Heart Rate and Beta Blockers/Amiodarone

[Adamlee]

Hey all,

I've posted here before and previously mentioned a little bit about my situation Surgery this Friday (not sure that's the best way to attach the previous post).

I was just curious to hear from a few other people who've been in a similar situation.

So, my surgery was Nov 4th 2022 at a specialist hospital and I went back in for 5 days - 23rd of November - with a high heart rate (135 resting) but at my local hospital. They started me on Amiodarone (200mg once a day now - more often at the start), Bisoprolol (5mg twice a day) and Digoxin (125 micrograms).

My resting heart rate now sits anywhere between 97-108 but usually closer to 100. It has been like that for a couple of weeks now. I'm worried that it has stopped decreasing and has plateaued. I know amiodarone can take a while to actually start seeing the full affects but I feel that it should be getting lower. There was talk of cardioverting me if it didn't come down.

Has anyone else had experience of the heart rate taking a long time to come down? Should I be worried?

I know I could/maybe should contact the local hospital but honestly they were useless. I've been back for a scheduled ECG - 15th Dec - and heard nothing back. Whereas I have an appointment in Birmingham (specialist hospital) on the 10th of Jan. I'm tempted just to wait till then.

Apart from the high heart rate my recovery is going fine, feel stronger and can walk further each day.

Thanks again,

Adam

 

[Adamlee]

Forgot to mention the high heart rate was due to Atrial Flutter.

 

[tom in MO]

If there are no other symptoms with your heart rate, I wouldn't sweat it. I'd ask about the ECG at the first hospital and make sure it's available to who you see at the second hospital on 1/10. It always helps to have a basis for comparison, so I'd suggest measuring BP and rate at the same time of day for the 4 days leading up to your 1/10 appointment.

 

[Superman]

My resting pulse took a long time to come down after my last surgery 13 years ago. Fitness monitors weren’t a thing in 2009, so I don’t have data to go back to to compare. But 90-100 sounds about right and it took a few weeks.

 

[pellicle]

My resting pulse took a long time to come down after my last surgery 13 years ago... But 90-100 sounds about right and it took a few weeks.

similarly here (and I did have a HR checking habit from a few years of using my Polar (alike) watch / chest strap.

 

[Adamlee]

Had my appointment today at Birmingham:

They're happy with the heart rate - saying its normal and it's reacting to what the body needs (recovery).

However, they're a little concerned with the echo I had a month before. They said that the heart isn't pumping as strongly as it was before surgery, they didn't give any numbers or percentages. They said it is normal to happen immediately after surgery but not at that point (4/5 weeks post op). They're referring me to the heart failure clinic to "get some medication to get it pumping as it was again".

However, since coming home - and doing awful Google searches - I feel like I'm quite worried seeing as they've referred me to the heart failure clinic. He didn't seem too worried about it and seemed happy with the plan. He never said I have heart failure but I'm sat here wondering why they're referring me to a heart failure clinic if I don't have it?

Anyone had any similar experiences? Tried searching the forum but can't find anything of note.

Thanks,

Adam

 

[tom in MO]

I was once told I was in congestive heart failure due arterial plaque. Turned out the test was flawed.

The heart failure clinic may have the specialist you need, not that you are in heart failure.

If you feel good...be happy I'm not sure about the UK, but if you were in the US, I'd suggest calling your doctor's nurse for some clarification if you feel confused.

 

[Adamlee]

Thank you Tom for your response. You've helped me calm down a bit.

I'm hoping you're spot on - my heart isn't pumping as it was pre-surgery so they'd send me to the people who can solve it: heart failure clinic. Not that it's under the 40% ejection fraction but just that it's not what it was e.g. Could have been 65% before but 50% now. Doesn't mean I have heart failure just that it's not working as well as it was.

I guess they do the same when you're heart rate isn't what it was before but less specialist. He even said it could have recorrected itself by now. Not sure why they didn't do an echo today to compare. They did an ECG and Chest X-ray and were happy with both.

I've emailed my surgeons secretary but in the UK it is much harder to contact (and get a response) from the doctors. I'll keep chasing them though.

I definitely feel better. I'm nearly 9 weeks post op and I feel the last two weeks I've made significant improvements.

Thank you again for your response, my brain seems to run away once I hear slightly negative news.

Adam

 

[tom in MO]

Thank you Tom for your response. You've helped me calm down a bit.

I'm hoping you're spot on - my heart isn't pumping as it was pre-surgery so they'd send me to the people who can solve it: heart failure clinic. Not that it's under the 40% ejection fraction but just that it's not what it was e.g. Could have been 65% before but 50% now. Doesn't mean I have heart failure just that it's not working as well as it was.

I guess they do the same when you're heart rate isn't what it was before but less specialist. He even said it could have recorrected itself by now. Not sure why they didn't do an echo today to compare. They did an ECG and Chest X-ray and were happy with both.

I've emailed my surgeons secretary but in the UK it is much harder to contact (and get a response) from the doctors. I'll keep chasing them though.

I definitely feel better. I'm nearly 9 weeks post op and I feel the last two weeks I've made significant improvements.

Thank you again for your response, my brain seems to run away once I hear slightly negative news.

Adam

We can all get into a blue funk. I've had two "incurable" diagnoses over the last year. It freaks you out, but then you realize the sun is shining and the pain could be worse. Then you realize there's plenty of time to die from something else
It's kind of like getting your knees replaced. Intellectually they cut your leg in half, leaving just the tissue to hold it together and screw in a ball and socket. This is horrifying at first when you are told. Then you realize knee replacement surgery is the the leading surgery for patient's feeling it was a great idea after it was done.