Heart failure and permanent

[purpleswimmer]

Hiya all,

I have heart failure and feel it might be getting worse as I am really tired and sleeping half the day away. Is there any procedure to help heart failure? I have been told I am lucky as don't have any blocked or furred up tubes but feel that people who have procedures seem to have better lifestyles in the long run

My permanent AF means it is controlled with meds as again told no procedure can be carried out. I am currently on 10mg of bisoprolol and 125g digoxin. This has been gradually increased from much lower dose but I suffer nausea for most of the morning which I think is the digoxin . The bisoprolol contributes to the lethargy. I am getting AF spikes at the moment and feel awful. Very emotional and crying all the time as just not functioning at all and dreading my first Xmas with this illnesses

Speaking to cardio nurse on Monday but dreading that she might just want to up medication. Any suggestions?

[Hidden]

Hi purpleswimmer, I wish I could offer some helpful advice but I know little about heart failure. I see you also belong to the BHF forum, perhaps you might get some help and guidance from them.....

[jeanjeannie50]

I know little about heart failure either, but I have experienced taking Digoxin and it made me feel exactly as you are describing. I was weepy, felt tired and as if I was in a constant daze.

Jean

[BobD Volunteer]

I think it is important to understand what heart failure means----merely that your heart is not able to fully cope with the demands your body places on it. There are specific drugs which may assist HF digoxin being one. Bisporlol does not suit everybody and it may be worth looking into alternatives . Please share your feelings and worries with the nurse .

[Ianc2]

I saw some research recently that stated that Digoxin is more risky for women than for men. Can't track it down but it may be worth looking into.

[purpleswimmer in reply to Ianc2]

Thanks. X

[Echinopsis]

Have you had an ECG? I had one a year ago that identified heart failure and was put on the Bisoprolol fumarate now 10mg and Digoxin 250 micrograms. Some nine months later the cardiologist did a follow up telephone consultation and then organised a second ECG. He mentioned at the time that the medication could help return the heart to normal which it seems to be doing as the nurse carrying out the recent ECG commented that the heart seemed to be doing very well so the tablets must be working. I am also on Rampril I take when I go to bed which relaxes the arteries making it easier for the heart to pump the blood round. My GP told me that night was the best time to take the Rampril. The other two I take in the morning first thing. I am also on Sprironolactone started a few weeks ago a diuretic which is suppose to help flush out salts also to help the heart. I have no side effects, sleep very well at night. I also slept a lot during the day and think this must be part of the healing process. When the AF started many years ago, the Bisoprolol was very upsetting and I came off it after a year on to Diltiazem which was hopeless and then on to Amiaderone which worked very until a couple of years ago . When my new consultant said I should not have been on it for more than six months This time the GP said to take the BF at night so you go to sleep not knowing you are upset, so this may help you get use to it!I did this for several months without problem But the consultant when he phoned said it should not be taken at night, which is why I take it in the morning. My AF started in 2015.I am 74. I moved from Lincolnshire back to Manchester a couple of years ago and find the NHS very good up here. I hope you are soon able to relax and will begin to feel better. I keep a note of dates of when I started and stopped certain medications, had ECGs and anything else such such as side effects visits to GPsand the outcome etc.

[Hidden]

I don't have heart failure but the lowest dose of bisoprolol- 1.25mg, was too much for me to take daily, bringing my heart rate down too low, so goodness knows what 10mg taken daily is doing to you, though we are all different and I have a friend on that dose for whom it is not a problem. I too feel very tired most of the time and can't manage the stuff I used to do and it now appears I have a large gallstone so do ask them to take another look at how the drugs may be affecting you and if you may have other problems, as it turned out I did. Of course, this is a bad time to have anything wrong given the current situation with the virus- good luck!

[Polski]

According to Dr Stephen T Sinatra in 'TheSinatra Solution - Metabolic Cardiology' a good multi-vitamin and mineral along with 1grm of fish oil, magnesium, Co Q10 and L-Carnitine can all help heart failure. Providing your doctor doesn't see any reason to disagree (apart from saying they are a waste of money!) these are all worth trying, but start with a minimum dose and start each one a few days apart, so if you feel worse at any point, you know which one may be causing the problem. Stop that one, continue with the others, and then retry that one at the end. If you get the same reaction don't take any more of it. Hope something here helps!

[cuore]

My friend who is 92 gave me her version of Panjiri which is a concoction of ground seeds in a flour base, all roasted together. Her version has 7 seeds. So, I have been doing a research of which seeds are good for the heart. Of 26 seeds, nine target the heart. So I am going to design a heart version. The common ground seeds would be chia, sesame, pumpkin, hemp , and flaxseed. ( I have actually nine listed). The objective is to take a heaping teaspoon per day with oatmeal, smoothie, etc. I do feel that her version is helping me sleep and giving me energy. You can pm me for a recipe for heart Panjiri.

The Panjiri does not replace my meds because I still am on arrhythmic and blood pressure pills. I have just discovered that seeds are a powerhouse of health.

[Mike-tyson]

I think we should have a petition to change the name of Heart Failure which does not mean your heart is failing and is about to stop. Where in reality it means your heart is not pumping as well as it should ?