Aftercare

[Robotman1]

Yes aftercare has been affected.(I had massiveheartattack27th December2020) Obviously due to covid measures being in place there has been no physio for cardio patients (Classroom or 1/1)..All has to be done by telephone which personally aint any good for me..I currently walk upto 45mins daily depending how I feel..And that brings me to the other point of aftercare..I've had issues with medication namely Bisoprolol was has cause me so much problems..Any side effects..I've got them..Sickness,Palpitations stomach tightening no energy and severe rash back neck and chest..Now countless times I've contacted ( Well tried !) My Dr..Cardiologist nurse(team)..My own GP..Yet nobody really wanting ownership of changing or stopping this medication..As stated because of these side effect driving me crazy and no response i actually stopped taking as to see exactly what medication was causing issue...Needless to say I did and when I spoke with Dr eventually stated I must start again immediately as they are critical to repair of my pumps and heart functions..I have done this and as a reduced amount of 1.25mg tablets..As thought all side effects have returned and I'm pulling my hair out(Whats left)..Why can I not be started on another med that does same job and without side effects. !! I m so frustrated with the run around and understand pandemic however I feel I'm being failed as a patient of aftercare..

[Chappychap]

"Why can I not be started on another med that does same job and without side effects. "

As I understand it, there's a reluctance to prescribe the alternative medications to Bisoprolol because they're notorious for even more serious side effects.

You don't mention what your blood pressure is, if it's on the high side then it's a really tough one, because Bisprolol is proven to be effective in reducing blood pressure.

You can see why any GP would be unwilling to trade that proven benefit against what they would consider as non-life threatening side effects. If your blood pressure is stable and moderate then there's likely to be a more constructive discussion to be had with your GP.

Good luck!

[Robotman1 in reply to Chappychap]

Appreciate the feedback, And yes blood pressure is 115/82 so all good,Again conversations with GP not greatest as although he was made aware of my side effects,He wanted to increase to 5mg from 2.5mg..I currently have reduced to 1.25mg yet feel the same..Thanks for help.

[Snowdrops_17]

What meds are you taking altogether! And what did they do when you had your heart attack! Did you have a Angioplasty or a Bypass Surgery Robotman????Leave your vitamin B away for a week and see if the rash etc goes away!

If not would call 111 if you are still having problems! Or the Hart nurses on here!

I can't give you medical advice but also had problems with Bisoprolol!!! 👍🙏

[Robotman1 in reply to Snowdrops_17]

No neither, (27th Dec 2020) I had stent installed to LV...(x1)During heart attack my heart suffered some severe damage which has not repaired and will not also damaged the pump action to both LV@31%(Working) and RV@41% hence the use of Bisoprolol and also Ramipril 5mg per day I also take prasageral 10mg asprin daily..Also statin@80mg..Also a gastro tablet to nutralize the stomach.Again I managed to deduce it was Bisoprolol causing all issues..Simply by stop taking all medicine over a period.. Which i know was stupid)..But necessary ..Just so frustrating .!

[Jessiebrown in reply to Snowdrops_17]

Hi I must mention when I took vitamin b complex I got an horrendous rash which took ages to go away,I have taken bisoprolol for several years 5mg and the only thing I had was runny nose. I take other meds and I do have other side affects but I don’t know which one causes what

[EB2021]

Hi, I am so sorry you having to go through this. You're not alone sadly.

Yesterday alone I've made 6 calls to chase mum Echocardiogram and still no answer yet. All of this just add to frustration.

My mum is in a similar situation with 1.25mg Bisoprolol I can't understand why the medical professionals put people on this meds if they cannot tolerate it. I found out that there are alternatives to Bisoprolol called atenolol but this seem to be an older drug.

I have no idea if things will improved with time whilst taking Bisoprolol.

I hope you get things sorted soon.

[Robotman1 in reply to EB2021]

Thank you,And like you've said i also have looked online for help(As that seems to be quicker and gives you answer's)..I think that shall be my only solution, But the difficulty in doing it i.e ..Being able to talk and putting into processing this is another story..I appreciate feedback,And hope all goes well with Mum.

[1AnneMcC]

Our pharmacist explains everything and has discussed with gp.My husband the same, had ha 28/12/19 hospitalised and stent put in January 2020. Recuperation feb2020 and planned physio March but covid put a stop to all that. Two tele consults but he is in a very poor state - breathless, cannot walk more than 5 steps without having to rest. Another planned face to face consultation for April now changed to tele con July!

I rang and got another for today at 1 PM but it's not good enough. His physical condition cannot be judged via phone.

He had triple by pass and valve replacement 4.5 years ago. The ha was a result of two of the grafts failing but only one could be repaired.

We are in our 70s and worried sick. I hope today gives more clarity. Our problem is not mithering but we know how overworked they all are.

Stay safe everyone.

[richard_jw]

I know how you are feeling. I had a STEMI last August. It is indeed very difficult to get anyone to own the problems. The only actual contact initiated by the NHS has been 2 phone calls from a cardiologist which resulted in a stress echo done by a cardiologist in which he told me that I was fit enough to drive an HGV or fly a plane. Basically a put off.

I have resorted to private care, on the basis that I can afford it, and you have only one heart.

I chose a cardiologist at Papworth hospital. One thing I did not consider enough is that Papworth is probably one of the best, but it's 80 miles away from me.

Even this guy will only do telephone calls, so it's not too bad, I have only had to go there for a test. There are cardiologists who will actually see you at places like Nuffield hospitals. They chargy typically £200 for the first consultation and less for subsequent ones.

GPs (in at least my case) are a waste of time. If you phone them and say chest pains they say A&E. A&E do a blood test, and an ECG and possibly a chest X Ray and say there is no MI. But you really have no choice but to go if a GP tells you to.

Specifically Bisoprolol does what it says on the tin. It reduces your heart rate, but there are indeed side effects.

Looking at the other beta blockers, they have worse side effects, which is why Bisoprolol is the drug of choice. I think in my case (6 months on) I am getting used to the side effects, or rather they are getting less..

I really would not recommend stopping Bisoprolol. Maybe see a cardiologist, and get a review of your meds. Maybe change to another beta blocker.

It could be that the cardiologist at the hospital where you were taken does private. he/she will have access to your NHS records if you give permission. A few hundred quid a year would be a good investment.

If you get on with him, any tests etc. could be done on the NHS (e.g. a Myocardial perfusion scan I had done at Papworth cost me £800, so the NHS route is to be recommended.

Hope you get on well

[Robotman1 in reply to richard_jw]

Do appreciate that,And may have to be road i take,Thank you.