Can't stop thinking about HA

[Emcd8477]

Good evening all its been just over 2 month since I had my HR And 2 stents fitted,I was doing great up till last week when I was put up to 5m of ramipril and it caused all sorts of problems,I feel I have went right back down hill,contacted my GP and been put back down to 2.5m but I'm now scared the damage is already done,I now can't stop thinking that I'm going to have another heart attack plus I can't stop crying something that I've not ever done.

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Hello

I had my first heart attack back in Oct I did go on to have 2 more but please don't think that will be you because it won't as you have had two stents put in that have opened up those arteries to allow the blood now to flow through your heart which was something I did not have after my first heart attack

But I was and I am still like you always worrying which does not help us and crying and it taking over my every thought , tuned into every feeling and somehow we have to start having faith that we are on the right treatment and are going to be ok , it is not easy I know

The little set back with the med not suiting you will not harm you at all and you are now back on the ones' that do so please don't worry about that

I am not sure if you have got a Rehab nurse but if you have I have found it a huge help in talking to them

Also there are the Nurses you can contact on here which you can phone that are really helpful

Know you are not alone it is early days but as time goes on you will slowly get your confidence back x

[FiftyNotOut]

I had a heart attack in April this year and still have periods where the whole idea of it and fear that it’ll happen again is overwhelming. I’m having therapy and part of that is trying to recognise and rationalise fears.

It’s completely normal and expected to have fear in your circumstances so don’t feel you shouldn’t be emotional and I don’t have the answers for stopping it as I’m not sure you can. It’s better to let it all out! But do recognise it for what it is - you’ve been through a traumatic experience and don’t want to go through it again.

I don’t know what the problems were on the increased dose of ramipril but I think it’s unlikely to have adversely affected your heart. As BeKind said - give the nurses on the BHF helpline a ring x

[wanderingmariner]

Hi,

I am 6 weeks post aortic valve replacement and will be going back onto 5mg of Ramipril shortly ow my BP is creeping back up. Without understanding what your issues with Ramipril were I can't really comment but prior to surgery I was on an increasing dose of it until I hit max 10mg a few years ago.

I have been wondering for a while if it contributed to weight gain but other than that didn't have any issues with it personally.

You are naturally going to worry with anything to do with the heart, I do especially having a young son but my surgeon (went private as NHS kept pinching ICU beds) has said I am good to go back to cycling and start gradual training for some serious rides in the next year or two.

Please talk about your fears with someone as it will only make things worse bottling them up.

Good luck

[Emcd8477 in reply to wanderingmariner]

Hi I was really dizzy feeling sick and couldn't focus,the ramipril was the only medication that was put up.I was on the 1.25 since having the heart attack then my gp put it up to 2.50 but only a week later put it up again to 5,was on 5 for 3 days and that's when all the side effects kicked in,I'm now back down to 2.50 but I'm now back to square 1 where I don't want to be going out on my own incase something happens.I had been going out 3 times a day with my dogs until I nearly passed out

[wanderingmariner in reply to Emcd8477]

Hi again

Ramipril is a powerful drug and it does lower your BP big time, I was on 10mg purely as I was in the 190/120 range so needed it along with bisoprolol and indapamide to pull it down. You need to take on board that the goal here is to optimise your BP to minimise the risk of a reoccurrence and it is not a precise science due to us all bring individual.

Listen to your GP/Specialist and get a good quality BP monitor so you can track it, don't rely on smart watches etc look at a decent bit of kit like an omron monitor. Trick is to take your ramipril at night before bed as high BP through the night is seen as dangerous, this should mitigate your side effects but obviously discuss this with your GP if you aren't already taking it at this time of day.

Always here to discuss if you need but please don't hesitate to discuss with a specialist or your GP at minimum.

[Frosty149]

Hi, Ramipril is on of a recognised group of meds used to treat BP and heart conditions- it helps to keep your BP in check and it’s normal (if there is such a thing!), for your prescription to be increased as time passes to achieve an effective overall balance.Two months is still very early days and understandably you are still vulnerable and process recent events.

I’m on 2x5mg Ramipril (am/pm) they do induce side effects, but, for most of us that settles down and go on to enjoy a better quality of life and more energy!

Good luck try not to worry!