Recent diagnosis of severe heart failure

[Potatohead123]

Just been diagnosed with LVSD ef 20-25%. Completely in shock. No previous symptoms to speak of, reasonably healthy 80 year old female. Been started on Bumetanide 1mg. (Taken 2 tabs, already had 4 serious cramps in thigh). Rampiril 1.25mg x 1, Eplerenone 25 mg x1. Information leaflet is say don’t take diuretics with either of these meds. Not been told info on if I should take them together or when. Has anyone any experience of these drugs together. Am already on Bisoprolol for af, which I get 2/3 times a year. Love to hear comments ASAP please. Will contact BFF nurses on Monday.

[ConnieC17]

Hello there.I feel your 'total shock', I too was in total shock when I was told I had problems with my heart. I considered myself fit and strong, but health deterioration and a lack of consideration of 'heart' problem from my GP practice meant that I ended up having six hours of open heart surgery. I am doing well now. I was on so many medications, it was almost unreal. I advise you to make a daily list, spacing out your meds in time blocks, so that your body has some chance of absorbing them before pilling in more. I was on ramipril and was fine with it. I was also on diuretics, but again, timings were crucial. I hope this helps a little, good health to you.

[Fudgefuzz]

Hallo Potatohead, after three open heart ops to replace mitral valve I also take Ramipril (10mg) and Eplerenone (25mg).

Taking them first thing always gives me an awful headache so I've worked out my own simple regimen which suits me much better.

I take 5mg Ramipril between 10.30 and 11am plus half an Eplerenone tablet. Then I take the balance in the early evening at about 6pm, followed by Warfarin about 15 minutes later. Can't detect any serious side-effects (only good ones from the Ramipril) and the gentle Eplerenone dose means I don't need to go to loo till morning about 7am.

I wish you the very best with your medications - try and work out the best strategy for you yourself and if you're female remember our hearts may need slightly different strategy. This has always helped me. All the very best, Fudgefuzz.

[Warthig in reply to Fudgefuzz]

Hi Fudgefuzz,

I'm a newby here and read your post with interest. Its great that you have a regimen that works for you, wish I could say the same. Have been struggling with heart failure meds since 2016 as none have agreed with me and nobody appears interested in helping me. Could you then please tell me if your eplerenone was a random decision or because of an underlying condition . Your answer may hold the key to my problem I hope. Thank you

[Fudgefuzz in reply to Warthig]

Hallo Warthig, yes, I made the choice over Eplerenone myself (and also Ramipril). These two drugs together first thing in the morning gave me such a headache and the Ramipril made me dizzy too, so that I sometimes had to hang on to a lamp-post in the street. The cardiologist suggested lowering the dose to 7.5 which still gave me a headache, but not dizziness. He didn't mention the Eplerenone.I have tried going without either but found my heart failure bad, so that I couldn't get up the stairs without being pushed up from behind. Very frightening. And then I started to try out what regime would suit me better and found splitting the two drugs equally over a longish period of time caused me no trouble.

I do wish doctors would take into consideration body weight of a patient as well as sex and age. I am 70 and a tall thin female with hardly any extra fat (my pacemaker has to sit more or less on top of my body just under the skin and is very visible, which doesn't worry me at all but I know some people wouldn't like it).

When I mentioned this concern about medication and body weight to a (female) consultant in hospital she made no reply, perhaps because she was in the company of a male one who was rather taking the lead.

Thank you for getting in touch. I have only ever spoken to one other person with similar problems to mine and I've had heart failure to varying degrees since 1992. I send you all my heartfelt good wishes, Fudgefuzz.

[Potatohead123 in reply to Fudgefuzz]

Thankyou for all your comments. Will keep learning about this.