Heart failure medication and burning fingertips

[cherrabah]

Hi, Tom - my 75 year old husband, had a Stemi heart attack (widow maker) two years ago and has made excellent progress with the help of first rate care and treatment and, we try, with a good lifestyle. Currently he’s on nine pills daily to include entresto, eplerenone, dapagliflozin, bisoprolol, edoxapan …. Just recently, his consultant has upped the dose of entresto to 97/103 morning and evening. He appears to be tolerating all this quite well but has recently started to complain of very tender fingertips, hugely painful and sensitive to touch. The tips look sore and red though not painful just resting. However, as a guitarist in a band plus occasional acoustic mic nights, this is proving a problem. But I’m rather more concerned this is a reaction or a symptom from either his medication or if not, a troublesome complication from cold hands, Raynaud’s or circulation issues?

Has anyone else had this problem and/or can offer any thoughts on this? Thanks!

Cherrabah

[Dave678]

Hi - I had a “widow maker” a couple of years ago + have been on 97/103 Entresto for an about a year. Had an initial episode of BP getting too low and Entresto lowered to 49/51 for a while. Now back on 97/103 dose + fortunately no other issues although finger tips do get cold every now and then but not on a regular basis + mainly temp related but not always! Hope your GP can advise + wonder if your husband would have same reaction with a 49/51 dose?

[MountainGoat52]

I would think Raynauds is unlikely to be the problem. The fingers usually go white, then blue and there is a loss of sensation. It looks his problem is a reaction to medication and the matter needs to be referred to his GP / Consultant.

[IronGirl68]

Hello 🙂.I had a pacemaker fitted February 2022, and given Bisoprolol to take. I take 1.25 in the evening and half a tablet in the morning. This winter has been awful for my fingers. My hands have been so cold they have hurt, I've not been able to generate heat in them, they are even cold in gloves! They have developed small red raised patches on a couple of the fingers, which looked like chilblains, that have then been left dry, and eventually cracked. I have a crack on the top joint of the middle finger of my left hand which has been open for almost 2 weeks, and doesn't seem able to heal. Working in a supermarket, and getting it wet doesn't help healing. A few months ago I burned a finger on the oven, the tinyest, slightest burn, and we didn't think that was going to heal at all, it took so long. Whereas I would always heal quickly. The only other medication I take is the hrt patch.

I have a doctors appointment on 8th March, I will discuss it with her then. Maybe just part of aging 🤷‍♀️

Sorry for the essay xx

[cherrabah in reply to IronGirl68]

Hi IronGirl and thanks for your ‘essay’! It’s my husband that is having this problem with painful fingertips and as there’s been only a couple of responses, that is almost an answer in itself. So I guess it isn’t a common reaction to medication - in his case the newest increase has been entresto but even if it IS that, it will be worth it; these modern drugs are so amazingly beneficial. I saw that with Bisoprolol one of the side effects (nhs website) can be cold hands and feet, and sometimes as far as I’ve noted with Tom, side effects, whatever they are, seem to ease off after a bit as I guess the body gets used to it/them. Raynaud’s is a slightly painful condition (I get it) that makes cold hands and feet turn white and blue but not so much the tender, sore and cracked tips. However, my guess would be it’s still a circulation issue and good you’re seeing your doctor 8th March to chat about it. I’m not a medical person at all so don’t take any notice of what I say - but I do find this site good to share concerns. Let us know how you get on … 👍😊

[IronGirl68 in reply to cherrabah]

Yes, I'll post again when I've seen GP. All the best you and your husband... Spring is just around the corner 😊xx

[IronGirl68]

Hi cherrabah, I hope that you and your husband are doing well. I went to the doctors yesterday, and explained about my cold and sore fingers.. She took one look at them and said that they are chilblains 🙄. So that's that, and why they are so sore. She straight away emailed my cardiologist to ask if he would be happy for me to try another beta blocker. Also I find when exercising my heart isn't able to increase in line with what I'm doing (I swim). So anyway, I appreciated immensely her helping me out that way and being straight on it... It's my first year as a "hearty" and so I've only experienced the one round of each season, if you know what I mean. I'm hugely grateful for how much better I feel this year compared to last 👍. I'm not much good on this... And have no idea why my post is all underlined 😂Take care xxx

[cherrabah in reply to IronGirl68]

Thanks so much for your helpful post! Much appreciated - and does make sense. Sorry you’re being troubled with this slightly debilitating pain, and (it’s my husband who has this) for Tom, it’s particularly sore for playing his guitar. However, he’ll explore this potential cause ….. definitely worth a thought, thanks. Had to laugh at your parting shot at having no idea as to why your post is underlined! No doubt some button somewhere - Effective though 🤣!