Atrial Fibrillation

[ForestryPine6]

Just over a 2 weeks ago I finished my 2 gym Workout that I did 3 time's per week but then had severe palpitations before trying to book a GP appointment only to be told there's no slot available as doctor's on the sick, so last chance I phoned back following morning 8am and got to see GP she said I had irregular heartbeat and put me on Ramipril to which I'm extremely fatigued sleeping twice a day but palpitations have stopped I haven't got the energy to go back to gym so what should I do as I feel like a slug there's no go in me,, Does anyone know how long this tiredness will continue please, I shower only twice a week as its hard workout and left breathlessness,, my energy as been completely sapped. Rob 🙏

[Autumn_Leaves]

How did your GP decide you had an “irregular heartbeat”. Did she do an ECG? Did she specifically say you were in AF? Or did she identify any other type of arrhythmia? “Irregular heartbeat” isn’t a diagnosis., it can mean any number of conditions. Were you referred for further tests eg 24h ECG and/or echocardiogram? The echocardiogram is important to rule out whether there are any structural problems in the heart which could be causing these symptoms. I don’t know what the procedure is in your GP practice regarding how they manage a new diagnosis of AF, whether they will refer you to a cardiologist or arrhythmia clinic, but for any new onset of cardiac symptoms it’s probably worth looking into a referral. It might be an idea to ring the BHF helpline to talk about your medication and side effects with one of the nurses. Please go to A&E if you start having any worrying symptoms.

[ForestryPine6 in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

Hi, She did my pulse on wrist and said straight away it's Irregular heart beat and had ECG at surgery, I went back Tuesday this week and again took pulse on wrist with stethoscope all over back and chest and concluded which is true palpitations had gone, I did say I'm wiped out, the reply was you'll be back at Gym soon that's all was said.. Nothing else and it's on repeats.

[Tos92]

Hi ForestryPine6

I’m glad the Ramipril is working to keep your palpitations at bay.

I don’t have any experience with this drug however, I have read that the side effects of the medication can last anywhere between a few days to a few weeks. How long have you been taking them? If you’re still in the early stages of taking the medication, perhaps give it a little while longer while the body adjusts.

healthline.com/health/drugs...

I hope others can help.

All the best.

Tos

[ForestryPine6 in reply to Tos92]

Thank you for positive reply, I started Ramipril 8 day's ago for irregular heart beat by GP and I have no energy at all, Everything is an effort so I'll take on board it's the early day's of medication as I had 7 hours sleep last night and after 3 hour's I fell back asleep sitting up and after a sandwich lunchtime ill fall asleep again then about 9pm tonight before going to bed, I'm eating fruit and healthily but it's wiping me out.. I'm used to going for workout at Gym 3 time's a week but absolutely no go in me, so just hoping it's the early day's of medication. I did say to GP maybe a virus I picked up at Gym? She replied possibly.

[jeanjeannie50]

I don't think I've ever heard of Ramipril being prescribed as a main drug for an irregular heart rhythm. Usually its a betablocker, or a rhythm adjusting drug. You may of course have other heart conditions not mentioned in this post.

I would go and see a different GP and tell them how Ramipril is making you feel.

Jean

[ForestryPine6 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

If I still got this fatigue and extreme tiredness by Monday I'll make an appointment with different GP at surgery just to see if this is a normal side effect. Thanks for your input.

[ForestryPine6 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Also I was wiped out for 4 day's before palpitations which doctor diagnosed Irregular heart beat 💓

[ForestryPine6 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I don't have any heart condition before this episode and I'm 64 now.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to ForestryPine6]

The trouble is we're sometimes not aware when we have a heart arrhythmia episode. I've had an abnormal one for 18 years and yes they can certainly drain you for days afterwards.

There is a forum on Health Unlocked just for people with abnormal heart rhythms, you will probably get more responses to your post if you put it on there:

healthunlocked.com/afassoci...

