Medicines

[Pebbles20]

I am new. Had a heart attack week before christmas. Got 2 stents. I am constantly suffering with diarhea. Doc stopped my anti sickness med and put me on an alternative but had to stop that. Still got diarhea. Could it be the betablocker? I am desperate to get this sorted.

[Hidden]

Go see the dr and ask heart team hope you get sorted .

[Nathan53]

If the diarrhoea has just started since you commenced taking the meds prescribed after your heart attack (I presume you are on the standard range of DAPT, BP, Beta blockers and statins) it could be on of your meds. Statins can cause digestive problems in some people especially if you are on a high dose. Discuss in full with your GP as doseage can be adjusted or a different drug tried. Don't rule out other causes though ask GP to examine your stomach.

[45sue]

I am also fairly new - 6 weeks post HA - & have had diarrhoea. It could be any of your meds but I seem to have traced it to Ramipril - stopped it for 2 nights & resumed taking it with my main meal & diarrhoea hasn't come back.

[Dickyticker26]

I find this really interesting and informative

Last July after a visit to A & E with chest pain I was prescribed Bisoporol (betablocker) and Apixaban (bloodthinner) and the chest pain has never returned

Previously I had no medication

Then in mid-December after an angiogram 3 more medications were added-nitrates (Relosorb) statins (Astorvastatin) and anti-clotting (Clopidogrel)

I have experienced a lot of the recognised side-effects of medication including fatigue, tinnitus, nausea, shortness of breath and loss of appetite but fortunately they have been transient and mild and I feel that I can live with it

But by Christmas diarrhoea had set in and persisted throughout January and February

I was having to flush the toilet 2/3 times and use lots of Harpic I was getting soiled underwear and several times had to have a bath or shower to get cleaned up My wife was complaining of the smell in the toilet and pointedly using Airwick deodorant

I made an appointment at the surgery for a change in medication and was promptly referred to the hospital for Colonoscopy

At a preliminary meeting a nurse handed me a large bottle of "Gastrogriffin" explaining that it was a "strong laxative" and handed me a booklet of instructions for the procedure which I read with horror

"Gas (carbon dioxide) will be gently introduced into your bowel through a tube in your back passage...despite the muscle relaxant you may feel some bloating and discomfort in your abdomen like 'bad wind'...sedation or pain relief is not needed for the test. Most people find that it can be a little uncomfortable"

The booklet went on to advise keeping close to a toilet the day before the procedure!

I was given no reason for the referral or what they were looking for

Fortunately I already had an appointment that day at another hospital to discuss a recommended quadruple heart bypass

I raised the medication problem with the consultant surgeon who with a wave of his hand suggested dropping both statins and nitrates

It worked like magic or a miracle and I cancelled the colonoscopy

Currently I am back on the original prescription of betablockers and blood-thinners with no ill effects and I have an appointment with another doctor at the surgery on 25 April

He was the one I saw last summer after the visit to A & E He had expressed concern at my heart rate, doubled the Apixaban prescription and wanted to send me straight back to hospital in an ambulance But this was dropped after he phoned a consultant

I do feel for you, Pebbles-you have to keep trying

My own feeling and experiences suggest that prescriptions are not "set in stone" and can be varied with advantage and some patients are not adverse to making their own decisions and cutting out those of which they are suspicious at least on a trial basis

At one time I had it in mind to cut out first nitrates for a week and then statins to see what happened-after all a year ago I was on nothing

However I now feel that I have the necessary authority from a "higher power" and seem to have found the answer

[Love100cats in reply to Dickyticker26]

What sound advice! I've just been discharged from heart failure nurses list. I feel free! I've read up so much about all the meds I'm on and can manage them without putting myself at risk. Whatever I do is never at the advice or experience of others as when you get to know your own body and understand what the meds do you can use common sense as long as it's not a panic approach. I'm pleased you are getting sorted.😊

[Rosei]

Aspirin caused my Diarrhoea, spent a week in hospital. All the usual investigations, left me with lymphocytic Colitis, I am cured now.