Bnp level

[Nomis21]

Hi,I had wolff Parkinson white, suffered years of bad palpitations until I got offered an ablation, unfortunately the ablation wasnt straight forward due to my extra pathway being so close to my AV node, high risk of heart block, anyhow decided it takes the risk as I was told I'd be 5 x more likely to suffer a stroke or blood clot if I didn't go through with the procedure.

Procedure carried out in June 2022 and I did end up with 3rd heart block and a pacemaker insertion.

Before the procedure I was prescribed various beta blockers and amiodarone but none of the meds worked.

Since June 2022 I still struggle, weakness in my legs, anxiety, breathlessness, cough.

It's not been a easy journey, not long after my procedure I had pneumonia and was hospitalized again.

Various visits to cardiology and multiple tests done.

Last month I had bloods done at my gp surgery and it turns out I have hyperthyroidism and my bnp level is 1200ng/l.

Been referred back to cardiology for an echo and endocrinologist for thyroid.

Currently on propranolol & duloxetine and due another blood test in December.

I recently had a echo (8weeks ago) and the test didn't highlight any concerns other than having AF.

Just wondering if the high bnp levels could be down to thyroid instead of thinking heart failure?

I do get discomfort in the region of my heart since my surgery but kind of got used to it, I get breathless and have a cough but no water retention in lower body, other than a bloated stomach which I put down to age (I'm 52)

Just wondering if anyone has any thoughts on my situation?

TBH I've never felt right since my surgery, docs and consultants first tried the anxiety route which I'm taking meds for but I don't believe it's the root cause.

Anyhow be interesting is anyone has any thoughts.

Many thanks

[Shadesof]

I was very interested in what you had to say.I myself am very worried about my condition which has gradually been getting worse.

Also sick of being told its anxiety.

They put me on some anti anxiety pills 3 weeks ago, had to stop them as the side effects were awful. Bad stomach aches and pains.

[Lezzers]

A high BNP level isn't always heart related, a high BNP level can be caused by an infection, kidney issues etc, if you've recently had a echo that would have confirmed if it was HF related. I don't know if thyroid issues can cause an elevated BNP, I think there's a thyroid group on HU who might be able to give you more info.

It's interesting that you had pneumonia after your ablation. My husband had a extensive & involved ablation for VT's at the end of March this year. A couple of months later he had pneumonia & he's recently had a lung infection. They don't know if this was pneumonia as they don't routinely do sputum tests anymore, also he wasn't anywhere near as poorly as he was with the pneumonia.

Good luck, I hope you find the answer to your question.

[scentedgardener]

I have hyperthyroidism, it was subclinical for about 15 years but my GPs refused to refer me. Now there's no sub clinical about it. I think it's probably the cause of my AF, as the thyroid has worsened so has my AF. The longest an episode ever lasted was 2 days and that only happened this year, now I'm on day 12 and counting.I get breathless too.

I would urge you to get your thyroid under control as fast as you can, which isn't fast in todays circumstances. I didn't realise how many symptoms I was getting from it.

[Deejay62]

I think the echocardiogram would of told them if you had heart failure and if so what your EF is. Maybe your doctor referred you because of the high bnp. I don’t know if you’re going to see the specialists again, but if you are you should ask them why they think your bnp is so high. I know nothing about hyperthyroidism. You should mention the cough to them also and any other symptoms just in case. I know some meds can give a dry constant irritating cough

If you’ve recently had a device fitted it will take time to settle. Also bare in mind you’ve had a lot going on with your health. Sometimes recovery can be slower than we expect, then one day you wake up and things have improved.

I’m wondering from what you said are you due to have another echo?

Let us know how you’re getting on. All the best

[PMT123]

Could the symptoms you describe breathlessness, cough, leg weakness possibly have a respiratory cause? Have you been reviewed by a respiratory doc, maybe even a chest xray to begin with.

Are you fit? Take regular exercise? There could be an element of deconditioning contributing to your symptoms.

If you have had a recent echo and this was normal then I doubt very much that you have to worry about heart failure. With heart failure you have either right ventricular systolic dysfunction and reduced ejection fraction, echo would have picked that up.

Heart failure is when one of the ventricles becomes stiff and baggy and is unable to contract properly to pump the blood. A high BNP can be due to other things although it is a good indication of HF (usually a BNP of over 2000). Are you still in AF, I'm sure that can cause a high BNP.

Have you had a recent pacemaker check to make sure it's programmed correctly?

I would definitely ask your GP or cardiologist to refer to respiratory just to check, I would also try to maintain an active healthy lifestyle to improve overall conditioning, maybe you could have some underlying anxiety and don't realise it, which could be contributing to how you feel.

Hope you get to the bottom of it and feel much better soon.

