Tapering off meds 😁👍 coinciding with a bug 🤦‍♂️👎

[Elli86]

Morning guys.

After a little help/advice!

So after ablation on 16th august, I’ve been tapering off meds for last 4 weeks. Was going great and took my last 1/4 tab of 2.5 mg bisop on Tuesday evening. So with usually having taken another on Wednesday evening, technically was full 24 hours off meds completely by Thursday evening which went without many, if any hitches 😁👍 I was pretty chuffed to say the least.

My problem arrived yesterday afternoon. When after a small walk (2 miles) while resting on sofa I started to feel unexplainably tired and my heart rate seemed rather high for resting, which was confirmed by ecg on watch (97) so some low grade tachy. My rhr previous day was around 73/74 which I thought was pretty decent deprived of all medication and post ablation.

I went to try to sleep it off for a bit but struggled to get off with the higher than normal heart rate and laid there for a bit hoping it would go down. I eventually caved in and decided might be best to take another 1/4 tab just to ease it a little. To be fair I was contemplating doing another week minimum of taking 1/4 tab every other day and gradually stretching this out over longer and longer periods until completely off anyway, so this made the decision easy.

Within 45 to an hour my heart rate was back in the 70s, so I thought tabs done it’s job, lovely jubbly. I then got up and had my dinner an hour later and again sat on the sofa. Heart rate crept up again and very similar scenario ensued to which I decided to go to bed very early. Heart rate soon dropped to 70s again so is clearly the act of laying down and totally resting that’s bringing it down.

Anyway apologies for the long intro but my question is could this also be caused by this annoyingly persistent bug I’ve been carrying around since the 1st December? Its not terrible by any stretch, just feel a little tired with bad congestion, especially at night/mornings and an annoyingly persistent cough. It’s just absolutely rotten luck that it’s coincided with me coming off meds 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ Especially considering I haven’t had a bug for ages. 1 thing I do know for sure is it’s not covid as I’ve done 5 tests since 1st, last one being yesterday and all come back negative, hallalooya 🙏🙏🙏

So I’m now in a catch 22 with not knowing how much is being caused by the bug and how much by the lack of medication supporting the Heart. Do I continue to take meds every other day and stretch it out that way or do I just go for it, come off entirely and push through it 🤔 especially as I’m not too sure the meds did a great deal after heart rate going up again later in evening.

I’m not really bummed out about it as, like I say, was possibly part of the plan to do the every other day tab anyway, depending on how things went. Just not too sure how to approach it now?

Want to try to get rid of the bug but don’t want to take anything that may or may not effect the heart and will make the whole process more confusing in trying to figure if my heart is coping naturally or not.

Any and all suggestions/advice welcome and again apologies for the long post 🤦‍♂️

Thanks as always guys and gals 👍👍👍

[BobD Volunteer]

Obvious question I know but have you done Covid test? Lots of people still get it even when tripple jabbed, just not life threatening.

Any infection or inflamation can and often will cause the heart to work harder than usual and cause your symptoms. There are some really nasty bugs around right now as well regardless of Covid.

[Elli86 in reply to BobD]

Hi Bob.

Yeah I’ve done 5 tests since 1st and all negative 👍 which is a positive. (<~ suspect sentence alert!) Just thinks it’s a rather persistent bug. Could my immunity be down due to coming off meds? What would you do given the situation? Stop meds and push through or go down the every other day route?

[etheral]

I don't see any reason not to continue the bisoprodol until you get rid of the bug. As long as it is keeping your heart rate in the 70s it would seem to be working and you can finish the taper when you get rid off the bug.

[Elli86 in reply to etheral]

Hi ethereal. Thanks for input.

Yeah that’s probably the sensible thing to do. Problem is I’m probably neither sensible nor patient 😂 just not sure whether it is actually making a difference or not and how much of the increase is due to the taper and how much is due to the bug 🤔

Ideal scenario is I get off meds ASAP to give my heart the longest time possible to adapt before I go back to work in the new year.

