Racing heartbeat

[KathleenV]

I have atrial fibrillation, long term persistent I think it`s called because I have had treatment but I am told I have to live with it now. Just wondering about heart beat. I do take bisoprolol, my usual resting heart rate is about 85 but sometimes for no apparent reason jumps over 100. Certainly when moving around it is not unusual for my heart to be 110 or over. I just wondered if it matters, does it mean something and what if anything, could I do about it anyway? Sometimes I can feel it has gone higher, I can feel it thumping or sometimes I suddenly feel very, very tired. Am I worrying for nothing? Does this happen to anyone else? Any comments welcome.

[lettingoffsteam]

Hi Kathleen, welcome to the forum.You'll find some afib sufferers on here but you might also benefit from posting on the AF association page too. I'm not yet at the afib stage, but on the way and I've learnt alot from them.

[KathleenV in reply to lettingoffsteam]

Thanks for the reply and I will have a look at that forum

[Beatle45 in reply to lettingoffsteam]

What do you mean when you say you are “ on the way “?

[lettingoffsteam in reply to Beatle45]

I have periods of what my cardiologist describes as atrial arrhythmia.I asked whether it was afib and he said that was a matter of degree which I took to mean that the arrhythmia was too short lived to be classed as afib.Anyway he gave me propranolol to help for now and said come back to me when you need to.

[Beatle45 in reply to lettingoffsteam]

Thank you . I’m going through similar at the moment. I’ve had 2 x 24hr ECG’s , the first the doctor said was “ difficult to interpret “ . Second was yesterday so haven’t had results yet. I don’t get fast heartbeat, I get irregular heartbeat sometimes lasting a few hours , other times just a couple of ectopics now and again. Wish I could get to the bottom of it.

[lettingoffsteam in reply to Beatle45]

I know, very difficult to pin down.

[NLGA]

I have the same I’m waiting for Cardioversion my heartbeat is now 50-65 I am on 15mg Bisoprolol and Amiodarine. Before this I could go from 45-140 within 30 mins I ended up in hospital twice once with a pulse of 170 It may be worth looking at the Bisoprolol as I was on 10mg but still couldn’t control it the 15 mg had done the job

[KathleenV in reply to NLGA]

Thanks very much for your reply and I hope the Cardioversion will be successful for you.

[CDreamer]

Hi Kathleen - may I suggest that you visit the AFA Association for information. They hold an annual Patient Day - now accessible virtually - every year in October. I learned more about AF in one afternoon there than in the previous 8 years of suffering with very symptomatic, pararoxymal AF which was treated with drugs, then RF ablation and finally Pacemaker. I am now mostly AF free. There are many different approaches to AF treatment - you do NOT need to live with it, but many people are told this, mainly because it is the most common arrythmia, some doctors who do not specialise in the condition are not aware of treatments and resources to see specialist cardiologists such as EP’s (Electrophysiologist Cardiologists) are scarce and many people have to travel to the major treatment centres to access these specialities.

heartrhythmalliance.org/afa...

Having said all of that, if you are not symptomatic and you take anticoagulants and your heart rate is controlled when in AF, many people do choose to live with it.

Please explore all your options. AF forum members will assist as they are a very knowledgeable and experienced crew.

Best wishes

[KathleenV in reply to CDreamer]

Thanks for that really useful information. I will have a look at that site

[Tommo1947]

Yes, I'm the same, Kathleen ( albeit male, 75). Well over 100 bpm at rest, and feeling pretty well 'spent' all the time. The palpitations are unnerving, aren't they ? I went privately to Papworth and was basically told that cardioversion and/or ablation was unlikely to help at this age. Medication it is ,then. I've just been put on Digoxin to go with the Bisoprolol, but it's too early to be effective yet.

Does it matter, you ask ? Well, I've been hospitalised twice when the heart was working so hard that it couldn't service the lungs. No fun at all.

So keep on at your GP, and a private consultation with a cardiac specialist should be under £300 if you want to go that route.

I hadn't heard of the AF Association before ( thank you 'lettingoff steam) , so their advice might also help.

All the best...

[KathleenV in reply to Tommo1947]

Hello Tommo yes you clearly have experienced the same thing. I will think about what you have said. I only take 5 grams of Bisoprolol so maybe increasing this may help. I will ask my doctor

[NLGA in reply to Tommo1947]

Sorry to hear that I’m 52 and ended up in hospital in May and June for 5 days each time with a pulse of 170 amd 149 I have been put on 15mg Bisoprolol and Amiodarine and it seems under control now

[Yellow26]

Hi KathleenVI’ve had AF since 2011 and will have it for the rest of my life, it was scary first with the usual fast heart rates and dizziness, but with time and the right medication you will feel better to control it. I’ve had ablations and cardio versions but it didn’t work for me, I work full time and manage no problem without taking time off due to any health issues with AF. I might be lucky but hopefully you will settle down with the right medication, I totally agree with others there are lots of help out there if you look for it, good luck .

[KathleenV in reply to Yellow26]

Thanks

[Daveena]

Talk to you doctor, it might nothing but better to know

[KathleenV in reply to Daveena]

Hello Daveena, yes you are right and I will do that

[anke123]

Hi I have problems at the moment with irregular heart beats, sometimes going very fast but more often it feels like missing beats. I was told to stop taking ramipril end of May and last month bisoprolol as my BP was dropping down to 86/46 with a pulse of 43, wich made me feel awful.I am waiting for test results from a echocardiogram been told 6 to 8 weeks. Reading some relpies you have had are interesting for me too. A few days ago, Monday I think, someone suggested breathing exercise to do when it starts racing or going anyhow. Take 5 deep breaths in then take a deep breath and hold for as long as you can. I have tried it and it does help a bit, I will look at the AF site as well. All the best Anke