Hope someone can give me some advice as my mum was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation last year, she was prescribed Bisoprolol and Apixaban. She’s also been prescribed water tablet- Furosemide. It took several months for my mum to get used to taking these medications. She was suffering from nausea when she first started the medication. She still sometimes feels nauseous, but a lot less than initially. Now, when she takes the bisoprolol, she falls asleep really quickly. She has tiredness constantly and continuously falls asleep during the day without realising she’s fell asleep. Past week or so, she’s been saying she feels like she’s getting episodes of a rapid heartbeat. We have an appointment with cardiologist at the end of the month so hopefully we can discuss all these issue.
Does anyone else have constant tiredness with this condition?
Also, does anyone else experience no appetite?
My mum has a small breakfast, and then doesn’t feel like eating for the rest of the day. I try and encourage her to eat small amounts of food, the only things that she really eats is a bit of fruit. I’m concerned that as she hardly eats, she has no energy. She always says she feels really full and bloated after breakfast which is like 1 toast with a cup of tea.
Does anyone else feel constantly bloated?
Sometimes she takes indigestion remedies as she feels so bloated, yet she’s not really eating.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated, sorry for long post. I’m just constantly worrying about mum as since she’s had this condition, she has not been herself.
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Nickybhf
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I am not a medic so what I am about to say is strictly based upon my own experience. I have afib and do not feel nautious.I am 84. and until recently took Apixaban, bisoprolol and furosimide with a tiny dose of Spironolactone as diuretic.Recently had furosemide and Spironolactone stopped due to ? kidneys probs........high potassium and creatonine levels. No bloating in my case but blood pressure has gone up so 'they' are thinking of reinstating diuretics. i was told it is a bit of a balancing act re. diuretics(I guess your mother has fluid harbouring somewhere hence bloating) .Your doctor can give your mother a powered food to take twice a day with milk to help with lack of food intake I had some called Amys foods(think it is pronouced as in Aimes foods but spelt Amys ......I was given this at one time and it helped if you have lost appetite and helps to put on a bit more weight.Try and give her very small. amounts of nutritious food she may enjoy three or four times a day that she will want to eat rather than a meal.Lack of appetite is awful .I wish you luck with your mother progress.
Thank you so much for your advice, mum has been given the Aymes drinks, she has one once in a while but not very often. I think I’ll try and encourage her to have at least one daily.
I’m glad you haven’t had the nauseous feeling, it’s making me question whether mum has some other reason for the nausea. Will definitely discuss with cardiologist.
You might also try and bring forward your mothers appointmnt. A lot easier to do than you might think!I have done it a few times. Better to go to the hospital and explain your concern and worry to the receptionist on the desk where you book in the cardiac dept where she will be seen. They often have a few spaces lurking in the background for people who ask.Telephone if you cannot get to the hospital but I have found it works better if you can go along in person.
Thank you, I will try and call them, although when I’ve called in the past, I never get an answer and end up leaving a message but no one ever gets back to me! We actually had an appointment in November last year which we had to cancel as mum was too poorly to go, they told me they would put mums name on a list in case they get any cancellations , but unfortunately nothing, the earliest appointment we got offered was end of this month.
Yes. Cancellation lists do sometimes work. Husband had an 'urgent'tooth referral for 1 month ahead!In desparation I went along and said he would like to be on the cancellation list and he got seen within 3 days!So do not give up.I have found going along offers the best chance of being seen sooner.
Aw this sounds rough and I'm so glad your mums appointment is very soon. I noticed I'm always bloated I don't have Atrial fibrillation but I do have ventricular Tachycardia and read my bio to find out more 😉, when I first started my medication for that I always felt fall after the tiniest amount of food I'm guessing it was a side effect because It took a few months to not feel like that. But recently always bloated I'm very slim so very noticeable dosent necessarily mean heart related but like others have said we're not doctors so hope your mum's appointment goes well ❤️.
That’s interesting to know that you also experienced the tiredness with Bisoprolol. Honestly, I notice how mum takes the tablet, and after about 10 minutes, the drowsiness and tiredness begin. Mum is anaemic, she’s also on iron tablets.
