Getting my life back following a hear... - British Heart Fou...

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Getting my life back following a heart attack , seems to be one hurdle after another,

Westsidestoryman profile image

Embarrassing subject , I am having problems with flatulence and bloated stomach which is really uncomfortable and giving me problems sleeping. Walking seems to help a bit. I have asked the pharmacist for advice and am taking Deflatine as much as I can which is giving me some relief.

From the start i have been having more wind than before the heart attack but the last couple of weeks it has become much worse.

Wondered if it was coffee so didn't have any yesterday but still woke up in the night with it.

Could it be any meds? Did try to discuss with the heart fail nurse that it may be the statin but she dismissed that being the problem.

I had got a bit better sleeping pattern back but am now back to using sleeping tablets on and off during the week to get some sleep.

Now trying peppermint tea to see if it calms things down.

Any thoughts?

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Westsidestoryman profile image
Westsidestoryman
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26 Replies
Crochetwoman profile image
Crochetwoman

Hi, I suffer from gas and lower bower problems and was given a tablet aimed at that gut section, Mebeverine. After some reading and a process of elimination I no longer need the pills - unless I am going out for an Italian.I take Proactive( other brands are out there 😆) daily and can only tolerate one serving of wheat in the day. E.g 75g of pasta then no cake, bread, wheat cereal etc. I know the bacterial culture shots might be considered a fad but , in my opinion & research, they help rebalance your gut.

Good luck in getting it sorted

P.s I take statins with no side effects.

Westsidestoryman profile image
Westsidestoryman in reply to Crochetwoman

Just bought some yakult so see if it helps. Thanks.

Crochetwoman profile image
Crochetwoman in reply to Westsidestoryman

I notice my mistake. It’s Actimel I take.. 🙄. Hubby takes the Proactive.. oops.

Hello :-)

I seem to think the likely culprit could be one of your meds

You need to push with either your Doctor or Consultant for a proper med review and tell them you did not have this problem before so if they are saying it is not your meds then what is it as it is so unpleasant you cannot cope with it and need to know

I hope you get this sorted and will let us know :-) x

Westsidestoryman profile image
Westsidestoryman in reply to

Thanks, I am going to call my GP tomorrow. The thing that I am finding is that it is difficult to talk about how I feel. The heart fail nurse is has her own agenda and it is all overwhelming the world that I find myself in .

in reply to Westsidestoryman

Hello :-)

I honestly used to find it really difficult to talk about how I felt and then I realised by not doing so there was only one person that it affected and that was me

Now I just say it as it is because I have told myself how will anything change if I do not let people know

I also jot a few important things down that I want to make sure I don't forget that I want to mention I find that very useful

I am glad you will be talking to your GP , say it as it is and if you have time it would be nice to hear how you get on :-) x

Maisie2014 profile image
Maisie2014

Hi. Don’t be overwhelmed. Things will get better and you’ll get to know what you can and can’t do. Don’t worry. The cardio nurses are very good and can give good advice on some meds but I agree with the others on here that you need to speak to your GP. I have allergies so have to take a couple of tablets to stop me having diarrhoea with meds and even then I can’t take some at all. My liver doesn’t like statins but the nurses always told me to continue taking them. You have to balance the benefits with the negative affects. There are a lot of benefits to statins but I just can’t take them. Hope this information helps. Take care.

BeKindTo profile image
BeKindTo

It can be embarrassing and it's uncomfortable having wind and bloating. Seems perfectly normal post operation. I had the same issue. Please don't be embarrassed regarding the wind, it's a normal body function. In some cultures it's far more socially acceptable :-)

There's so many herbal remedies, have you tried those? For example, eating a small teaspoon of raw Cumin and Adjwan seeds. Personally I always explore natural remedies before resorting to medicines.

Also exercise and movement help immensely with reducing bloating and wind. Also you can let off gas outside without embarrassment:-)

Good luck with it, I'm sure it will settle down.

Clerkenweller profile image
Clerkenweller

As my GP said to me flatulence is a symptom not an embarrassing event. This can be a side effect of acid indigestion caused by the meds. Most of us are on lansoprazole or similar which is a protein pump inhibitor. Gavascon is a fantastic relief. But your diet should be reviewed. If you look at the NHS site search symptoms with flatulence or acid indigestion and look at diet recommendations that will help point you in the right direction. I also have to admit that being an overgrown schoolboy I tend to find it 😆.

