Sick Sinus Syndrome

[Martharose03]

Your Views please?

My history, Feb 23 Hospitalised with AFib, had an Angiogram that showed no real concerns other than a slightly enlarged left atrium. Prescribed Apixiban and Bisoprolol (the latter was quickly stopped due to slow pulse (44) I have remained OK ish only one short episode of Afib. I have been re-building my fitness and am back to Gym, Table Tennis, Yoga and Tai Chi.

My Cardiologist has finally referred me to an EP, However, I guess I will wait ages for an appointment !!

My curiosity is about some weird symptoms that may indicate Sick Sinus Syndrome?

I will try and describe!! Paroxysmal feelings of ‘sea sickness’and nausea, light headedness/dizziness plus butterfly ‘flutterings’.in my chest. Pulse remains. 49-55.

I could also describe it like the rare occasions when I was drunk ( in the past) Head spinning/light headed, nauseous. (I no longer drink alcohol, although I don’t think it is a trigger for me!

I really appreciate this forum, and wonder if anyone else shares similar symptoms ?

For which they have received any treatment?

I am trying to make sense of my condition and diagnose myself (due to the lack of NHS support to date!)

Thanks for feedback

I

[Popepaul]

Yes I have experienced these symptoms light headed , a little sea sick/motion sick. It started about 4 years ago before my diagnosis of afib. It used to come and go. I used to worry about it. I became more anxious. The anxiety exaggerated the symptoms. I think that I could self induce the symptoms.I was given a diagnosis of afib 6 months ago and started on bisoprolol and edoxaban. The motion sickness and light headednessss have virtually stopped.

Looking back on this experience I think that I was having atopics and short periods of arrhythmia. I became more aware of my heartbeat. I probably became hyper vigelent and this exacerbated my symptoms.

It is notable that beta blockers have been. used to reduce the incidence of stagebfright, to improve the delivery when making an important speech to a large audience etc. They reduce autonomic arousal.

Perhaps this is the reason that those particular symptoms have receded for me.

Prior to the diagnosis my GP prescribed an antipsychotic to reduce the motion sickness. They act as antibiotics. Idid not take the medication. Ithink that they may have created more problems.

Good luck with your health

Regards.

[Martharose03 in reply to Popepaul]

Thank you Popepaul

I do feel Arrhythmia regularly, and certainly the last four days have felt weird, I think partly due to the weather/ heat/humidity and storms we have recently had. Maybe this is common amongst the group!

[Popepaul in reply to Martharose03]

I made a typo in my last entry. Antibiotic should read anti sickness pill. I hate predictive text.I would think that many people with afib do experience these symptoms. I have found that they often recede when you are busy or preoccupied.

[Mugsy15 in reply to Popepaul]

Just for future reference PP, it's easy to edit your posts; just click 'more'.

[Ppiman]

It sounds like something more related to your inner ear, perhaps? A GP is an expert at separating dizziness symptoms from causes as each cause produces a different kind of sensation.

Steve

[javo123j]

My symptoms are very similar to yours but I always know I'm in afib because I can tell the heart isn't pumping properly which causes the breathlessness and dizziness. It's also very obvious with my pulse which is still slow but all over the place. My normal pulse is in the 40s but Doc has kept me on the Bisoprolol. Been waiting over 12 months to see EP but cardiology think it's a waste because heart not perfect. Good luck