Heart Rate: hi folks. I had an a fib... - Atrial Fibrillati...

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Heart Rate

President2012 profile image
25 Replies

hi folks. I had an a fib episode this morning around 11 am when shopping in the supermarket. My HR was around 120. Over a period of two hours it went between, ectopics, AF and NSR. . It finally settled into AF

I took my blood pressure this evening and it was 110/52. I had taken bisoprolol 2.5 mg as recommended two weeks ago by my EP as a PIP. I am assuming that this is what has brought my BP down.

Two hours ago I converted to normal sinus. My HR on conversion was 80 BPM and it has maintained that rate. My normal resting rate is 60 and would go below that where it not for the fact that I have a pacemaker.

My HR continues at 80 beats a minute and I find it is making me tired. I know 80 bpm is ok but it is very much out of normal for me.

any thoughts?

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President2012
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25 Replies
BenHall1 profile image
BenHall1

Hiya,

My understanding is that Bisoprolol is a heart rate control medication which has some properties that help with blood pressure control. But it certainly isn't a blood pressure specific control medication. For that reason I can't see that 2.5mg of Bisoprolol taken as a PIP is gonna do much for HR control long term. I wonder what your pacemaker settings were. Do you take any BP specific medications aimed at controlling BP

One question I'd have is ............... you say your BP was 110/52, did you have any readings in the hours before that ... it would be useful in any decision/advice - or was it just a one off reading.

When I was originally diagnosed my BP dropped continuously from a normal of 136/80 down to 76/50 .... at which point my GP put me in hospital, at which point AF was diagnosed. My HR managed to hit and maintain 156 untilr a young Dr. put me on a drip of something or other which brought it down over a great many hours.

Back in the day ( Jan 2010 ) when originally diagnosed I was put on 5mg Bisoprolol for life. ( aged 65 at the time ). That worked ! My daytime HR was around low 60's and night time mid 40's. Since then my Cardiac guy has moved me from Bisoprolol to Nebivolol and now Sotalol which gives me a highly controlled HR of 70 ish ... nice !

TBH, again, back in the day, before my AF diagnosis my HR was around 85 to 98 bpm without HR control medication. In my view far too high. I must confess to be interested in why Cardiac Consultants increasingly go for a PIP approach ............... to problem solving. None of mine over the years have ever favoured that.

Be interesting to know if by morning your BP has changed further, either up or further downwards.

President2012 profile image
President2012 in reply toBenHall1

Many thanks. I woke up this morning and my heart rate was back down to the normal 60 BPM. I am in BP meds which keep me at 123/60 so it takes little to bring the systolic down. Many thanks.

pusillanimous profile image
pusillanimous in reply toBenHall1

Maybe because Biso often has unpleasant side effects, lethargy and fatigue for example, that Cardios favour the Pill in Pocket regimen (as needed my Cardio calls it), if it is being used as a rate controller, why take it if your rate in normal? I'll comfortable with late sixties to mid seventies, but as soon as mine hits 90 BPM I take 1.25mg Biso. it brings it down quite quickly and, it could be coincidental, avoids an AFib episode.As far as i'm concerned, despite its bad press, Bisoprolol is the best rate controller, Verapamil does nothing for me, I have discussed changing to Nebivolol with my Cardio, his words were to the effect, I can certainly change it for you, but why move from a drug that really works for you, which you only take occasionally because of a few relatively short lived side effects. I'm still with Biso 'as needed'.

President2012 profile image
President2012 in reply topusillanimous

Thanks. Biso brought my rate down from 120 to 80 quite quickly. It also brought my BP down too far , particularly systolic. That is what caused the fatigue I think. Hopefully my ablation in January will be successful

Brightness14 profile image
Brightness14 in reply topusillanimous

I have no thyroid and cannot use Biso it does the job of bring down my heart rate but also blocks any conversion from T4 to T3 which is a killer if you have no thyroid. Without FT3 that's it.

pusillanimous profile image
pusillanimous in reply toBrightness14

Gosh - is it just Biso or any cardiac specific beta blocker?

President2012 profile image
President2012 in reply topusillanimous

I was on Metoprolol for years and found it easier on my system. I was changed to Bisop to counteract difficult ectopics. It worked well but was eventually put on Multaq for rhythm control.

Brightness14 profile image
Brightness14 in reply topusillanimous

Well I had read about beta blockers making hyperthyroid patients feel better which is very bad news for anyone without a thyroid, that's me. I have tried Bisprolol and at 1.25 and 2.5 it did lower my Heart rate about 12 points, but it interfered with my Thyroid medication and also made me feel really ill.

