Atrial fibrillation flaring after virus and struggling with higher bisoprolol dose

[santamola]

Has anyone got this, or have experience of dealing with it?

I've had it for five years and never had an issue really as it was well controlled. I take bisoprolol. I don't have to take blood thinners as I was given a Watchman device (google it, too long to explain!) as I am prone to gastric bleeding. All good so far yes...

Then two weeks ago I got a nasty virus, the usual cold, cough and razor blade sore throat. First such thing in years, and it wiped me out, still have the residue. Out of the blue in the second week of being ill the AF went all over the place, heart rate up to 140, back to 60 - doing a complete dance! I didn't feel it much but my watch told me and gave me a bit of a fright!

I made appt with cardiology and consultant wasn't one bit worried, but doubled the bisoprolol dose to calm the heart rate. And that's where it all went south. I just was on the floor with weakness, dizzyness and a very low HR. Called them and am awaiting a return call - won't be over the weekend anyway. So I intend to reduce the bisop tomorrow back to what I was taking and hope for the best.

Has anyone had a bad reaction to increased dose of beta blockers like that. I'm falling asleep in my soup ha ha. I don't want to second guess the medics but I really can't tolerate the higher dose of bisop.

How very frustrating @santamola . I hope normal rhthym is restored soon.
@Giggorata I have some success with valsava but only in mild cases of SVT.
Viruses are my main trigger as well.
Interesting what you say about electronic monitoring, I think it's very much a double edged sword.

Morning again,

If anyone is still reading, I am being cardioverted AGAIN, next week. 😯And then different meds, I presume that might be for rhythm control which I have never been on before.

We shall see.

good luck OP, wishing you the best

Good luck! Keep us updated when you’re ready.

I’m seeing the cardiologist next Friday re a pacemaker

Same condition and meds as me.

im ok on 3.75 twice a day Bisiperol but because my heart rate and BP were on low side that’s as far as they’ll go.

This is really interesting. I feel like the cardiologist is saying you’re on the 4 pillars of meds and you’ve not returned to hospital now go away.
I struggle on the stairs and have low energy. I just want to feel
better!

I've been like a woman possessed chasing up DH's catheter ablation. I just ended up googling the specialist unit and trying random phone numbers until someone gave me the number of the admissions co-ordinator who was lovely. He's got a provisional date for the end of July.... he's felt awful this week, so tired and very irritable I'm trying hard to be understanding. I'm pretty sure that apart from the breathlessness, it's the side effects of the bisprolol.

Your stories are so interesting but obviously frustrating for many of you, I don't know where we get the reserves of energy to deal with all the rigmarole around trying to get treated and get better!

Cardiology seems at first glance to be a very scary specialty to deal with, but they seem to take things in their stride, and as some of you have experienced are not too hasty about ensuring a good quality of life in a very timely fashion. That is just so unfair, when some reasonably routine procedures/drug regimens could help so much. I do hope all of you going through the mill get some relief very soon. I mean that.

As for me, I'm staying as calm as I can. As long as I am able to function and the cardio team are not panicking, I will try not to panic either, but that's not always possible as we all know!

I'd say my hair will be standing up on its own after the next electric shock. 😂😂😂

Wishing you all a great weekend and good health.

I really think you should go back and tell them this. Their job is not just to dish our meds but to look at the patient's lifestyle and aims and tweak things in line with that. We are not widgets! We are all different in our metabolism and in what our aims and values are. One person might say "Give me anything you like, even if it makes me feel crap, as long as you keep me alive for as long as possible", but another might say "This is how I want to live my life and quality is my priority not quantity."
Struggling with stairs and having low energy is not quality of life!

I do agree it’s poor quality of life.
They see I’ve returned to work and not been re admitted to hospital so they are two big ticks.

im not sure which camp I’m in. Longer life no matter what or quality

The heavy legs effect of bisiperol I wasn’t aware of. I’ll raise that with the cardiologist.

I went to one cardiology appointment with a typed list of my aims for the rest of my life, followed by a list of my problems and the drug side effects I was getting. I had sent this to his secretary beforehand and he had it onscreen in front of him.
I wanted my life aims to be central to the discussion... and they were.

