COPD & Leaking heart valve

[Jansy16]

I have severe COPD, also discovered having had an Echocardiogram i have a leaking heart valve right side of heart. Medication for this is Beta blockers which isn't advised if having COPD & Blood thinners which i can't take as had heavy nose bleeds in the past. Waiting to hear back from Respiratory Team at my local hospital how they are going to treat this problem. It would be quicker to get an answer from Buckingham Palace the time it takes to get answers. Don't they realise the worry you are going through & need this solved ASAP. Just wondering if anyone on here has suffered with this health issue. Many thanks for your time.

[SeasideSusie]

Jansy16

Medication for this is Beta blockers which isn't advised if having COPD

I have COPD and mild Bronchiectasis (although I don't post here often I read regularly) and I take a betablocker. A quick Google shows that cardioselective betablockers are OK. I take Bisoprolol, which is a cardioselective one.

I have mitral valve prolapse which isn't being treated but monitored every 2-3 years with an echocardiogram.

[Jansy16 in reply to SeasideSusie]

Thank you Susie, that's good to know as when I googled it, it says COPD sufferers shouldn't take Beta blockers. What benefit do you get taking it.

[SeasideSusie in reply to Jansy16]

Jansy16

I take Bisoprolol for tachycardia. Mine has been sporadic with no answer as to why I'm getting it nor any medication for it other than I was put on a blood pressure tablet as high BP was discovered with first episode of tachycardia, checked over time and it remained high enough for GP to consider BP tablets.

Last episode of tachycardia I had low blood pressure so a different GP put me on Bisoprolol (the only one to actually consider doing something about the tachycardia) and as this tends to lower BP I was taken off the original BP tablet.

I only take a very low dose of Bisoprolol but it has made quite a difference, my heart rate is generally lower and I'm not getting as much breathlessness as I was. I didn't realise the breathlessness was maybe caused by my heart, having COPD and bronchiectasis I just assumed it was that, but since starting the Bisoprolol this has improved.

Referrals to Cardiology have been rejected because I don't have permanent tachycardia, just sporadic, and each time an ecg has been done it's only been for 1 minute at the surgery or a 24 hour monitor, and they've never shown anything (not surprising as it's sporadic). At the moment the Bisoprolol seems to be keeping things stable, and my COPD and bronchiectasis seems pretty stable at the moment too.

Of course, this is just my own experience and it seems to be working well for me. Maybe discuss cardioselective betablockers with your doctor as there are others besides Bisoprolol.

[Bevvy]

Speak to PALS at hospital who will be able to advocate on your behalf. Also your gp may be able to get quicker answers.