Weight gain with mild /moderate left ventricular impairment.

[Burkey1816]

Hi everyone, just wondering if anyone is experiencing weight gain taking Bisropolol and lasartan for left ventricular impairment heart failure, I'm piling the weight on gone from 11 1/2 stone to 13 stone 8 all around the mid drift and a feeling of bloated ness all the time also can anybody explain what stage mild /moderate left ventricular impairment is on the 1-4 scale please my cardiologist doesn't seem at all help full when I was questioning her she said you ask alot of questions don't you but she's never explained the scale and how bad my condition is. Many thanks in advance. Phil

[Sunnie2day]

I'm on the lowest dose of Bisoprolol (1.25mg taken in the morning) and since starting it April 2019 I'm having a terrible time shifting weight - and yes, quite a lot of it is settling on my hips (insert horrified emoji here).

I gained a stone within a month of being on the beta blocker, when I mentioned it to the cardiac nurse she said 'Yes, Bisoprolol will do that' and that was it. The cardiologist hasn't said anything about my weight.

I walk (not as much as I'd like but I'm restricted until they do a few more tests - hoping in April they'll allow me to push harder) and what little I am permitted the now helps keep the gaining part under control, mostly. If you're familiar with weight loss efforts, I'm at a 'plateau' - not a lot of gaining but no losing to speak of. Once they clear me to be more active I know I'll lose the weight better.

If you can't get the cardiologist or cardiac nurse to talk with you (instead of shrugging and merely saying 'Yes, Bisoprolol will do that'), try talking to your GP.

Tell her/him/them you want (if you do, that is) to start an exercise programme that includes walking and some in-the-living-room work-outs - I did that and that's when they told me what they approved and didn't approve.

ETA: you can telephone the BHS helpline and speak to one of the cardiac nurses to find out what 'mild/moderate' means regarding your condition. The phone-line hours are M-F 0800 to 5pm on 0300 330 3311.

[Burkey1816 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thank you so much for your swift response I'm an active person do daily 10 - 17, 000 steps a day at work don't drink alcohol or smoke I'm due a visit to cardiologist this year and I'll have a chat with her I don't trust my GP practice as I've had 3 mis diagnosis one being the heart condition. Thanks again for your help. Phil

[Kristin1812 Heart Star in reply to Sunnie2day]

My view is that if we reduce our calorie intake we lose weight. Moderate exercise of course will help a little, and make us feel better, but won’t reduce weight like reducing fats and sugar. Good luck.

[Burkey1816 in reply to Kristin1812]

Thanks for the advice. Phil

[Burkey1816 in reply to Sunnie2day]

I find it hard to exercise but have an active job and usually do about 10-17,000 steps a day thanks for the advice though much appreciated. Phil

[Burkey1816 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Thanks for the advice I will give them a call maybe in next few days thanks. Phil

[werd]

Sounds like fluid retention. Are you taking a diuretic

[Burkey1816 in reply to werd]

No diuretics just the tablets I did get told the condition can cause swollen abdomen and legs but just the stomach and I don't drink. maybe I speak to cardiologist. Thanks Phil

[werd in reply to Burkey1816]

I also have the same condition as you. With some people fluid will collect. on the legs/ankles or the abdomen. Some it will show in both locations as far as drink is concerned we all consume fluid of some kind. with heart failure it's getting rid of it that's the problem if it is the abdomen it will gather in the lungs also do you find you get short of breath

[Burkey1816 in reply to werd]

Hi thanks for the reply I've spoke to heart foundation today and she thinks with the weight I've gained very quickly it could be a fluid build up and I do occasionally do get out of breath what she did say was the flagship tablet was Ramipril as if she wasn't that keen on the losartan as she did say was it so annoying that I wouldn't give it another go unfortunately I had the irritable night cough that the wife was not to happy about as well as me so they swapped it to Losarton. She told me to make an appointment with the GP to check it out as she said I may possibly need to take water tablets to combat it as you said it can build up into the lungs . Many thanks. Phil

[idloveacat]

Hi Burkey1816 I’m on 7.5mg Bisoprolol now ( increased from 2.5mg since TIA last July). Been piling on the pounds even when following plan to lose weight! Again doctor just said it’s a side effect. Still waiting to see cardiologist in May, so I’m just walking every day and Zumba Gold once a week to try and limit further increase. Hope to get more help in May! Good luck.

