Break through AF

[exmouth]

Hi everyone, hope you are all keeping well. I’ve had a AF a number of years , kept in check with Bisopolol 1.25 x2 I’ve recently been having break through episodes The Dr said to try another 1.25 in the morning but am still having a break through. I’ve tried in vain to get in touch with the A F nurse with no luck. Would you try another tablet or see if it settles down As hard as I try it makes me really anxious. I would love to hear your thoughts Many thanks in advance.

[mjames1]

Depending on the frequency and duration of your breakthrough episodes, you might want to ask your medical team about antiarrhythmics. Either on an as needed basis (PIP) or daily. Ablation is another option.

Jim

[exmouth in reply to mjames1]

Thanks Jim I’ve been to A&E tonight

[Oldforge73]

Bisoprolol will only reduce your heart rate, the more you take the lower it may go. You need to monitor your BPM as it is important to keep within 60 to 100. If it is going consistently over that please consult a medic. I have never found Bisoprolol to have prevented episodes in fact it seemed to promote more but as a rate control it is excellent. Regards Kathleen

[exmouth in reply to Oldforge73]

Hi Kathleen thanks for your reply I’ve been to A&E tonight.

[CDreamer]

Bisoprolol is a beta blocker and therefore controls heart rate & BP, very little anti arrhythmic effect.

Ask to be referred to cardiologist who can offer treatment plans.

[exmouth in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for your reply I’ve been to A& E tonight.

[JaneFinn]

Hi exmouth, just read your replies saying you’ve been to A&E tonight - hope you’re ok? How are you doing? Jx

[exmouth]

Hi Thanks so much for your reply. They just told me to take an extra Bisopolol. I’ve just taken it now but am still in AF. When I was diagnosed they said there wasn’t anything wrong with my heart I’ve managed with 1.25 Bisopolol twice a day This last 10 days it’s been all to pot. Today is the first day I’ve doubled up . So keep your fingers crossed I have to make a Drs appointment tomorrow. Thank you again

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to exmouth]

Sometimes AF starts acting up for no apparent reason. You’re safe up to 10mg *which is NOT* the same thing as recommending that dose! I’m merely repeating what an A&E doctor told me. Sometimes, if you’re having fast AF, you might need a higher dose to bring the rate down. You need to get advice from your cardiologist, if you have one, or whoever is responsible for your prescription with a view to long term management.

[BenHall1]

Sorry to read of your present problem. Matter of interest, do you own a BP device and/or a Kardia. If you do, and have had the presence of mind to use these devices it would be useful to have these to discuss with you medical team.

[exmouth in reply to BenHall1]

Yes I use a B P machine which if you’re in AF My blood pressure has always been good .

[secondtry]

If funds allow, make a private appointment with a trusted cardiologist to discuss your diary of AF and options; daily Flecainide stopped mine.

[OzJames]

can you think what else you e been doing last 10 days that’s different… food, drink, your daily routine changed, other medications etc… . With me I’ve been able to pinpoint triggers.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi Exmouther

Where I lived in the 90s. In the top part by the park.

Please tell us .. is it your high BP or Heart Rate the issue?

I went from 2.25 to 5 to twice a day of Bisoprolol but Bisoprolol did not control my Heart Rate Day.

Eventually went to a Heart Specialist Private. CCB Diltiazem did the controlling. Go carefully though.

cherio JOY. 75. (NZ)

[exmouth in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

Thanks very much for taking time to reply. I’m phoning my Dr this morning and going to ask to see someone privately. When I was diagnosed I was given Bisopolol and Apixaban and never saw anyone again At the hospital last night my ECG and bloods were fine I was told just take an extra Bisopolol No mention of seeing someone. I think going private is the only way to get any answers. .

[GR123 in reply to exmouth]

It's good that you are on Bisoprolol and Apixaban. The Bisoprolol keeps your heart rate going too high and the Apixaban thins your blood so keeps it flowing nicely and reducing the risks of a stroke/heart attack. I thought this would be enough long term but my AF has started to get worse. Sometimes I take an extra tablet (GP confirmed this was ok) if I have an episode. I have just gone private and I'm booked in for a Catheter Ablation in 2 weeks. This may be though because there is heart history in my family though.

Good luck with your journey.

[exmouth in reply to GR123]

Thank you Hope it goes well for you Because I’m on a low dose they told me to take an extra Bisopolol I’m waiting to see A F nurse but will go private too if need be Take care.

[Omniscient1]

My GP said about 15y ago that bisoprolol would cure my AF. Sounds like yours has implied the same thing. I'd go and see a cardiologist or EP on the basis that your condition has worsened.

