confused

[Anxious37]

i have been on edoxaban and bisoprol first 5mg then 7.5 mg for 1 week . This is all new to me only started 2 weeks ago . I not sure if these are helping but dont feel anyone listening to. Me . I still feel awful get this whoosing wobbling fullness in chest . Was in hospital for 2days been monitored. Bloods were fine and heart rate came down But it didn’t stop the other feelings whoosing etc . What is pill in pocket ? Is there any other medication thats better ? Has anyone any thoughts on how to help when it’s overwhelming feeling in your chest ? . Any help or information given i would be very grateful.

[BobD Volunteer]

Anxiety is a common bedfellow to AF but do remember AF won't kill you.

Why not gp to AF Association main website and read till you drop as knowledged is power and can help combat the stress which can be damaging.

It can take some time to arrive at a set of drugs which is helpful so patience is also important. The edoxaban is an anticoagulant to help prevent AF related stroke. The bisoprolol is a beta blocker to slow your heart when in AF. Yes there are anti arrhythmic drugs which aim to stop AF happening but these are powerful chemicals and tests are needed before some of them can be prescribed, and then only by a hospital consultant, not your GP .

Be assured that we have all felt just like you in the first months of being diagnosed. I've been around the game for over twenty years and still here!

[Anxious37 in reply to BobD]

Thank you can i ask how long did it take before the medication works

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Anxious37]

It might not. As I said, finding the right meds can take time. We have all been there.

[CDreamer in reply to Anxious37]

In what way do you expect the medications to ‘work’? What is the ‘wooshing’ sensation and where do you feel it? If it is the sensations AF has ie: irregular heartbeat then unless and until you are assessed and treated by cardiologist EP at an Arrythmia clinic you are unlikely to stop the AF.

Edoxaban is an anticoagulant which you take to reduce your risk of stroke and so will not have any affect on your AF or the symptoms. Bisoprolol is a rate control medication which will reduce your heart rate to help protect damage to your heart but it’s not a great medication and doesn’t suit many people so if you are not doing well on it, as Bob says, you need to return to your doctor (not your GP) and ask for other treatment options.

A PIP (pill in the pocket) is something you take only when you need to rather than everyday.

I think it would be helpful if you read the leaflets Bob suggested so that you understand the medications you are taking, what treatments are available. Look at the post that Admin have just posted with the links - understanding your meds.

There are no instant cures for AF as it is a chronic condition, one many of us have lived with for many years and decades but it can be managed. Knowledge and understanding really does help and lessen the anxiety. Best wishes

[Anxious37 in reply to CDreamer]

I feel like a whooshing snd shaking feeling in my chest . Just feels like something not working right . The consultant says this is normal. Because of irregular heart rate my heart not doing its right job . I dont have a blockage or they say i dont . Not yet had a scan . Had a xray so heart looks normal size and bloods came back ok . Just feel so rough . Yes i know its early day s. Just do not think meditation helping .

[Sleepyzz in reply to Anxious37]

The other think to keep in mind is that the anxiety of first time going to hospital and being diagnosed in afib can cause symptoms too, it also makes you very aware of every feeling in your body. As you settle you will probably not notice it so much.

Is your rhythm still irregular?

[Pommerania78 in reply to Anxious37]

Afib medicine can take a while to start being effective. For example, I started taking 100mg Flecainide twice a day every day, and I would say that it took several months for it to become fully effective. Also, at first the Flecainide caused a "cramping" sensation in my chest occasionally for a month or so. This was my body getting used to it. So, give anything you take some time. Also, I radically changed my diet. I cut out COMPLETELY gluten and eliminated sugar wherever possible and simply didn't eat as much. I lost 79 pounds, which was about 30 percent of my original body weight. I no longer have any Afib and my blood pressure has become so good that I was able to eliminate my blood pressure medicine. I would say getting rid of the gluten was the single most important thing I did. Also, improve your sleep and posture. So, I would urge you to view this as an opportunity to improve your health and get rid of Afib, but it might not happen overnight, but keep the faith and things will improve.

[Anxious37 in reply to Pommerania78]

I am already gluten free as i am coeliac have been for over a year thank you for the advice its all helpful to me

[Luvtomatoes in reply to Pommerania78]

Exactly the same for me too Pommerania78 🎄

[Pommerania78 in reply to Luvtomatoes]

Could you elaborate? Thanks.

[Buzby62]

We’ve all been newbies, everyone’s AF is different and we all share experiences but finding your unique treatment path comes with the knowledge as BobD says.

