cocodamol

[Rockcake]

Is it ok to take cocodamol for a headache - I am in Afib since yesterday and my b/p and pulse have been far too low? I’m doing almost nothing but rest but for last hour my head aches. Thank you for any advice, feeling low and anxious.

[JudiHalf]

Have you got any paracetamol? That would probably be better, what is your heart rate and BP, if too low you may need medical advice.

[Rockcake in reply to JudiHalf]

First, thank you for replying. My heart rate - right now - 94/62 pulse 41 and the squiggly is showing so I’m still in Afib. It’s been low like this since night before last. The headache has gone and I didn’t take anything. At 7.45pm it was better briefly at 106/82 pulse 62 and no squiggly. I feel better than I have all day. All I could do was rest. This is longest I’ve been in Afib and it began after a v stressful telephone call. I took Edoxaban, nothing else. Thank you again. I’ve read your bio and it is very interesting. My b/p does also go to the other extreme but I think I’m not usually suffering anything when it does,

[JudiHalf in reply to Rockcake]

I’m glad your feeling better, I used to feel worse with a low heart rate than a faster one!

[Rockcake in reply to JudiHalf]

Thank you, well, getting there. May I ask how long your Afib episodes used to last for? I have not heard of a pacemaker for Afib. I think I need to see an electrophysiologist as mine is getting more frequent. I feel and look awful and cannot do anything . Were you the same! Glad you are now doing so well.

[BobD Volunteer]

Don't forget to stay well hydrated.

[Rockcake in reply to BobD]

Thank you Bob, I will.

[JudiHalf]

The pacemaker doesn’t stop afib unfortunately, I had it fitted because my heart rate would drop very low after an episode. I have had about 3 episodes of afib in the last 6 months, the longest time was 12 hours, I get my heart rate to about 80bpm with the use of Beta blockers which I couldn’t use before because of low heart rate.

I feel awful too when in afib, and I don’t try and do much, usually takes a few days to feel better.

[Rockcake in reply to JudiHalf]

Thank you JudiHalf, it helps to know you too feel awful whilst in Afib. Also, usually mine last roughly 12 hours too. What’s odd is my b/p and heart rate are so low while I’m in Afib. Yours is after. 3 in 6 months is very good. Mine - about every 2 weeks.

[Alphakiwi in reply to JudiHalf]

I had an AV node ablation done 10 days ago after having a pacemaker implanted three and a half years ago . I dont have any noticeable afib now so not feeling horrrible.Im still having some palpitations and heart thumps. Apparrently these may clear up once the the ablation clears up.

[jayjay10000]

Hi there, I know it's really difficult to stay positive when Af, trust me I know, it makes you feel lightheaded and feeling unwell it's not pleasant at all, mine came on not long ago when I was out with my son at our local shop, only 5 mins by car. Heart palpitations came on, my body felt like it was trembling and I could not think straight. I had to get back home ASAP, cold cloth on the face and back of the neck usually sort it out, I was in bed trying to get to sleep tonight when it came on, it's just terrible, been sat down stairs since 1110pm now 1135pm, Iam so fed up what's been going on, I have nearly given up.

[Rockcake]

I’m sorry you are feeling so low. Don’t give up, tomorrow is another day and you will feel better!

Your AF sounds like mine in terms of symptoms but not duration. You seem to have short episodes? I also find cold water face neck helps. What’s your blood pressure and pulse like. I’m going to sleep now and hoping to be well tomorrow. I could do nothing all day and slept p.m.

[Rockcake in reply to Rockcake]

Hi Jayjay, I got your private message but I prefer to communicate here. You don’t say what your b/p and heart rate is when you’re in Afib; and I’m afraid I don’t have any knowledge of aneurysms. Sorry to read how depressed you are feeling, and I do hope you’ll soon feel a bit better. @

[jayjay10000]

Hi there, Goodmorning. I have never checked my BP when iam feeling heart palpitations but my Hr is around 124bpm, the highest it's ever been was 220bpm but I was in Lanzarote at the time with my wife and daughter and my son in law, spent 5 hours in the hospital there

[Rockcake in reply to jayjay10000]

Hi, I tend to check my b/p when I know I don’t feel right, to see if it is Afib. On the rare occasions when my pulse is high, say 123 to 155, my b/p is usually still too low, and I’m not in Afib. Do you keep a journal - I try to. 220 is so high, hope they were helpful in hospital.