[Jclemo]

I do not like the Amiodarone because I have only one kidney. Thyroid is another possible side effect too, BUT I Must say the Amiodarone 200 mg X1day Has worked wonderfully for ME. My heart rate would run up to 200 BPM. Quite frequently untill I started the meds. Metoprol 50mg.2Xday Amiodarone 200X1day. Eliquis 5mg X2 day. I'm just headed for a stress test and then a Cryo ablation and a WATCHMAN So I can get off the eliquis which is my biggest fear.Good luck your still young.. My best suggestion to you would be JESUS. JC

[Afibflipper]

So sorry things aren’t great for you. I’m wondering if you are similar to myself - My Pro BNP was 1200 & no just above 400. Recently I’ve been having some kind of arrhythmias after 11pm this freedom post ablation. Today I’m having some pain around the heart level which I used to get pre op. I did get fluid overload around 9months ago and take Furosemide-I now only take it when I think I need it - however, I’ve been told by someone that the fluid accumulates around organs internally before showing itself in feet & externally. So, today I have a bit of a cough & have noticed my fingers are puffy & rings that normally spin ar difficult to remove - so I just wonder, is this fluid collecting causing pain within you internally before showing itself externally - hope you improve xx (as always this is not medical diagnosis or medical advice)

[Kristi74 in reply to Afibflipper]

Hello 👋 bit late of a bit of my info on fluid for you. I had a very swollen stomach with fluid. Felt full. Felt sick. Then it went to my feet and legs. Fluid hurts. I was coughing up white phlemn and coughing just walking to bathroom. I thought and doc too it was chest infections. Furosemide I take now for only 2 weeks as just started on them. They are great. Really took that fluid out my lower legs within a fortnight and the coughing improved like my lungs were drying out. Lying back fluid would bother me. Now it's not much of a problem. I think I need more. Fluid is starting in ankles again. Within only a few days of stopping. Ask doctor to give me then back. My bnp is 533. Low blood pressure. Iron deficient aneamia,folic acid and vit d. I feel much more better after flusemide. More energy. Less breathlessness. Still tired though and just sleep when I need to. Can't last a full day. Waiting on my echo. Doctor said I have heart failure. Fluid inside is so true. Thanks for pointing that out. I only thought it was my stomach and legs the fluid went. Didn't realise it was all over. My friends kept saying my fave looks puffy. Update on this part of the forum on my future diagnosis and any fluid info.

Have a lovely New year's day 🍸

[Afibflipper in reply to Kristi74]

Hi Kristi, hope you’ve had a good 1st of Jan. I had fluid for years but no one took me on about it. I always thought I was breathless & coughing due to my asthma! I can now walk up inclines & talk at the same time - unheard of for about the last 10-15 years. I’d have puffy face and top eyelids, rings tight one minute not the next. On & off my legs would swell so much I could ouch them in like dough. It would go down overnight though. Last year it didn’t. I was put on 40mg Furosemide daily for few months & lost the 10lbs of pure fluid. I could not believe how tight & shiny my skin on my legs got (thought it would split when bending down.) Feeling wonderful the Drs said I could try the lower dose to 20mg a day then come off them just to see - I was ok for a while then noticed fingers and stomach painful & more of a cough. I find daily I feel good and if not going to work rushing round I don’t take for a couple of days - Just think it maybe gives my body a rest from lots of meds - I don’t know if I’m right but just don’t want my body dependant then need bigger doses later.

I’m very glad my info helped you. I do get very tired but not like I did. I find that if I eat too much at a meal or too much sugar/carbs then I’m horrendously tired. I also find getting up early for work difficult which in turn on those days I’ll crash out about 9pm. On days off if I can have a lie in I have lots of energy. I stick to low salt diet (not no salt) no caffeine no alcohol and rest when I can/need

Take care - sorry for the long letter xx

[Kristi74]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Was very kind. I too thought it was my asthma 10 years ago. Going up hills I struggled. The puffy eyelids oh yes I have that too. The dough you talk of is horrible. Leaves indents. Yes my feet were so swollen all last year I couldn't go out. Doctor put me as housebound and said it was arthritis swelling on the telephone. I accepted he was right. Even went into hospital last year as abdomen swelled out. Was painful. I've had a lot of surgery so adhesions. Fluid was annoying it and making me sick. Ct scan and sent home saying nothing wrong with you.

At 49 they don't think it's your heart. I feel let down by my gp. I changed. That's when they realised all my problems. Dentist thought I had lymphoma. As my face was swelling she mistook it for lymph nodes. Total shock to find out its heart failure.

Your message has given me hope. I do have a lot of fluid to still shift.

I always type long messages lol. How do you summarise in a paragraph. No doubt you talk a lot also as I do.

You've brightened my day. That it's not curtains closed. That you can get better once that fluid is gone. Bless fluresmide eh! Wonder drug. Yes my stomach gets a bit irritated also. I take on an empty stomach. Then eat an hour later.

I'm actually smiling 😃 now. Only diagnosed a fortnight ago. Great to have someone who knows what I'm talking about and feel.

Your an angel 😇

I'm not worrying now. I appreciate 🙏 💛 you listening and replying. Restoring hope in me.