cardiologist appointment

[Prosecco1997]

hello I went to see cardiologist today , was told no af , have tachycardia sinus rhythm , realy wanted some help with my meds as making me unwell , I’m now on bisop 2.5 twice per day , and can take flec if I want to I realy would like to take it but makes me feel very unwell , said I could take 50 mg in Eve , or 25 twice per day , anyone else do this , was told if I get a fast heart rate don’t go hospital, and if af give it 2 days 🙄, in the end after all my questions, she said I should get anxiety meds , and then said I don’t know what else to do And said she will need antidepressants in a minute, I was very shocked by this , as I’ve had a realy bad time over the past month , with worrying

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Prosecco

Well it sounds like your Cardiologist is of no support to you whatsoever. Have you ever seen an EP (Electrophysiologist) who specialises in abnormal heart rates? Could you afford to see one privately, cost is about £250?

We have to be very careful during the first few years, when we first start out with AF, that we don't let our anxiety about having an abnormal heart rhythm feed the condition and make it so much worse. This was something I certainly did. I wore a heart monitor and watched what my heart was doing most of the time. I feel embarrassed 19 years later when I think about the fuss I made and how my fear made my condition so much worse with my anxiety. I remember going to a nearby city to do some shopping with a friend and looking at my heart rate after walking up some long stairs in a shop. I can't remember what my rate was now (probably 100-120bpm). I told her with great concern that I may have to go to hospital if it went any higher. Well of course I didn't, when we walk around and certainly after climbing stairs our heartrate naturally goes up. When we go from sitting to standing our hearts have to beat faster to get the blood moving up and around our bodies.

AF is a hateful condition and for many years when it kicked off in the night, with the way my heart bounced around, like a floppy big fish in my chest, I honestly thought I might be dead by morning. People, including medical professionals who have never experienced a heart arrhythmia have no idea what it's like for us.

It took years, probably about 10-12, before I finally realised that it was my mind keeping my heart beating abnormally. If I was distracted it would often return to normal sinus rhythm. The days I had an appointment with my EP my heart would behave reasonably well and if I was fitted with a monitor - well I could climb mountains and my heart rate would be perfect. In fact wearing a heart monitor could be the easy cure for AF.😅

So here I am 19 years later from when I first started out with AF admitting I know what makes it worse, or what can actually set it off.

First thing to do is stop eating any foods/drinks that contain artificial additives. Artificial sweeteners were a sure trigger for an attack for me. I'm not going to explain how I discovered that now, but trust me it is a true fact.

Secondly don't wear restrictive clothing around your body like a bra or waistband. If you must wear a bra keep it as loose as you can.

Keep calm when your heart races and the minute you feel it behaving abnormally start doing slow deep breathing, this is particularly good if it kicks off in the night . Close your eyes, listen to your breathing and let your body go loose and floppy. With each out breath relax your body more and more.

You are here with people who understand totally what AF is like, so never think that you are alone.

Jean

[Prosecco1997 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hello for the past two evenings , after food I’d say , first my heart did to funny extra beats made me feel faint , then yesterday it was beating but felt like it was sticking , missed or extra beat for 1 hour , was very frightening, it has now set my anxiety off realy bad again , I can’t stop crying, I took my bisop 1 hr early to stop it , I just feel like I can’t get things right , I’m due back to work Monday 😟

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Prosecco1997]

Work may take your mind off of what your your heart is doing. When mine played up I was glad to go to work as there would be people around me to help in the case of an emergency. This felt better than being at home on my own. Of course it depends on what you do, mine was mostly a desk job but also involved going up three separate flights of stairs at times.

Jean

[BobD Volunteer]

Right now you need to forget your heart and work on that anxiety problem. AF won't normally kill you but your anxiety will do nothing but exacerbate your problems.

Learn deep slow breathing and distraction thereapies. The busier you are the less time you will have to think about things. When I was first diagnosed twenty odd years ago I was forever checking my BP or HR and eventually I joked that I only started to feel better when all the batteries went flat!

[Prosecco1997 in reply to BobD]

Hello my anxiety is bad again , do you know of anything to help that dosnt effect your hesrt , been given tablets but so worried to take them 😟

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Prosecco1997]

Never taken anything myself but occasionally need deep breathing and relaxation Techniques.

[Prosecco1997 in reply to BobD]

Thankyou

[Cavalierrubie]

l agree, l think l would get a second opinion as you really need some proper reassurance, support and help. There are lots of alternatives with medication, so if you can’t tolerate what you have been prescribed you must try others. I was told to go to hospital if AF was continuous with fast pulse, together with chest pain or dizziness. If you feel unwell ask 111. The paramedics told me that they would rather come out 20 times, than come for something that had become worse. Only you know how you feel. Anxiety goes hand in hand with this condition, l would go as far as to say it’s one of the symptoms, so it’s not just you. It’s very difficult to get this under control and takes time. My Cardiologist told me when l was first diagnosed that this is not life threatening. Keep reminding yourself of that when you feel unwell. There are many on here who have lived with this for years and years, so that should encourage you. You will be ok and you can still have a good quality of life. Don’t let this Cardiologist, that you have seen, upset you, as there is better help out there and some wonderful help on this forum from some very knowledgeable and experienced people. Take care.

[Ilovedogs12]

I think this cardiologist showed a great lack of empathy and was very rude to say she would need antidepressants in a minute. She has no idea what you have been going through with your anxiety and shouldn't make comments like that.

Jean, Bob and Cavalierrubie have given you some excellent advice. Please don't let this cardiologist upset you. There are many people on here who, just like you, are anxious about their condition and trying to get to grips with it. You're not alone.

[opal11uk]

I totally agree with the other replies, I have had this damned thing for many many years and you have to learn to live with it I'm afraid, being over anxious will indeed exacerbate the condition.

[Desanthony]

I would ask to be referred to an Electrophysiologist (EP). Your Cardiologist may have one in their team or you may have to go back to your GP and ask for a referral.

[Hephzibar]

I am like you ….no AF, but have tachycardia. I have always had a faster heart rate than most people seem to have, but had three different types of episode which involved hospital involvement and they were always concerned that my heart rate was too high. In the end I decided to take Bisoprolol. I only take 1.25mg, but it has reduced my heart rate which I know was affected by lack of sleep, tiredness and anxiety! Anxiety also is a major problem with my neck and shoulder tension, resulting in daily tension headaches - osteopathy and Accupuncture help and when it is very prolonged I end up taking a low dose of Amitriptyline, but only until everything has settled down again.

I try to remedy or avoid the triggers, but it is not always possible!

Take care

[FraserB]

One more thing to add to this and I've tried and helped me feel I have some control when in one of my rapid flutter episodes is to practice slow controlled breathing. It has to do with the parasympathetic nervous system which can aid in lowering heart rate, and help reduce that out of control panic feeling. While doing this I also started concentrating on some fun or happy thing I really wanted to do or treat myself to afterwards planning it in detail. And then later I followed up and did it. As Jean noted in her post, distraction really helps.

[Prosecco1997]

well today , I finally took antidepressants, for my terrible anxiety, had to end up seeing mental crisis team , I found him a lot more understanding than the cardiologist, fingers crossed I get better on this medication , as it has taken me a lot of guts to actually take this , due to worry of effecting my heart , Thankyou everyone for all your supportive reply’s previously , it realy does help xx😘

[Prosecco1997]

still struggling, how do you go day to day without worrying your heart is going to do something, its taking over my life , feel so weak that I can’t fight it 😟