My last post was about anxiety and AF. We are waiting to see consultant privately next week, mum is still not feeling relaxed and finds it difficult to explain her symptoms other than to say she cannot relax and doesn’t feel herself. I’m wandering whether to try and speak to GP before our appointment next week to see whether a slightly higher dose of bisoprolol could help slow her heart rate and to see whether that relieves anxiety symptoms? She’s currently on 3.75mg, was originally on 2.5mg. I’m thinking of asking doctor and if agreed m, to up the dose to maybe 5mg, maybe we will be able to work out that it’s a racing heartbeat that is causing her to feel this way. I feel helpless, mum has not been herself for the past month or so, and has even got tearful as she doesn’t know what’s going on. Mum is 71 years old. She’s always been a happy jolly person, but since these symptoms began over the last month, she just looks worried and feels scared all the time.
Do I ask GP to increase bisoprolol? - Atrial Fibrillati...
Do I ask GP to increase bisoprolol?
AF is what is probably causing the anxiety, not knowing when the next attack is coming from is the problem. Personally beta blockers never stopped or relieved my af but flecanaide was a great help in reducing the burden of af symptoms, perhaps a chat with your GP about that may be of some use. Give your mum a cuddle from me and tell her I felt exactly the same and it wasn’t until my second ablation that I began to feel much better. Hope that helps a little bit. They will be better days ahead for her 😊
Thank you so much for your reply, mum smiled when I told her you understand how she’s feeling and about the cuddle 😀
Will mention the flecanaide to the consultant. Thank you
Hi
Flecainide is a risky anti arrhymic drug. It will do nothing directly to a rapid heart rate. IT's a rhythm drug. It has a name for upsetting AF. CCBs are a rate control. Some folks say it is good for controlling BP and Rate. Not with me hence the two meds.
I can't have it as structurally my heart is abnormal 'severe dilated left atrium'.
I can't have an ablation or cardioversion.
A GP is not talented enough to treat AF with problems. Unless they have it or experienced AF.
GPs just put medication up and up not fixing the problem also they leave Cardiologist to change meds. Introducing new ones.
cheri JOY. 74. (NZ)
Do you know what speed her heart is going at? Also, I think you said you are a carer for your Mum, as 71 is quite young nowadays I’m wondering why she needs care? Could her condition have changed in some way? You should be aware of the possibility that AF may be a symptom of something else rather than the problem itself. Many people assume that all their symptoms must be caused by AF and could miss other conditions, though it sounds as though the anxiety and AF are related.
She is lucky to have you on her side! I don’t bother saying much about my AF as my family don’t act concerned, but I’ve had it a long time and got used to it.
Thanks for your reply, mum has several other conditions including osteoporosis, she had 3 fractures to her spine which caused mobility issues. She’s been through a lot.
I’m certain that it’s the AF that’s causing the anxiety and hopefully the consultant can help us to get the right treatment or have treatment adjusted.
Aww, that’s difficult not being able to speak to family about your AF.
Hi
I question upping Bisoprolol for a racing heart poor dear.
I am 75 almost next Tuesday and BBs did not much.
I suggest that the H/Specialist introduce a CCB Calcium Channel Blocker. My H/Rate was controlled within 2 hours of starting it - Diltiazem.
Then sweating, fatigue, heart pulses showed on 24-hr H/Monitor.
Has she had an ECHO or MRI then ECG and wearing a 24-hr monitor.
180mg Diltiazem was too much even though 1/2 full dose and was reduced to 120mg AM. Then BP control was Bisoprolol 2.5mg separated at PM.
Ola. Now controlled and boy it feels much improved. Still got AF but it may change inself as the thyroid cancer has been removed.
Hopefully your Mum is on an anti-co.agulant. I take 110mg PRADAXA x twice day.
Take care, JOY. 74. (NZ)
Hi Joy,
Thank you for your reply, mum has never been asked to wear a 24 hour monitor, I think that would be great in helping identify when she has episodes. Also, thanks for mentioning about calcium channel blocker, will try and mention this to consultant. Thank god your thyroid cancer has been removed. You mentioned about an anti coagulant, is that a blood thinner? If yes, mum takes Apixaban twice a day.
Thanks for your support
Nicky
If it is at all possible, get a daily reading of her BP and heart rate before seeing the medic. I have a cuff machine which I can manage on my own and when I started in permA/F and heart failure I had to take a daily reading and also record my weight to give an idea how bad my edema was, this record was then used to assess my need for increase in medication. Bisoporal was then increased gradually until finally taking 10mg and I also take Profanapol twice daily together with a diuretic. I am back in sinus rhythm and generally under control. I am 80 in April. Tell Mum from me that it does cause anxiety but this in turn does not help the A/F, maybe when it occurs put on a little gentle music, sit upright in an easy chair and breathe in and out slowly, for me that has always helped. Sending love and hugs
Hi,
Thank you for your reply, I’m so glad you’ve mentioned that your af is under control. That’s good to know that with the right treatment, it can be controlled. Thanks for your support.
