Is this normal ?

[Trout7]

First of all sorry for all these new posts but this forum really is a godsend for me .

So yesterday, as i have put up in another post, i said i was given Bisoprolol to take daily (1 x 2.5mg tablet) along with Flecainide ( 1 x 50mg tablet twice a day). I took my first Bisoprolol yesterday when i got home from the hospital. I couldn't take anymore Flecainide as i already had 200mg that i always take when an episode comes on (yesterday about 10.15am).

I went to bed last night and struggled yet again to get a decent nights sleep, i felt like i was just getting the odd half hour here n there.

When i woke this morning i didn't feel any Afib. I took my 50mg of Flecainide and my 2.5mg of Bisoprolol and had my breakfast, porridge and toast and decaf tea. within ten minutes of that i was back in Afib at around 106bpm. since then i have been in and out of Afib most of the morning. I have a Kardia that i use to check numbers and obviously i can feel it anyway.

Does a change of medication take a bit to settle in ?

[mjames1]

Yes daily flecainide can sometimes take a while to work. In my case, it took 10 days before everything was pretty much under control.

That said, it's important your EP knows exactly what's going on, both with heart rate and symptoms, so they can guide you if any changes are necessary.

Jim

[Trout7 in reply to mjames1]

Thanks Jim .

[mjames1 in reply to Trout7]

Also, don't know if you have a home EKG device like the Kardia. But if not, it can be very useful in situations like yours because it will give your EP a much clearer and documented picture of what is going on and possibly save you a trip to the office or A&E. By the way, how much time until your ablation?

Jim

[Trout7 in reply to mjames1]

Yes Jim i use a Kardia to keep an eye on things . The hospital had a look at it yesterday. I was at my EP about 4 weeks ago and he has put me on the list for an ablation which he reckons will be about a year. Ive phoned since and asked to be put on the cancellation list.

[Buffafly]

I believe bisoprolol takes several days to get up to speed - or should I say ‘down to slow’?

[Trout7 in reply to Buffafly]

My heart rate can be sitting between 55 and 60 normally. I'm sitting here tonight and my heart rate is jumping from a steady 58 for five minutes to then jump into atrial fib then five minutes later im back out into normal sinus again. ive just taken my second 50 mg of flecainide so will see what that does. It really is a bit confusing for me.

[Buffafly in reply to Trout7]

Sounds like your heart is confused too 🥴

[secondtry]

Suggest you keep a diary so you can give valuable info to your medics. Also discuss with your cardiologist an increase in daily Flecainide if you are still getting AF breakthrough after a month; I had to go to 200mgs daily which stopped mine for 10+ yrs!

Suggest you also look at improving all lifestyle choices as I believe AF triggers are usually a build up of factors, one being sleep apnoea. In particular look at relaxation improvements as stress/anxiety is another AF contributor and in the early days after diagnosis your whole mind is on alert, which hinders sound sleep. It took me some time to reduce this, so start early.

Good luck and AF is not all negative, I have a lot to be grateful for from it.

[babs1234 in reply to secondtry]

Interesting. I’ve just been diagnosed with sleep apnoea

[CDreamer]

Please also consider what you eat and when you eat. I had great problems eating any carbohydrates, especially for breakfast because I found they caused gastro problems which had a knock on effect which triggered AF. Just try having protein, fruit and yogurt a few mornings and ditch the oats and bread and see if that makes a difference? Also best to leave at least one hour after taking Flec before you eating, it’s best taken well away from food.

Often it’s not the meds per se but our routines. Some people find that food and drink affects them a lot more than others, mainly because the stomach sits so close to heart. Carbohydrates, including oats, tend to fill the stomach very quickly. Stomachs are acidic, acid stomach is to break down protein whereas carbs need a more alkaline environment found in the colon but they cannot pass through the stomach so oats followed by toast is worst combination. Boiled eggs with toast, avacado or yogurt will sustain your for morning without filling you up. Just a thought.

[pusillanimous in reply to CDreamer]

Oats or anything heavyt raises my HR and I have to take 1.2mg Biso to stop tipping intoAFib. (my Cardio says I can take the iso when I need it - and I take it when my HR is in the 90s)Plain yoghurt gives me stomach pains, much as I love it, so I'm better off just having a banana and a croissant with a little btter and marmalade, or possibly an avocado with worcester sauce!

[Alphakiwi in reply to CDreamer]

Yes,i agree with this completely. I i was going to write and say to have just one thing or the other and not to much. It's obvious the food is the trigger. I've been there.All the best.

[Popepaul]

For me there is a highish probability that a breakfast of oats and toast will trigger an episode of afib. I try to avoid white starch, bread potatoes rice and pasta.

[BorderTerri]

I had exactly the same issues as you describe. Initially advised 6 weeks before meds settle into your body but issues continued. Eventually change bisoprolol for nebivolol 1.25ml and been loads better. Not been in AF since May😊 and listed for ablation which like you could be 12 months (UK)

[Trout7 in reply to BorderTerri]

Being out of AFib since May sounds like luxury. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

[Trout7]

many thanks everyone for the comments. Every one is much appreciated.

[WildIris]

Also make sure your not tightened with worry- take some deep breaths, relax your muscles, dwell on something happy or pleasant for a few minutes, all that...

[bassets]

All great advice from everyone here. I've started having just protein for breakfast and feel much better. There are a lot of good ideas in the fast 500 diet. I aloso use a mindfulness app to calm down.l Hope you feel much better soon x