, most of you have so much knowledge x

[paulypurplepants]

Hi Wes, welcome to the forum, although I'm a newbie myself! Sounds like we are on similar paths as I was finally diagnosed with AF in Sept despite a few previous episodes and now they realise I have flutter too. So despite having a cv a month ago, which worked eventually, I am now booked in for an ablation. I'd second going private if you can afford it and also to get an app like Fibricheck or similar, to give you the info you need, to help you understand your symptoms.

Definitely need to get in front of a cardiologist rather than your GP, who can only answer your questions with generalities. Good luck!

[Wes487 in reply to paulypurplepants]

Yes I told my gp I'd be prepared to go private but he's asked me to give the higher dose of bisoprolol a chance to work before making any decisions and I must admit they do seem to be a lot better ( the palpitations that is ) i go on Tuesday to see my gp so I'll have a word then thank you x

[paulypurplepants]

Ive only ever been on 1.25g of Biosoprol and that was after my CV. I don't think you should be letting your GP make these long term decisions, get in front of a specialist in Heart Rhythms.

[Wes487 in reply to paulypurplepants]

Hi I was on 1.25 then 2.50 now 5 all in the matter of 4 weeks go back to my gp on Tuesday I think I'll suggest to him about going private x

[Ppiman in reply to Wes487]

I’d like to add that GPs can often be excellent and have a raft of experience as well as knowledge. Many GPs specialise in cardiac care, too, since they have so many patients being treated by them. I have an excellent GP and would trust him. It depends upon many things so I wouldn’t generalise.

Steve