wobbly walking

[farewelltoarms]

persistent a fib on lopressor. 50 twice a day increased problems with balance and walking any comments

[10gingercats]

This may be unrelated to your medicines. I developed this a few months ago and GP decided that even though I am 86 it was not due to 'old age' sent me to docs at hospital who diagnosed vestibular inbalance,I am awaiting to see physio. and to learn some exercises to help cope with it .I have also had something similare called Labyrinthitis which is rather like the vestibular inbalance. It is worse when I am standing still as at bus stop and waiting for bus and surrounded by people.

[farewelltoarms in reply to 10gingercats]

Thank you. I am miserable have fallen twice had an MRI of brain which was normal. Need to press my Dr

[10gingercats in reply to farewelltoarms]

Most hospitals have a Falls clinic and a Geriatology dep. both would investigate your falls and inbalance.My vestibular inbalalace was diagnosed in the Geriatology dept.Do keep pressing for a diagnosis .I was worried my life would change a a result of the inbalance.,I have not fallen..but it concerns me that I may want to stop going out on account of it .I am still pretty active and lead a good social life going on buses most days and caring for self and husband.

[opal11uk in reply to 10gingercats]

You can find these exercises on line, my husband does them regularly for the same reason and they have really helped.

[10gingercats in reply to opal11uk]

Thank you. I will search for them as the wait to see physio. is a long wait.

[opal11uk in reply to 10gingercats]

Have a look on YouTube and Google then you will be able to make a start, they are all done lying in the foetal position, first left then sitting up right then right, each approximately movement for approx. 25 seconds duration. Do this 6 times, my husband said this helps and quite quickly, do it a couple of times a day . Good luck!

[Ppiman]

You don’t give your age but could it be the AF causing some blood pressure issues? It depends on what is happening to make you “wobble”, really. For example, is it a spinning sensation, feeling faint or muscular weakness?

Steve

[farewelltoarms in reply to Ppiman]

age 84 thank you never had this until back in afib just a gait problem legs feel like rubber maybe slight dizziness but balance problem for sure

[Ppiman in reply to farewelltoarms]

It sounds like an effect of the AF to me related to BP.

Steve

[farewelltoarms in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you Steve I am on holiday and a real issue

[Ppiman in reply to farewelltoarms]

The effects from AF can make life difficult at times, then add in the added anxiety and it’s really an unpleasant condition.

Steve

[farewelltoarms in reply to Ppiman]

I was given a low % of ablation being successful but am going to try again to see if I can have it

[Calypso76]

Wobbly walking is my major problem with AF. It also comes with lightheadedness. The minute that happens I take my BP and it's either lower than normal, like this a.m. it was 103/55, or higher than normal 144/85. To make matters worse, I have bradycardia. I hope you find some helpful therapy soon.

[Blearyeyed]

One thing your GP can do is help rule out things that aren't caused by AF or your medication. As one person pointed out an inner ear issue which could have happened before your first fall or after it could be adding to your balance problems. Some of these Vestibular and Vertigo conditions can also cause palpitations and trigger aFib so it can be very confusing if you have them as to which happened first with each aFib incident , and they often get overlooked in check ups if you already have another health condition. They don't necessarily show up in an MRI either.Labyrinthitis, as was stated is one but a very common one that healthy people get too is called BPPV ( benign paroxysmal positional vertigo) . Often BPPV has no symptoms except the loss of balance, dizziness on standing and nausea that point to your ear being responsible, sometimes you also get blurred vision and your ears may feel a little full.

Ask for your GP to send you for a BPPV assessment and treatment even if they can't see any inflammation in your ears because it doesn't cause swelling it's just that the crystals in the ear have moved and need a readjustment. My OH had it and after the treatment was fine again. The assessor, often a trained physio, lays your on your bed and gently turns your head from side to side to get the crystals back in place.

If it's not part of the inner ear and definitely your AF it helps for the cardiologist to know this was ruled out.

Also ask your GP to do some blood tests to rule out low vitamin , mineral or iron levels adding to your loss of balance. You need to request a kidney function test (electrolytes), Iron/ Ferritin , Vitamin B12 , Folate , Vitamin D.

These potential deficiencies can happen despite a good diet as well age or if we take medications that can affect how well we absorb nutrients from our food. They can add to your symptoms of aFib but can also cause palpitations, dizziness and coordination problems on their own.

Request your results as sometimes you can still get symptoms caused by insufficiency or low / borderline low results which the GP often neglects to tell you.

If you have lower nutrient results for certain things in the blood tests it is worth adapting your diet to include more foods with those nutrients in or take a supplement for a while to help the symptoms improve.

Even if you have deficiency. Insufficiency that could add to your symptoms you still need to speak to your Cardiac Unit or Cardiologist to improve your AF care plan.

Have they ruled out doing cardioversion or ablation? If not , it's worth talking to your cardiologists letting them know that you have balance issues and have fallen twice , and that you have concerns about your safety and mobility , and request if they are considering a procedure for you . If they are it falling and balance problems usually makes you into an urgent case and they choose to do your procedure as soon as they can.

If you can't have procedures, or you've had them before but they have not worked, you still need to speak to your cardiologist about your balance and falling problems and ask if there is some way to alter the dose of your current medication , or change your medication , to help reduce those symptoms.

You may just need an increase in dose , or a decrease if your current dosage was not based on specifically on weight and gender.

In the meantime there are some things you can do to help reduce balance problems and dizziness caused by spikes in your heart rate.

My aFib developed because I have Chronic Dysautonomia caused by two Tachycardia conditions.

I'm lucky so far because the spikes of heart rate I get on standing and drops on sitting can become so bad that I would require a wheelchair. At the moment , I'm still able to manage the dizziness and balance using the Self Care techniques to reduce orthostatic symptoms from raised heart rate.

These include , learning to breath more deeply while you stand or are active and using deep breathing exercises before getting up after sitting or being in bed for some time.

I use two Nordic walking sticks. They help you improve your posture and balance, plus they give you security and reassurance when you walk around or stand by helping you keep balanced when you get dizzy and support yourself to prevent a fall if you often feel near fainting.

The biggest aid in reducing orthostatic or exercise related heart rate spikes is to drink more water at specific points and move both your head and body more slowly.

The drinking method distracts your nervous system before you stand or sit reducing how quickly your heart rate and blood pressure react to a change in position.

Always carry a water bottle with you.

Before you get up from bed or a chair drink a few generous gulps of water.

Then sit up , stand up and pause , taking another few gulps of water before you walk or move away .

Pause and Drink again before sitting or lying down after standing.

Drink before you bend down and after you stand upright again and always pause before walking away after doing any physical activity that causes you head and upper body to change position a lot.

Drink regularly throughout exercises especially if they involve you going from a laying to sitting or sitting to standing position.

This method can be hard to get used to at first but it really helps reduce those balance problems.

Hope things improve for you soon , I know just how much this sort of thing limits your independence and reduces your confidence in moving around , fingers crossed there will be an easy solution to help you, Take care , Bee