I’ve was in af from Saturday evening until when I woke up this morning (around 8.30 am). What a sigh of relief I thought. However, my pulse is still racing at around 130+. It’s now 09.30. Is this normal? Do you think it will come down naturally? I have to be honest I still have the headache I always get when I’m at and my chest still doesn’t feel quite right
Thanks in advance
Sorry to hear you have been suffering for a few days. It’s so frightening isn’t it? I presume you are on an anticoagulant? I have Flecainide to take as PIP, should it kick off & usually it settles down after a couple of hours.
I have always listened to advice offered on here, that if you have no chest pain or are not feeling dizzy or passing out then AF won’t kill you. But seek urgent advice if any of this occurs. If you are worried it’s always worth speaking to a doctor (if you can 🥴) or ring 111. Of course anxiety makes the ticker go faster (I know!)
Hope you get back to normal soon 🤞
Best wishes Ally
Hi ally. It just I’ve never had problems when an episode stopped. I’m also sweating buckets but not sure if because it’s warm weather. I’m still at 130+ pulse. The only thing I get with af (so far) is a headache and short of breath if I move around. This has always stopped as soon as episode stopped.
I’m just wondering about a previous reply about covid 😩😩😳😳. Hope not as I’m on holiday.
Forgot to say yes I’m on rivaroxaban thinners
Covid test? Otherwise it sometimes takes a while for things to settle…..
Can I ask why you’d suggest covid? Never entered my mind.
Headache, chest not feeling right, sweating, fast HR? I would phone 111 if still suffering ❤️🩹
But the headache and pulse are normal to me in af. It’s just the sweating that’s different.
I got an episode around the time I must have been infected by covid. Only knew I had it as tested the next day after our daughter who we’d seen had tested and rang us when she had tested positive! Didn’t feel any different so wouldn’t have known I had it had I not tested! The AF ended as usual soon after taking a Flecainide PIP! And we’d had all the jabs!!
I’m sweating profusely which I’ve never had before even when I’m sat still. Still at 130+ pulse. I’m actually on holiday in the south west and like the rest of the country it’s very warm so could be just this
See my previous reply - sweating not good…..
I read that the new variant of covid may cause excessive sweating
Negative test
Hi Marcymoo007,
I’m no expert, but if you are in sinus rythm and your HR is still around 130, it sounds like you have tachycardia or possibly even Aflutter ( though again, I’m not an expert, but this could be a possibility), especially if you are someone who normally goes back to a usual HR after Afib. It’s not unusual to have a slightly higher than normal HR straight after Afib, whilst it settles, but 130 is a bit high.. I have a mixture of Afib, a flutter and atrial tachycardia with my episodes and quite often my HR stays in the 130s (in rythm) for a couple of hours, then it might go back to AF.
As others have said, have you got a PIP, or additional medication to take at times like this to bring it down?
I’ve had an extra bisoporol but it’s not helped as yet. I’ve not heard of tachycardia or aflutter but I’ll look it up. It’s been a few hours now like this. Only a bit worried so far.
130bpm isn't a typical AFl (i.e. flutter) tachycardia. Flutter tends to be a rate that is unvarying and step-wise ratio of the atrial 300bpm rate (so ~150 / 100 / 75 bpm., etc.). My doctor advises me to take an extra bisoprolol if I get a high rate and, interestingly, 130bpm was a rate that I did used to get quite regularly. Has your GP or specialist not suggested similar? I guess the warm and close weather is likely the reason for your sweating and it's also a symptom I easily get.
Steve
I have to be honest my GP isn’t interested. They said they’d refer me to a cardiologist which they didn’t do. I ended up going privately. I was told about ablation and given breathing space to decide it’ll that’s the route I want to go down.
This high pulse has never happened before when not in af so I’m not sure what to do. I upped my bisoporol from 5mg to 10 yesterday but it had no effect.
Today I’m up in the 120’s one minute then back to normal the next. I feel absolutely fine apart from sweat pouring out of me. This is why I’m reluctant to go to a&e as everywhere I’ve read says only go to A&E if you have symptoms like chest pain and or short of breath.
