Update to my post on Sept5th.

[Sixtychick]

I just wanted to give you an update on my post of 5th August.

I took my blood pressure readings twice a day for a week and recorded them on the chart the GP surgery gave me and today I got a telephone appointment with the GP. My average BP reading for the whole week, was 131/67, which the GP said was very good and I certainly didn’t need to take any of the Amlodipine tablets to reduce my blood pressure and he says these spikes sometimes happen and it could have been because I’d just reduced the Sotalol to a low level.

The hospital Drs put me back on 40mg of Sotalol twice daily again and I’ll discuss the medication with the Consultant, when he rings me next month. The GP said to keep taking my blood pressure and making a note of it and if I get any problems, then ring them or contact 111, as I did before. So glad I was able to monitor my own blood pressure and I didn’t take any of the tablets, as it would have lowered it too much. Thanks to all of you who answered my post. I’m grateful for all the help you get on here.

[Buzby62]

Well done, that all sounds like a good outcome. I think you typo’d September instead of August, you can amend this if you wish using the “more” and “edit” option below your post.

Best wishes

[Sixtychick in reply to Buzby62]

Thanks it is. Hope it doesn’t happen again. I’m disappointed that, after getting right down to 20mg of Sotalol, they’ve put it back up. Thanks for telling me about my mistake, I’ve put the right month in now.

[wilsond]

There you go! You and I have had almost exactly the same experience., as I said.

I'm so glad you have been reassured,and like me,avoided taking a further unnecessary medication. Take care now.

[Sixtychick in reply to wilsond]

Nice to know I’m not on my own. Did it worry you when your BP spiked that high. ?

[wilsond in reply to Sixtychick]

Yes very much,as mum and nanna had high BP,and AF ,and had fatal strokes eventually ( nit looked after like us with medication etc)I try to detach from memories and stress but it's very hard . Sometimes it affects me more than others ( not a regular occurrence I may add!)

If I'm already stressed ( chicken and egg?) Or ill...BP can have its own party going on.

I try and laugh it off. It is difficult though.

Kind regards and best wishes

[Sixtychick in reply to wilsond]

Heart attacks and strokes run in my family too. I try not to worry, but it’s not easy.

[Karendeena]

Hi there, I think you had your ablation at Glenfield like me and you were allowed to reduce your Sotalol. I had my ablation on March the 26th but Professor Ng won't let me reduce or stop the Sotalol at the moment.Sorry, I missed your original post, what was the problem and why have they put you back on the Sotalol?

[Sixtychick in reply to Karendeena]

My heart woke me up week last Monday, as it was beating very fast. I took my blood pressure and it was 190/ 95, which is very high. I rang 111 and they told me to go to A&E and they did tests and I was taken to Glenfield, where they gave me medication to bring it down, then discharged me with blood pressure medication, which I haven’t taken, as my blood pressure has been perfectly ok since then.It’s never happened before and I consulted my GP, discussed my BP readings with him and he said I didn’t need to take the medication. It could have been caused by almost coming off the Sotalol, as I was down to 20mg twice a day. So they’ve put me back on 40 mg. GP said it happens sometimes and couldn’t really give me a reason for it.Hope you’re getting on ok after your ablation.

[Karendeena in reply to Sixtychick]

Hi there, hope you are feeling better ❤️It could just be a blip, like me you want to get off the Sotalol!

I am doing ok, still get a bit of indigestion, well it's not painful indigestion it feels like a lump in my throat, doctor thinks it's my anxiety causing it.

It's been 7 months since I had an episode (that I know of) and 5 months since the ablation. I have had a holter monitor on last week for 24 hours, Professor Ng wanted an objective assessment. 🤞all will be ok but still not sure when/if he will reduce the Sotalol.

I am seeing him again in December.

I have been brave and booked a couple of holidays abroad, one at the end of this month and 2 weeks in Cyprus at the beginning of November, only just beginning to get my confidence back.

My doctor wants me to take a low dose antidepressant as I am really struggling dealing with my 96 year old mum who is being nasty to me and my only brother who has declined mentally since having a stroke in 2023. Life seems to be being cruel at the moment. Problem is there are so many drugs you can't take with Sotalol.

How long is it since your ablation? Have you had a follow up appointment? Not sure I would have got one if I hadn't paid to see him

[Sixtychick in reply to Karendeena]

We have a touring caravan, so go away at least once a month.I was a care assistant, for many years. I worked for 4 different nursing agencies over the years, so know how difficult it can be for people looking after their relatives and what it’s like looking after older people. Hope you’re getting some help with your Mum and brother, if not, you should maybe ask if you could get some help.You’re right about Sotalol, you have to be so careful with any medication you might take with it. I always check it in my N.I.C.E. List I keep on my phone. I had my ablation last September and had my follow-up appointment in February and have a telephone appointment some time next month and then if all is ok, I shall be signed off.

