Fatigue

[Berto47]

Hi everyone, I’ve had an aortic valve repair 6 months ago I’m 47 , I want to ask anybody else who has had this surgery, I seem to be experiencing extreme fatigue that seems to come on so quick like a sledgehammer, I thought by now I would be feeling more energetic seeing as my valve is repaired I’ve been to my GP but everything seems to be ok, I wonder if it could be my medication, I’m on bisoporhol thanks in advance guys for any advice/experiences you could share Alberto

[Chappychap]

Heart medication may not help our energy levels, but it doesn't normally constitute an insurmountable barrier to achieving a more vigorous sense of well being. In other words, do other things right and you can still feel energetic despite heart medication. Sure, I'll sometimes hit a bit of a "Bisoprolol slump" mid afternoon, but I can generally push through it.

Did you have open heart surgery, and in which case did you follow the breathing/walking exercises? Are you overweight? Are you doing the NHS recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week? Do you have a healthy diet free from highly processed foods? Are you sleeping well?

The message from Cardio Rehab is that good life style choices promote well being as well as dramatically reducing the chances of having to return to hospital.

Good luck!

[Berto47 in reply to Chappychap]

Hi, thanks for your response, in all other ways I’m in pretty good shape , I go to the gym and walk quite a bit and my diet is balanced I would say, it’s just this extreme fatigue that hits me at times and feels really strange to me it’s frustrating because it’s so limiting and something I never experienced before my open heart surgery procedure and makes me question if all is well internally with my heart but hopefully it’ll settle down thanks again Alberto

[Blackcatsooty]

Four months post op the fatigue left and, for a couple of weeks, life was wonderful.

The fatigue then returned and has not budged.

It helps a little if you can retire to bed at a time that allows you to get your nightly sleep. For me it is 7.5hrs

I take a low dose of bisoprolol and maybe that’s the issue.

I had fatigue post stroke and now post OHS. I note that long covid has identical fatigue.

Let’s hope we can find a way forward

Blackcatsooty

[Cliff_G]

Yes, bisoprolol will do that. I had to quit mine. A few things you can try: take it in the evening so it's at its strongest overnight. Try (with your GP) reducing the dose - you'll need to check your blood pressure and heart rate and if they're ok, then a lower dose may be enough. In fact, ask exactly why you're on it, too - it's a bit of a standard prescription after what you've had. Finally, ask your GP if you can trial coming off it for a week or two, just to see if that is what is causing the tiredness. If you're on anything other than a low dose, you should tail it off slowly first. Your GP will advise. If things are a lot better, there are other meds for blood pressure and rate control. Good luck.

[Berto47 in reply to Cliff_G]

Hi, thanks for taking the time to respond, yes I started taking it just before bed because taking it in the morning was making me feel dizzy,my heart care team are insisting I stay on it for a year but they have said they will start to reduce the dose as we go along, I note that fatigue is a side effect of this medication but I wasn’t expecting it to be so much anyway thanks again and I hope all goes well got you too

[dubsta]

Hello, i am sad to read this for you. Im affraid i can offer no advice as im only 2 weeks post surgery. Please keep us updated on discussions/progress as it would be helpful to know. Wishing you all the best x

[Berto47 in reply to dubsta]

Hi there, hope all went well for you and your progressing well good luck for the future

[dubsta in reply to Berto47]

Thank you, yeh think im doing ok. Dry tickly cough is constant, did you get this?

[Berto47 in reply to dubsta]

Yes I did I think for me was it all the tubes etc they put down your throat that causes that, it did settle down for me in time as most things do ,just persevere and keep yourself as comfortable as you can

[dubsta in reply to Berto47]

Thank you, i hope you get your meds sorted soon.

[DodgyRog]

Hi Berto, I had a replacement fitted 9 years ago. I’m 75 next week. I am now fit and healthy. Fatigue was a problem but I now take my Bisoprolol in the evenings and I don’t suffer tiredness now. I have 5 dogs and a very large garden to look after. We had 3 foster children for 20 months during the pandemic and I did 30 miles school run twice daily. It was hectic but I managed without feeling I’ll. Try switching to later in the day

[Chriscwmpen]

Hi Berto. I'm 47 too and had open heart surgery to repair a mitral valve 18 months ago. Like you I am fit and have a balanced diet. I also felt tired at about the same stage you are post surgery. The consensus from my GP and cardiologist was that everything was OK, but not to underestimate the trauma your body has been through - it takes 12 months to recover completely. Sure enough, after a year I definitely felt I had more energy and some of the slight pain and tenderness I still felt around my chest went too.I still take 2.5mg Bisoprolol, which I'll stick with for now but may ask to come off at my next review.

Good luck, Chris.

[Berto47 in reply to Chriscwmpen]

Hi Chris , thanks for reaching out, I’m not one for posting on forums in fact this is the first I’ve done so but I have become so frustrated with the fatigue thing that I wanted to see if this was normal, it’s reassuring to hear you were in a similar situation and now your better I think personally I didn’t expect to still feel the effects of the op 6 months on but I think I need to admit to myself that I need to take it easy thanks again Alberto

[Bookworm60 in reply to Berto47]

Hi thereCan I ask what dose you are on ? I really struggled on 5mg. Am now (5 months post op) on 1.25mg and it's all settled down fine. I assume your Dr not happy fir you to look at smaller side yet. I do still get very tired from time to time. Comes and goes and I get very impatient with myself or start to worry something has gone wrong and then I remember just what a big op it was and have a stern word with myself!

Good luck fellow hearty!

Penny

[Coper10]

I had AVR at the end of March last year. I too struggled with fatigue, which may have been aggravated by starting a new job with a lot information to take on board. It's taken a good while before I've felt that the fatigue has reduced significantly but I was reassured by folk stating it can take a year before you feel fully recovered due to the magnitude of the operation. By 12 months, I noticed my energy levels had greatly improved. I can still feel wiped if I do too much but have learnt to pace myself during the working week. All the very best in your recovery 🙂