Breathless

[Lumps]

I haven’t spoke on the forum for sometime I have AF and awaiting an ablation sometime in the future recently I have become more breathless and various changes in my heart rate which can fluctuate from 59 to 150 resting heart rate can be as low as 42 does anyone else experienced this. Any advice will be appreciated thanks

[Tos92]

Hi Lumps

I’m sorry to hear your AF is causing some issues.

Unfortunately, I don’t have any advice to offer however, there is an AF forum which you might get some more useful responses from if you aren’t a member already.

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

Good luck for the ablation.

Tos

[Lumps]

Thank you

[jeanjeannie50]

A resting heart rate of 42bpm is a bit on the low side. What medication are you taking?

[Lumps]

bisoprolo 2.5 mg and a blood thinners

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Lumps]

Have a word with your GP or hospital cardiac nurse if you have one. Some people just take Bisoprolol when they have an attack of AF and as your pulse appears to be up and down, that may be an idea for you. They may just reduce your Bisoprolol down to 1.25mg.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to Lumps]

There is a forum on Heath Unlocked just for people with AF. This is the link that will take you there:

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

[MWIC in reply to Lumps]

Hi - I’m in a very similar position - my resting HR is low - around 50 and that seems to be fine for me but Bisoprolol brought my HR down way too low - when I noticed this I queried with doc and reduced to 1.25mg / this didn’t really help unfortunately. Year and 1/2 ago I had a heart attack and hospital took me off Bisoprolol - I have AFib and about 6 months ago the frequency just increased massively so episodes every day - HR up to 190 and on no medication as following a heart attack Flecanide is not an option - saw a consultant and am prescribed Bisoprolol again but only take when my HR is high enough and this approach may be helping - so agree here with what Jean is saying ( and tbh she always gives great advice - thank you Jean!!) Hope your AFib settles down some but I would go speak to your GP as when my HR was in 40’s I felt like a zombie - I don’t feel like that any more thank god - also awaiting an ablation

[Hidden]

"I have become more breathless " this is a standard red flag and needs to be addressed now. You need to contact your Dr or failing that phone 111 and follow their guidelines.

I hope that it is nothing, but without adding to any worry you have, its time for the experts to work out what is going on.

Good luck and we are with you every step of the way

[Lumps]

Thank you I will make an appointment with the doctor today.

[Cee-Cee1]

I would agree with Daisymoonbeam, Lumps, and give the GP or 111 a wee ring. Even if it turns out to be something as simple as needing your medication dosage tweaked, at least you'll be reassured, but do call, they really would prefer you to and won't mind at all.

[Lumps in reply to Cee-Cee1]

Thank you ringing for an appointment

[Cee-Cee1 in reply to Lumps]

Good idea, Lumps - it'll be good for you to have a bit of reassurance. Carol

[scentedgardener]

Hi Lumps, I have AF, also getting breathless, also on 2.5 mg of Bisoprolol. I've now got atrial flutter too, and that certainly aggravates the breathlessness. I have recently developed curvature in my spine resulting in a significant loss of height which doesn't help.Hope you get some assistance from your doctor, I've given up bashing my head against that particular wall, but it sounds like your surgery is better than the one here, we would spend a couple of hours trying to get through and then the first appointment would be three weeks from Wednesday.

Good luck.

[Lumps in reply to scentedgardener]

sorry to hear that take care

[NLGA]

I am exactly like that

Breathless just going basic things some days

Swings in my rate from 45- 135 yesterday

[Lumps in reply to NLGA]

it’s difficult I know take care

[Reggaelover]

Hi Lumps, very sorry that your AF is proving problematic. I have had two episodes of AF, the first in 2014 and more recently in 2022 - both corrected by cardioversion. I’m 63 and am fit and active but have a leak in my mitral valve, which has become severe in the last year - this can be a trigger for AF. I have now been referred for surgery to repair the leaky valve - no date yet.

My AF wasn’t as severe as yours. My heart rate was in the range 80-100 - normally around 50 at rest when in sinus rhythm. I sometimes felt light headed whilst exercising but felt fine during normal daily activities. The main symptom was the feeling of palpitations, which seemed to worsen after eating or drinking alcohol.

Good look with your treatment 🙏

[Lumps in reply to Reggaelover]

Thank you hope you receive your date soon take care

[Goldfish7]

Hi Ive got AF and A Flutter. My current attack has been ongoing since the begining of April and Im awaiting another cardiac ablation if it ever comes! Im also on bisoprolol - currently 10mg which is keeping my resting heart rate just above or just below 100 bpm. When not in AF A Flutter Im on 2.5mg bisoprolol. I dont tolerate bisoprolol well but it is one of the few meds that keeps my heart rate down unfortunately. I have found over the years that even a small dose of bisoprolol makes me breathless on walking (I now walk very slowly) and larger doses even more so I think this is fairly normal as the drug is slowing your heart to a level that isnt going to circulate blood and oxygen at the rate your body wants it to.Having a heart rate in the 40's is a bit low and obviously 150 is high unless you are exercising. It is probably worth discussing it with your GP, specialist nurse or cardiologist/ep if you can get contact with them. Also try keeping a heart rate diary to see if any patterns emerge ie. Times of day, closeness to meal times, activity and relation to when your meds were taken which may help you or your medics figure out what is going on. Best of luck getting sorted.

[Bowcat]

Hi lumps,Sorry to hear you are going through this. I too have AF. I had 2 ablations 2016 and 2019 but lately my heart rate has been between 48 - 137 bpm also get pre fainting spells too. I have an appointment with the cardiologist in Aug so hopefully will get some answers. I am unable to take beta blockers unfortunately so I just take rivaroxaban. I hope you get help soon and start to feel better.

[Fullofheart]

I get breathless when my heart rate goes over around 115/120 so the increase in HR could be the culprit but I agree with others that a) your resting HR sounds a bit low and b) you could get that breathlessness checked out.Hope that helps....disclaimer: I'm not a medic just a someone who's had AF for nearly 2 decades. And doing much better lately, 6 months after 3rd ablation.

[Lumps in reply to Fullofheart]

Thank you that’s reassuring I am waiting for a date for an ablation finger’s crossed it’s not far away

[Fullofheart in reply to Lumps]

Good luck. Keep us posted on the current situation and the ablation. Hoping you hear something soon. 🤞🏻

[Fullofheart]

Oh, and for me bisoprolol made my experience of breathlessness far worse.