Link to patient resources heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Once in that website you can also navigate from the Menu button.

Best wishes

[Anxious37 in reply to Buzby62]

Sorry one last question do you know why does my heart do its strange thing it beat harder/faster when i am sitting then when i stand . Well i feels like that

[Buzby62 in reply to Anxious37]

I don’t know really but it may be that when you sit your heart gets pushed up and feels different. I know sleeping on different sides can make a difference to some. As we say we’re all different.

Best wishes

[CDreamer in reply to Anxious37]

So many reasons as to ‘why’ many of them Lifestyle factors - eating UPF’s, poor sleep, no exercise, too much exercise, reactions to certain substances, other chronic conditions eg: diabetes, thyroid, high BP are just a few. Tracking down a cause is not always helpful - once you have had echocardiogram, bloods & other tests which came back clear.

It’s more about accepting and learning to manage it.

[Buffafly in reply to Anxious37]

Are you overweight? In that case as Buzby says your heart will be constricted. The same thing can happen when you lie on your side. Try sitting on an upright chair instead of a sofa.

[TullowHill in reply to Anxious37]

It's probably the same when you are on the move but at rest you notice the palpitations more, I definitely do in bed and during the night but have learnt to live with it. Best of luck moving forward.

[Youngcrow123]

Hi there. I've been on 60mg edoxaban, 1.25 bisoprolol 2 times a day and 80 mg atorvastatin for over 3 years since I had a TIA in eye. A few side effects like achy legs and a bit bruising at first few weeks. I'm 68 still working. Anxiety and introspection can be constant at the beginning. Learn to breathe and eat healthy. I still get the odd few days with irregular or missed heart beats. Try to ignore them. You'll be surprised that when they're gone you didn't even notice. Obviously follow medical advice but accept your condition and float through it😀

[opal11uk]

I have read the comments from both Bob & Dreamer and can only agree with them, I have had this nuisance for nigh 30 years and whilst its certainly not a lot of fun it does help to learn about the condition and become more aware of what's going on and why. Write all of your questions and fears down and discuss when next you see your cardio specialists, same with the drugs you are taking and how they are reacting, helping/not helping, We all react differently and some drugs work better than others , discuss then with your cardio. Sadly this condition is something most of us learn to live with, know our triggers, what to do when we are in A/F and so on and of course we also learn from each other and hopefully you will find this group both informative and and supportive. Remember, you are not alone, learning about A/F will help give you the strength you need to know and understand what is going on with your heart. Good luck x

[Fidodog]

Hi I take Edoxaban and Bisoprolol it took Bisoprolol a few weeks to work but feel so much better as feel it has done it's job👍

[Anxious37 in reply to Fidodog]

Thank you so much for that it’s really helped

[Ppiman]

The feelings will get better over time - for sure. Most of what the feelings are is very likely to be a form of anxiety that can't initially be helped and varies among sufferers, but diminishes over time. It absolutely will get better as you slowly realise you aren't about to keel over! Well - that happened with me and others I know with this.

Individuals do react differently to AF but it's very important to realise that the top of the heart can get up to all sorts of things without causing any long-lasting harm to the "downstairs" ventricles - the part that truly matters, or, indeed much harm to itself. The ventricles - as in your case - usually react to the atrial fibrillation by beating too quickly (mine used to be 180bpm but more often now tops at 135bpm). They also beat irregularly with longer gaps between some beats, creating the "whooshing" and palpitations, with thumps, bumps and chest ache in some.

You'll have read from others about ablation, no doubt; also flecainide is a popular drug that might help. Overall, though, time will bring some much needed comfort - for sure.

Steve

[Trainspotter56]

Hi, I think your description of the feelings in your chest was very good, at least in my experience. It's very obvious that the rhythm is not right, I had trouble sleeping and when I did my sleep was short and a bit delirious. I also felt very weak and had low blood pressure. You ask about alternative medications - as has been stated bisoprolol is primarily for slowing the heart rate, and doesn't specifically correct arrhythmia. One drug that is mentioned on the forum is flecainide, sometimes taken as a pill in pocket. I was prescribed amiodarone - very effective but often comes with side effects. The clinical procedures are more long term, unless you go private.

If you are aware that your heart is continously in the wrong rhythm (not just a bit fast or bit of a heavy beat like when you are stressed) I think you are going to have to go back to your GP and tell them that the bisoprolol isn't doing the job, or A&E if you feel it's urgent, not because you are going to drop down dead but because they can't expect you to live with it like it is. Problem is arrhythmias are very common and the clinicians have to distinguish between serious and non serious cases. They don't normally keep people in for 2 days for the latter.