Can I just ask what time of day were you taking the bisoprolol please?
I wonder if taking it before bedtime might be better. I will definitely discuss about that at her appointment.
I had to have bisopralol changed because I was like a zombie; asleep most of the time and could barely get out of the chair. It's well known for it. It just dropped my BP far too low. Have you taken your mum's BP when she starts to fall asleep from it?
Yes, I’ve checked it a few times and when she’s drowsy, it’s always low. She also takes medication for high blood pressure and it’s worrying when BP goes low.
Thanks, to be honest no one has explained what the best time is to take the medication, will have to see what cardiologist suggests. I’m concerned about asking about a change to medication as these tablets took a long time to settle with mum. Although, if a different medication would stop the loss of appetite, that would be good.
Do you think mum might benefit from an antidepressant, mertazapine is well tolerated, and it has a stimulating effect regarding food, also helps sleep, I have been in this since January and I haven't noticed any side affects heart related.
Thank you, mum has recently started Mirtazapine, it seems to be helping with the anxiety she was feeling, her appetite has slightly improved but not significantly. From what I read, people were saying they constantly want to eat!
I have to deal with at atrial fibrillation for 5 years now and have had 2 ablations now to try and rectify the condition and feel worse after the second time.I also am back on the beta blockers and they also make me tired I nod of at a glance especially at night trying to watch t.v so I know how ya mum feels and tbh it can be most upsetting
Oh no, so i guess this is definitely a symptom for some people- the extreme tiredness. It is definitely upsetting as I feel mum is missing out on normal day to day hobbies and activities due to just constant feeling of tiredness. You mentioned you’ve suffered for 5 years with AF, is it difficult to manage symptoms?
We wanted to take mum on holiday at some point, but when I mention it to her, she’s so reluctant as she says how can I go like this with all the symptoms she has.
Hi yes i know how your mum feels as i so badly want to take my kids abroad but as your mum says it can go at any time and so does come with and leave people with really bad anxiety and at time like myself now suffer ptsd as the AF has set my icd device off 8 times in as many minutes and its scary.Managing my condition comes with actually eating the foods to avoid any af activity stopped drinking alcohol getting in more gentle exercise like walking and doing my best to keep my stress levels down to a minimum. I wish your mum all the best
Thank you for your reply. We’re trying to get mum to do some gentle exercises but currently she’s been getting breathless so not putting any pressure on her to do things that trigger the breathlessness.
Hello, I'm glad this has been bumped, I suffer from anxiety and it has really ramped up since my heart issues. I was told its stress that has taken its toll on my digestive system, it has something to do with tight abdominal muscles causing slow stomach emptying, not being very mobile can make it worse because the gas is not moving. I have found stomach massage really helps, I do this myself, however I have a lady that comes to my home and I have reflexology and she also does gastric massage, also tight abdominal muscles can affect the diaphragm causing breathlessness.
I take Bisoprolol, and now take it at night which has helped with sleepiness. You can discuss the timing with a pharmacist, either dispensing or clinical, (often based at GP practice), no need to wait for cardiology.I also have bloating and lack of appetite, but I have a few problems with my digestive tract. As I can't be very active I don't worry too much, I make vegetable soup, omelette, fish is easily digestible if you enjoy that. Anything that your mum enjoys is better than nothing.
I also last saw cardiology in May, and was supposed to be seen in 3 months, PALS told me "in the spring", but I'm still waiting, no response to emails or phone calls, and it's a bit of an expedition to go to the hospital from where I live.
It's hard to stay positive, I feel I'm being robbed of my retirement years, can't even get help from GP as we haven't got any, just some cover and locums. Best of luck to your mum and you.
Thanks, will discuss about timings for bisoprolol, to be honest, I spoke to GP and they advised it’s best to check with cardiologist. I would if I could get through to someone! Unfortunately, whenever I’ve tried to get in touch with them, I end up leaving a message and never hear back from them.
Soup is definitely a good suggestion, have also been given meal replacement drinks which mum only has rarely.