Jean

[ForestryPine6 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thank you Jean I will go straight on to the site now. If I'm going to feel drained all the time I will suggest to GP to stop Ramipril, but it's nice to know that abnormal heartbeat can make you feel drained as I'm totally new to this. Thank You again 👍

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to ForestryPine6]

It doesn’t sound like what typically happens when someone develops AF for the first time. The medication prescribed is either rate control drug like a beta blocker, or a rhythm control drug which would require further tests and very cautious prescribing until it’s established that it’s safe for you to take. I have no experience of Ramipril but from what I’ve read it’s an ACE inhibitor prescribed mostly for high BP and heart failure. Heart failure is determined by specific tests and as you have no history of heart symptoms and presumably never had an echocardiogram then it’s unlikely that this is the reason why you were prescribed this drug. If you have high BP, maybe that’s why, but I’ve never heard of BP medication prescribed to treat AF. But then, I don’t know all that much about these things, my knowledge is limited to my own experience of AF.

If you had a continuously irregular heartbeat from your gym session into the next day when you saw your GP then it does sound a lot like AF , but you really need follow up investigations and ideally a referral to cardiology. Perhaps there are a lot more knowledgeable people than I am who could shed more light on your situation. It doesn’t seem the usual way of treating a new diagnosis of AF.

[ForestryPine6 in reply to Autumn_Leaves]

The female doctor was very laid back and quickly said Irregular heart beat I had ECG at practise and she put me on Ramipril, I went back 5 days later and doctor said heart rate is normal but put me on 1.25 lowest doze of above drug which will probably be a repeat when leaving surgery I booked blood tests which I had Wednesday and for me to phone for results this coming Monday.

[Autumn_Leaves in reply to ForestryPine6]

That’s something at least, but blood tests are often done just to rule out some possible causes of arrhythmia, like electrolyte imbalances and thyroid function. You need proper tests that are done at a cardiology department, the echocardiogram in particular and possibly a 24h ECG. Your GP can order these. In fact, some cardiology departments won’t accept a referral unless these tests have been done first. I’m surprised the GP hasn’t mentioned these tests yet, so perhaps you could ask at your next appointment/telephone consultation, or however they do it now.

[ForestryPine6]

Just an update I have stopped 2 medication's as from now this morning Ramipril and Bendroflumethazide as I can hardly put one foot in front of the other and sleeping 3 times during the day alongside a solid night's sleep, I can just about make it to the kitchen from living room since I took the 2 above medication's, Yes it lowered blood pressure but not living a normal life as I was very fatigued tired and sleeping all the time also can't go to Gym to workout or have enough confidence to Cycle my Mtn Bike since I've been put on these meds.. I had irregular heartbeat which stopped 3 day's after taking Ramipril was that a coincidence as I think I might have picked up a virus from Gym myself, I'm glad palpitations have stopped so not taking anymore and going to give this a 3 day trial without to get back to the normal me, not sure if I should let GP know or not as they'll probably try me on other meds I think. Just got to see if there's more life in me by Tuesday. I'll update then on here.. Should anyone have positive input I'll take that on board. Thanks 🙏

[Tos92 in reply to ForestryPine6]

Any changes to stopping/starting meds should really be cleared by your GP. I know the fatigue/tiredness isn’t ideal, but it is safer to consult your GP first.

Tos

[ForestryPine6 in reply to Tos92]

Well it's Saturday now so the surgery isn't open until Monday so I'll play it by ear until then as to how much more life I feel in me without them until at least then as I've not taken them this morning so let's see how this plays out, trial and error so to speak, my body has just rejected the 2 medication's I think as there's more life in my body since I took them 30 hour's ago, but I appreciate and understand your point Tos92 👍

[Metal_lady in reply to ForestryPine6]

I understood Ramipril should be taken at night. Have you tried that? Bendroflumathiazide needs to be taken in the morning. I was prescribed Ramipril in 2006 for high blood pressure as it's drug of choice in my area, however I got the cough that means you can't take it, as did my husband. You really need to speak to your Gp. There are other drugs, it's trial and error.

[ForestryPine6 in reply to Metal_lady]

OK thank you I'll look into that and discuss with doctor Cheers