Yesterday I read and downloaded info about Bisoprolol and Amiodarone which both induced Hypothyroidism .They both block the peripheral functions of T4 conversion to T3 which is needed in every cell in the body to survive. This is bad news for people relying on thyroid medication. Not bad for people with Hyperthyroidism which helps them feel better.

pusillanimous profile image
pusillanimous in reply toBrightness14

Yes, my sister suffered Hyperthyroidism and that combined with familial Afib, which surfaced with the thyroid diagnosis, means she takes Biso. Her problemwas solved with the insertion of some radio active pellets (not sure what the technical name is) but now at 85, she's furious she has been diagnosed as diabetic!

Brightness14 profile image
Brightness14 in reply topusillanimous

That's really interesting to hear about your sister. I am trying without it and it's hard as I have no thyroid.

bean_counter27 profile image
bean_counter27

The elevated resting heart rate might be a response to your low diastolic blood pressure, the latter also a potential cause of your tiredness. Both could be in response to the bisoprolol you've taken as PIP. If you haven't already returned to "normal" you should consider contacting your prescribing doctor for advice.

President2012 profile image
President2012 in reply tobean_counter27

Many thanks. all back to normal this morning.

Responsable profile image
Responsable

Where I first joined this forum, some 10 years ago, a decent AF was with HR 160 to 250 bpm. In the past few years, things have changed, and everybody is reporting HR from 90 to 150 bpm when in "AF". Something does not add up... Why has HR gone down by such a significant amount...?

President2012 profile image
President2012 in reply toResponsable

Good point. I have no idea

Responsable profile image
Responsable in reply toPresident2012

I have the idea, but I do not dare to mention it because of admins...

JaneFinn profile image
JaneFinn in reply toResponsable

Hey Responsable, I think there’s plenty of us who still get the very high heart rate (RVR) when we go into AF - sadly! It makes everything so much harder, as we need attention sooner when the rate is crazy high.

PS love the terminology ‘a decent AF’ 😆

Responsable profile image
Responsable in reply toJaneFinn

Hello, Jane!

English is not my first language, so I maybe sometimes use the words in an inappropriate way, lol... Such a good thing to hear that there is still the good, old AF, with high HR. I know that you will not believe it, but if you have AF with high HR, you are on the safe side regarding many health ailments. Some day, I may speak up about it, but not just at present... Cheers!

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman

I have felt the same and can feel pretty awful at 85bpm. Only extra betablockers can help, I imagine, so a chat to your GP might help on that one. Of course, these also can bring side effects, but maybe if used as needed, would be acceptable?

Steve

President2012 profile image
President2012 in reply toPpiman

Thanks. As I am in sinus at a normal rate I shall probably be ok. If it happens again I will consult my EP. I have a Pulse Field Ablation scheduled for January 2.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toPresident2012

I'm awaiting the same. Tachycardia is an odd thing, I find. 100bpm is the resting rate needed to call it that, but it's the feeling, rather than the rate, in reality and 80+bpm can make me feel quite uncomfortable.

Best of luck with the ablation!

Seve

President2012 profile image
President2012 in reply toPpiman

Good Luck to you also.

Ppiman profile image
Ppiman in reply toPresident2012

Thank you!

Steve

shiftcolors profile image
shiftcolors

when you finish reading all the replies, take your post and the responses and get his opinion, since that’s what he’s getting paid to do. Every person with AFIB is different in as many ways as they are alike. 120 doesn’t sound bad to me, but how the heck do I know what’s high for you? I’m 74 and on Metoprolol 50 mg 1x daily and things are going well except for the cough I’ve had for 3 years. At the moment my bp is 129/73 pulse is 83. I’ve let my weight balloon but lost 9.5 pounds since I got home from my brother’s home Monday. I’m at 248.3 this morning. All of these other things come in to play when you have AFIB. And yet my A1C is 5.6. . Why? How? I don’t know. My doctors don’t seem to know. They’ve scanned my lungs multiple times looking for a reason for the cough. Doesn’t appear to be my lungs. I suspect now either acid reflux or sinus problems. Oh my gosh like others here I’ve changed the subject to make it about ME ME ME! Sorry, any idiot could give you my advice - see your Doctor! Meanwhile, Pray, Play Golf and go to Church! One day God will call us each Home. When he does it will be too late to get to know him. Good luck!

President2012 profile image
President2012 in reply toshiftcolors

Amen🙏

Auriculaire profile image
Auriculaire in reply toshiftcolors

There are people here who do not believe in the existence of gods and object to such religious admonitions on what is a medical site. Please keep your religious sentiments to yourself.

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