Digoxin

[Tombstone]

Anybody out there on digoxin,

[Johnnycyborg]

Yes, about 5 years now, anything I can help with?

[Tombstone in reply to Johnnycyborg]

What you taking it for and are you taking it with other medications, I'm on it for AFIB, with Bisoprolol, Eliquis,and Furomeside, to strengthen my heart and slow my heart beat down.

[Johnnycyborg in reply to Tombstone]

I have heart failure with a CRT-D in situ, my other heart failure meds are Bisoprolol, Candesartan, Furosemide and Warfarin, I have other meds for other conditions and for the side effects of different pills. Consultants started me on Digoxin to reduce my Bisoprolol dosage in an effort to keep my blood pressure regulated and reduce the dizziness, the meds keep the heart rate down very effectively, the CRT keeps it going below 65. How’s it working out for you?

[Tombstone in reply to Johnnycyborg]

Not to bad thanks, no side efects yet,saw my Cardiologist today about my Echocardiogram,My EJection Fraction was 45%, with LV Impairment. Had a Electrocardiogram this morning heart rate a lot better, he advised me to keep taking Digostin till after Christmas and have another Echocardiogram.

[Johnnycyborg in reply to Tombstone]

Sounds like you have a good, thorough cardiologist to me. My ejection fraction has been as low as 10% in 2001 and was 17.1% when the device was put in in 2009, now it’s 35% so believe me when I tell you things can improve with good doctors and the right meds and treatment, did your cardiologist indicate the level of your LV impairment?

[Tombstone in reply to Johnnycyborg]

Well I asked him something else after he said yes. Im annoyed with myself because i didn't let him answer, then forgot all about it, as my EF is 45% LVSD. is defined as a left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40% consistent with moderate or severe SD. But mine is mild ,so a bit confused I will ask him though My symptoms when I first had problems were shortness of breath,swelling in ankles and feet ,cough, I went straight on google and it scared me to death, I was convinced I had heart failure and not long to live I know better now, you seem to be doing well which I'm glad of, do you watch what you eat especially salt and fluid intake.

[Johnnycyborg in reply to Tombstone]

I do to an extent, I was very careful at first but you have to enjoy yourself and a bag of crisps or whatever you’re salty pleasure may be is ok, I was even given a bag of ready salted by a cardiologist during a research session once! My blood pressure gets so low with my meds sometimes (64/36) that I need something salty to bring it up. Fluid is another, I was initially put on 2 litres a day but they soon realised I was dehydrating so increased to 2.5 but now I have Chronic Kidney Disease so have to balance the needs of the Heart Failure and the CKD. They did warn me at the beginning that if I lived long enough (I was 36 at the time) that I would get gout and kidney disease and they were spot on, I see you’re not on Spironolactone coupled with either an ACE inhibitor or an Angiotensin Receptor Blocker, life enhancing combination but not good for the kidneys in long term (I had 17 years of the two) so that’s one I’m hoping you won’t have to be concerned about. I learned from my fantastic Nephrologist that, and I quote, “there is a common misconception amongst doctors that Furosemide causes damage to the kidneys, it does not, you can have as much as you need”. I’ve had to disagree with my GPs when they’ve tried altering the dosage to benefit my kidneys and tell them what I learned from the specialist.

I don’t know if any of this is useful for you or how long you’ve been diagnosed, heart conditions can change your life but if you’re lucky like me they don’t have to ruin your life, a sense of humour and a positive outlook helps too. Every case is individual, we can only do what we can do and keep safe within our limitations, the hardest thing for me was finding out that the cause of my heart failure was genetic and that I’d passed it to both my sons but at least they could get early treatment to hold off becoming ill themselves.

By the way, I always forget things when I go to see the consultant, I find it useful to either make a list of questions I want to ask/things I want to tell them or to have someone with me, sometimes there’s a lot to discuss and it helps with remembering everything, I don’t know if that’s something that would work for you

[Tombstone in reply to Johnnycyborg]

I am on 2ltrs per day, interesting what your Nephrologist said about furomeside and Kidney damage, problems for me started late July I had breathing problems and bad cough, went for a Covid test which was negative, but symptoms carried on so rang doctors and she sent me for blood test and X Ray,

When results came back, she said I need an Echocardiogram, when I went to hospital for it my heart rate was 150 bpm that's why i had breathing problems to fast for Echo, the next morning i rang doctors he told me to come straight down to surgery and he gave me an electro , which revealed I had AFIB. He put me on medication straight away i needed another Echo but on NHS waiting time was 6 weeks so I went private the rest you know. Your right about writing things down the next time I see him I will make a list because after you come away you think why did'nt i ask him that.