It's tough for you both.I can never get hold of cardiology either, telephone messages or email. My GP wrote asking them to see me as a matter of urgency, 2 months ago, still nothing.
When you haven't eaten much for a while it's hard to start again. I've looked after a couple of people suffering like that, I would put a biscuit with their cup of tea, an hour later do the same. I made teeny-tiny quiches, as small as a home made jam tart, they could usually manage those. If there is anything she likes particularly start with literally a spoonful. Take care.
My husband was diagnosed with paroxysmal AF a year ago, and it has been life changing. He was very fit and active but now has limited capacity for exercise without triggering an episode. He found that Bisoprolol gave him dreadful postural hypotension and yes made him exhausted so now takes only a very low dose if he starts an episode. (It doesn’t stop it but seems to shorten it). I’ve found it hard adjusting to the new limitations in our life, but try to focus on the good things - though he doesn’t have anything like the difficulties your mum has.
But your mum’s situation does seem to have more to it than just the AF. You’ve said she is anaemic - which also causes tiredness, and the bloating and appetite loss can be symptoms of gastric ulcer, so she really needs to get back to her GP to discuss those. I fear that if she doesn’t raise this with her GP before the cardiology appointment she might be ‘dismissed’ and told that her symptoms are not cardiac related. Cardiologists don’t really tend to look at other conditions and focus only on the heart.
I hope you have a good GP as only a doctor can really give you proper advice, though those on the forum will give their care and support.
Thanks for your response, can I just ask what is postural hypertension?
Mum did have a CT scan last year, she has gallstones but this has been a pre-existing condition which didn’t cause any extreme symptoms. She also was told she has a hernia but the doctors are reluctant to do anything about that due to mums pre-existing conditions.
We do have a good GP but it’s very rare that we can get an appointment- and even then, it’s always only a telephone consultation.
Well , initially it was Rivaroxaban and Bisoprolol.
Rivaroxaban (which is a blood thinner) after 3 weeks gave me dreadful bloating, hence the change to apixaban.
Bisoprolol is a beta blocker. It slows down the heart, and indeed pretty much all who take it feel tired. It does depend on the dose. I was OK with 1.25mg but 2.5mg made doing anything feel like wading through treacle.
The normal time to take Bisoprolol is in the morning. The logic being that you do more during the day so the heart needs more protection, but I know there are some who take it in the evening, or split the dose. It seem that in your mother's case, she might benefit from taking it in the evening, since she is not too active during the day.
The effect of it lasts most of a 24 hour period, becoming less as the day progresses.
I get light headedness, and balance problems as a result of AF, also some nausea which I attribute to the balance problems, also I feel tired, but not sure if it's the bisoprolol (I was on it before diagnosed with AF. so probably not).
I have a thing called a kardio mobile. It takes a 30sec ECG. If your mother thinks she is having AF, it would be useful to get her to take a reading. You need a smartphone as well, so she might need help. It would be useful for the cardiologist, and these devices are NICE approved.
Hello , i understand what you mum feeling now. I was on bisoprolol and drug made me feel sick and tired all time . I was blaming AF for it. But it was bisoprolol . Its was terrible drug for me . Made my heart worst also. My cardio changed it for Nebivolol . I feel alive again , feel i can live again. I think for some people bisoprolol acting like a poison. Hope you mum find right treatment
Thanks for responding, that’s really interesting to know as it’s only since the bisoprolol treatment began that the nausea started- along with Apixaban too. Would be great if there would be other options which would stop these horrible symptoms.
Hi only just read your post but just wanted to add a couple of things through my experience. I have Tachycardia and palpations and take a beta blocker. I have had this for many many years. I also have had anemia in the past and an episode of AF.
If your mom is newly diagnosed with anemia and her iron levels are still low then this will be contributing to her tiredness. I was absolutely exhausted when I was anaemic.
In my experience along with being anaemic, episodes of my fast heart rate have sometimes been caused by a low blood sugar reading and if you're mom isn't eating for long periods of time, this may be a cause. Do you have a blood glucose monitor? If not it may be a good idea to get one. You can buy them from most pharmacies.
