Long recovery after gardening

[DM_56]

Hi, I sit here with heart still thumping and light headed after spending an hour in the garden raking up leaves and mowing the lawn. Really not full on exercise.

I am taking amlodipine for high blood pressure and atorvastatin for high cholesterol. I am trying to get my GP to book me into cardio for a stress test to better understand why I am unable to recover from relatively light exercise. This problem is very limiting to my enjoyment or commitment to active living.

I'd welcome any thoughts from the forum.

[TheBoys]

hi

Sorry to hear you are having this - it literally reflects my recent issue.

I was on Amlodipine and like you - a light but of gardening was leaving me breathless.

This got worse- and I ended up tachycardic and breathless so went to A&E where I was admitted.

All tests were fine - ECG/EKG/CT / bloods etc - all were fine

I’d been having the symptoms for 3-4 weeks.

On leaving hosp I tested positive for Covid.

I’m just waiting for my consultant appointment but a Dr indicated I might have had covid for several weeks but tested negative. Either way a horrible experience

Even now I have bad moments. They put me on bisoprolol which I don’t like.

[wischo]

Hi, if you can afford a few hundred pounds you could consider getting it done privately (£200-285) I see online. Well worth it for your health sake and peace of mind. They will forward your GP and yourself a detailed copy with the results.

[Madlegs1]

What have your BP readings been like?

[DM_56 in reply to Madlegs1]

haven't checked after exercise, I tend to check before going to bed, but obvious I should try after exertion, GP is happy with the at rest BPs

[Pilgrim2]

Hi DM_56, Sorry to hear you're struggling with exercise. Do you know the cause of your high BP? Have you had your heart checked for valve function. Your symptom description is typical of a leaking heart valve (I'm no medic here!). But I experienced exactly the same. A year ago diagnosed with high BP, they said it was age related (I'm 59) and put me on tablets. I started to get more symptoms and and early one was heart thumping and feeling tired after quite modest activity. I used to be very fit doing long distance hiking and regular gym workouts, so was quite unusual for me. Your doctor should be able to hear a potential valve problem, but if it's minor you may need an echo cardiogram.

I also agree with Wishco, if you can get some tests done privately its worth it. A private echocardiogram is about £400, but can be done in a couple weeks. I was told it would be 9 months on the NHS. Push your doctor for the tests, you feel much better when you know what your dealing with. Good luck.l!

[DM_56 in reply to Pilgrim2]

just like you P2, I was walking, sailing, tennis then heart thumping started, blood pressure up and after tests ditto cholesterol, I did shell out for a private cardio but after a heart scan he said arteries and the like around heart were fine, no mention of valves though that I can recall, GP is organising a 24 hour ECG and told to exercise to see if it shows up on the read out, not heard from NHS with a date yet, if not exercising i feel fine

[MountainGoat52]

Like Madlegs, my first thought was what is your blood pressure doing after your session in the garden? Also I wonder whether your blood sugar is low... does a cup of tea and a biscuit help you pick up?

[DM_56 in reply to MountainGoat52]

not tried the tea and biscuits, I'll try that out next time, thanks

[Justjune1959]

Hi I understand how you feel I was on amlodipine by cardiologist and ramipril from my doctor but recently I’ve been quite unwell trying to do normal things around the house my doctors took me off the amlodipine and has said my angina is unstable I’ve been referred back to cardiology with a 34 week wait I told the doctor I could be dead by then I actually fell down my stairs in the house yesterday and have no idea how it happened but if I tell my doctor they will want me to go to hospital and I’m not

[TheBoys in reply to Justjune1959]

Hi

If you fell down — go to Hospital. Then it will be dealt with. So don’t wait for 34 weeks - just deal with the issue. I did .

[HappyPaws in reply to TheBoys]

Would be good if it worked this way but it doesn’t usually… A&E is for acute problems…. I tried your tack last year. Visited A&E in July last year, took til September to get any sort of clinic appointment and then tests til November, nurse diagnosis in late December and only got to see the cardiologist in June this year… 11 months later! If I’d known then what I know now I’d have paid to go privately to get all the tests done at once and a diagnosis.

[TheBoys in reply to HappyPaws]

sorry to hear that. Now you’ve got me worried that I could still be here in a few months waiting on a diagnosis .

[PecanSandie]

Is there any chance your BP is too low from taking the Amlodipine? I personally find that blood pressure to high and blood pressure too low are exactly the same feeling.

[Kwakkers]

Hallo. Working to rake leaves and mow the lawn IS full-on exercise for your heart. Work 10/15 minutes and sit for the same. You adapt and improvise in your condition; no more punch-ups after a few pints......if you get my drift, haha.

Read what you can on the subject. Your surgery will have loadsa books on the heart and the hospital may have a `cardiac club` where you meet other sufferers.

Make it a hobby to `discover` your body. Swimming`s good. My first attack was in `85 and by the time I had the cardiac arrest in 2011 I`d had six attacks (but didn`t realise it).

No more `I must get this done before lunch`, etc. Take it EEEEZEEE. And yea, listen to your heart `cos it`s talking to you.

Your GP will check you regularly and there`s always 111 for direct help.

Ta-ra chuck,

Frank.