High heart rate

Atrial Fibrillation

by Gemita - 2023-11-01 17:36:08

Hello Lurker, Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is every reason to complain and I am so sorry to hear of your difficulties.  Although those numbers don't look particularly high, if your AF causes difficult symptoms, you clearly need help to control it and I hope you will be able to get seen in your clinic or in ER today.

As an AF sufferer, it is the irregularity of rhythm that can be so difficult to tolerate and which can cause such swings in both blood pressure and heart rate.  I send my best wishes that you will soon be back in sinus rhythm and feeling so much better.  Please keep us updated.  Yes what bad timing with the family away

Re: High heart rate

by H van Dyk - 2023-11-01 18:32:12

Your HR is indeed a bit high. Your upper blood pressure is fine, but I feel that your lower blood pressure is also a bit high. If you already are on betablockers, then it would not hurt to take an extra one. Perhaps the stress of being alone and missing your familiy also plays a role..?

Figures

by piglet22 - 2023-11-01 19:10:47

I would agree that your diastolic is on the high side referenced to the systolic.

I would be looking at more like 129/80.

I personally would be concerned about 115 BPM and not going down as it wouldn't be my norm.

It's probably nothing, but best checked.

I wouldn't be too worried about the heart rate initially, but you need to get the diastolic down

If you are on beta blockers like Bisoprolol you could try upping the dose as a trial. 10 mg daily is the recommended maximum.

If on another BB like Atenolol, 5 mg Bisoprolol is the equivalent of 50 mg Atenolol.

If you go to A&E, they will probably use Bisoprolol to get your BP and BPM down.

Having said all that, the figures aren't dangerously high, but need checking bif they persist 

High Heart rate

by Lurker (Doc DX) - 2023-11-02 00:22:39

Back from the ER.. The Cardio Clinic told me not to go in but go to ER  they put on an IV Drip of diltiazem. That slowly brought it down. I was on a 12 lead ECG and could see the blood pressure but could not crane my neck far enough to see the HR rate. So I used 2 HR apps on my iPhone instead. As soon as saw these 2 start to converge I knew things were going in the right direction. The DR is getting an apt set up the my cardio doctor who I have not seen since Feb 2019. About 2 full full years before my implant  now I'm on a low dose of diltiazem, another med to add to my list. That was not fun, when I went to upstairs to get the cardio clinic card I  thought I was going to die before I got to the top. 
My young daughter has told me in no uncertain terms that I do absolutely nothing tomorrow. Total time in ER about 2 hours. 
When I got into ER I told the cardiac DR on duty I did not want to thru cardio conversion again.  That plays hell on your system and you can't do much for about a month.

Gad to be home.  If if alone. 

Glad you are back home

by Gemita - 2023-11-02 02:13:27

Thank you for the update Lurker.  I am pleased you are back home and feeling more comfortable.  With your symptoms, you absolutely made the right decision to be seen and I am glad they have selected Diltiazem, a Calcium Channel Blocker to keep your heart rate and blood pressure better controlled should further episodes of AF occur.  Diltiazem is a good med and sometimes a better alternative for some of us than a beta blocker for AF or other arrhythmias.  Diltiazem can also be used in conjunction with a beta blocker if it fails to control AF on its own.  I hope it works well for you.

Your total time in ER wasn’t too bad at all and you seemed to get really good treatment.  Cardioversion doesn’t always work or stop AF for long periods, so Diltiazem was a good choice.

Rest, stay well hydrated and take good care of yourself.  The girls will be back soon