A-fib heart failure symptoms

[Alana84]

Hi,

I'm new, diagnosed before Christmas with a-fib, a-flutter, left bundle branch block, heart failure (40-45%ef), a few other bits I'm not sure I fully understand just yet...

I've googled symptoms, of course, but from your experience, what were your symptoms?

Because I'm tired, I'm so tired. I've got a 1 and 3 year old and I just can't - we watch TV all afternoon lately because I've got nothing. I've got a cough too - the cardiologist days it's not my heart, my GP thought it was asthma, but now she thinks it's post nasal drip - it's brutal and worse when I'm in a-fib, which is 95% of the time.

Sometimes I get a day where everything aches. Sometimes I get hot flushes and I've just missed a period - surely that's menopause? But could it be heart related?

Are any of these familiar?

[Alixia]

Hi Alana,

Have you been given a diagnosis as to what is causing the afib/lbbb/heart failure? Do heart problems run in your family?

What treatment has been offered to you?

Alixia

[Alana84 in reply to Alixia]

Hi Alixia,

No heart problems in my family - and I think we're still trying to find the cause. I have another appointment next week. I had a holter monitor for a day, and I've just had an echo cardiogram, a ct scan very recently - these seem to describe what is happening, but not why. I have an ectopic burden of 7% for example but I don't know why. Perhaps the ct will show more.

I'm on apixaban, spiralactin, dapagliflozin and Candesartan. My blood pressure was already on the low side of normal, my sugar levels were fine etc - I am otherwise fit and healthy, but I had chemo and radiotherapy 8 years ago and that's the leading theory so far.

[Alixia in reply to Alana84]

A CRT-D may help with your afib/lbbb and Ejection Fraction.

I had an ablation for my atrial flutter which was successful.

All of your issues (afib/lbbb/EF) are bound to make you tired. You could ask the doctors to review your meds in case they are making you more tired or causing the cough?

[polenta in reply to Alixia]

Yes, Crt-D fixed my LBBB which in return improved my EF, and the heart meds I take for my DCM still make me tired some days, even after being on them for 10 years.

[Alana84 in reply to polenta]

Oh wow, just looked up crt-D - that's incredible. Who knows, maybe there's one in my future...

I'm sorry you do get tired days from the meds 10 years on. It really heightens the need for living healthily and avoiding colds and so on, which I guess is good but a steep learning curve

[Alana84 in reply to Alixia]

Thank you, my GP is calling tomorrow so we can talk about it then - I've got a feeling it's the spirolactone, as I stated that after the other meds...

[sandandkev]

Hi I had af and it made me feel tired,sick,and puffy,it's hard even more so with young children,do you have any help, you should contact your gp surgery

[Alana84 in reply to sandandkev]

We don't have a lot of help sadly, my parents are 80 miles away and wouldn't be much help if they were next door. My husbands mum is 90 and a few hundred miles away - I've asked for help from friends, we've got a good morning routine set up but making life easier means paid activities or extra nursery days which we can't afford.

I quit work to look after the kids and do a maths degree to retrain to be a teacher, which means we only have one income and the most basic of childcare funding. My husband is keen for them to go in three days to help me out but it's so expensive, I really don't think we can afford it. We've cut back on everything so I can retrain (and I don't mean I get my nails done a little less, I mean if it's not on the kids, food or bills - we're not spending it)

I'm waiting on the GP to call me today about my lung function test so I'll have a chat to her then,

Thank you x

[sandandkev in reply to Alana84]

If not working have you looked into benefotd

[Alana84 in reply to sandandkev]

We don't qualify for any, because I'm not too ill to work. I could go out and get a job, but in reality, it's cost neutral - the hours I'd work cover the cost of nursery and no more. (in fact a job I've applied for recently - and I'm not looking for work, but it's such a perfect fit - would cost us £3k in childcare in the first year, then we'd make money in the second year. Which is nuts)

That's partly because I've chosen to do the degree and need two days a week to study, and so the kids are already in nursery two days a week.

[wilsond]

Head over to AF Association Health Unlocked,specially for heart rate/rhythm problems. Sorry I'm in a rush but you will find answers and support to all the above there from people like me with long experience!

You are not alone xxx

[Alana84 in reply to wilsond]

Thank you!!! ❤️