Today I've ive ended up in hospital again after my pulse went up to
158 this morning and I felt very dizzy and thought I was going to pass out. I'm Im now on the monitors and it's itcomong down gradually. Hopefully they sort out meds as the flecainoid only seems to control this for about
7 or 8 hours.
Sorry to hear you are having a tough time. Its an awful dondition and until you experience how bad it can hit us its hard to understand how dreadful it can make us feel. It really is a horrid condition. Hope it settles very soon and you feel better with a treatment plan, if you are lucky, to take you forward. Best wishes.
Hope you’re home by now and all settled. Take care 🦊x
I hope you're feeling better by now. I wonder if it's time you went on to a twice daily dose of flecainide?
Jean
That's me home now. The outcome is twice daily dose of flecainide and a Bisoprolol once a day. I had a letter from my consultant in July saying if things were to worsen then instead of two Flecainide (100mg each) at the onset of the episode , i should start taken 50mg twice a day. He never mentioned Bisoprolol . This was the cardiac doctor in the hospital this morning that has given me this. My problem is, I trust my heart consultant and I'm wondering if this is what he would recommend.
yes, its very stressful when different doctors are involved. I was told by the 'cardiac' doctor in A and E that I 'would be treated as normal just like everyone with AFib'.... and i was not referred for cardiology.....Just told to follow up with my GP. After pushing for referral to cardiologist, he said 'the A and E doctor...if was cardiac doctor...would have known I would have needed to have been seen'.
So, my point is - i would push to speak to or see your heart consultant (maybe contact his/her secretary).
This is just my experience and thoughts...but i want to add that i am new to all this.
The support from this forum is amazing.
best wishes.
An EP (electrophysiologist) is the kind of specialist who knows about electrical problems in the heart which ours is, is what you need. I was fortunate to find one through the AFA. Hope you are able to do so.
It is usual to take a BB or Calcium channel blocker with Flecainide because on its own it can cause tachycardia.
I was told if you take Flecainide you need a beta blocker such as bisoprolol as well.
Sorry to hear that, hope they are able to stabilise the heart rhythm for you and you can be discharged soon.
Take care
TracyAdmin
You are in the best place right now and can be monitored and have a thorough check up. You obviously need a drug review to get you stabilised again, It’s not a nice place to be, but you are safe. The last time l was at the hospital l was so relieved to be there because this really is a horrible, scary illness.
Agree 100%
I would push for a cardiology referral or even have an initial private one to consider all your options not just endless drugs
i initially went private and was added into his NHS list. I now see him every six months. Unfortunately I only seen him about four weeks ago and now this happens. I know he will get the notes from yesterdays hospital visit and he will send me a letter to explain things. It's the waiting inbetween I don't dont like. I may try and call his secretary.
Hi I did the same re private consultation and transfer to NHS waiting list but then had an ablation privately as well as I decided in my early 60’s I wanted to try and be free of this for as long as possible without drugs. The NHS offered the same but there was a wait. I would try looking for a different consultant for at least a second opinion. Everyone is entitled to that and be an active decision maker in their own health. It can be hard to advocate for yourself but I found the BHF very helpful to just talk to. I also read a lot on this forum and others before deciding my route.
I’m surprised they gave you flecainide without bisoprolol as normally they go together. Bisoprolol rate control snd flecainide rhythm control.
I hope you feel better soon xx
I know that Flecainide and Bisoprolol are usually taken together however I have been on 50mg Flecainide twice a day without any beta-blocker for over a year with no noticeable problems. My HR was naturally low, around 45-50 bpm, and Bisoprolol took it too low.
Of course, we are all different so common approaches may not be suitable for all.
Aaah yes it does lower heart rate, but I wonder what trout7’s normal heart rate is as it might have helped them.
Stay well x
My normal heart rate would be sitting around 55 -60
Nice rate.
I am still surprised they didn’t at least give you a low dose bisoprolol or something similar as sometimes flecainide can cause other flutters. Having said that since when did I qualify as a doctor huh, it’s just that I’ve been on flecainide and 1.25 bisoprolol since about 2017.
I do have a pacemaker since last year
lol x
I was only getting the odd episode to start with in Nov 2022, maybe once every few months . I was on Atenolol at that point but only when an episode started. One tablet usually got me back in Normal sinus. Then things changed and i started getting them more frequent ,,,,about every 4 to 6 weeks. I was then given Flecainide but once again only to take when an episode started 200mg at offset and no more for 24 hours.
Only this week did i find its not working like it should and things have now changed to 50mg twice a day and one Bisoprolol 2.5mg daily.
continuing on.......today I took my 50mg of flec and my 2.5mg of Bisoprolol and almost immediately I'm back in AF. Can't believe it. 😭
Hope you feel better soon ❤️ This sounds like me. I was put on flecainide but it caused pro arrythmias so I saw an EP who put me on Sotalol, I was better but still had breakthrough episodes lasting 36 hours with very fast heart rates. I decided on an ablation which I had in March this year, it was successful and I have been in NSR since 🤞 It remains that way. Have you considered ablation? I was really scared but the lovely people in this group helped me make that decision and supported me through it ❤️
Hi, thank you and yes I am on the waiting list for an ablation. I'm glad yours has been a success, it gives me hope.
Back in hospital with fast atrial flutter. 
Only out of hospital
RD&E Exeter Hospital