[Burkey1816 in reply to idloveacat]

Thanks for your advise. Phil

[Chappychap]

It's perfectly possible to lose weight whilst taking Bisoprolol. I've lost a couple of stone over the past year following a heart bypass operation, at the same time as I've been taking Bisoprolol. I'm not saying it's easy, weight loss in todays fast food/constant snacking culture is always going to be hard. But if you're determined to get there then Bisoprolol won't stop you.

Good luck!

[Burkey1816 in reply to Chappychap]

Thanks for your advice and I'll speak to cardiologist. Phil

[LaceyLady]

Oh my, I didn’t know Bisoprolol can cause you to gain weight, I’ve had a partial knee replacement in November and not very active 😳 I’m also on 1.25mg. Good job be gone to the re-hab pool at my Spa!

[Burkey1816 in reply to LaceyLady]

Yes apparently so may be not everyone though.

[NYA2019]

Are you eating the same amount now as you were before your condition? As we all know the amount we eat affects our weight as does the amount of exercise. It's hard work reducing the amount we eat. The two links below may help?

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

[Burkey1816 in reply to NYA2019]

Yes nothing to excessive, don't drink alcohol, although I have a sweet tooth no more than before the condition I walk up to 10-17,000 steps per day I'm mid 50s and I know we gain a bit around the mid rift. Thanks for the info I'll have a look now. Thanks Phil

[NYA2019 in reply to Burkey1816]

It great to see you are walking thousands of steps but its the pace you walk them. I walk thousands with the dog but I barely got out-breath but if I walk 5k as fast as I can, I lose weight. I'm 53 at the end of the month and I do 4 hours of exercise a week, 3 of those hours are hard cardio sessions and it's taken me a year to get to my current level

[Burkey1816 in reply to NYA2019]

That's fantastic well done, after speaking to heart foundation nurse today she thinks I may have fluid retention in my stomach as my heart pumping action is causing kidneys struggle to get fid off fluids got a JP appointment tomorrow might have to go on water tablets thanks for the reply keep up the good work. Phil

[Sunnie2day in reply to Burkey1816]

So glad you telephoned and got some great advice - was it the British Heart Foundation heart-line?

[Burkey1816 in reply to Sunnie2day]

Hi yes it was, a lovely Irish cardiac nurse went through all my meds and explained about my condition she even said its worth paying private to see a cardiologist if I have any doubts to been seen quickly very happy thanks for the advice and telephone number. Phil

[Sunnie2day in reply to Burkey1816]

I was assigned a cardiac nurse through the cardiologist back in April 2019 so I've never needed to ring the BHF nurses but it's good to hear you say the one you spoke with was so helpful. I've only ever heard great things about the heart-line and it's great to add yet another positive experience to what I've heard, thank-you!

[Burkey1816 in reply to Sunnie2day]

I've told my wife anything happens to me just one heart shaped wreath ❤️ and donations to the heart foundation. All the best take care. Phil

[motorbikemad]

Snap I have the same as you cardiomyopathy moderate left ventricular

[motorbikemad in reply to motorbikemad]

I am on 10 mg bisoprosol and have gained 3 stone

[Burkey1816 in reply to motorbikemad]

I do sympathise with you as I'm on 2.5 mg Bisropolol and 50mg losartan so im only on low dose compared to you it's staggering the weight gain pi##ing me of buying larger waist trousers 😊

[Burkey1816 in reply to motorbikemad]

Is that the same as left ventricular impairment. I've tried to do research and it's described as left ventricular dysfunction on heart foundation and NHS description.

[motorbikemad in reply to Burkey1816]

Yes spot on