Have waited nearly three months for the result of my echocardiogram, after a surprise diagnosis of atrial fibrillation from ECGs. I will have a consultant calling me in December. My worry is that I have a N-BNP Pro score of 1964 and after having a swollen leg, which caused alarm, I was given diuretics which I have stopped taking and started on a beta blocker and a blood thinner. My leg reduced in size but my body size changed from a 36 B bust to a 38 B and I had more flab around my middle. I mentioned the latter to my doctor who just thought I had naturally put on weight, but it happened within a few days and was quite worrying, I actually had to buy an extension for my bra, because it happened so quickly. I have actually lost pounds, but the increase in size remains. I have read that heart problems can cause this and worry that my doctor might have ignored symptoms.. Maybe the medicine could have contributed, I don’t know. I very often have dizziness in the morning that lasts up until lunchtime and am always tired. Has anybody had the same experiences. I don’t want bad heart problems, but am frightened of symptoms being ignored and a wrong diagnosis being made. Looking at the time it has taken to get results, this should comfort me as there doesn’t seem to be any urgency, however I have only been promised a telephone consultation with the consultant, who according to my N-BNP Pro result is under the impression that I could be an obese, African lady, whereas I am neither. It would be better if he saw me in person, but there doesn’t seem to be any hope of this.
Anxiety: Have waited nearly three... - Atrial Fibrillati...
Anxiety
Who ordered your echocardiogram? GP or consultant? Results should not take more than 10-14 days, and should be reported to whoever ordered the test.
Hello,
Thank you. My echocardiogram was on September 19th. The hospital said that the echocardiogram was a follow up to the ECG and ECG monitor that I had had done. The hospital sent a message asking me to make an appointment with the consultant on November 6th, unluckily this was sent to my mobile that I only use to confirm orders and order taxis with. My surgery uses my landline number to contact me. I contacted the hospital to see what had happened to my results and was told that the next appointment was December 12th. They have now removed my mobile number and made a note of my landline number. Sorry if this is a bit convoluted.
Why did you stop the furosemide? The extra size could be from fluid building up in your body especially as it happened so quickly. So if your doctor prescribed furosemide they did the right thing and unless they told you to stop you should still be taking it. Some of your symptoms could from the betablocker so you should mention that as there are alternatives. Hopefully the cardiologist will explain things better when you have the appointment.
PS Love to know how the obese African lady comes in 😂
I know, it came with the lab report 👀. It wouldn’t matter if I was one.
I hope they’ve got the right person 🤔
Anything goes nowadays !
I could only take them for a short period.
This is very helpful. Have found a box of Furosemide tablets in the cupboard and will take them to see if there is any difference. Thank you.
Hi
Lightheaded and dizzy points to overmedication. How much BB do you take?
I have just reduced my BB Bisoprolol from 2.50mg PM to 125. This has helped.
But I can say I exerted myself during table Tennis and I've arrived home and slept from 4pm to 7.30pm 3 hours.
Now its 9pm and I could easily return to sleep. Its raing and temperature cool.
Some of it could be the severe dilated left atrium. Caused by being left at uncontrolled heart rate on BB over two BB. I was left.
Its time that each one of us sticks out their chest/bust and get listened to.
You do that bluepuddy1 but I can tell you losing 10% of your weighgt helps in AF.
cherio JOY 75. (NZ)
*Usually your medical records show ethnicity - they do in NZ but a friend lied about hers.
Hello,
I seem to be extremely sensitive to medication. Bisopropol gave me severe stomach issues, Apixaban and Lansoprazole likewise. I am now on Edoxaban 30ml. The lower dose, because my kidneys are a bit iffy. The tiredness has decreased my energy quite a lot, but is difficult to comment on as so many people feel tired at this time of year. I find that I am forcing myself to do things. I would lose more weight (I have lost some) if I had more energy. I must say I find it difficult to sleep in the day, but sometimes doze off for a few minutes whilst watching television in the evening. Most annoying when you miss the end of Bake Off 😀. I have envisaged playing table tennis and will make enquiries. I think my medical records do show ethnicity so the lab report obviously didn’t pay attention to that 👀.