I hope your mom gets sorted soon. Such a worry for you but lovely that she has got you to look out for her
Thank you for your reply, mum has been anaemic for a long time, like 30 years plus, and although she used to experience tiredness, it’s nothing like the level it’s at now. She is also diabetic so we do have a blood sugar monitor, we check sometimes and readings are generally good- not low.
I can understand your concern for your mum and you say you have and appointment with the cardiologist later this month, but I would be making an appointment for your Mum to see her GP - the GP should be familiar with your mum's history and may be able to offer advice and check a few basic possibilities
if the indigestion is a new thing my concern is that it could be angina, which is heart pain caused by the heart muscle not getting enough oxygen
The best time to take the medication is usually when it suits the person taking it, unless other specific instructions are given. The important thing is to take it regularly at about the same time. A diuretic like Furosemide is best taken in the morning, because it can make you pee more, which is inconvenient at night.
The indigestion problems seemed to start not longer after beginning the bisoprolol along with Apixaban and furosemide.
Mum does take water tablet in morning but sometimes I think, does she need it every day? Her legs look so skinny now, prior to beginning this medication, she definitely had fluid in her legs. I did question GP about maybe reducing the dose but was told it had to be continued.
It’s a nightmare trying to get an appointment with our GP.
the furosemide is meant to prevent the build up of fluid which causes swollen legs etc, so it seems to be working, which is why the GP won't change it - keeping your mum's fluid loading down helps to reduce how hard the heart has to pump, and that is quite important for your mum just now
i know it's hard getting a GP appointment but if they have a triage service you may need to emphasise that this is a new problem and that it is affecting her ability to stay independent
I've been kept on Bisoprolol for 9 years for AF despite me telling them how exhausted it makes me feel. It seems to be a side effect of all beta blockers. I now take it at night rather than the morning. It may help a bit. Warning about Furosemide, it gave me a dry, irritating cough which I had investigated twice before it went when I was changed to something else for some reason. Doctors didn't seem to know about that side effect.
Hi I have had af for 4-5 years. Initially I tried beta blockers but they made me v tired and prone to fainting. I think, in trying to lower my heart rate, they lowered my blood pressure too much. I now only take a blood thinner and am waiting for an ablation. Apart from the racing episodes, my main symptoms are chronic fatigue and a slightly enlarged left ventricle, caused by the heart working too hard I imagine. Not sure if your mother should come off beta blockers - can you check with your doctor or a nurse? It is not easy to live with constant tiredness. Best of luck. x
Thank you, I will discuss with cardiologist but I think mum feels this medication is helping with her irregular heartbeat. It’s a pain as one symptom is being controlled, yet so many others are triggered!
Hi Nickybhf I can relate to some of this, I do get overwhelmingly tired but mainly around 7:30 to 8pm every night, some days after breakfast my appetite is not great either
I have spoken to my doctor and have told them that I am struggling with food.
I’ve told our GP that mum hardly eats due to the full feeling/bloated feeling, they suggested the meal replacement drinks but nothing else like changing meds.
I have Atherosclerosis, Lupus, Antiphosolipid Syndrome and A-fib, which includes every symptom your mom is experiencing, and some! . I am exhausted and nauseated all the time. So thin, I’m skin and bones as a result. Heart pace is wacko, and my o2 is up and down like a yo-yo! But what came as a shock last week, what I think is the culprit that was the missing link! I’ve just been informed I have have Pulmonary Hypertension as a result of the chronic Afib, and have had it, since 2006! Why I was not told, I’ll never understand. I’m been struggling since 2006! That’s 17 years of exhaustion, nausea, crappy quality of life etc…🤪. Please ask for someone to go over all her echos and CT scans with you, to get a better understanding of what is going on. Best of Luck to you both! PHD is a real and extremely serious problem, that needs attention! Unfortunately, it’s often overlooked as it’s considered rare, but if you have underlying diseases like Lupus, then it’s not so rare! Do not leave one stone. All the best for your mom!
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