tachy episodes

[Toogoofy317 Member of 1000 Post Club! Find all posts View Profile Close Toogoofy317]

This is so frustrating! I don't know what to do about these episodes. I just had an episode so bad that it woke me up. I was asleep and awoke gasping for breath and a heart rate of 145! I feeel my pulse pounding in my head and my bp is around 86/54.

Can anyone relate. I see the cardio on Tuesday but I'm getting real frustrated.
these episodes only seem to happen at night.

Mary S

[cynthiaG Member of 1000 Post Club! Find all posts View Profile Close cynthiaG]

Re: tachy episodes

I can relate, Mary! I don't gasp for breath, but usually have them when I start to fall asleep or get them very early in the a.m. My pulse is all over the place so I don't know exactly what the rate usually is. I hate AFIB!
My Boston doctors put me on Verapamil after I had to be cardioverted (just one time)....weeks later, another episode....dose increased....another episode...in the hospital started on Sotolol (an antiarrythimic)..was doing o.k. in hospital and 3 days later almost passed out at work and pulse went down to 40 bpm. Ended up in the hospital again. Saw my electrophysiologist in Boston the following week. ( By the way, after being on only a beta blocker for many years, I do not do well on them now for some reason. ) The Sotolol contains a beta blocker and what happened was my blood pressure went down too low. The electrophsiologist said that there are other treatments for my AFIB. There are antiarrythmics that are not beta blockers. For now, he wants to see how I do just on the verapamil..so far, so good. So, Mary, there are many options out there. Anytime you want someone to "talk" to, pm me. I can totally relate to this beast! Good luck and discuss it with your doctor.