ER: Has any of our male correspondents... - Atrial Fibrillati...

Atrial Fibrillation Support

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ER

jnh1 profile image
jnh1
33 Replies

Has any of our male correspondents come across this problem before and if so I would very much appreciate your comments. I have AF for a number of years now and according to the various Professionals I have seen both in the UK and in Portugal where I live part of the year. I take Warfarin, Bisoprolil and Tildiem Retard, but since taking this cocktail I have ER. Being a man of science I attributate this to a combination of the effect of three things (a) blood pressure control (b) heart control and (c) my brain sending a signal to my working part (or in my case, non-working part) telling it not to work as it puts the rest at risk.

I have discussed this with my EP and GP and both are stumped or appear to be stumped with the problem. The other problem that comes hand in hand with this is I developed this problem before I got married and my poor wife is now also the recipient of my AF condition.

Should anyone have any constructive information that my be of assistance I would be most great fun. Many thanks J.

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33 Replies
jnh1 profile image
jnh1

My apologies ER should read ED. J.

BobD profile image
BobDVolunteer

This problem has bee aired before and does occasionally rear it's ugly head. Or not in most cases LOL. Others may be able to comment but since I had radical prostatectomy that issue is a non starter for me anyway. A couple of lolly sticks and some tape are about the only solution I have found. You get used to it and I have my memories.

Bob

jan-ran profile image
jan-ran in reply to BobD

Bob! lol hahahahahahahahahahaha

This has come up before, and there were many honest answers from the male members(!)

I've had the AF thing since August 2013. My partner at the time was worried I would "overdo it" and as a result it was always at the back of our(my) minds. I've been on bisoprolol since Aug 2013, with various other accompaniments ever since.

I've also had 6 debilitating episodes of fast AF, 5 DC cardioversions and 2 RF ablations.

Whether it's physiological, medicines related, a mixture of both or as a result of the AF I'm not sure, but things aren't as "potent" as they used to be, only now (4 and a bit weeks post-2nd ablation) are things starting to feel "normal".

As I say - whether this is me not worrying/putting less pressure on myself or whether it's the body getting back to pre-diagnosis state I'm not sure. I am lucky my current partner of 6 months is a former Ward Sister (not my boss) and has a good understanding with patience and encouragement as that helps a lot........... thought at 32 you still feel you should be 21 and ready and raring despite the fatigue and cocktails of tablets that dominate your day!

jnh1 profile image
jnh1 in reply to jedimasterlincoln

Ged thank you for your comments. However I am going to tell you something that is vitally important. I have a Christmas turned 64 however I am still 21 and please God when I turn 65, I will still be 21 and henceforth will never get any older than 21. so make sure this philosophy is engrained in your mind. J.

jnh1 profile image
jnh1 in reply to jedimasterlincoln

Ged thank you for your comments. However I am going to tell you something that is vitally important. I have a Christmas turned 64 however I am still 21 and please God when I turn 65, I will still be 21 and henceforth will never get any older than 21. so make sure this philosophy is engrained in your mind. J.

jnh1 profile image
jnh1

Your a cruel man Bob. The more ugly part of this was my EP has met my wife and when I told him about the problem his immediate response was bring her down to me. Very professional indeed. Thanks anyway. J.

fallingtopieces profile image
fallingtopieces

I know I'm a girl so I hope you don't mind me contributing : /

Almost without a doubt it's the Calcium Channel Blocker(Tildiem retard) responsible.

The aim of Calcium Channel Blockers is to prevent blood vessels from contracting/narrowing which would cause high blood pressure.

Unfortunately you actually need those vessels to contract after the blood has rushed into the part in question here.

Without the vessels contracting, the blood will flow right back out again, thus causing the D in ED.

Looking on the bright side, the Calcium Channel Blockers are working as they should.

Pat.

jnh1 profile image
jnh1 in reply to fallingtopieces

Pat, did you receive my message? J.

jnh1 profile image
jnh1

Thank you Pat, that's sweet of you. J.

jnh1 profile image
jnh1

Pat my Ming is racing already. Might this mean if one can control ones blood pressure by natural means, this problem might become a thing of the past ? Thank you again really do appreciate your input. J.

jnh1 profile image
jnh1

Pat my Ming is racing already. Might this mean if one can control ones blood pressure by natural means, this problem might become a thing of the past ? Thank you again really do appreciate your input. J.

Japaholic profile image
Japaholic

I have the same issue with Bisoprolol and am (with my cardiologists consent) reducing the dosage from 5mg to 2.5mg and taking a small dose of verapamil to compensate. I am not sure its going to work but I have to follow his advice. He said a urologist wouldnt help me because the AF is the priority condition and that ED is secondary.

It does work sometimes, but not always when I want it to. I find if I worry about it not working, it wont. If I take the opportunity when it arises (excuse the pun) we can just about do the business BUT it has reduced our very active sex life down to a trickle. Hence my keenness to have an ablation and get of the drugs as much as possible.

My GP in the UK warned me that Bisoprolol would make me impotent and he proved to be right. However, in Japan it is seen as the main drug for AF and its hard to get them to consider giving me anything else.

