Who else

[DaveBr]

ok so I have suffered with AF for about 5 years if that is the correct term. I tend to have more symptomatic events during the night. If I have an event around 3am it will tend to keep me awake and last a couple of hours. The problems it causes me is when I would normally get up for work between 6/6.30 I am so tired or fatigued to get up and drive the hour to hour and a half I often travel to work and end up going back to sleep where I often spend at least another 4 hours sleeping soundly. Is this thing just me or common. Medication wise I am on blood thinners flecanide and bisoprolol

[Hidden]

Hi,

Just a question on your Bisoprolol ............ when you were originally put on it ...... what dose did your medical team put you on and at what time of day were you told to take it ? Repeat the same question for today ! now!, same dose, same time of day or different. If so, how different ? I have no experience of Flec but 12 and half years on Bisoprolol. I have also been on Warfarin for 12 & half years too.

John

[DaveBr in reply to Hidden]

I was already on bisoprolol for high blood pressure. At one stage since AF I was on 7.5mg a day split to 5 in the morning and 2.5 in the evening but that left me fatigued even when not in AF and am now on 5mg just in the morning

[Hidden in reply to DaveBr]

I have just weaned myself verý slowly from 7.5 mg down to 5mg. Since January 2010 when I was originally diagnosed with AF I was always on 5mg. In January 2021 my GP increased this to 7.5mg to counter BP issues and whilst initially there were no side effects it turned out to be a fools errand. I ended up like a Zombie from the Land of the Living Dead - and worse, like dreams and nightmares beyond belief.

Now I am safely back on 5 mg I'm fine. I might add thst I was originally prescribed it to be taken in the morning but this resulted in full flow random nose bleeds. My GP then said take it at night and I haven't had a nose bleed since - over 11 years now.

Sleep has been an issue for me but I can't blame Bisoprolol as much as 30 years of shift work. However I am beginning to think my sleep has been much more disrupted and poorer quality since being on Bisop. I seldom sleep through the night and resume quality sleep again.

John

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi John,

I take Bisoprolol but only 3.75 mg and have been experimenting with the time I take it. Over the past few months I have tried anywhere between 8.00 am and 8.00 pm.

I find that if I take it any time from about 4.00 pm onwards I find it difficult to sleep and usually have a bad night.

Taking it in the morning used to make me feel using your words like a zombie. I now find it suits me best to take it at 1.00 pm immediately after lunch.

I certainly agree with you about trying to reduce the daily dose as when I was on 2.5 mg it wasn’t too bad but increasing it to 3.75 mg made me feel a lot worse, now I have sorted out the time I intend to slowly cut down the dose in the same way you have.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Denboy,

The timing issue is really interesting, I shall have to remember that and put it in my future weaponry .... but ...for now at least my 5mg taken at night is working well ( usually about an hour or so after I've eaten my main meal of the day) along with all my nightime meds (including Warfarin)...... although it isn't lost on me that your 1pm and my 8pm ish or slightly later follows the digestion of food...... which for me is then followed by sleep, al beit, disorganised, disrupted sleep but thats an issue all about pain control for the shoulders more than anything.

John

[bassets]

I wake at 1.30 for a couple of hours, go back to sleep, then up at my usual time. But I spend the first half of the day in a daze. I am on eliquis and a calcium channel blocker with Flecainide as a PIP.

[Marytew]

What you describe is very similar to what happens to me. Then, even after I have slept and the AF episode is over, I continue to be affected by feeling generally unwell until about early afternoon. I do think that when this happens to you it would be best that you do not attempt to go to work (if that is possible). I am on Nebivolol, Felodipine, Apixaban and a statin.

[secondtry]

Clearly changes are necessary. Suggest speaking to your cardio about increasing your Flecainide if on just 100mgs; I moved up to a medium dose of 200mgs which stopped my AF. Also you almost certainly need to make lifestyle changes incl looking at another job; I am astonished how many changes I have made, which don't forget helps a lot more than just AF.

[DaveBr in reply to secondtry]

I am nearly 63 but still have a mortgage to pay. The problem is trying to get a new job and being honest about your health record

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to DaveBr]

Hi

I take Bisoprolol 2.5 at night and CCB Diltiazem 120mg am.

As H/R needed bringing down day only luckily the Bisoprolol leaves it at 47.

But day H/R was 186 on Metroprolol, changed to Bisoprolol only brought it down to 156 day. Left uncontrolled.

The CCB made the difference. 123/72. 77-88 day H/R. 47 night H/R

I dont have trouble sleeping. Sometimes sleep early. Only me and dog.

But operation to remove Johnson & Johnson mesh with all the inflammation

and fixing up the damage gave me back some energy. Lower dose of PRADAXA anti.co-agulant to 110mg x twice helped as well. Also it was making my natural teeth hurt. Couldn't eat my Arnotts Grain crackers. Problem solved.

Seems we need to ManageMyHealth ourselves. Discuss with Dr or Cardiac what you would like to try/change etc.

cheers JOY

[Hidden in reply to DaveBr]

Hiya DaveBr,

I'm 78 now and have no trouble with my health record. I'm a bus driver (doing around 30 hours a week) but have to have a DVLA inspired medical ( as happens to all PCV licence holders at 70 and over) sorted by my GP .......... well at least I meet her once a year because she has to signoff on a DVLA Form which means a physical face to face medical, mind you costs me £96 !. Ditto for optical...... £10 !!

In April 2022, I quit one bus company I was with and made a full unambiguous declaration to my new employer. Part of the selection process included an interview with the new employer company doctor ........ no sweat. Of course all the declarations I made included a copy of my current DVLA medical form - so everyone is now singing from the same hymn sheet.

So, at no time have I found an issue with an employer about my medical issues..... and nor should there be unless supported by very sound reasons, i.e. a tendency to fainting for instance.

Good luck.

John

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

Is your H/R controlled? What is avge on rest?

cheri. JOY

[DaveBr in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

yes it is controlled it tends to be 130/95 and my doctor is happy with that

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to DaveBr]

Hi

My Dr wouldnt be happy with the 95!

Call ins used to be @nearer 100 Diastolic but we move on and now anything over 89 needs controlling. Perhaps he thought "Dr's Appmt Syndrome". result.

Controlled is 120/60s-80s with H/R at rest below 100.

cheri. JOY. (73)

[Tomred]

same here ,fatigue unreal sometimes.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Tomred]

Hi

Have you any inflammation in your body?

Is your TSH about 2.0?

Reducing the PRADAXA down to 110mg x twice day proved a rise in energy.

Metroprolol made me breathless, fatigued but my AF H/R was 185. Day. 47 Night. No one cared. Changed to Bisoprolol under H/Specialist he red and read on my history and put me on CCB Diliazem 120mg am with BB Bisoprolol at pm.

Now 123/72. 77-88 H/R Day 47 H/R night averages on y on the heart monitor 24 hrs.

Find someone who cares.

cheers JOY. 73 (NZ)