[bigbearatthecave in reply to Trainspotter56]

I am on Apixaban 2 x 5mg and Bisoprolol 2,5 mg . I could not tolerate 5mg . I think 2.5m g does the job however I am in permanent AF but does not bother me. I would say since being on Anti Rat ( Apixaban) that has affected me more, muscle aches and balance. However here in the North East UK the Doctors don't regard AFib as a problem rather than something many of their patients have . The key I have found is to stop thinking about it then you get better.

[Trainspotter56 in reply to bigbearatthecave]

I have met people who are completely unaware that they have AF, no symptoms, they only know because they're wearing a watch that tells them, or by measuring their pulse and finding that it's irregular, or because someone tells them. But that isn't always the case - and if it puts your blood pressure down in the 80s or causes heart dilation it's best not left. Bisoprolol doesn't always do the trick, treating AF isn't it's primary use (NHS website).I have read comments on here quoting clinicians that say that if you leave AF untreated then after a while (years I think) you may never get rid if it, all the more reason to get treated properly if you are starting out with it. I'm not a medical expert but I don't mind quoting them.

[BorderTerri]

I was exactly the same as you in feeling dreadful when prescribed bisoprolol but didn’t know at the time this was the cause. I kept being told it takes a few weeks for your body to adjust…mine never did. Eventually changed to nebivolol 1.25mg and felt instantly better.

[bigbearatthecave]

My main problem with Apixaban is that it make my sinusitis worse, no idea why. The trouble with Anti Rat is that once on it you are stuck on it , but better than snuffing it I am told.

[DawnTX]

all I will do is agree with Bob and yes anxiety is going to give you more headaches with it. I have had anxiety anyway along with depression long before my a fib hit. I used to have meds to take as needed. It was my EP that obviously could see what I myself. He spoke to me along with my GP about my needing my meds for anxiety more than I thought not just once in a while. Since then it’s been adjusted and it has made a big difference. I’d rather who wouldn’t? Unfortunately, the rest of our lives we are prone to flutter, even with a pacemaker you them, but they will no longer do damage. Learn all you can don’t expect miracles. You will good days and bad days. After a year and a half of my pacemaker, I rarely think about my a fib except when it decides to act up and give flutter usually I have triggered it somehow sometimes it’s being upset. Last week I had five friends buried all from careless drivers, They included a seven year old I loved with her mother. except for her, they were all law enforcement handling traffic offenders. They were killed as they just sat in the car and were head on by a drunk driver. My other three former coworker friends were hit by a who lost control. FYI, they were standing in the median strip. She wiped out the guard rail first before hitting all three of them sending them in different directions. I cried, but I thought I was handling things well but on Thursday, a fib started to get ugly. The good thing is, I knew it was not hurting my heart. In fact my heart failure has reversed instead of 40 for ejection rate, I am in the 70s according to my EP even without heart issues that is good for my age of 72.

usually I cut to the chase these days with people and I will tell you the same get out of your head. Don’t do what your doctor you because he went to school for talk to them about issues you are but don’t expect many miracles they do but

Bob hit the nail on the head. It’s not going to kill us. I view it is inconvenience and being uncomfortable now with the thump, thump thump, and sometimes it aches, but it’s not all that bad considering alternatives that other people have.

[Vonnegut]

Anxiety is no good! Rest and try slow breathing and meditation when episodes occur.

Pip stands for “pill in pocket” - medication to take when an episode occurs.

I started taking Flecainide that way as it stops the electrical problem in the heart that causes it to beat too fast and erratically. Now that I take it regularly it has virtually put an end to episodes and I have actually managed to reduce the first dose of the day. You are taking quite a high drug of Bisoprolol which reduces heart rate but not the irregularity. The other one is an anticoagulant.

I find it dreadful that whoever prescribed your drugs for you failed to explain them!

[Myflowers2]

I had these feelings after having A F and cardio version. The cardiologist said it would go and it did. It took a few weeks so try not to worry.

[Myflowers2]

I am also on bisoporol 5 mg in the morning and 2.5mg at night and Apixaban

[TracyAdmin Partner]

Hello

Welcome to the Forum, I am pleased so many of our members have welcomed you by offering their own advice and experiences, if you need any support our Patient Services Team are here to help anytime.

UK and International: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

US: heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Kind regards

TracyAdmin