My paroxysmal atrial fibrillation developed at around the same time as chronic fatigue after a bout of shingles when I got the excruciating pain before the rash and wasn’t able to get a doctor’s appointment for nearly two weeks by which time the pain had gone but the rash had appeared but I wasn’t given an antiviral, hence the end of my previously active years. It sounds as if your symptoms are rather similar. I thought I waited quite a while to have the echocardiogram that I was promised “soon” but it was only a couple of months and my heart was found to be structurally fine as I hope yours will be. The chap who did it told me while I was there and I hope the person who does yours tells you what is found at the time rather than having to wait even longer! Good luck!
Thank you Vonnegut. Certainly I’ve heard that shingles can be extremely painful and I’m sorry you have had a bad time. Much worse than me.
I have been waiting for the results of my echocardiogram. The person who did it said my heart was a good shape and she couldn’t find any atrial fibrillation. As the latter had already been diagnosed I was a bit puzzled. Also I had read in the medical advice not to take any notice of the person doing the echo. Instead of doing a happy skippy dance I was left rather impatient to hear the consultant’s diagnosis. I often feel tired and also very heavy headed and slightly dizzy in the morning, but this could be sinusitis. It all started with my podiatrist worrying about my right calf that was twice the size of the other one and the discovery of an irregular heart beat.
As you can see, I probably have little to worry about, however the long wait, from September 19th (my appointment is on December 12th), has turned me into a moaning Minnie 😀.
Are you able to find £200 for a private consultation? That is what I did and it gave me the reassurance I needed to feel more secure about the future, and, indeed led to some good quality investigative tests on the NHS. It is far from ideal way but covid, government funding, Brexit and the like have reduced our NHS to such a dreadful service at times and private medicine is a way out of this.
In general, though, I would say that AF is not likely to cause you any worries. The bottom of the heart is far more important than where the AF is occurring, at the top. That said, fluid retention should not be a symptom of AF generally and, like you, I would want to get to the bottom of this. Rapid weight gain comes from fluid not fat, so your thinking is correct.
Two other possibilities occur and that is for you to take regular ECGs at home. A Wellue AI ECG monitor can measure for hours on end if need be, that is what I first used and it found a range of arrhythmias happening. Secondly, I use an Omron Evolv blood pressure machine to keep an eye on that. That gives me evidence to take along to my GP, or specialist.
Steve
Hello Steve,
My husband did suggest private healthcare and I would feel happier about a face to face consultation, but I will see what the NHS consultant has to say on the phone. If it doesn’t seem to make sense we may investigate further. The ECG monitor sounds good and I will probably try and get one. I already have an Omron for my blood pressure. Thank you for your information.
The Kardia is what many get, but the Wellue AI device is different, offering up to 24 hours of monitoring and more in the latest model. It's just a thought! I wouldn't be without my Apple Watch for the same purpose.
Steve
OK.
Just to say you will need a laptop to properly use the results produced by the Wellue AI ecg device mentioned by Ppiman . And there is a new model recently available, in both 24 and 72 hour versions.
Thank you.
Hi there...unfortunately one of the side effects from beta blockers is feeling lightheaded and dizzy, I got this problem when I was on a beta block but I was only talking 1.25mg..Report your worries to your local doctors about taking beta blocks and see if they can change it to something different..Bisoprolol has the same effects and can lower heart rate at rest as I found out, mine was 49bpm to 55bpm....I have not taken any beta blocks for 10 months now and my heart at rest is still the same. Take care
Hello Jayjay,
I’m currently just on a blood thinner Edoxaban, after having had stomach issues with everything else, but I agree that the side effects from medication should be taken into consideration. Thank you.
When I was on Metropololo I was dizzy alot! My friend had the swollen stomach and legs and her doctor put her on a strong water pill and she lost weight!
Well I’ve started on my diuretics again, hopefully they will do the trick. Glad about your friend. What’s Metropololo ? Sounds awful.
I was diagnosed with extra beats years ago, but never been given blood thinners, Is anyone else in the same boat?
Second fast Abfib and a bit freaked out!
Ablation review + thyroid review......
AF frustration
To ablate or not to ablate...etc
