Hello lovely people. I feel pretty rubbish for even asking, since many people aren't as fortunate to have had an ablation and I feel ridiculous for even considering this could be an issue so soon after my ablation (4 days), but yet again, anxiety about my heart has induced a cry for help action..
So, Dr who did my ablation for A Flutter told me to come off Bisoprolol straight away. 51 yo male, no other issues except borderline BP. Worried about the thumping nature of my heartbeat (even though I'm back to sinus rhythm and procedure was successful), The tumping gradually increased in duration over last 4 days to last about 10mins at a time a few times per day and it is worrying me. No other symptoms. Wondering if it's due to normal post ablation and/or coming off Bisoprolol. Anybody else had this experience? I did call the wonderful team at the hospital asking this and she said the thumping is ectopic beats which are normal after the procedure. A qualified health care professional told me this yet still in on here pouring my words all over the forum... annoyed with myself and frustrated.
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You say ..."told me to come off Bisoprolol straight away" .... and you did I guess ... BUT what dose were you on and how quickly. I hope you followed the Laws of Bisoprolol on the paper in the packet ?? Needs treating respectfully.
Generally, coming off Bisoprolol is a course of events that needs carrying out very, very slowly, particularly if you were on the sort of dose I'm on, i.e. 7.5 mg. Even if you were on a low dose, like 1.25mg you would need to come off it slowly, just don't stop it dead in yer tracks. Wean off it day by day.
For me, Bisop and Warfarin are my best forever friends.
I'll see how it goes today and call my GP and put this to him. He'll prob say as you do..wean off. If it is cos of this I'll be annoyed with the EP.. not what u need at a time like this just after Ablation.
I wish you well I-a-n, having been on this forum and it's predecessor hosted by Yahoo for 12 years it never ceases to amaze me what our health care professionals say sometimes. Do suggest you read the paper in the Bisoprolol packet or Google it via a NHS link.
Biso is NOT my best friend but I agree with John, needs respect as it’s an Adrenaline blocker as well as a Beta Blocker and therefore you can get a rebound affect when you stop taking it suddenly which means you many notice increased anxiety as well as physical sensations. Learned the hard way! Titrate down carefully and slowly and see if that makes a difference.
AND ectopics are very common following ablation, probably most frequently asked question so not a silly question at all. Ectopics following ablation can take a while to dissipate but they can be a positive sign that the ablation was successful as your heart is attempting to reset it’s electrical conduction. Do you notice them at any time in particular?
As long as you know they are ectopic beats, view them as benign but uncomfortable sensations and get on with life. They may be around for a while but they will disappear eventually.
Secondtry posted an excellent video explaining what ectopic beats are and how your heart is responding about a week ago. It sometimes helps to know what is happening and understand.
Thanks CDreamer, I'm not actually getting ectopics (missed or early beats). Just a thudding in time with my sinus rhythm. Yes, plenty of anxiety here..
Just feel it. Now I've taken a Bisoprolol it's gone completely. I stopped on instruction of the EP but will call my own gp tomorrow and ask for a titration plan.
Try to deep breath when you have the sensation. I was on a hefty 10mg of Bisoprolol, which stopped immediately on the day of my ablation for flutter. You need to give yourself 6 months at least in my opinion before you find your new normal. I am 54 and the anxiety is still there for me, but I work hard to try and keep it under control and minimise it, as it is really unhelpful! The arrhythmia nurses will be happy to talk it through with you where you had your ablation. Hope things settle for you soon.
Thank you Eastern. Now I know its a withdrawal symptom rather than a complication, I'll be fine anxiety wise and call on my mindfulness breathing and meditation in times of difficulty. I'm back on the Bis since yesterday for now and will speak to my doctor to gradually reduce. Was only on 2.5mg. Its amazing the affect those tiny pills have: literally 10 mins after popping one yesterday the thumping stopped. Best wishes
I agree with the support replies here and see you already had a positive result. Just wanted to add my experience with Bisoprolol withdrawl symptoms was very intense. I too was only on 2.5mg and was told by my EP I could just reduce to 2.5mg every other day for a week and then stop. Within 5 days my normally stable BP & pulse were erratic, my anxiety was off the charts and I was like in a near constant hypersensitive state, couldn't even tolerate the sound of my phone ringing. I'll spare you the long story to get ahold of either my EP or Med Cardio for advice, urgent care nurses were only advising to go to ER if I thought I was in need. It was a long mess until my Medical Cardio agreed to use Lisinopril 2.5mg to stabilize my vitals as a rescue med. Well the med was effective but the dose too low, went to 5mg daily with her direction and things finally settled down. So after a month on that I am now in the process of weaning that back, again with her direction . I will NEVER go on Bisoprolol or any other beta blocker again unless there are no alternatives. That said since you were already off the bisop maybe instead of the slow titration of that you could explore alternative choices instead. I know you took a dose and the symptoms stopped, so glad you have relief now. Just wanted you to know there are other choices they can use to alleviate the withdrawl symptoms .
Thankyou Pleasant, and sorry to hear you had a really bad experience with it. will certainly discuss this with my gp when I speak to him today. Anxiety wise i van def say at the time of writing my original post, I was definitely having a major episode. Already on paroxetine for anxiety too! Best wishes & take care.
You're welcome and thank you for your kind words too. Glad to see you are already on the paxil for your anxiety. Trust me when I tell you if I had the doctors orders to take an anti-anxiety those weeks I would have done it in a second. I totally relate to your major episode being so unnerving. I should add the original reason I went on the Biso was to quiet down some intense PVC's that I had already reduced by adding more Magnesium to my diet. But some intense PVC's remained so the EP suggested the Biso. Well it actually did the job but I couldn't function well at work, very tired and brain fog that was very difficult to live with. I decided I could live with the remaining PVC's more than I could the side effects of the Biso. So that's when the EP agreed to wean that off and keep Metoprolol for palpitations /Afib . The Metoprolol is also a beta blocker and I think it only complicated the picture because on the days I didn't need it I was right back to the withdrawl symptoms.
Hope you had a successful appointment today with your GP. Stay Well.
I had same experience following my ablation last year. Thumping beats, skipped beats, variable heart rate were all part of my recovery and healing process during the first couple months--though I had no AF. It all slowly calmed down as time went by and soon (3-4 months) I stopped thinking about my heart at all and was on with enjoying life. Hang in and be patient. You're in the healing phase.
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