Bulging veins

[Caitlyn6]

Looking for help/advice. I was on a beta blocker for 2 weeks which my gp tapered me off (reducing dose by 50% over a two week period to stopping completely) but I suffered terribly with rebound- high bp/pulse and some chest discomfort. I have seen a cardiologist privately who changed the original beta blocker from propanalol 10mg to bisoprolol 1.25 and I feel a little better but still not back to normal. I feel my heart function or arteries have suffered from the beta blocker withdrawal. I am 49 and my veins are up on my neck/hands and feet. I have the hands of an old woman. I have palpitations and a dull chest ache most of the time. I had a stress echo a month ago which was normal and 24 hr bp monitor which was fine. I am unable to exercise without hr going high. I just don't feel right but cardiologist says there is nothing wrong with my heart. I had a CT angio in 2016 which showed moderate atheroma but I had no symptoms and was able to run everyday. Now my hr shoots up if I try to run and I just can't. I have read that stopping beta blockers can exacerbate existing heart conditions but cardiologist thinks I'm just being 'hypersensitive' to my body. I only feel normal when I'm asleep 😓

[Caitlyn6]

Well the cardiologist said I have become over anxious but my partner is saying my hands have got really old and I have never had palpitations before. I guess if it's nothing it will get better, and if it's something it will get worse. Just feel like I have no where to turn.

[Caitlyn6]

An immunosuppressant for multiple sclerosis which may have reduced my lung function (currently it's 70% found out this week) and a GTN spray if needed (only taken twice).

[Hidden]

Hi mollypet, I think it takes much longer to get out of your system than the docs think especially if you are sensitive to the beta blockers and don't react well to them. You are still on bisoprolol and many people on here have side effects from it and change to Nebivolol and have better results. I struggled with all beta blockers so not on them any more. Good luck hope you feel better soon. X

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

[Hidden]

I have similar issues (ie. "senior hands" syndrome) but these likely run in my family.

There must be some side effects from immunosuppressant.

I often wonder if it is responsible for worsening vascular health.

It is well known that MS patients "symptoms" such as this is usually dismissed as "heightened health anxity". Your charity ought to fight against that erroneous stigma.

It's stigmatising and quite frankly, "laziness" on the part of busy medical professionals, who can't care less. They get paid for that. They make a nice living out of it. They need to "OWN" up.

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Hidden]

Well said thank you. The side effects I have had from treatments/medications would be funny if it wasn't my health that was at stake.

[Hidden]

I'm in a similar situation myself.

Did you always have bulging veins?

More pronounced in summer?

It's well known that Doctors wouldn't even want to know there are serious side effects. These drugs do have side effects. Think about when you started taking immunosuppressant and when your new symptoms had emerged.

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Hidden]

No I didn't always have bulging veins. Even my boyfriend has said my hands look really old and I can see the central vein in my neck which I have heard people have with heart failure. But I am being investigated for reduced lung function so I will be interested to find the cause of that. Good luck with ur health journey.

[Booklovingmomma in reply to Caitlyn6]

My veins in neck-the main one- and the others and ones in hand/wrist/arm bulge as well. Neck gets really bad. Insurance turned me down when they ordered a carotid artery test for me. My lung dr didnt seem concerned at all because 3 yrs ago I had stress test which was good and echo which showed a bit of right heart enlargement. Have you found out anything?

[Hidden]

Thank you, Mollypet. 😊

[Hidden]

Interestingly I too have noticed my veins bulging more than they ever did; but I was thinking it was partly because I've lost so much weight, making them more pronounced.

However, since reading your post, I now wonder if the medication also has made things worse. Good observation point!

So sorry to hear that your HR shoots up so readily now. I wonder how much of this is the result of the meds? It's quite a conundrum when one's taking a cocktail or drugs. You end up taking forever more, as the effects of earlier ones mean you have to take more to counteract them. A double-edged sword, eh? It's why I try my best to not take, or at best minimally medicate with drugs. Once you start, it seems one thing leads to another, and another, and so it goes on. However, it's not all bad news, as there is so much one can employ to counteract, information wise, and new research coming to light all the time (which kind of proves my own feelings that what's 'currently' in vogue will be disproved or bettered with more research. But as my doctor admitted, 'there are other ways to get better' (but he/she can't offer advice as they only know what the drug companies have told them, and the accompanying 'research' etc). So, there is much hope and learning open to us now.

We can't all offer advice, as it'd ultimately be up to you, the individual, to decide what's best. But with some research and soul-searching, I'm sure you come to learn more, much more. Only sorry I can't be of help on this, as your own condition is different to mine, and I know little outside of this. But this forum provides a great outlet, as well as a great education for some.

Good luck!

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your informative message. It's true about the drugs stacking up- I wish I'd never taken any (apart from the insulin keeping me alive😋). The drs never seem to admit when something has gone wrong or an error- they just offer more drugs. I now know so much about my medications , hopefully not too late but hindsight is great. Once bitten, twice shy. Good luck to you too.

[Hidden in reply to Caitlyn6]

It seems like kindred spirits as far as being too reliant on conventional medicine is concerned. Sadly many are suspicious, or simply ignorant of the facts, which is unfortunate.

But it sounds like you're not going to take things lying down, and are actively pursuing alternative routes, and it's nice to know you at least are aware of alternatives and don't just dismiss things out of hand, and loyally follow what the doctors tell you without question. It's good to ask questions and challenge the situation I feel.

Good on you, I believe (with a concerted effort on your part) that you will triumph, one way or another. Well done (not meant in a patronising way of course).

[Prada47]

Hi

Please don't condemn all Medication. I take a maximum dose of Bisoprolol along with a few other meds like Entresto which I believe are keeping me going after Heart Attack CABG, Stents , and Heart Failure. The NHS wouldn't be spending Billions on Medication if they didn't think it was value for money.

OK question your medication by all means but try not to use Generalisations that cover everything. There is No Alternative to the Medical Profession to Prescribe to make you feel better or to make you Well.

regards

[Caitlyn6 in reply to Prada47]

No, I'm not against medications per se. Just I think drs should tell you when they give you a medication if there is a risk associated with the medication and certain things to watch out for/avoid etc. I was given none of this when I was first prescribed a beta blocker by a gp and subsequently went through a couple of months of hell which I have had to find a private cardiologist to try to correct damage that was done.

[Cole8]

Hi did your hands ever get better? I have the bulging veins also two weeks after stopping 10mg propranolol and it is annoying.

[JKell1]

Hi, did you figure out a solution as I have been experiencing similar problems after stopping propranolol too quickly on advice from doctor

Thanks

[Smerblue]

I know what you are experiencing. I feel that dull pain, palpitations. I had a resting heart rate of 54 before my HA. I have just recently been diagnosed with angina after stents gutted last year and was put on beta blockers, my resting heart rate went down to 29 and I was taken off them within 2 weeks of being put on them. You do feel as though you are being hypersensitive but we all know our bodies. My resting HR is 58 now but can go up above 150 just doing the ironing now My ECG, echocardiogram and bloods all came back negative. It’s so frustrating when you know something is wrong. I hope you get sorted soon and start feeling as normal as you can. It’s difficult at the moment with waiting lists being increased and appointments being few and far between. Keep pressing and don’t let them persuade you that it’s just you being hypersensitive. Keep ticking.

[JKell1 in reply to Smerblue]

Thanks, I have had a recent CT scan for sinuses and a follow up with cardiologist next month so hopefully they can tell me more, will try keep active on the bike and eat plenty fruit and veg until then 🤷