I have had P/A/F since I was 56 which is 20 odd years ago, its a weird condition in many ways but it can indeed be controlled, your Mum has to find out which drugs suit her and her condition the best so a Cardiologist is the best person as he can run tests and medicate accordingly Once the heart rate is steady in sinus rhythm then she should start to feel much better in herself and not quite as anxious.
Do you have contact with Community Cardiac Nurse (CCN) . . Mum was recently discharged from hospital after suffering an AF episode - mum is 92yrs old) she recently had a visit from CCN who did a full review of her health and was able to increase bisoprolol there and then.
Hi,
We don’t have a cardiac community nurse, I think that would be so good to raise questions and concerns to someone. I’ll try and ask GP if mum could have access to this service. Did the increase of bisoprolol help with AF?
Tbh mum was advised by GP to cut her 1.25 mg dose in half and take half daily because slight dizzyness in mornings . This wasn't a proper recognised dose so consequently hospitalised on Christmas Eve Eve with tachycardy 158bpm - spent Christmas in hospital til 28th. Now on 1.25mg twice a day - 1.25mg morning and 1.25mg late evening. This has sorted her HR and she is feeling much better.
The Bisoprolol could be part of the problem. I certainly did not "feel myself " when taking 5mg . I felt like a zombie and that made me anxious.
Thanks for your reply, just reading your reply makes me think that’s exactly mums feelings, with this recent anxiety, she keeps saying ‘I just don’t feel like myself.’
At times AF can be a hateful and frightening condition. The thing to remember is in general it won't kill you.
When mine used to start in the middle of the night it would flip flop around so much in my chest (like I had a big fish fighting to get out from there). I honestly thought I would be found dead next day. After discovering this great forum I gradually learnt more about the condition and was surprised how many here understood and had experienced exactly the same symptoms.
Having had AF for 18 years I have now mastered it alongside help from Cardiologists and Electrophysiologists (EP for short, they are consultants who specialise in AF).
Your mum is young. I would wait until her Consultant sees her next week, he/she will probably get an ECG done (they usually do) and so will be able to see exactly which drug may help her.
Tell mum we know what she's going through and that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Let us know what her Consultant says please.
Jean
Hi Jean,
Thanks for your reply, that’s so reassuring reading your response. Since mum was diagnosed, I keep thinking hope she stays okay. I just hope we get the help so that her condition is manageable.
I will post about how we get on at appointment. Thanks for your support.
For sure your mum hasn't had the time yet to "get used to" the symptoms she is feeling, and, indeed, the possible early side effects from taking a strong beta-blocker. Time will help her a great deal as, eventually, her mind will cotton onto the fact that AF and a slightly racing heart might feel like they are terminal, but, in fact, they are not - not at all. Not in any way. The top of the heart can get up to quite crazy things but the bottom of the heart won't take much notice and will continue to act, if not quite as it would without the craziness upstairs, then well enough for life to continue reasonably well. It takes a good while for the mind to realise this and, in the interim, well, anxiety is the result.
So, until this realisation dawns, as it surely will eventually, your mum's anxiety will likely remain high. I doubt if more bisoprolol will do much for her in that direction. The aim of the beta-blocker is to keep the bottom of the heart from racing above 100bpm if possible, as, above thi,s it's thought, over the longer term, that some weakening of the muscle and valves might occur. The bottom of the heart, the left ventricle in particular, needs to be kept strong. The top of the heart is less important and needs to be kept only from forming blood clots, hence the need for an anticoagulant.
Your mum's doctors can help by giving professional reassurance. An echo-cardiogram might help them to reassure her even better as it will show that her heart is, essentially, sound (well - it ought to show that, and, if it doesn't, then different treatments will be needed).
Time is, sometimes, the great healer.
Steve
Hi Steve,
Thank you so much for your reassuring reply. I really hope we get to a stage where mum is able to cope with the symptoms and symptoms are managed with medication.
Thank you for your post and I am sorry to hear about your mother's experiences. AF can affect everyone in different ways, it can often be that medications have to be tweaked to find the correct dosage on an individual basis - which can take time and undertake many discussions between your mother and her doctor. I would encourage her to seek advice at her earliest convenience.
Thank you, we have an appointment next week with cardiologist and hopefully we will get the help mum needs.
Good luck 🤞
I was told to have a pill in the pocket so I could take an extra one if needed. I would ask her doc if that’s ok for her
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