Husband's AFib

Hopefully he'll tell gp he's not taking his anticoagulant. He thinks it's ridiculous he's been started on rivaroxaban 20mg and wants the lower dose.
I am a retired dispenser and this goes against all my training and instincts.
He's being very silly. We are usually very close but this is making things very difficult

Nana56

Thanks for all your kind words. DH is on Rivaroxaban which he tells me he's not been taking. Makes him feel funny?
I dispare. He's so fortunate that treatment is available and I feel he's bring irresponsible not to take them.
I'm being patient but it's impossible.
He has an appointment next Friday.
I hope he's honest with the doctor.

I would go in with him to see the doctor. He may kick off big time but at the moment you seem to be taking the brunt of everything. If Rivaroxaban makes him feel funny he must tell the GP he isn't taking it and ask to try one of the other anti-coagulants. He is putting himself at major risk of a stroke otherwise. Sorry to say but silly, silly man!

OP, are you going to see the doc with him, if not can you email your concerns to the doc before appt.
he may not give all the information re his behaviour and symptoms.
re the loss of interesting food drink; could you look around for unusual non-alcoholic tipples to try, eg norfolk punch, sasparilla, elderflower, dandelion and burdock, still lemonade.
you could buy some and ask his opinion, as if you are doing a survey.
good luck.

Nana56 the Rivaroxaban he's been prescribed is a blood thinner to prevent stroke. As far as I know, it shouldn't make him feel funny but can cause easier bleeding and bruising. He was probably also put on a beta blocker which would be more likely to cause side effects.

When I saw cardiologist he explained clearly the risk of stroke if blood thinner not taken regularly. Hopefully your husband's doctor will convince him of the importance of taking the medication.

Thanks for all your kind words. DH is on Rivaroxaban which he tells me he's not been taking. Makes him feel funny?
I dispare. He's so fortunate that treatment is available and I feel he's bring irresponsible not to take them.
I'm being patient but it's impossible.
He has an appointment next Friday.
I hope he's honest with the doctor.

I 've had Afib (paroxysmal) for past 2 years. On blood thinner, beta blocker and heart aspirin. At last visit, cardiologist discussed increasing beta blocker slightly but explained it could reduce resting heart rate too much, so it was a bit of balancing act.

Once I realised that being in Afib wasn't going to cause a heart attack, but main risk was stroke, which blood thinners prevent(hopefully), I don't panic when I get an episode.

I know when I'm in Afib, and confirm by taking pulse. I also have a gadget which connects with phone and does mini-Ecg. My episodes mostly happen at night, sometimes when I've just dropped off to sleep. An annoying side effect is a need to pee about every 20 minutes which makes it difficult to go back to sleep!

My episodes last a few hours- longest has been about 8 hours, but I've never felt the need to go to hospital as up to now they've stopped on their own.

Nana56

Thanks for all your kind thoughts, it really helps.
I think I'm finding it all very scary. I know others are dealing with awful illness and I know that although scary etc an afib wont be fatal.
Obviously he's more prone to stroke etc.
I think I'm going to have tonlestn to take it as it comes .
The alternative is to drive us both crazy.

Is your husband on a blood thinner? You are quite right saying he is prone to a stroke so something like Warfarin or one of the newer anti-coagulant drug is vital and a comfort. Hope you have managed to get an appointment for him.

don't phone in front of him. go in other room.

nana he’s poorly and he’s cross, get the Doctors appointment for him, somebody has to be the sensible one, better for him to be cross than in hospital because he won’t see a Doctor.
Pretend you’re a Hospital Matron and just tell him to sit down and behave.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts, it really helps.
I think I'm finding it all very scary. I know others are dealing with awful illness and I know that although scary etc an afib wont be fatal.
Obviously he's more prone to stroke etc.
I think I'm going to have tonlestn to take it as it comes .
The alternative is to drive us both crazy.

It must be so worrying for you both and he probably feels he’s helping by doing these things. I had a bypass in 2018 and would routinely have Lemsip which I now know I shouldn’t take as well as anti inflammatory. I have hot lemon, honey with a dash of brandy and it seems to do the trick, check alcohol is allowed for him. Does he have a cardiac nurse he can chat to? Also British Heart Foundation have nurses you can speak to and lots of information online. Increasing beta blockers will make him feel dizzy and could result in him passing out. If you use Facebook im a member of the British Hearties group, there’s lots of supportive people on there. Best of luck x

Sarnia.. Is right good advice.

I'm a Cardiac Physiologist specialising in Pacing and Cardiac Rhythm. Plus I too have AF.

The Palps are most probably fast AF, so he needs his Medication looked at as he might not have enough Rate control don't play around with meds until GP has given the okay, as it could drop his HR and BP too much.

I had fast AF which was horrible, recently had a Cardioversion, which corrected it, told no Booze, and cut Coffee down.

Our surgery do phone calls with Gp's,could you book one at yours and tell them the situation and perhaps suggest they say they are checking all patients.
The hypertension Clinic at our surgery got in touch with me unasked during lock down just to check I was feeling OK and managing to get my medication or they would send it.also warned me about putting weight on.

I have AFib and cough medicines are a no-no as are anti-inflammatory remedies. I sip honey stirred into hot water which helps a bit. He shouldn't be tinkering with his medication dosage either. Beta blockers slow the heart rate and if he increases them without a medics say so and lowering his heart rate to dangerous levels, he could find himself increasing his palpitation episodes or losing consciousness altogether. I would ring the GP and tell them he intends increasing his medication and he needs to be seen asap. He may not like it but it's better than him making himself worse than he is. AFib is the most common heart complaint in the country. Keep up with the outings. They will do him good and take his mind off his ticker. Good luck to him and you.

Do you think you could ask the doctor or nurse to phone him, "just for a chat", without him knowing?
I know it's sneaky, but he has you over a barrel otherwise doesn't he?

Thanks oopsadsisy1. That's what I was about to do. Picked up the phone and he got very cross. Not great when you're poorly and been having palpitations. OK at the moment.

I was told a useful rule of thumb is to call for medical help if a palpitations event lasts for longer than twenty minutes.

SIL has Afib and has been told if she has any problems to call her Surgery and make an urgent appointment.
Getting stressed isnt good , why not get him an urgent appointment?