[jd2004]

I take the maximum dose of cocodamol for pain but if I went into AFib I’d avoid.

[Rockcake in reply to jd2004]

May I ask why - is it just your opinion or have you been advised or read that it’s not a good idea. I did choose not to take it btw.

[jd2004 in reply to Rockcake]

It's my choice. Afib can lower my heartbeat and I don't want anything making it worse so I wait until I'm back in NSR.

[Rockcake in reply to jd2004]

Thank you jd.

[Mightnot]

I have had AF permanently and then get a cardio revision and out of AF and currently out of AF. I have taken co codamol 30mg codeine and 500mg paracetemol - no affect on AF when in it and it doesn't seem to put me in it.

[Rockcake in reply to Mightnot]

Thanks Mightnot, very helpful. I didn’t take it in the end as headache went, but Afib didn’t. You must be relieved - did I have the cardio version long ago? My cocodamol are 500mg not 30 btw.

[Mightnot in reply to Rockcake]

i would be surprised if you have 500mg of codiene in a tablet - are you sure? I think it is more like 500mg of parecetemol ( a normal strenght parecetemol tablet) with an added 30mg of codiene. I think those are the strongest ones. I have had AF for 2 years - I get a Cardio revision then 3 months in normal rythm then wait for 6 months for another cardiorevison and repeat so currently have last one in Sept and still not back in AF but I will go back some time. I am on a waiting list for ablation but may just live with AF.

[Rockcake in reply to Mightnot]

I do get things wrong - e.g. I’ve been unwell since late Sunday night - not Tuesday which I wrote on here. Finally out of it since a few hours ago.

My cocodamol says “8mg/500mg caplets” ?

If I continue to get episodes like this I would like cardio revision too. Is it an operation and do you get it on the National Health? Where are you? I think I need an electrophysiologist. I feel ok now, thank goodness, but my pulse reading is 122, doing nothing, from too low to too high. Thank you.

[Mightnot in reply to Rockcake]

I am in the UK and all this on NHS - pulse rate of 122 when resting for me would make be go to the doctors asap. Same with very low pulse rate. If pusle rate very high or low then go to doctors asap. Go straight away.

you have the co codamol you can buy in a chemist in uk 8mg. If pain is bad get 30mg which is only on prescription and you can take 8 a day so 240mg a day and it helps. If you suddenly go into AF it is distressing and stronger pain meds helped me a bit. This is the strongest pain killers I have had then the next ones are stronger opiates which carry issues. I think you can get 60mg but not sure - 30mg tablets help pain with teeth or general pain eg back pain etc as a mild opiate and less addictive than alternatives that are stronger.

cardioversion is a shock of the heart to get it back on track - general anestetic for 5 minutes - pads shock you and you are out of hospital in a few hours

[Rockcake in reply to Mightnot]

Hi, tbh I only wanted to take cocodamol for the headache, which subsided.

Being in Afib isn’t painful for me it just makes me feel extreme fatigue and breathlessness and chestva bit heavy with even the smallest task. Thanks for describing cardioversion. Pleased to say b/p now normal and pulse 73. It was 110 when I got out of bed.

But I agree I need to see doc. Can you just go to the doctors?

I will have to go on line, fill in a lengthy form and even then a member of the gestapo (sorry, reception) might ring and offer an appt a month from now. I literally can’t stand it! It was an upsetting call that set me off this time.

I also need my doctor to refer me to an EP. She is neither a cardiologist nor an EP.

Forgive the rant, and I hope the cardio version continues to work for a very long time.

[Lbeat796 in reply to Rockcake]

Am glad you are ok now. It’s a horrible feeling. When I have an arrythmia my BP drops low like yours around 88/75. Although my diastolic reading higher than normal. Its usually around 110/62. Instantly the arrythmia goes it returns to normal with a whoosh. And I am back to normal

[Rockcake in reply to Lbeat796]

Thank you Lbeat, what’s your pulse (heart rate) usually like?