Ewloe profile image
Ewloe

I’m betting it’ll be one of the medications causing it. I’ve recently looked at the side effects again as I’m starting another medication and I definitely saw flatulence as I side effect on one of them. But can’t remember which one 😂😂

MountainGoat52 profile image
MountainGoat52

Having a heart attack suddenly lands us in the realm of having to take medication. I'm sure your digestive system won't welcome the onslaught. The problem is trying to determine whether it is one medication or another, in fact it may be a combination. I think trying to rebalance your gut with something like Actimel can only help.

I was prescribed PPIs, but I found that I am allergic to them and they made matters worse. Indeed just one dose is sufficient to lay me low. Diuretics are even worse. I have had difficulty getting many in the medical profession to understand this. "Oh you'll get used to them" is the usual comment. No I won't! I have had to stand my ground over these issues. Now I have a benign list of medications which suit me.... and I jealously guard them accepting no changes without very good reason and a trial period.

I hope you manage to get your problem sorted soon.

Gerald

richard_jw profile image
richard_jw in reply to MountainGoat52

An alternative to PPIs is famotidine. Does not have the side effects

MountainGoat52 profile image
MountainGoat52 in reply to richard_jw

Thankfully I just don't need them. It's the GPs and hospital doctors that think I should be prescribed them. Blinkered approach / need to comply with their protocol.

If I do get any indigestion, then Gaviscon settles it quickly. After finding out I reacted to PPIs for a while my GP did prescribe Peptach... a pale imitation of the real thing.

mornhill profile image
mornhill

Please try Kefir.

rjb112 profile image
rjb112

I wonder if a consult with a Gastroenterologist (GI doc) might help?

It's usually something that you are eating that causes gas.

Try drinking ginger tea a couple of times per day to see if it helps, but try to work out if it's food that you have regular that's causing it.

Good luck.

RegularWalker profile image
RegularWalker

Ask your GP for an appointment with a dietician and walk every day. Walk a bit further each day. Getting fit will aid your digestion. Don't rely on drugs. Other comments show that drugs are not always successful and have side effects sometimes worse than the symptoms. Doctors rely on drugs because they can't change your lifestyle .I'm lucky enough to have an NHS gym in my city where they sent me after my HA and they didn't mollycoddle me, they made me work hard. Just returned from a camping weekend and I'm 78.

Harefieldfan profile image
Harefieldfan

Hi. Could be the meds. I also have lots of flatulence — embarrassing! And bloating, etc. read the info leaflets that come with the meds to see what’s causing it. And if something helps, please share it! Good luck.

Wingnutty profile image
Wingnutty

Before doing anything drastic, you could just try to cut right down on the carbohydrates and sugars. You will know if it works within a few days. Many people who try a keto diet notice a big reduction in flatulence as a side effect of the diet. I'm not suggesting you try a keto diet, but it would be worth looking at what percentage of your food is currently carbohydrate and cut it right down for a few days to see if it works.

5stents profile image
5stents

Having had medication for blood pressure, heart attack , including medication and stents over a number of years, I seem to find that some of my favourite fruits aren't very popular with my digestive system. Apples and bananas seem to be the worst. Seem to have less repercussions with grapes and easy peels.

MikeBB profile image
MikeBB

Ah - remember this old ditty? Heinz beans are good for your heart,

The more you eat, the more - - -

I’m on lansprazol and despite seldom eating beans, I can empathise. But until 5 mins ago I didn’t know it could be the cause!

See: nhs.uk/medicines/lansoprazole/

Side effects of lansoprazole include wind / flattulance.
richard_jw profile image
richard_jw

Sounds like ibs made worse by meds.I have difficulty sleeping because it.

I take mebeverine before I go to bed and sometimes during the night.

Also before dinner I take fybogel or an equivalent.

Stress may have a lot to do with it.

I went to a gasttoenterologist and he prescribed low dosage amytryptiline. It works but is less effective after a few months

statinsinthebin profile image
statinsinthebin

it could be your diet,cut out gluten,wheat,grains,cakes,biscuits and bread for a while and see how it feels!

ChoochSiesta profile image
ChoochSiesta in reply to statinsinthebin

Bloody hungry 😣

Westsidestoryman profile image
Westsidestoryman in reply to ChoochSiesta

Ohh that really made me laugh😁

statinsinthebin profile image
statinsinthebin in reply to ChoochSiesta

you will be if you eat the above,if you blood sugar levels are constantly high you will never feel full!

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