Non sustained ventricular tachycardia event

[Wheezy54]

Hallo thereOn Friday I was admitted to hospital overnight as my heart rate was all over the place. This is the first time this has ever happened to me and it was scary and I'm still scared. They have put me on bisoprolol 2.5 mg and I've been referred to outpatients for an echo and tape ECG. I've still got the flutter- I can feel it but at least my heart rate has returned to normal now. I'm finding it hard to cope with the bisoprolol. It makes me feel sick and light headed. Will that go away?? Also what are people's experiences of arythmia. For what it s worth I thought I was healthy and doing all the right things: slim build,non smoker and exercise regularly ( I'm 58 ) What I do have though is a lot of heart problem history in my family. I'm feeling very low at the moment as I never expected this to happen to me and I wonder what the future holds ( might sound a bit melodramatic !! )

Anyone who can offer a kind word or some advice???

Thankyou so much

[Murderfan58]

First off you are not being melodramatic you are scared as would anyone would be . I know I have been scared . Especially recently when I ended up in hospital on the Monday 6th for a week spilt between 2 hospitals. Thought I had heart attack but I had a headache I don't get headaches pain in the left side of my neck and kicked my HPX off so lost my speech. Long story short after angiography done on the Saturday ruled out heart attack and didn't need stents . Came home 13th. Saw cardiologist 22nd putting me on low dose statin as slight furring in my right artery and to prevent any build up. Thinks I had TIA mini stroke so referring me to stroke neurologist and hopes I get an appointment soon. Discharged me back to my GP care. Seeing my GP tomorrow to get help with water retention and breathlessness cardiologist said now I have seen him they will prescribe the medication.

Because of water retention my GP sent in referral to see cardiologist in July 2024 had the appointment for the 22nd 3 weeks before I ended up in hospital.

See your GP and tell them how you feel. Plus you can phone heart nurse at BHF they will help you . Your fears are normal . We all get scared and talking about it helps . Well it helps me . 💐

[devonian186]

As it was so recent its worth taking some time and writing up a detailed diary of what you were doing, eating, drinking etc in the days up to your event and in general if you have been doing anything different in the weeks leading up to it. Change of Job. Change of Home. Relationship break up. New exercise programme. New diet etc etc.

The more you can identify the circumstances the more likely it is that you can avoid them in future, but at the least it will be helpful to those treating you.

Bisoprolol affects eople differently. I don't seem to be affected much but others here have had to be changed to an alternative. Having said that its very early days and it could be the anxiety causing your sickness.

[Alixia]

hello, did you disclose your family history to the doctors?

See how the tests go and definitely disclose your family history to the cardiologist.

You can ask to be referred to an inherited cardiac conditions clinic.

[Wheezy54 in reply to Alixia]

Yes indeed. They know everything about my family history. Thankyou . I might have a word with a bhf nurse about bisoprolol

[Alixia in reply to Wheezy54]

I also didn’t get on with bisoprolol - I’m doing better on sotalol. I have an ICD for arrhythmia.

[Marley7500]

Hello. I was on Bisoprolol when i first got diagnosed with Dilatated Cardiomyopathy and I didn't get on well with it - I think people react different to it. I was on a low dose so wasn't too bad until it was increased due to v-tach episodes, the increased dose made me feel spaced out, dizzy and gave me stomach problems. My cardiologist was good and switched me to carvedilol and I have tolerated that quite well... compared to Biso... so I'd say its definately worth speaking to your GP and see if they can swap you over

I had an ICD implanted in 2023, the meds were maintained, so I'm on a few, Amiodarone is the one I need to watch, as it can have loads of side effects and worse still longer term use messes with other organs in your body so need to keep a close eye with bloods, eye tests and making sure I use sunblock (not that the UK has a lot of sunny weather! 😜 )

Hope this helps

[Wheezy54 in reply to Marley7500]

Thanks. Yes that helps. It's early days with the bisoprolol. Feel I need to give it a bit longer but will go to GP after a week if still having problems

[fon7]

I’m on the same med. take it in the evening. Do the echo and ecg. Follow direction closely.