I dont take the other drugs you mention, only Bisoprolol which lists impotence as a side effect.

jedimasterlincoln profile image
jedimasterlincoln in reply to Japaholic

It's good to know it's not just me it's happened to! Sadly been on the drugs for 18 months and things are certainly trickling !

Offcut profile image
Offcut

netdoctor.co.uk/heart-and-b... Might be worth a read.

I only had that problem when they put me on BP tablets wrongly as it turned out. However the Tildiem Retard does reduce the BP by quite some amount it seems?

My Lung consultant wants my Heart Consultant to change my beta blockers to calcium channel blockers which I only had once since 1992 and I know I was not on them for very long but cannot remember why.

It may not be a answer but it does make sense I think?

Be Well

Dadog profile image
Dadog

Nearly all the drugs I take for high BP and Bisoprolol have a bad effect on potency. No one, so far, has mentioned boosters such as Viagra. My GP tried me on these (although it had to be private prescriptions) and it cost me a small fortune to discover thay had no good effect! If your circulation ain't getting there it ain't gonna stay there!!

Dadog profile image
Dadog

I meant to add that Bob is right - I try to appreciate that I am alive and kicking and reasonably well......and I can always reminisce........ah, those good old days!!

jnh1 profile image
jnh1 in reply to Dadog

Thanks Dagdog. I don't know if I would rather leave this planet on my way into a Pub or on my way out of a Pub. But I'd sure like to try leaving it with a smile on my face. J.

Dadog profile image
Dadog

Either way would be good, I guess, jnh1. A fine, summers day, good country pub, sit at a bench outside, with a pint of real ale, watch the world go by - and let your mind wander back to those days...when you met that gorgeous....well, you know the picture!

Cheers!

jnh1 profile image
jnh1 in reply to Dadog

Sounds good to me. All the pleasure and none of the pain (hehehe). J.

NJ47 profile image
NJ47

When I first started taking Bisoprolol and Riveroxaban I was worried sick about this very thing, but I did my research and so far have had absolutely no problems, and hope it stays that way as like many on here I have a very active sex life.

One question though does the Bisoprolol cause the problem over time or does it develop after years of use?

I do hope your issue can be resolved though. For the record I'm on Ramipril, Amlodipine, Bisoprolol (all 5mg) and Riveroxaban, 15mg.

If you can, i'd suggest a change of meds? Good luck.

Japaholic profile image
Japaholic in reply to NJ47

For me it didn't start straight away, it got slowly worse over a couple of months. The worse it got, the more I worried. Nothing worse than a horny wife and not being able to deliver. However, since the Doc lowered the dosage of bisoprolol we have seen some improvement AND so far (touch wood) no increase of AF frequency.

jnh1 profile image
jnh1 in reply to Japaholic

Don't bring her to my EP with you.

Dadog profile image
Dadog

Seriously, guys, the problem can creep up on you. I have been on drugs since 1975 that list impotence problems as a side effect. I was younger then; and despite the odd occasion, managed a happy sex life. Progressively, things did deteriorate as I got older. I started to be concerned and worried and of course, worry doesn't help at all. My conclusion? Channel blockers, beta blockers, advancing age and worry don't help the situation.......but it's not the end of the world!

jnh1 profile image
jnh1

No, Dadog1, its just the beginning of the end or is it the end of the beginning. However it's time for the beginning of the present and a pint of Guinness. J

NJ47 profile image
NJ47

Better get on that Oblation list then, cos if it's drugs or sex?........ Worked it out in 0.0001 secs, lol. Seriously though, we all know it's an important issue so knowing the potential problems it can cause, I'll be monitoring things VERY closely lol. (Not sure if that quite sounds right, hmmm).

Glad that lowering the Bisoprolol dose has worked for you though. Thanks for your comments.

Nige

jnh1 profile image
jnh1 in reply to NJ47

With the greatest respect may I suggest you worked that one out toooooo quickly. Do you know what procedure involves? J.

NJ47 profile image
NJ47 in reply to jnh1

Not yet jnh1, no, but with an 80% chance of success, I'd rather risk a procedure than the potential complications with the drug regime.

I was put on a low dose of Bisoprolol and it gave me ED big time, or should it be small time :-) . Anyhow, it wasn't funny because my desires stayed the same, just couldn't rise to the occasion, drove me mad. Came off the drug and immediately went back to normal.

Koll

NJ47 profile image
NJ47 in reply to

Good to know coming off the drug rectifies things immediately. What did they put you on instead, Koll? As I say, so far so good but the first hint of any probs I know exactly what I'll be doing

in reply to NJ47

I was put on Bisoprolol by my GP, which she shouldn't have done because she did not know what she was doing. I went to see my EP who told me it was the wrong drug and changed me over to a rhythm control drug instead. Had to try 3 or 4 to get the one for me but we got there after a few weeks. Every drug affects me in different ways.

Koll

jnh1 profile image
jnh1

I can imagine, it's the glasses give it away. J

jnh1 profile image
jnh1

And can you please tell me what you have for breakfast. I need to change my diet.

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