Just REALLY bad timing all round! 😡

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Elli86]

I agree with etheral re meds. To be honest both my boys plus one partner have had a really bad cold for over three weeks and even the self employed one had to take a week off work! I'm taking Vit D and occasional Echinacea to try and avoid catching it.

[Elli86 in reply to BobD]

🤔 interesting. Chances are my fatigue and low grade tachy are down to the bug then. To be fair I also know a few people who’ve had a pretty bad cold myself. My kids and mrs have managed to evade it for the last 11 days completely though which is strange.

I’m leaning towards staying on meds every other day and see how I go though for sure. Just frustrating that it’s all come about in the 3/4 weeks I decide to come off meds 🤦‍♂️ Sod’s law but it is what it is!

Thanks again 👍

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Elli, I agree with what you've suggested - to take a small dose of bisop for a little while longer. To be honest I think I'd keep taking it until after the Christmas period is over as I guess you'll be eating quite a lot of different food over that time.

Jean

[Elli86 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Hi Jean.

Thanks for input. I’ll be eating as usual to be honest. Won’t overdo anything and stick to healthy options as always. No point in risking anything for a quick bit of pleasure by eating junk food in my opinion and it’s debatable if it’s even pleasurable to begin with 🤔

Think I’ll probably stick to the 1/4 dose every other day and see how it goes. If I feel ok I just won’t take any that particular day and keep it going that way I think. Until I start to have any major wobbles I’ll keep off it and hopefully the periods between will just get longer and longer.

That’s the plan anyway 🤞 and when do things ever not go to plan in life? 🤣

[Auriculaire in reply to Elli86]

I have read posts from people tapering off Bisoprolol which say that the final stage is the hardest. One man had even got down to literal crumbs but still getting problems. I agree with the others - stay on the every other day till the bug has gone. I find oregano oil capsules good for bugs but you cannot take them longer than about 5 days.

[Elli86 in reply to Auriculaire]

Thanks auriculaire. Yeah that’s the strategy I’m going for. If I feel I need a top up then I’ll take one as and when needed. Think today might be another day as hr is creeping up to mid 90s occasionally and heart feels a little sensitive.

Thanks for input 👍

[Nick1957]

Sounds like you have this bug/cold that's doing the rounds. Delaying or re-routing your tapering off plan makes sense especially it appears to be working ie keeping your hr down.

[Elli86 in reply to Nick1957]

Cheers nick 👍 I’m just taking as and when I feel I need it now. Tempted to take one today, hr gone up last few hours but might have had something to do with the last lap of the f1 🤣

[Nick1957 in reply to Elli86]

Yes. My hr was sky high on the final lap. Shame Lewis lost. He was so far out in front- his team gambled on him cruising home but....... Why did racing director change his mind regarding the lapped drivers unlapping themselves!!!!Anyway I've just completed my bisop change and now take it before bedybyes!! Feel I have more energy and healthy at the moment. Playing good golf too 3/4 times a week and jogging 5k too. No heartburn since last episode🤞. Relaxed and having a beer now!! . Stay safe mate. Glad your doing better. 👍

[Elli86 in reply to Nick1957]

Few crazy decisions there mate. Don’t think it’s the last of it though, they’ve put an appeal in so may be another twist yet. Hamilton was cruising to an easy win before accident 🤦‍♂️

Good to hear the med time change has had an impact. It did for me as well. Sounds like your making a brilliant recovery. I couldn’t dream of running 5k right now. Not a hope in hell. Just having a meal at the minute bumps my hr to mid - high 90s 🤷‍♂️ But to be expected when weaning off meds I suppose, or I hope atleast 🤞

Keep trucking mate you’ll be doing marathons in no time by the sounds of it 😂👍

[Nick1957]

How you doing? Better I hope. Haven't seen you on the website in months!!