Afib and heart blockage

[Toehold1]

I posted on the AFIB forum a bit ago that I have been tired and out of breath ever since my 5th ablation last August. My cardiologist put it down to the Bisoporol I was taking but 3 months ago after seeing him and complaining he sent me for a ultrasound scan. All was OK then I wrote to him saying I am not right I want a stress test which he organised 2 weeks ago and during the test he told me to stop as I was getting etopics and whatever else. He said it looks like the heart is being starved of blood so now I am waiting for an angiogram. My question is if I have coronary heart disease could this be the reason my 5th ablation was not a success at all as I've been in and out of AFIB ever since. I've also had to stop the Flecanide and been told not to do anything strenuous. It's not great news but am hoping an op will relieve the tiredness and lessen the chance of a heart attack but also help with my Afib, has anyone else been through this?

[Lezzers]

I'm curious. Why would you not have an ablation if your heart is not structurally sound? My husband has HF, his heart is badly damaged, aneurysmal & he has severe akinesia due to a massive heart attack & he's recently undergone a very prolonged & invasive ablation. I'm aware of quite a lot of people with HF who have had repeated ablations

[Toehold1 in reply to Lezzers]

I have had 2 ultrasound scans and structuraly the heart is fine. I am now waiting on the angiogram to see why it's not getting enough blood and wondered if I have any arteries furred up if that's causing my Afib that keeps recurring.

[Lezzers in reply to Toehold1]

That's good news that your heart is structurally sound, one less thing to worry about.

I'm only just learning about the electrical side of the heart so I can't give a definitive answer but my husband has lived with a completely blocked main artery since 1997, bypass or stents were never an option for him. He had an ICD fitted in 2012 as a precaution because he was high risk of sudden death due to having had a cardiac arrest in 1997 but it was only in October last year that he started having 'sustained' VT's which his ICD paced him out of . So in his case a furred (blocked) artery hasn't caused his arrythimias

[Lezzers]

Hi

My husband has recently had an ablation for VT's. He was told that the ablations are not always successful & that for a while could possibly make him feel worse, which has definitely been the care for him. Personally I don't think having coronary heart disease would stop an ablation from being successful as I know of people with cardiomyopathy & heart failure who've had success ablations. Possibly a question for your cardiologist or you could give the BHf nurses a call as they'd probably be able to advise.

Good luck 🤞

[Bloodredroses]

The warnings on Bisoporol, stated can be breathless when first starting it. I found it to not be overly so . ( I have mild affib ). Yes keep pressing fwd doing the tests you need. We are our own best advocates.

I’m hoping the forewarned tiredness , stoned feeling for the first few weeks is just the first couple of weeks ? Any

Comments . My Mother who had afib too ( surprise ) 80 s said HER ‘ AFIB meds ‘ made her tired . I was not tired before starting . Only taking because even not severe Cardiologist suggested starting on low dose as T E C G shower bit of thickening in heart muscle. That meds can reverse this . Any comments welcome .

I hope after the initial ‘getting used to it ‘ period , tiredness will go back to normal. I notice affib is less, Blood pressure is much lower , but within boundaries. So I guess the Bisoporol is doing its job. The blood thinner for a random clot , statin and this, I have done everything for my heart I can ask of NHS. Mediterranean diet , walk every week. I’m lazy so not wearing it out or stressing it .

. Thank you in advance

[Gumbie_Cat in reply to Bloodredroses]

I certainly blamed my tiredness on Bisoprolol at first. I’m lucky not to get breathless, but fatigue and heavy legs when walking uphill. It has definitely improved, despite a raise in medication. Whether my body is getting used to the beta-blocker or the persistent AFib, I’m not sure. Keeping going, just like you’re doing, it the thing I reckon. Not going mad exercising, but getting out for that daily walk and eating sensibly.

Sometimes it feels like the world is divided into ‘gym bunnies’ and ‘couch potatoes’ - and I reckon that most of us don’t fall into either extreme, and maybe it’s best not to!

[Bloodredroses in reply to Gumbie_Cat]

I’m OK with couch potato 🛋️ 🥔. What th a 4 hourly walk shop and carry up 3 flights p w . Sometimes more. The first week I was dizzy tired stoned . bnp Dropped from 147 to 120 s and today 118 -120! B P nurse said 247 average is not very high fir age (73) . The Cardiologist suggested take a low dose (1.25 mg x day) bevade a slight thickening in heart muscle . Crack on and can reverse it ? (He said) , plus had mild afib for years , never alarming on. 24 hour or 7 day heart monitor . I pressed it as has for long time , ( APS autoimmune plus cold stress made it worse . ) not happy with it . I have checked in with BP Nurse once p w , she said not alarming as now lower B P , I don’t think I have ever been 118! . She was most encouraging , said give it time , your heart is getting used to the better distribution of blood . Sounded good .what I have read about BISOPROLOL is good . I feel well, I think the afib has reduced . I can have a non decaffeinated coffee once p w without it giving me afib .The 2 week initial Period is mentioned a lot.

Bought an an ONRON wrist B P monitor, and a BP Diary of Anzon recording it for B P nurse and G P . Daily. It’s so easy , I hated upper arm Cuff B P as painful then stress high BP readings .

Omron is a great Japanese brand with great tel customer support , as I couldn’t figure out how to set date and time .🥴.

Bought off Amzn as can return in 30 days if faulty .

I feel I will be normal in a week or 2 more and will walk more again . Dizzy has gone . I realise I am on a minimum dose .different to a high dose . My Mother had Afib , was on BP meds hated it as tiredness .She was stuck in upstairs flat with arthritis knees no lift , refused wheelchair . Would have felt better if got out more , but her choice . Hope B P drugs have improved since 10 years ago .

I felt walking def improved the tiredness in first week , was very careful , buses etc as bit dizzy . Had to shop .

I would suggest push on and get past the initial side effects . Good luck everyone . 👋

[Lezzers]

Thanks for your reply. I wasn't referring to Afib in particular just ablations, your answer didn't differentiate between different ayythmias it just inferred that you shouldn't have an ablation if your heart isn't structuraly sound, which is what I found confusing.

'Why would they proceed with ablation without know if you heart was structurally sound?'

However, the OP has advised she/he did have tests so no medical incompetence at all, thankfully. I'm fairly new to the electrics of the heart, but like everything else I would think it's all very individual as to what is ok for one person but not another. All risks are discussed at the initial consultation, or at least it was in my experience.

[Lezzers]

Where did I say it was ok?? Like I said you only referred to ablations in a general term & as I've already said I'm new to the electrics of the heart, like any sensible person if I read something I don't understand or need clarification on, I ask about it! I'm sorry if you don't like my question but I am entitled to ask! No need to be so stressed about it. Ill leave you to it & hope your day gets better! 👋

[Lezzers]

Jumping on your comments.... seriously??? What is it with people in this group that they think people are stalking them, singling then out albeit in a quiet way, and jumping on comments! When nothing could be further from the truth!! If you consider my asking a simple question challenging please also consider how aggressive your comments were to me because I asked that question. swings & roundabouts!!! If the exchange is a waste of your time then move on!! I personally have learnt something that I wasn't aware of regarding ablations so it hasn't been a total waste of my time at all, despite your attitude. But thanks for your input anyway