Bisopropol and heart rate

[Swimsyroke]

Hello again everyone and thank you for your helpful replies on my recent posting.

I am still in persistent Afib since September and have not heard from anyone with an appointment (although I have spoken to PALS and they are looking into my situation)

I have been experimenting with Bisopropol and find that if I take 1.25 at night and again 1.25 in the morning I don't lose too much energy and seem to be getting by playing my sport.

Whereas my heart rate was always around 65 it now is in the mid to late70s and 80s and goes over 100 after exercise sometimes not settling down for hours.

My question is, are these rates acceptable or am I causing more strain on my heart. Should I strive to get the rate lower. I know Bisopropol can make you feel too tired and breathless if you take too much.

Also has anyone any information on the procedure which Royal Papworth are doing called AcQMap which looks very interesting.

I have never been offered any procedure in all the 14 years I have had paroxysmal Afib so have no experience of any of the procedures discussed on this site.

Seems like I am one of the forgotten ones.

I am on Edoxaban since February 2022.

[GardeningMK]

hi there, sounds like you have a normal rate and after exercise it is normal to go over 100… but if your heart rate gives you trouble depending if you have ectopic beats maybe worth talking to your cardiologist about other medication or catheter ablation?

I had ablation 3 weeks ago and though it gave me complications, they are generally rate . Once I got over them I think I would say the procedure is worth doing because I had 22% ectopics which is high, and now they are 0%!

[Browncoat in reply to GardeningMK]

GardeningMK I don't want to hi-jack this thread, but would you mind telling me how your ectopics were labelled as 22%? I have periods of Premature Ventricular Contractions; sometimes I can get 7 or 8 per minute for a couple of hours. But then I sometimes go a couple of hours with almost none at all! Some background; I had a very succesful ablation nearly 2 years ago for Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation that had become rather more than paroxysmal! These PVCs are relatively new.

[GardeningMK in reply to Browncoat]

hi there, yes sure. They measure these with a halter monitor. The issue with ectopics is that they are not always being ‘heard’ or detected by a usual home appliance or by manual measuring of pulse. They looked at average on my ecg and found that every 4th or 5th beat was ectopic and based on overall rate they found that from my beats per day the ectopics were over 20 000….. ( in average a healthy person has about 100 000 beats a day) so I went for ablation which was a hell of a procedure and had pseudoaneurysm /artery repair emergency surgery only 9 days after the ablation, as the artery was not closed properly. Also on 5th day developed neuropathy in my leg, so some serious but hopefully-not permanent complications. I feel the heart rate is good. They took my ecg on the morning after the ablation and there weee no ectopics. At least this is sorted but still dealing with complications!

So for you I suppose you need to ask for a halter monitor which you wear for 2-3 days and the get an overall picture how your rate is and are they really ectopics or is it just a strong heartbeat. Talk to your cardiologist ❤️

[Browncoat in reply to GardeningMK]

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Unfortunately I am one of those who feels every single anomalous beat! I also use a Kardia, so can easily verify the PVCs as they stick out like a sore thumb on the trace! I just wonder what 'level/frequency' I should let them get to before contacting my GP (I have been discharged by the cardiologist).

You are not having a smooth run at this are you! I do sympathise with the complications you are going through... hopefully after you have healed it will leave your heart boringly normal! Take care.

[GardeningMK in reply to Browncoat]

hi again, my cardiologist says when it is at rate 10-12% it is not too bad, it is when it goes above they recommend ablation. I am feeling better every day. Maybe you need to experiment with your bisoprolol dosage? At the end of the day you know not everyone is as lucky as me to have these rare complications, for some it goes smoothly. Try to see cardiologist and consider ablation. Now my suffering is over , or nearly over, I would say it is worth it…

[BobD Volunteer]

Normal heart rate is between 60 and 100 so you are mainly fine. Doctors do not generally treat rates below 100 .

[Bawdy in reply to BobD]

I think by reading this forum for a long time without contributing much at all, I'm pleased I don't have the devices to tell me all the badies that's happening, from what I read it's just stressful. I listen to my body for sure, when something that's not good believe me I know, as in my PE's. Something is wrong, and it was. All good now. Not being a smart arse but there are better ways to live your life. If you are able to play sport etc, HEY, lucky you, turn off the machine, smile and be happy.

[Swimsyroke in reply to Bawdy]

Well said Bawdy. I generally do ignore my condition and am very gungho about it and my attitude is to carry in regardless. But I am interested in everyone's situation and it definitely helps the way forward and the understanding of my own situation. Especially as I have had very little help and advice from the medical profession.

[javo123j]

I know my cardiologist told me its better to take the 2.5mg of Bisoprolol that I'm on in one go and I have not suffered with any tiredness. I'm a keen runner and its not affected me. Saying that I have paroxysmal afib. I still run during my bouts of afib

[Swimsyroke in reply to javo123j]

Do you take it at night or in the morning?

[javo123j in reply to Swimsyroke]

Morning. As soon as I get up. Its not an instant medicine. They say its takes 6 weeks to start working at full capacity and then you top it up every day

[Hidden in reply to javo123j]

Have you considered discussing with your medical team taking it at night. I'm on 5 mgand was originally told take it in the morning. The side effect of this was to give me full flow, random nose bleeds - anytime, anywhere any place - I changed to taking it at night with other night time meds, around 8 pm and have never had a nose bleed since .... ever !

My point is that although this scenario doesn't apply to you it proves taking it at a different time of day can be beneficial.

John

[javo123j in reply to Hidden]

I could try it. I'm in the habit of taking all my meds as soon as I get up (5 of them) that's why I take the Bisoprolol early. I was on apixaban twice a day but was always forgetting the night tablet so now on edoxaban once a day. I am very forgetful.

[mav7]

Hi Swim

I am in persistent afib and my heart rate is almost exactly the same (70-80, may go to 105-110 with walking 30min or strenuous activity. Take metoprolol.

My cardiologist considers my rate well controlled with those figures.

May want to check with your cardiologist on splitting the times of dosage. Realize it helps with side effects, but would be good to check.

[Swimsyroke in reply to mav7]

Thanks mav7. That is very helpful and I am reassured

[GardeningMK]

I forgot to mention that when I was on bisoprolol , my cardiologist suggested taking it at night so it works while I sleep and it doesn’t make you feel tired during the day!