[Goldfish7 in reply to Sixtychick]

My BP can go crazy with some heart rythms - AF, AFlutter or even some Tachcardias. I've just got used to ignoring it as it usually calms down (maybe not down to normal necessarily), reasonably quickly. If Drs up BP meds to combat 'spikes' then when the rythm changes again I can get very low BP which is a massive problem as it makes me feel very faint and puts strain on my heart (lots of heavy thumping) which often leads to another AF incident which can last for weeks and often months!

[Sixtychick in reply to Goldfish7]

I find it difficult to ignore it. Just hoping my BP doesn’t spike like that again.Glad I don’t have to take any blood pressure tablets.

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi

You sure you don't mean 5th AUGUST! We haven't got to 5th SEPT yet.

Ha ha.

It's a hectic world which is going faster and faster as we age.

cherio jOY. 75. (NZ)

[Sixtychick in reply to JOY2THEWORLD49]

I’ve changed the date. 🤣

[Ppiman]

Hi there. I might already have mentioned that, some years ago, I given losartan (100mg daily), an anti-hypertensive (BP lowering) tablet, even though my BP is normal. Apparently it has been shown to protect against HF in the long term and to protect the ventricles well. It has further lowered it but, to my surprise, not by a great deal (was 120/80 > now 120/70, sometimes lower) but it does limit how much bisoprolol I can take, it seems (when I tried going up to 2.5mg daily, it caused a few symptoms).

Steve

[Sixtychick in reply to Ppiman]

My GP was quite happy with my BP readings. I was worried about taking a drug that had so many bad reviews. I know, I shouldn’t read Dr Google.🤣

[Ppiman in reply to Sixtychick]

Well, I do - but I still take them! I’m on the waiting list at Glenfield, though.

Steve

[Sixtychick in reply to Ppiman]

We’re lucky to have such a good hospital in Leicestershire. Can I ask what you’re having done there Steve.

[Ppiman in reply to Sixtychick]

It's an ablation for atrial ectopics and AF. Fingers crossed, they have been somewhat better of late!

Steve

[Sixtychick in reply to Ppiman]

I had to wait 18 months for mine. Dr Sandilands did mine. Who are you having.?

[Ppiman in reply to Sixtychick]

The man! 😊

Steve

[Sixtychick in reply to Ppiman]

Dr Sandilands I presume. He’s good and has done well over 2000 ablations he said.

[Ppiman in reply to Sixtychick]

Yes but only on 400 patients. I’m booking my next two now.

😳😉🤣

[Sixtychick in reply to Ppiman]

🤣

[wilsond in reply to Sixtychick]

I wish I'd trusted my instincts and gone to Glenfield instead of Walsgrave! ( Walsgrave being closer and an OK reputation) Glenfield and Proff Ng are The Team in the Midlands.

[Sixtychick in reply to wilsond]

I’m lucky to have had Dr Sandilands at Glenfield, do my ablation.

[Singwell]

This is good news! Well done for taking control of the situation. It helps them to help us too.

[Sixtychick in reply to Singwell]

Thanks.I believe you should have control over what medication they give you and ask questions and do research, before you take any new drug. So many drugs react with each other. I keep a list from NICE of drug interactions with all 3 medications I take.

[wilsond in reply to Sixtychick]

Hear Hear definitely yes.

[Qualipop]

A good idea to check y our own BP but don't become obsessed by it. I recently t hought mine had spiked and it had been creeping up so I told my GP I was going to do a week of readings. I have white coat syndrome so it's always high at the surgery. Mine turned out to be up when I had a virus but once that cleared up it was better than it's been in years. GP was very pleased I'd done it.

[Sixtychick in reply to Qualipop]

I only take mine every so often, unless I’ve been asked to do it twice a day, for a week, by the GP. Don’t we all get white coat syndrome in Drs surgeries or hospitals.!🤣

[Qualipop in reply to Sixtychick]

Judging by the reaction I get when mine's raised at the hospital, I think that's what they expect. The GPs though seem to comment on it more often. I rarely take mine but I'd had headaches and was just feeling off so I'd checked and it was raised on the3 times I did it over 2 weeks but I had what they call the 100 day cough so I let my GP know it was raised but I could double check once I got rid of the virus because it had been creeping up over last year. My average then worked out at 124/69- pretty good for someone who's had a heart attack and is now 76.

[Sixtychick in reply to Qualipop]

That’s better than mine. I’m 73. Hope you’re feeling better now.

[Qualipop in reply to Sixtychick]

Yes thanks. I had the cough from April 28th to August 7th.

[Sixtychick in reply to Qualipop]

That lasted a long time.

[Qualipop in reply to Sixtychick]

Yep, nothing worked on it. Antihistamines, steroid sprays. GP said they were calling it the 100 day cough - a virus. Chest clear just terrible post nasal drip and constant coughing.