Are you hydrating yourself well with all this sweating? Also, given you’re in a hot area it would be a good idea to get some hydration salts perhaps as you’ll be losing a lot of salts through sweat. Hope you feel better soon.
I’m knocking back lots of water. I hope this crazy time ends soon 😩😩
Water alone may not be the best if you are sweating. As mentioned your are losing electrolytes. A pharmacist may be a big help. I have no credentials so opinion not medical advice. Be better.
I don’t blame you. A&E is not a good place to be these days. I’ve read here that phoning 111 is a better route as they give you an appointment. But, let’s hope that it’s gone soon.
When I had atrial flutter back in 2019, increasing bisoprolol to 10mg did nothing for my tachycardia and only digoxin did the trick. Do you have a home ECG device or watch to check the rhythm? I bought a Wellue 24-hour ECG a while back recommended by a couple of people here. Its AI function would likely diagnose your tachycardia.
Steve
Hi. I use my Apple Watch but I’m
Not sure it’s not getting wet with sweat. Ha ha. I’ve had 7.5ml of bisoporolso far. No good.
Tachcardia is a fast heart rate in sinus rhythm. AFlutter is another arrhythmia but it’s regular too but often a higher heart rate but if you are on medication already, 130s is possible. The bisop will hopefully do it’s magic soon 🤞please let us all know how you get on.
Hope you get back to normal very soon.
Hope so. I’m on holiday (in the uk) till next Monday. Really don’t want to have to go to hospital or similar 😩😩
are you monitoring it via a watch or Kardia device? Is that how you know it’s regular?
By Apple Watch.
So if you do an ECG is it saying ‘fast heart rate ‘ no AF?
If you look at the ECG , does it look like normal NSR only fast? Or does it look like the edge of a saw? If it looks like the edge of a saw, it’s likely AFlutter ( possibly).
just to be awkward it’s done both of those. At present it’s normal nsr but 130 hr. Earlier it was the saw shake that you mentioned. The bisoporol is doing nothing. I’ve had 5mg so far today. Think I’ll get another 2.5 down me
You won’t see atrial flutter (even as a saw shape) on a one lead ECG like an Apple Watch. All the Watch can detect is AF, brady- and tachycardia. The sweaty wrist will most definitely lead to faulty readings (mine often goes crazy when it’s hot).
I would use your finger and wrist to check your rate and regularity. If you feel well , have no discomfort in the chest and aren’t breathless, well, that’s a good thing. If it’s truly stuck at 130bpm, with 7.5mg bisoprolol in your system, hmm… ! Bu**er is what I would be thinking!! 😉
Steve
I may invest in a stand alone machine. I think I must be dead as I can never find a pulse neck or wrist 🤣🤣. When I have detected it (briefly) it is too high. I’m giving it till tomorrow before I think about a&e
Thanks for the info.
I have read that some people don’t have a big enough pulse to feel or the artery in the wrist slightly different in position. You have to compress the artery gently over the bone with your finger in the wrist to feel it .
They’re a pain to use but a blood pressure machine will accurately measure your pulse, btw. If you do go for an ECG monitor, the Kardia is the most popular but the Wellue Touch Screen with AI analysis is something of a bargain and very good, I find.
Steve
It’s not unusual honestly, to have Afib and other arrhythmias together. I wonder if you should ring 111? it is entirely up to you about the bisop, what are you usually on a day? I would hope that 5 mg would have done something by now 😳
Drink plenty of water.
Deep breaths….perhaps try a valsalva manouvre? Pretend you are straining on the loo ( while sitting down) don’t over do it and be careful….and then lie on floor with legs in air ( ask someone to help you, my husband held mine last time) raise for 15 seconds, then lower gently? It works for me, but not for everyone…try it twice if not first time.
Hi Macy, this 130bpm heart rate has gone on long enough. You need some medical advice. Where are you in the South West? I'm in South Devon. It sounds like you could be in atrial flutter, or tachycardia.
Jean
I’m in Weymouth.
