Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) Support Group
Atrial fibrillation (AF or afib) is an abnormal heart rhythm (cardiac arrhythmia) which involves the two small, upper heart chambers (the atria). Heart beats in a normal heart begin after electricity generated in the atria by the sinoatrial node spread through the heart and cause contraction of the heart muscle and pumping of blood.
Just an update to my ongoing saga :) I just got back from the doctors. I hadnt been feeling very good or sleeping well over the last couple of weeks so I went to see my doctor. Long story short, I was in Afib in his office. Starting a 1/2 of 80mg tablet of Verapamil 1 hour before bedtime each evening to see if it agrees with me. My heartrate has been jumping up consistently into the 120s to 150s for a few days now and has not been wanting to settle down into the 90s for more than a few seconds/ or minutes. I wake up several times a night because of my heartbeat. Doctor says we need get the rate under control. Wish me luck :) I hope it works out. I havent had luck with prior rate meds before but am hopeful that the low dose of Verapamil will agree with me. I go back for a Holter monitor next month to see how the medication is working out. What a roller coaster...Thanks for letting me vent. :)
Hope that this dose of Verapamil works for you.
It's OK to vent-----that's what this site is for.
D.
Apparently you can't tell when you're in afib? For those of us who feel each and every weird beat, that is so hard to imagine....I can't decide which would be better...to feel it all, and at least know what's going on, or to not be able to tell when you are in afib - neither choice is ideal.
I hope this med works for you and that things settle down quickly. Let us know - wishing you all the best. Kay
My neighbor takes Verapamil for rapid heart beats and it works for her. She tried several this past yr.
You are on my Rainbow list~
You are in my thoughts but you what. I'm sure we will tame our crazy hearts sooner or later. I just know we will.
But for now just keep on venting and let us know how you're doing.
Many blessings Heide
Beta blockers (preferably the "cardioselective" beta blockers such as metoprolol, atenolol, bisoprolol, nebivolol)
Non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (i.e. diltiazem or verapamil)
Cardiac glycosides (i.e. digoxin) have limited use, apart from in the sedentary elderly patient
In addition to these agents, amiodarone has some AV node blocking effects (particularly when administered intravenously), and can be used in individuals when other agents are contraindicated or ineffective (particularly due to hypotension).
Diltiazem has been shown to be more effective than either digoxin or amiodarone.
Moy...
I hope the test dosage has some noteworthy impact and is also temporary.
Did you feel any symptoms at all prior to going into the Dr. office? Good luck and God bless,..... ;) - Thomas
Kay- During the day, I really dont feel any irregular or fast heartbeat unless I check my pulse. At night, when I lie down, I can feel it and it would wake me a few times a night. I did notice that during the day, after exercise, it would take a long time for my pulse to calm down and it would go up fast with very little exercise effort. One day last week, it was hovering around 130 after exercise and wouldnt come down so I held my breath and beared down while wearing a pulse oximeter and my pulse dropped to 80. However, when I stopped holding my breath, it went right back up to 130s again. After a few hours, it came down to around 100 on its own.
Petey- I used to be able to feel the high rates. I would actually feel chest pain with the higher rates but now, I do not feel it. I think I prefer not to feel it either. I am able to exercise and have been consistent with my exercise over the last 6 months. I wonder if my heart muscle has simply gotten stronger with the exercise and I can tolerate/not feel the higher rates now? Other than feeling tired because my sleep has been disrupted with a racing heart at night, I feel really good.
Thomas- Prior to the doctor's visit yesterday, I was tired but didnt feel any high HR or irregular beating. When the nurse put the pulse oximeter on my finger and my pulse was jumping from 75 to 90 to 120 back to 108, I suspected that I might be in Afib. The doctor came in and listened to my heart and told me that I was in Afib. He said my heartbeat was very irregular and ordered an EKG.
I am so thankful to be able to come to this site and talk about these things. I wish I had found this site when I was first diagnosed. I have learned more on this site than I could have ever learned on my own.
You all are such a gift!!
Carrie
I wish for All of us an exceptionally Nice Day!
I hope the verapamil works for you. I know how positive you are but I also know how frustrating this whole thing is, especially when you feel well for a while and think you have it licked. Good luck, well wishes, please keep us informed good or bad.
How are you doing? I have been wondering about you. Have you made any decisions regarding the pacemaker? How have you been feeling?