My resting heartrate is 52bpm after Cardioversion has returned me to rhythm.I am still on Amiodarone and having difficulty with throbbing headache while resting and short of breath/tightness in chest when walking.
I usually walk at 3mph but can only walk at 2mph since heartrate has dropped.
Has anyone else had a similar experience ? (Sorry, I forgot to ask when I first posted this)
I’ve not had that experience, though I’m sure others will be have more experience of this. It is worth joining the AF Association forum @healthunlocked.com/afassoci... You are likely to get more replies in posting there.
Thanks Gumbie. I have joined
A similar thing happened to me last year and I felt as if I was walking in treacle. It turned out my dosage of beta blockers was too high. As soon as I went back to 2.5 I felt normal again so maybe check with GP. I hope you get this resolved .
Hi Pjaze. I have just been re-reading your reply and remembering that when I was diagnosed with AF I was given a 2.5mg of Beta Blockers but the very next day I went back to the GP because I still felt my heart thumping.He immediately doubled my prescription, without consulting the Cardiologist to 5mg.
Although I found this dose very restrictive to breathe properly when exercising, I was told to stick with it until I had an Echogram about 6 weeks later.
I was then changed to Digoxin and the breathing restriction was resolved.
A year later and two Cardioversion on, I have decided to stick with medication to control my AF.
I have been taken off Amiodarone after second Cardioversion failed, at my request and have been told to restart Digoxin at the end of February.
Looking at the longterm effects of Digoxin, I am now wondering if Digoxin is my best option and wondering if a lower dose of Beta Blockers may be a better option now that I know from experience that the thumping heart does not disappear completely.
Apart from being able to be more active on the lower dose of the BetaBlocker, did you notice ant significant difference in your heartbeat ?
Have you been on Betablockers for some time ?
There seems to be so many considerations, I hope you can shed some light on this for me please.
Sorry, I have given you the wrong information about Betablocker dose. The first day I was put on 125mg then changed to 2.5gm by the GP
Hi , so for me I had a heart valve replacement as I born with bicuspid heart valve. I never found out until my mid 50s. I'm now 60. So I had my operation in June last year and immediately on day of release it was upped to 5mg. Then at beginning of August I went into AF and was in hospital for 3 days. I like you was given high dosage of digoxin but it was only for one day. Then an additional 2.5mg of beta blockers . It was just too much and my main arteries were pulsing around my neck and this was when I felt I just wasn't recovering quick enough. I searched and found that pulsating could've been caused by too high dosage of beta blockers. I stopped 5mg myself and went back to 2.5mg. I felt better within 2 days and then was able to walk at a much better pace. I told arythmia clinic and they said yes stick with 2.5mg as they hadn't realised I was taking 7.5mg a day. Mad I know but my resting heart rate can be low but my lungs don't feel puffed and I don't get out of breath. I definitely can't take high dosage of beta blockers though as I feel sluggish with them. Does this help? Try taking dosage at night maybe to see if that helps rather than a morning so you sleep through the first few hours of dosage. Even on 2.5mg my heartbeat is lower but I also think it's a combination of me being fitter because I have been doing walking cardio workouts and fitness . I have found some great sites that helped me. I'm always happy to pass these on if you want. I'm 61 in February and thankfully the consistent exercise has definitely helped me xx
Hi Pjaza, thank you for your detailed replay. I am just at the beginning of my quest of finding out what will be best for me in the longer term.
I have only just come to realise that I have to be pro active in the process rather than assume the medics have chosen the most appropriate medication.
My Cardiologist is obviously 'old school' and does not appreciate me asking questions.
However, if nothing else, this forum has shown me it is worth persevering until I get some answers.
Thank you again.
I too enjoy exercise so want to keep my quality of life going as long as possible.
Moderate cardio helps me so keep on trying ways to find your fitness 🙏
My heart rate was around 35 after a cardioversion. The doctor was gob smacked. He had to drop the beta blockers right down immediately. Its now up to 60-80. Took a few good months.
BrearRabbit,
Well certainly doesn't sound right to me, though not a Dr. I too did the cardioversion, actually now that I think about it, a year ago this week. Have felt great ever since. But, as I'm sure you know, the Amiodarone is a very toxic medication. Not a whole lot of good things written about it if taken on the long term. I took a set regime dosage for about 4 weeks prior to the cardioversion but was told to stop taking the med as of the procedure. Haven't taken since the day I was zapped, as per my doc's recommendation. I feel find.
I do take 5mg of Eliquis twice per day, AM and PM.
I bicycle 5 days a week, no less than 30 minutes, no more than 60 minutes each time. I ride a minimum of ten miles trying to maintain a pace of 20 MPH, burn approx. 430 calories (not sure if that register is correct,) but makes me feel good. The most important thing for me is to get my heart rate up. My sitting rate is about 68 beats /minute, I ride until I get it to 80% of the maximum for my age which is about 125 beats per minute. Once I get to the 125, which I work up to by adding resistance to the bike (actually a recumbent bike) and maintain that pulse for at least 5 minutes. Sometimes longer depending on when I reach the 125 in my exercise process. Some days I'm more aggressive than others. I cycle with my phone near me as I live in a rural environment and scared something might go wrong one day, but overall feel great.
We're all different. I would ask if you are able to drop the Amiodarone. I would much rather take the Eliquis than the Amiodarone (not that one has anything to do with the other - one is a thinner, the other is rhythmic.) It isn't as though Eliquis is w/o it's issues, but that Amiodarone (from my prior research, much as you're doing here,) is a nasty med when taken for the "long term."
I hope I have helped.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year.
Peace, RLG27
Thank you for taking the time to reply. Excellent news that your Cardioversion had been a success.Do you know what your resting heart rate was pre AF ?
My heart went back into AF yesterday afternoon, so it's back to the drawing board for me.
I feel slightly nauseous on Amiodarone and was only started taking it at the beginning of November with the intention of it giving me a better chance of success this time.
I felt much better on Digoxin so will discuss coming off Amiodarone with Cardiologist at my next appointment.
AF Chemical Cardioversion Flecainide
Atrial Fibrillation and Cardioversion 
Post-cardioversion exercise
Do I need a cardioversion? 
