Increased Heart Rate

[Peakoverload]

When I was first diagnosed as having AF I felt pretty bad. My heart rate was never very fast, typical resting heart rate was around 80bpm but I’ve been on beta blockers for years. I did though frequently feel light headed, tired etc.

Then I had a cardioversion and felt great. Heart rate came back down to around 62bpm. Unfortunately 3 weeks later I went back into AF.

The thing is the AF symptoms I previously had have all pretty much gone. The only thing is I still get tired more quickly than when in NSR when walking etc. However I’ve noticed I definite increase in my heart rate. Now my testing rate is around 97bpm and being active sends it higher.

I’ve got an appointment at the hospital in 2 weeks in outpatients. I’m not sure what it’s for but suspect it’s because my GP wrote to them when I went back into AF. I keep talking to my GP about switching from my beta blocker, Propranolol, to Bisoprolol as I’ve taken that before a few years ago for ectopics and it was amazing at keeping it under control and controlling heart rate but they keep just saying “let’s see”.

I know 97bpm is just under ‘normal’ but it’s a lot higher than my normal. I’m obviously going to discuss this at the hospital but as it’s just an outpatient’s appointment and I don’t actually know what it’s for, I don’t know if they’ll listen.

I know they are the experts but I just feel like I’m being ignored. I’ve never seen or spoken to my cardiologist, I’m not actually sure who it is. Should I be insisting on a change of medication especially if I feel generally better than how I previously did albeit with a faster heart rate?

[mav7]

I’ve never seen or spoken to my cardiologist, I’m not actually sure who it is

With due respect to your GP, seems like you need an evaluation by a cardiologist or EP. Perhaps you have been referred is the reason for your appt in 2 weeks. If not, ask for a referral.

In the interim, try not to be stressful over an increased heart rate if it is under 100 and you are asymptomatic. Best to you !

[Peakoverload in reply to mav7]

seems like you need an evaluation by a cardiologist or EP.

This is the bit I don’t understand how it works. Basically, I went to the GP a few months ago saying I keep feeling out of breath. They did an ECG and spotted AF and referred me to the hospital.

A couple of months later I get a phone call from someone at the hospital. I can’t remember their name or title but think they said their title had Nurse in it. They asked questions regarding my symptoms and suggested that I should have a cardioversion, an echo cardiogram and at a later date an MRI. Maybe this was the cardiologist or EP I spoke to??

Next thing I know is I go in for the cardioversion and am theb discharged back to the care of my GP whilst I wait for follow up appointments. How does one speak to your cardiologist or EP? How do you know if you even have an EP? The only information I have is what gets put in the appointments they send me via the Patient Knows Best and the last two appointments just said “Face to face”. One of these turned out to be an echo cardiogram.

[mav7 in reply to Peakoverload]

Sounds as if you have received an evaluation for AFib and are receiving care.

Be patient until your appt in 2 weeks and ask for a summary of your diagnosis and plan forward.