[exmouth in reply to Omniscient1]

I’m Phoning GP this morning Thanks for you reply.

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to Omniscient1]

Hi

My Locum Dr who has experienced AF and finally had an ablation in Australia, told me that Bisoprolol should solve the dilation servere of my left atrium - due to continual day heart rate of 186 and then 156 bpm avg on bbs.

5 years she said. I am at 4 years.

But when I asked the hospital heart specialist he laughed and said no.

I understood that it would not stop AF but my heart would become healthier.

I'm waiting patiently.

cherio JOY.

[Rubymurray25]

After 12 years of AF , I have, I believe found most of my triggers, the one trigger , and probably my worst is stress and the one I struggle to control. I now take dronedarone and have flecainide as my PIP , which for me has a very good success rate when the AF kicks in. I do hope your DR's does a very speedy referral and you can obtain some piece of mind very soon. Wishing you well.

[exmouth in reply to Rubymurray25]

Thank you Mine is usually stress but I can honestly say I don’t feel stressed I’m thinking I’ve got a sinus infection and wondering if that’s a contributor. I have phone appointment with GP later.

[Garaidh in reply to exmouth]

Hello there. Sorry to read about your issues - and definitely it would help to speak with an EP or expert. I've easy access to my EP here in Edinburgh but I know I'm fortunate. I just wanted to say from my experience (to kind of echo Ruby above) we can develop a new trigger. Or the heart can become sensitised (infection or something). I had a big discovery recently that's helped me enormously - to keep my blood sugar levels in balance. I've had months with no Afib at all, I'm amazed. I almost eat as if I'm diabetic (I'm not, not at all) - it seems my heart / system is just very sensitive to high or low blood sugar. I've been able to reduce my Flecainide and Bisoprolol. Best of luck in your search for an answer!! 🤗

[exmouth in reply to Garaidh]

Thank you.I really need to lose some weight. I’m waiting for hip and knee surgery and find I can’t walk very far( although I try) resulting in me gaining weight. I find the GPs just say take an extra tablet and get on with it I phoned the AF nurse every day last week and still haven’t got an answer.

[Camelia23 in reply to exmouth]

In January I was visiting a gp on another matter. She said infection could be a trigger. Yesterday I was prescribed Flucloxacillin, 500mg tablets 4 times a day for 7 days. I had an acitinic keratosis cut from nose October 2nd. All seemed to be healing quite well but small part slightly infected hence the antibiotic. I also have some arrhythmia today after nothing for a few weeks. I was wondering if the infection set it off but could be coincidence as was stressed yesterday. Best wishes and good luck, exmouth

[exmouth in reply to Camelia23]

I’ve spoken to Dr today She said take 2.5 Bisopolol in morning and 1.25 in the evening, unless it’s racing and then I can take another one I try hard not to stress but it’s not as easy.I haven’t had an episode in a very long time , that’s why I’m wondering if it’s the sinus infection I have Keep safe and Thank you for taking the time to reply.

.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to exmouth]

It could be. Viruses are not good for AF. I’m fact, anything that causes an inflammatory response in the body, which is what the immune system does (and is supposed to do) when it detects infection. I have a very good arrhythmia specialist who told me at my first appointment with him that viruses can make AF worse. As for “OMG! Was it the [insert random ingredient here]?” Forget it! Playing food detective will drive you mad and make you anxious about eating perfectly safe foods. But eat sensibly anyway. You know what to do. The advice is everywhere.

[exmouth in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Thank you

[Buffafly]

The only reason why bisoprolol would ‘cure’ your AF is because stress is one of the main triggers of AF, same goes for BP meds. I think that it is only fairly recently that AF has been taken seriously, or should I say not been thought of as a chronic condition that just has to be ‘managed’ as conservatively as possible. So many GPs and even cardiologists are behind the times. I read an interesting book called simply ‘The Heart’ by an American cardiologist. It followed the history of treatment for heart disease together with some contemporary anecdotes. I was waiting breathlessly for the chapter on AF. It never came, only a section on VTach which was caused by an extremely stressful incident and the conclusion was that the heart is very susceptible to emotional stress.

[Ppiman]

It will depend on the symptoms. Bisoprolol can only slow the rate, which might help symptoms, but might add to them in some ways by causing bradycardia.

Stronger anti-arrhythmic drugs such as flecainide are a possibility if your heart can take them (an echocardiogram and ECGs are needed to check), but these do bring greater risks of side effects.

Steve

[Pommerania78]

A doctor of mine once said that if one has any kind of disease outbreak to ask oneself, "what was I doing just before all this happened?" Thanks.