Post DC Cardioversion advice

[apatsyf]

My husband has had AF jumpy heart rhythm for years and has meds for slightly high BP - Bisoprolol and Ramipril, but has been getting a bit tired and breathless on exertion. So he had DC Cardioversion yesterday and is in sinus. But his resting heart rate is hovering around 50 and if he does anything its only up to 60 or 70 - will this improve? The Dr said stop Biosop but not Ramipril. I don't really understand it all, but would be grateful for anyone's experiences of low BP after DC Cardioversion.

[jeanjeannie50]

Heart rate has to be low 40's before docs are concerned. 50 is ok. What is his normal heart rate and how is he feeling now, that's the most important thing?

Jean

[apatsyf in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks, that's reassuring. His rate before DCCV was usually around 90bpm, so quite a change. He's just very tired, but it's early days, I guess, though can't be feeling too bad as I keep having to tell him to rest!He has a GP phone call on Saturday, so can check if he should stop the Ramipril and we hope the normal rhythm will last, particularly so he can have a CT coronary artery scan in 2 weeks. Thanks jj50 🙂.

[Tapanac in reply to apatsyf]

90 is quite high

[apatsyf in reply to Tapanac]

Yes!

[2learn in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi, jeanjeanie, not what docs have told me, they say 50 is too low especially if older and not a trained athlete. My pacemaker stope it going below 60.

[apatsyf in reply to 2learn]

That's why we are a bit concerned it's 50 - he's 70 and unfit! As someone else said, 60 is good. But at least it does respond when he gets up and does things! We are just taking it easy for a while whilst waiting to see a Dr in 2 weeks, the earliest appointment available! Thanks.

[Jalia]

Having had very many DCCVs I've often found that it can take a while for the heart rate to settle. For my last one in June I notice that I was 60/65 fir a few days then dropped to 50s before eventually rising again. Give it time.

[apatsyf in reply to Jalia]

Thank you so much - very reassuring. It is early days, isn't it...... 🙂

[Bodydoctor12 in reply to apatsyf]

My advice is to take it really slowly and don’t rush around, the heart needs time to rest into this newer rhythm. Also, now his heart is in NSR the dose of BISOPROLOL may well be too high and he might consider slowly slowly reducing it so as not to give his heart a shock. I’d speak to his cardiology person if I was him. I reduced mine from 3.75 slowly slowly and I’m now on 0.625. I had my DCV on Feb 15th and I’m still in NSR and grateful for it. The hospital told me to just stop the BISOPROLOL but my pharmacist warned me against that. They were right!

[apatsyf in reply to Bodydoctor12]

That's very helpful! He's also been told to just stop Bisop by the hospital - we have GP consult on telephone tomorrow so will be interesting to see what she says. I feel the hosp just do the job in hand then forget about you (though we're wonderful).... Good to hear of peoples' experiences on this forum - everyone is different, but I always thought with meds you shouldn't stop them suddenly. Thanks for your help.

[apatsyf in reply to apatsyf]

..meant to say -'they' are wonderful, not 'we're' wonderful! 🤣

[Belle11]

My heart rate dropped from upper 80s/90s to between 44/ 48 after a cardioversion. I was on bisoprolol 10mg and kept on it for over 2 years after my DCCV despite asking for a reduction as it ,made me short of breath and quickly fatigued. I've been on 6.5mg daily and my heart rate is usually in the 50s. The cardios often want people to keep heart rate relatively low, as it seems it helps prevent a recurrence of AF.

[apatsyf]

Golly, 2 years. That's a bit ironic as the whole reason my OH went to the doc in the first place was due to tiredness. A bit annoying if the treatment is worse than the cause!! I Hope you are less tired now, can do what you want in life and keep in sinus long term. Many thanks ❤.

[Belle11 in reply to apatsyf]

I'm a lot better than when I was on 10mg, thank you, though it's been so long it's hard to compare with how I was before AF! I think a change of registrar at the hospital helped - my dose was slowly reduced to 5mg, then back up to 6.5mg after a 24 hour ECG monitor showed I was getting lots of ectopics. After experimenting, I thnk that what I eat makes a difference to whether I get ectopics or not, and I seem to be keeping them at bay. When I had another 24 hour tape monitor a couple of months ago, I ate mostly fish and veg before and during the test. Still waiting for the result, but I didn't feel any ectopics. So hopefully I might be able to get my dose reduced further.

Hope your husband is able to either stay off treatment or be prescribed something that works better for him.

[apatsyf in reply to Belle11]

Thank you so much. That is interesting what you say about diet - will look into that a bit more . Good luck with everything. Xx

[Belle11 in reply to apatsyf]

For me, processed meat seems to be a definite trigger. And before my 1st 24 hour monitor I had had shoulder of lamb. I then noticed I got ectopics again after having shoulder of lamb another time after that. Triggers seem to be very individual, but various doctors have written about common ones - eg Dr John Day has a website, and has written a book about managing and even defeating AF. A lot of people on this site follow his advice.

Here's his page on triggers drjohnday.com/the-top-10-at...

And links to other articles he's written on AF drjohnday.com/cure-afib/

Good luck to your husband too xx

[apatsyf in reply to Belle11]

How interesting, thanks will look. Xx

[Tapanac]

50 is fine and 60 good. Hospital don’t like under 40. Don’t worry if my heart rate were those figures I would be very happy

All the best

[apatsyf]

Thank you so much 💓

[Hiphop6]

Normal heart rate 50 to 70.

[apatsyf in reply to Hiphop6]

Thanks - post CDCV seems to be 70 when he's doing things and 50 resting.

[2learn]

Hi ,I always had to stop biso after cardioversions(3) as my HR went down to around 40. stopping biso helps with tiredness

[apatsyf in reply to 2learn]

Thanks - Hope you are doing OK now

[gtkelly]

What dosage of bisoprolol was he on?

I’ve been on 1.25mg for 3 years. Recently went back into afib. Now awaiting cardioversion in September. Cardiologist told me to stop bisoprolol until then as concerned at low bp. Still take flecanide 50mg x 2 daily and of course apixiban.

[apatsyf]

Thanks - he is on 3.75mg and 2.5mg Ramipril. But stopped the Bisop on the day of the procedure and has been told to go back on lower dose once his HR is above 60. He has stopped the Ramipril too though only told to stop it for the day after the procedure. He has a talk on phone to Pharmacist for this afternoon as no chat with GP available for 2 weeks and no reply from Consultant.

Still early days I guess as only had the DCCV on Wed afternoon.

Thank you for you reply. Sounds like you have the opposite of my hubbie with your low BP - he had highish BP (controlled with the Bisop/Ramipril), but we don't know how his BP is behaving now. Probably will pop to GP on Monday to find out, as they have a machine in the foyer... .

Good luck with your procedure in September.