Dicky Heart Again!

[Marilyn1959]

Had another emergency admission with atrial flutter a week ago. This is the second one in three months. The paramedics wouldn't take me to the same hospital even though the first one is closer! Despite the two hospitals being in the same Trust, neither can access my records from the other!

After 24 hours came home with increased meds from 2.5mgs to 5mgs Bisoprolol. No referral to Cardiology since I have an open appointment following all clear in December! Managed to get a cancellation on Friday. Consultant told me all tests before Christmas showed heart were fine and he could find nothing amiss. However he listened to my description of symptoms and is arranging for an angiogram and 24 hour home monitor.

For the first time I am really worried. I am sleeping more than I am awake. When I am awake I feel like I am drugged up to the eyeballs! My head is fuzzy and tingly. When I get up and move my body feels like a lead weight.

I had this to some degree before first heart episode in October and put it all down to PMR and pred, including palpitations which are no longer present at the moment. I have been on 7mgs pred for about eighteen months.

Any thoughts?

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear this Marilyn, all the extra Meds & side effects can make you feel awful. It’s worth having a word with the Pharmacist re the timings etc to make sure you’re getting the optimum benefit with minimum side effects.

Best Wishes 🌷

Angela xx

[SheffieldJane]

I am sorry to hear this Marilyn. I joined the British Heart Foundation for their Blood Pressure Awareness course. I noticed that it has a lively, active, HU Site with plenty of discussion on drugs and heart conditions. It is possible to limit posts ( I got overwhelmed by the quantity of irrelevant, to me ones). You contact HealthUnlocked by email and they tell you how to adjust your settings. In your place, I would want to be armed with more information. Take care! 🌹

[PMRpro Ambassador]

My heart is fine - except for paroxysmal a/f. I hope the 24 hour monitor is enough - it never was for me! That's the annoying thing about the paroxysmal variety.

Did the paramedics have a good reason for not taking you to the nearest hospital, particularly since it had your notes available!! It may have been on divert of course but even so most hospitals will still accept a patient if there is a good reason.

I do feel a bit like that for a couple of days after I've had a bad dose of a/f - as if I have run a marathon, physically and mentally knocked out. Maybe doubling the bisoprolol has been a bit much - I've been on multiple drugs at low doses which seems to work ok. Is the bisoprolol aimed at the a/f? It doesn't seem to achieve much for OH but they don't bother as he permanently has arrythmia and it doesn't bother him except leaving him pretty tired on a permenent basis.

[Jackoh]

Sorry to hear this Marilyn. Hope you manage to get this sorted.

[Whatgrange]

This might be of no use to you, but I have noticed a connection between my diet and my a/f! I have restricted my caffeine intake for quite a while but noticed that after the last a/f episode (very rare) my caffeine intake had been creeping up. At the same time, I had had a lot of sulphite related food! Sausages and chocolate raisins!! Not at the same meal! I’m sensitive to sulphites. I have been very careful since then and have had no more episodes.

I hope this may be of interest to you. Good luck !