Im 57 year old male, ive had 3 ha since 2012, stented in 2012.
In june this year I had another HA and underwent quad bypass at barts in July, with AF complications, AF is currentley in rhythm, my AF is permanent. Junes LV was 40%, had another echocardiogram in November 2018, no results showing yet on the NHS computer, which is worrying.
I have now been back to the GP twice with extreme fatigue, aching around the chest bones, when walking my legs get so stiff and im breathless, even one flight of stairs does this.
Current meds are aspirin 75, bisoporol 5mg, lansoprazole 30mg and dabigatran, plus GP put me on iron tablets with no effect.
I actually feel worse than before my cabg, this obviously is not normal, and yesterday the GP refused to rule out the bisoporol causing the fatigue, Im not so sure, it has been lowered in the last 3 months from 10 mg per day.
What should i be saying to cardiology on monday please guys, as ive been feeling quite unwell for months now, no energy at all.
Cheers
G
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Write down what you want to cover and take this list with you. So if you get a bad case of "white coat shock" during the consultation then you'll still have a script to work from!
Another thought, be precise . For example generalisations, like you're feeling tired, aren't that helpful, in the modern world most people are tired! So give the doctor specifics, you're breathless after one flight of stairs, you can only walk X metres, six months ago you could walk Y metres.
Iron tablets can have more of an effect than people expect. Check with your consultant how necessary they are. I was surprised by their side effects and how debilitating they were when my husband took them on medical advice recently. Good luck with your appointment tomorrow and make notes of what is said to you.
Hello and welcome to the forum! Good advice so far. Post-bypass I developed anemia adding to the tiredness. I am not overkeen on medication like iron and calcium tablets supplementing a diet that may be lacking. After discussion we came up with an alternative strategy: liver once a fortnight (no more as highish fat content) and spinach 2 - 3 times per week. My iron levels are now back in range.
Interestingly, spinach has no more iron in it than other green veg. The scientist who first calculated how much there was got his decimal point in the wrong place and incorrectly calculated there was 10 times as much as there really is.
I much prefer spinach and broccoli to other greens like kale and spring greens. The worst of the lot are Brussel sprouts but then they will not be around post Brexit!
Take someone with you to write down the answers, Preferably in a page a day diary, don't just rely on your own memory. My wife and I often come back with quite different perceptions.
ask him/her if your arteries are still clear. Ask for an alternative to Bisoprololol. Ask for a referral to a nutritionist. Did you complete a post operation fitness rehab programme? If not ask for a referral.
Discuss the results of your blood tests and write them down, blood pressure, sugar, chloresterol, ECG, weight inside BMI, in addition to the questions identified by Chappychap.
With regard to your fitness levels find a nice flat path, pavement or similar, get 2 walking poles and gently walk every day. I measured my progress in terms of lampposts, but you got to keep at it. Write down your results in your diary and give your body a chance to improve.
I had my zipper fitted at age 69. I am 74 now. Been there done that - so can you
Thanks for replying. I will be writing everything down, and insisting on the echo results from last year, the GP seems to think that no results are a good sign.......
I am going to reapply for for the cardiac program, as I had to return to work early, because the council were seeking to evict me for rent arrears, and as a self employed decorator things were tight, so the cardiac program had to go on the back burner, I had the op July 10th and was back at work climbing ladders by end of August, which obviously hasn't been ideal, one of the many plusses of working for yourself!! I was in hospital a total of month due to complications , so the rent shot up. All good now tho.
That must have been such a tough time for you having to return to work so soon, though I understand the reasons why.
Bisoporol caused tiredness & my chest and legs felt "heavy" and that was on a 1.25 dose twice a day so, perhaps they will alter the meducation/doseage.
I also write all my questions and how my day/s are affected (af in my case) and my cardiologists says.... right so what questions have you got for me this time?!! He actually takes a look with me and goes through the list! And says he likes the idea as it shows a patient is taking active interest in their health and treatment
The cadiologist said it was good news that i was tired most of the day because that means its not heart related..... Urmmm ok! My echo results from October showed my LV had risen to 55% which is great news, but no explanation why the results werent shared with anyone else, ecg and yesterdays echo pleased him so much that he said it couldnt be better.
Asked wether i could stop bisoprolol or go on something else, he refused because of permanent AF which is in rythmn now, and has been since september, he is refering me to lung specialists to fina cause of breathlessness and lack of energy whilst walking, as an aside i fell asleep in waiting room and missed two calls for my appointment, perhaps backing up my assumption that im over tired most days!
This post has made my day, getting the EF from 40 to 55. Gives me real hope I can get mine up from present 47 after next month double bypass. Hope I avoid AF though (and all the other side effects, I find this site scary at times)!
Can’t comment on bisoperol myself, though family have said it makes them tired. It didn’t stop my temporary (I hope) AF, so was on amiodarone for 6m. (But that’s a nasty drug, wouldn’t recommend)
I don’t know about your surgery specifically but I’m wondering if having to go back to physical work so soon has had an impact on your heart? Slower healing at minimum, or pacing or other issues? It certainly effected me if I did too much exertion in the months following.
And recently, I believe a bit too much exercising (training for a BHF charity trek) was part of me getting fluid around my heart & inflammation = pericarditis. This is very poorly understood or even recognised by many cardiologists, so consider checking specifically for this. Referral to lung may help, but they should check for fluid around heart as well, if X-ray shows fluid in chest area.
My pericarditis Symptoms were: unusual shortness of breath, pain in chest on breathing, tiredness, pain especially when lying on back, incl sharp pain in neck, shoulders & back.
Don’t give up, keep working with the docs - one flight of stairs breathlessness is not nice or ok (& may be heart as well as lungs)
and as a patient, I disagree - heart problems CAN make people tired - they’re maybe not a very specific symptom that they can use to diagnose, so imho, docs tend to gloss over this.
You know what’s “normal” or Ok for you, trust your instincts - I didn’t initially trust mine, & it took longer to get pericarditis diagnosis & treatment. I also believe there are bisoperol alternatives, have you seen an electro cardio specialist?
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A little advice please 😁. 
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