It's such a horrible condition this AF, we never know what to do for the best. I feel for you. I'm miles from where you are.
Dorchester has a very good A&E. I’ve been there, whilst on holiday. They were very efficient ( though it was a few years ago).
I had to go there in March as the af then was a bit out of control. They were brilliant. I’m one of those that puts things off as long as possible. I know if I ring 111 they’ll direct me to a&e. I’m just sitting it out for a day or 2. I don’t want to have to go to hospital 😩😩😩
You sound just like me Macy
I know how you feel, as the last thing you want is A&E on holiday….As Jean said though, you probably do need medical advice. 130 HR for long periods is a bit high.
In the past, I’ve gone into temporary a flutter when converting from af to NSR. I’m no expert, but this might be the case with you. Best to get it checked out if the situation doesn’t change. Hopefully you’ll be in NSR soon, though.
This happened to me. After long af bout I slipped between af and tachycardia and although not medically trained I reckon you are tachycardic and need to see someone. When I saw a cardiologist he put me on digoxin specifically to bring rate down and after 3/4 days it did come down. As you are in Devon, no doubt the area will be set up to deal with holiday makers. Go to a and e or phone the 24 hour service and explain. No doubt they’ll decide whether you need to be seen. According to your profile and the heart rate formula I was given (220- your age gives you the limit you shouldn’t go beyond) you are still ok but I wouldn’t go too long like this. If you’re like me you won’t be able to relax with this hanging over you. Good luck.
Im also going into my third day with af, the longest bout so far , wondering is the present heat wave figuring.
Re possibly COVID. I've just come back from Vienna. Whilst there got call from London hospital telling me I'd had episode of AFib. No symptoms and never had b4. Next day had to go to A & E. Thought I was having another HA. all usual tests and bloods normal but then tested for COVID. Bingo!! Back in UK now. COVID passed. Symptoms gone so it could be
Mine usually goes the other way around -- when I'm finally coming out of an a-fib attack, my heart slows down to nearly normal but it's still erratic. Maybe yours is the opposite, no longer erratic but still fast. Keeping fingers crossed for you that it settles down.
what happenend in the end ?
Ended up in a&e until yesterday evening. Said I was dehydrated (despite drinking loads of water) which caused the af to go bonkers, low blood pressure and a dip in kidney functions. I had a few saline drips some with magnesium in and a shuffle about with the bisoporol dosage. Finally back in nsr yesterday. Scary times. All because of the heat!!
Thanks for asking
I was keen to know since I think the heat makes my AF worse. Glad you’re back in NSR now
P
Absolutely the heat. I read somewhere that we should be drinking 1/2 pint of water every 10-15 mins if we suffer from af. I’m not a big fan of drinking water but my gosh have I downed a LOT since.
had my last big AF attack I’m Spain in 35 degrees of heat ended up in intensive care with cardio version.
Am back out here again now and yesterday had a ‘funny turn’ when walking in the heat. It was crazy coz 2 days before I had climbed up to the top of a castle in the heat ( fit bit said equivalent of 60 floors) HR didn’t get any higher than 90 and felt fine. Yesterday was walking round on the flat and suddenly felt weak and knew I was in AF HR up at 110 ( low for me in AFib ) . Sat down drank a load of water and it slowly abated. Don’t think it was quite AF, fit bit said NSR but had so many similar symptoms something def happenend.
Going to take it easy today for sure
I was in afib Sunday / Monday then according to Apple Watch in nsr thereafter but my HR stayed a constant 130. The hospital said it was all part and parcel of the af. After lots of drips and large water intake I got a proper pulse back yesterday (Saturday) didn’t feel ill at all throughout it. I’m now lightheaded but I’m 99.9% sure this is due to the increase in bisoporol.
Only just saw this whole thread macymoo, just wanted to send my sympathy. Horrible situation to be in at any time, let alone on holiday. Glad you got good treatment xxx
Best treatment I’ve ever had. Think if I get ill again I’ll head to the south west ha ha. X
An interesting thought
Thoughts on Magnesium? 
Having second thoughts
I thought it was a good day
I arrest my thoughts!
