Hi all, I’m newly diagnosed with AF, it was initially picked up by my Fitbit in August then again in September. I started on Bisoprolol 2.5mg and Apaxiban 5mg twice a day in October.
As far as I understand AF is a very fast heart rate, mine was 174, since starting the Bisoprolol my resting HR is now 59 but that soon shoots up when I get busy around the house or if I’m out walking it can reach just over a hundred, not always though. I was assuming this is normal but I’ve read a few times on here of people being in AF at 90 bpm. I’m confused now as my heart often feels fluttery but when I look at my Fitbit it says the hr is low 60’s. I’m wondering if I should get a Kardia machine or should I stop worrying and trust the tablets.
I also have high BP and take Olmesartan and Lercanidipine.
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Crumbling
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Hi I was diagnosed in July with AF, my pulse was about 160, the bisoprolol keeps the pulse rate lower,mine went to 58,but made me feel sick so bisoprolol reduced,heart now around 70/80, but it stays in af, the bottom of heart beats as should but top flutters un controlled, mine goes up but the important thing is it comes back down when resting, if stays over 100 for over 30mins have to contact gp, you get used to it a bit,when mine goes up I feel it fluttering then try to sit/stop and rest,good luck
Hi I was diagnosed in July with AF, my pulse was about 160, the bisoprolol keeps the pulse rate lower,mine went to 58,but made me feel sick so bisoprolol reduced,heart now around 70/80, but it stays in af, the bottom of heart beats as should but top flutters un controlled, mine goes up but the important thing is it comes back down when resting, if stays over 100 for over 30mins have to contact gp, you get used to it a bit,when mine goes up I feel it fluttering then try to sit/stop and rest,good luck
It's possible to have AF without a high heart rate, with medication mine rarely goes above mid-eighties, and before treatment it stayed about 125.Do you have paroxysmal AF? If so you should be referrred to a cardiologist and that is the best person to answer your question, there are so many variables, including how you actually feel.
The British Heart Foundation have a helpline staffed by cardiac nurses, they are very knowledgable and helpful, as you are newly diagnosed you'll probably find a lot of questions popping up.
No they don't, and mine looked a bit miffed when I pulled out my list of questions!It would really help if there was more information offered when first diagnosed, preferably with whatever area NHS trust you live in, as it does seem to vary from area to area. Sorry, by that I mean things like a holter monitor; where I live it seems unheard of for anyone to have one for more than 24 hours, but other places seem to like 48 hour ones or even 7 days. Different tests and treatments vary too.
Another good source if you are okay with technology is the Youtube videos by Dr Sanjay Gupta from York Cardiology, he explains things very well and seems to prefer to use the least invasive tests that are appropriate for that individual .
My cardiologist says "Don't worry about your heart rate. How do you feel?". Don't obsess about the numbers. It sounds like you are on about the right meds: resting heart rate 59, going up when you are doing things.
I know it's hard but try to relax, AF won't kill you.
You will get more help on the AF Association forum, but as I have AF, I can give you some insights.
Firstly, a high heart rate (HR) does not mean that you have AF, but often people will have a higher HR than usual when they are in AF.
you can have AF occasionally that lasts a few minutes or hours. This is called Paroxysmal AF.
It may develop into periods of AF lasting several days, when it's known as Persistent AF.
I have AF all the time and this is called Permanent AF.
Abbreviating the three is pointless, because they would all be PAF!
AF is sometimes symptom free, as in my case, and many people have AF but are unaware of it.
When you are in AF you will have an irregular HR, technically an irregularly irregular HR because there is no pattern to it. You can check this by taking the pulse on your wrist manually and noticing the lack of a steady beat. If the beat is steady, you are not in AF at that time.
The Bisoprolol is a beta blocker to keep your HR in the normal range. Spiked to over 100 when yo ate active are normal. It's the resting rate that you want to be lower than 100. The Apixaban is an anticoagulant that reduces the risk of a stroke, since AF sufferers have a higher risk of stroke.
Hi Crumbling my Apple Watch was picking up AF but it turned out to be another rhythm called Bigeminy which these devices don’t pick up other rhythms/ectopics I was told. So mine wasn’t AF but my watch said it was. Ask your cardiologist next time to investigate further as mine was only identified when in hospital for a week wired up 24/7. I was given a CRT/D procedure to regulate it. This might not be the same as yours but it’s worth checking out. If you look on your ECG’s if there is a bump (P) just before the QRS then it isn’t AF but if there is no bump just a straight line then it’s AF. My cardiologist pointed this out to me as I was convinced it was AF that I had. Look it up research it so that you can understand your ECG when you have one. I find it very interesting. Good luck and let us know how you get on, Joy.
Thank you honeybubs I took a printout of my ecg off my Fitbit when I saw the cardiologist and he said definitely AF. I must admit I was a bit surprised he accepted it as previously I’d found the doctor not too keen on accepting info off my Fitbit.
Hi Crumbling. You need to pop across to the Atrial Fibrillation Forum where there are so many members with real in-depth knowledge and experience and who can help you negotiate through the winding path of finding the right treatment for AF. For instance if it wasn’t for the AF forum I probably wouldn’t have pushed for the treatment I’ve had. Also make sure you get to see an EP cardiologist (electrophysiologist) who will be specialised in arrhythmias. AF isn’t just a fast heart beat. It’s a condition that doesn’t get better without correct treatment and only an EP is really up to date on all the latest research and treatment developments.
My Afib was low level but persistent. So I could be in Afib with a resting HR in the 60s on medication. The irregular heartbeat caused by rogue electrical impulses was still there in the background. I knew over time the Afib would just get gradually worse and become harder to treat so that’s why I opted for cardioversion and an ablation. Many GPs still take the view we can just keep it all controlled by medication- that was their training but things have moved on. Good luck!
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