Cardiology seems at first glance to be a very scary specialty to deal with, but they seem to take things in their stride, and as some of you have experienced are not too hasty about ensuring a good quality of life in a very timely fashion

Yes that's been my experience. Cardiologists are very gung ho about scary heart stuff.

I remember my cardiologist saying to me - 'AFib won't kill you it just feels like it will'

It is frightening at times, so glad I just get a tiny bit these days although will remain on Apixiban & Bisoprolol

How are people coping in this weather? I haven't had an Afib episode for 18 months but I could feel palpitations this morning at rest and my Kardia said my hr was 100 but still in sinus rhythm. Bit worried about the next few days.

@TreylimeI moved over to permanent AF about 6 weeks ago so mine has been much the same.

DH is struggling, he's absolutely exhausted and his average heart rate for this week has been 118 in spite of the bisoprolol.

I’ve got to up my Bisoprolol to 2.5 am and pm. I am not looking forward to it at all.

I know it doesn’t sound a lot but it’s knackering for a few days. 😊

Hello, if anyone is still out there and watching the thread!

Well I had quite the ahem....adventure last week. I went for the second cardioversion, it worked fine and they put me on Sotalol which is a combo of beta blocker and rhythm control. I had to stay in and be monitored as Sotalol can have some weird effects!

All went fine and I was being discharged next day. But guess who had the weird effects? So my ticker paused a few times, then sped up off the scale. Action stations. I was a bit scared TBH, and didn't know what was going on. But immediately taken off that drug and monitored again then I went straight back into Afib again. OMG. Anyway consultant explained that next step is ablation. Back on the Bisoprolol in the meantime.

The bisop is 5mg and honestly I am doing fine on it now. HR reasonably steady, no peaks of tachy anyway, knock on wood. But I am very tired, I suppose that will last until I get used to it.

Another complication is that I am prone to gastric bleeds and blood thinners are problematic for me. So they are having a multi disciplinary meeting with GI consultant to try and figure out a way forward. Although I don't take blood thinners now as I have a Watchman, it will be needed post ablation for prevention of possible clots from the ablation procedure itself.

I spent 5 days in the hospital. But one good thing, I was in a climate controlled building and avoided the worst of the heat last week. One bonus!

Hope you are all doing OK, and coping with Afib.

Yikes @santamolathat sounds like quite a terrifying ordeal. At least you were in the right place for them to deal with the sotalol side effects. Have they given you any timescale for an ablation? I’m still waiting for my initial appointment following an NHS referral from a private consultant. In permanent AF now and just taking apixaban.

Hi @Anjelika I have an appointment with the EP/cardiologist in two weeks time. He is on hols this week and will confer with his GI colleague when back and hopefully they will have a plan. I wish I didn't have to have an ablation because of the bleeding issue which terrifies me more than the Afib TBH! But I have to put my trust in the guys who know and deal with these things every day.

I am supposed to go away 2nd August on a much anticipated trip to Ghent and Bruges. If consultant gives go ahead to travel, and schedules ablation after that, fine. If he doesn't think it's a good idea I won't go obviously. I can cancel hotels within 24 hours, and the flights were not expensive, so I don't mind losing that element. My travel companion will be gutted, but will understand completely. We shall see.

I really hope you get a date for your procedure soon. Wishing you the very best.

@Anjelika Do you not need to take any rate or rhythm control drugs? Do you feel the Afib happening to you?

I feel it now and then, and when I do I get quite anxious. But I have been reassured about it. Hard to be relaxed when I feel I have a fish flopping around in my chest ha ha. 😊

@santamolaI am currently on holiday. We took out a standard family 1 year insurance plan but I have taken my own out on top of that. There is no point me taking rhythm controlling drugs (flecanaide) as In my experience they are used to prevent AF or get you out of AF if you’re paroxysmal which I was but am no longer. I could take Bisoporol every day but they make me feel awful so I’d rather soldier on with just the Apixaban - at least until I get to see an EP.