[Lbeat796 in reply to Rockcake]

On average around 65. When asleep can drop to 48 and around 110 when out walking. When in an arrythmia it’s a steady 100 maybe 120 and sticks there for anything from 20 minutes to 6 hours when BP very low. I am on 25mg of atenolol so this will slow my heart rate

[Rockcake in reply to Lbeat796]

Hi and thank you for reply. My Afib behaves differently to yours. My pulse averages between 55 and 73 and it can be like this when I’m in Afib too. But it also jumps to 120 or drops to as low as 40. It’s not often it goes to these extremes? but when it does I’ve usually taken a reading because I’m feeling awful. yet it doesn’t always show the squiggly at these moments. I have an arm monitor not a Kardia.

[Challiefan]

I'm no expert. I can only comment that my GP told me that if my pulse rate dropped below 47bpm I should call the emergency services immediately. (I have AF.) Thankfully, 47bpm is the lowest it's ever been. I'd be seriously worried if my pulse rate dropped to 41bpm as you said happened to you. Your blood pressure was none to clever either.

[Rockcake in reply to Challiefan]

Thank you, and you’re right. Tbh my surgery requires me to fill in a form on line to describe my symptoms ask to see a Dr. Then someone else decides. It stresses (angers) me that I try to avoid it. Plus I think I need an electrophysiologist to see me. I have felt dreadful since Tuesday night but I’m relieved to say my b/p has gone to the other extreme since 4 pm and it’s not showing the squiggly now. I’m still not well but better than I’ve been for 2 days. Tomorrow I will try and get an appt if I’m Not fully out of This. I too have low thyroid and take levo. Good luck with your health. Was the catheter ablation painful? Which anticoagulant do you take?

[Challiefan in reply to Rockcake]

I've had two ablations. I was sedated, but 'came round' on both occasions when they were cauterising at the back of my heart. Very painful, but soon sorted with a bit more sedative, putting me under again.

I'm on Rivaroxaban. No side effects that I've noticed, but I bruise very, very easily. I hardly bruised at all before using anticoagulants. Still, a small price to pay for the reduction in stroke risk

Good luck backatcha !

[Rockcake in reply to Challiefan]

Bit unfortunate to wake up before they’d finished on both occasions! May I ask where they were done. Did you recover well and in a short time? Yes, I bruise easily too.

[Challiefan in reply to Rockcake]

They were both done at the University Hospital, Coventry (used to be known as Walsgrave Hospital). I recovered quickly from the first ablation - in and out on the same day. The side effects to the second (performed during Covid precautions) were not so comfortable. I had a migraine afterwards, and was kept in overnight. Additionally, I developed sharp stabbing pains over my heart a few days later which have become a permanent feature of my life. It's very well controlled through the use of Colchicine. The EP swears it's nothing to do with the ablation. I'm not so sure.

Would I consent to another ablation if offered? Probably yes. They have been effective in dealing with my AF, only reducing in efficacy after a few years. The limits on my lifestyle, discomfort and anxiety caused by AF are much worse than the little discomforts that go with ablations.

[Rockcake in reply to Challiefan]

Thank you Challiefan, very informative. I’m in Dorset so I wouldn’t get the same EP I were ever offered an ablation.

Like you I would accept it, I’ve been in a fib since Sunday night, I seem to be out of it now thank goodness. Everyone who replied to me on here whilst I’ve been stuck has been a great help so thanks again. Up to now my episodes have lasted about 12 hours, which I can cope with, but 3 full fays has been really debilitating. I need to see my but fear the hoops they put you through is my trigger!

[jayjay10000 in reply to Challiefan]

Hi there my heart rate gets low on a night time while watching tv 48bpm to 55bpm, while sleeping 46bpm..

[1909Barton]

I I was prescribed Co-Codamol so I guess it is safe to take

[Rockcake in reply to 1909Barton]

Thanks. Was it prescribed for your Afib?