Atrial Fibrillation with complications

[spaggy]

Hi everyone

I had hyperthyroidism which then flipped to hypothyroid (graves disease) which I take 50mg. Levothyroxine. My blood pressure stared creeping up so they added in Raiprill, then alodopine and then they dx poly myalgia rheumatica so i got some steroids thrown into the mix. Last Sunday I developed atrial fibrillation and ended up in resus for 4 hours after the beta blocker they gave me caused an asthma attack so. They gave me digoxin. I was kept in overnight and released the next day with a cardiologist appt in a couple of weeks. My main issue is that since they added the digoxin my heart rate has come down but I am sleeping all the time and I mean all the time. So far today i got up at 8, walked the dogs and then went back to bed and slept from 10-4 and have just forced myself to get up but I’m still so tired I want to cry. I guess what I’m asking is does this normal?

[Douglas91]

my sympathies are with you. You’ve had such a lot to cope with. My husband suffers with PAFib. It’s so distressing to see him when an attack strikes. He’s on Bisoprolol which lowers his heart rate but when he’s in normal sinus rhythm it makes his heart rate very slow. Maybe you need to get a heart monitor for 24 hours to check your heart rate for a while. An ECG only works briefly for a few seconds. I suspect it’s down to your thyroid problems as AFib is known to flare up in thyroid disorders. I would definitely go back and see your doctor and ask if there’s another drug which would suit you better. Good luck I hope you feel better soon x

[Lhasaone]

Hi spaggy, sounds like you are having a time of it. I was diagnosed 22 years ago with hyperthyroidism. It was a late diagnosis but fortunately just caught in time but the upshot was I developed AF and have been in it ever since. They removed my thyroid so I take 125 -150ml thyroxin daily and digoxin and warfarin - my INR is checked regularly. Fortunately I haven't ever had any side effects from these medications. I think you might want to see your GP or better still, a cardiologist and ask if your thyroxin might need increasing. I remember in the early days it took a while to get the balance of my meds right. An underachieve thyroid will make you feel very tired.

Do come back and let us know how you are getting on.

[spaggy in reply to Lhasaone]

Thank you so much for replying. I saw the cardiologist today who put me on blood thinners and indapamide. I told him I was concerned that I am taking so many drugs and yet my BP was 176/96. I now take alodopine, digoxin, ramiprill, indapamide, levothyroxin, blood thinners and steroids. He wants me to keep taking them all for 3 months and see how my. BP goes. My weight is creeping up even though I am eating the same and I am still breathless and exhausted with a constant headache. I have been referred for a heart ultrasound and he said he will review them meds after that. He also mentioned that y cholesterol was rising too and mentioned adding a statin into the mix. I follow a healthy diet, I don’t eat red meat, mostly fish and salads which I enjoy. I just feel like my life has no joy at the moment

[Lhasaone in reply to spaggy]

Poor you shaggy. Ramipril acts to widen your blood vessels so should help your BP reduce. I understand that a headache can be a side effect of this medication. Thyroxin will regulate your thyroid. The steroids might also be contributing to your weight gain. Your cardiologist is probably right to give it 3 months and see how you go. I've never taken statins but I've heard good and bad reports on the effects it has on people. I have been offered them by my GP but I decided not to go ahead. Just try and take each day as it comes, rest up when you can and try not to get too anxious, easier said than done sometimes I know. Good luck with the ultrasound results when you get them.