Sudden increase in resting Heart Rate?

[kitenski]

Bit puzzled by this, wondering if anyone had any clever ideas? I've tried to ring the local arrhythmia nurses but not got through yet, emailed them yesterday but no reply so far.

I'm on 1x1.25mg biso and 1x50 flec twice daily which appears to have been working Ok.

Saturday I did a local park run, and by 1030 my heart was showing either flutter or ATach with the Apple Watch ECG showing an average of 115bpm. I took an extra 50mg flecainide and it still didn't settle, so I took a further 50mg and an extra 1.25mg biso just before 2pm Saturday.

My heart then seemed to have occasional bouts of AFib, but also persistent PACS all day Saturday & Sunday. I took it very easy on Monday and they seemed to stop. It made me feel very tired and lethargic. I think it is described as occurring in a bigeminy pattern. It appears to have been back in sinus since Monday.

The weird thing is my resting HR has shot up since Sat. On avg I'd see it under 50bpm, especially at night. It's now mid 60s all the time and never drops even when asleep.

I saw this once before a year or so ago when I increased the flecainied to 100mg twice daily, so wondering if my body somehow doesn't get on with flec any more??

Or is it just another one of the oddities with a haywire heart!

[Jalia]

I can't help thinking that you are far too fixated on your heart rate. Also , do you mean that your heart rate went up to 115 after your park run ? Sounds quite logical to me but I'm not a runner. Maybe you should lay off the park runs for a while ?

[kitenski in reply to Jalia]

Aren't most of us with heart issues fixated on our heart? It's very hard to ignore it IMHO

[Jalia in reply to kitenski]

No offense intended kitenski ! I've probably been the worst culprit in the past so realise what you are going through.

I've learnt over my 30 year history to ignore small deviations but yes, us AF ers are highly tuned in to our heart's activities! I can settle down to sleep at night with heart rate in the 80s after a stressful day but when life is more peaceful rate is in 60s

[kitenski in reply to Jalia]

no offence taken It is good advice to try and chill out a bit more about it! The hospital has rung back since my email of yesterday and also said I've nothing to worry about.,

[Jalia in reply to kitenski]

Good news for you !

[Speed in reply to Jalia]

I would add that although we don’t want to become obsessed, it is good to monitor and identify trends and also step changes. But, as with any statistics, we should be wary of potential one off rogue readings, or short term blips. It’s a difficult one.

[mjames1]

I take extra Flecainide when in afib, but was told NOT to take Flecainide when in aflutter.,

That's because it can actually aflutter worse and possibly even turn it into a dangerous 1:1 flutter.

Unless your doctor told you to take extra flecainide when in aflutter, I'd check with the office.

Of course, this all assumes you were in aflutter, so I'd also send them an ekg from the Apple Watch.

Jim

[kitenski in reply to mjames1]

Good point, I'd never thought of that, mine tends to move into AFib, and they said to try extra flec in AFib but we didn't discuss what happens when in flutter/ATach.

[Buffafly]

Usual caveat but as you’ve taken extra Flecainide I’d go for AFlutter with a slow conduction (my maths not up to working out the proportion but I believe Flutter rates if not dangerously high go 150, 75, 60) which would account for the steady rate.

[mav7]

Definitely need to discuss with your doctor especially to confirm the dosage/times to take Flecainide. May ask to wear a holter monitor for continuous monitoring.

But your overall heart rate is excellent. Stress and worry can also cause an increased heart rate. If you are not dizzy, fatigued, or other symptoms, as BobD often says, put that watch in a drawer for awhile.

[OzJames]

I found if I had a night or 2 of bad restless sleep because I was worrying my resting HR went up from 55-58 moved up to mid 60's until I got in a couple of good nights sleep. My walking HR also moved up 5-10 beats from normal. So learn to breath, get James Nestor's book Breath. I take Metoprolol low dose

[kitenski in reply to OzJames]

interesting thanks for sharing .

[Ppiman]

I don't feel you are over-focusing. This looks entirely physical at some level and I would think it is related, as you think, to flecainide. I would discuss this with your GP to see what he or she feels, too. Rhythm control drugs are quite "deep" in their cellular action and can cause various issues, I gather.

By the way, I use and Apple Watch as well as a Kardia, and neither separate PACs from other ectopics, with an occasional report showing PVCs. Atrial flutter isn't shown either. I've recently bought a Wellue AI monitor which does analyse for all of these things, however (and I can highly recommend it). Can I as what you are using to get this level of analysis?

Steve

[kitenski in reply to Ppiman]

Hi Steve, I am using an Apple Watch ECG, that Wellue looks interesting, assume you need to be attaching electrode stickers every time you want to take a reading?

[Ppiman in reply to kitenski]

The Wellue AI ECG is a bit less convenient than the Kardua and much more than the Apple watch as it uses a chest strap or electrodes. I use the latter as they are stuck down whereas the chest strap just sits against the chest but feels less secure to me. The device itself is very like a Kardia but made from flexible silicone rubber with two press studs on it which fix to the electrodes or chest strap. I suspect it would also work like a Kardia using the thumbs or finger tips but it’s really made for longer recordings of from 5 minutes up to 24 hours.

Once you connect it, it starts recording, then stops when you disconnect it. It then needs to be put into a small USB clip-type adapter to fit into the USB-A slot to upload into a PC or laptop. It’s very straightforward and the free software works well (a bit less easy on a MacBook but fine). I’ve only used it when I think AF is in the offing so about three times. It is a truly excellent device - unique for home use I suspect.

I still use my Apple Watch the most as it’s so convenient and I get AF only infrequently. Palpitations are the bane of my life at present!

Steve

[john-boy-92]

A background infection can cause a rise in resting heart rate, in the same way that a more serious infection can precipitate atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. If your Park run was at 115bpm that appears to me to be low. Normally a cardio session would be looking at 60% to 80% of your maximum heart rate or your heart rate reserve if you use the modified Karvonen protocol. Post cardio exercise your metabolic rate could be elevated for up to 24 hours. In short, I wouldn't be concerned.

[kitenski in reply to john-boy-92]

It was 115bpm sat at home an hour after the park run, but yes I am thinking now it's perhaps an infection and/or stress/worrying about it making it worse!

[Down10FTN]

I am going to suggest dehydration. When my body is lacking fluids, my heart goes up 10 beats at rest and same rate hike while on exercise bike for known loads. Fatigue will do the same if you haven't recouped from the race.

[kitenski]

Seems to be back to normal, guess "something" happened, a virus or something??

resting HR