Private blood tests - med review

[Steveswife78]

Hi

You guys have always been so ace so I come to you again!

My husband had a HA in 2018, 3 stents, age 42. At the time fit cyclist. Blood pressure was the cause likely stress related. Cholesterol was fine.

Roll forward and his meds haven’t been reviewed or changed since we agreed with GP he could discontinue Ramipril in 2020.

He is now heavier than he was at the time of the heart attack. Cannot seem to shift any weight though he eats healthily.

Back on his road bike but rightly more cautious on hills to keep HR down.

Nurse at GP practice only do a blood pressure and weight check each year and both are ok.

But I just feel like he’s trying so hard to eat well and exercise daily and nothing changes. He is still tired, broken sleep hasn’t ever recovered. Gets a lot of headaches but has done even pre HA.

Wondering if anyone has ever gone private to do a medication overhaul either with GP or consultant.

I just feel I need to advocate for him because he just lost a lot of his confidence when the HA happened.

meds are currently:

Amlodipine 5mg

Aspirin 75mg

Atorvastatin 40mg

Bisporol 2.5mg

He also takes an anti-depressant (sertraline 100mg) since HA.

Any suggestions appreciated ☺️

Claire

[Captain_Birdseye]

Some people gain weight on anti depressants as they interfere with the hormones for appetite control and can reduce energy levels.

Personally I find that reducing the amount of refined sugar in my diet works for weight loss/ energy levels, but this is obviously a very personal thing.

I recommend a book called brain energy by Christopher Palmer. He writes of how mental health is linked into our physical conditions. It's an interesting read. The book does promote a ketogenic diet - but obviously you can make your own mind up on that side of things, I don't follow keto myself.

[Hidden]

If you can afford it and it gives you reassurance about your situation, and that's for both of you, then I suggest you go ahead, or at least talk to your local private medical hospital like Spire or Nuffield to see what they can offer. I had a comprehensive health check when I changed employer years ago and whilst it did not include a meds review it was very thorough.

[MarmiteB]

Hi! So, I am lucky enough to have private health insurance through work and so I have gone back and forth with private and NHS with my heart issues. I wonder if you paid to see a cardiologist privately, this would be about £250 that this would be the best route? They can then suggest any bloods that you need and you can then have the blood tests done on the NHS. To get blood tests done privately can cost between £100-£1000 (trust me) so if there is clinical need for them, from seeing a cardiologist privately you can have them done in the NHS. They can also discuss his medication with him to see if it is still appropriately. I hope this helps xx

[marypw]

At our surgery, we have to get a medicines review, including blood tests every year if we’re on statins or antihypertensives. The review date is written on our prescription lists which we get when we pick up the meds from the chemist. It’s also on our on-line system for ordering meds, getting results etc.

You don’t need to go privately - just phone the GP. (I might think about going to a different GP, because your husband should be better monitored).

[Steveswife78]

Thanks so much to everyone who replied. Given us some things to think about on next steps for him. I did actually contact his cardiac surgeon who did the stents and you can see him privately it’s more than as has been said I’m not sure that blood tests through him are the route we should go down.

He did have a good GP there who had his interest as cardiac patients but since he left as I say he’s had nothing but the weight and blood pressure checks.

[Retirement65]

hi Steve’s wife I’m not sure I can help much I also take amlodipine 5mg which I’ve always found has been fine - your husband looks like he’s on the correct meds having worked in general practice it looks pretty consistent with the usual regime but obviously don’t take my word for it - I’ve replied to you mainly because my husband sounds similar to yours he has heart issues and it’s always been an uphill battle with losing weight - we were recently on our way to the airport with our son and grandson off to Disney Paris except my husband had an angina attack at the airport my son and grandson went to Disney we went off in an ambulance to hospital the reason for saying all this is I’ve noticed his outlook on life is far from good and I’m convinced this is having an affect on his general health particularly since the angina attack so I think they do get despondent we are awaiting cardiology appointments but it could be ages so I don’t think as I said earlier I’m much help but understand your frustration as I don’t think sometimes I know what to do to make life better so I wish you luck and hope your husband feels better very soon take care there will be better advice from the forum I’m sure xx

[Steveswife78 in reply to Retirement65]

aww bless you, that sounds very stressful and no fun if you were looking forward to a holiday and ended up at hospital. Agree that when my husbands mood is low it all feels harder but I’m really grateful he is finally back on his bike regularly because that makes a massive difference to how he feels.

Do hope your husbands appointments come through soon xx

[Retirement65 in reply to Steveswife78]

thank you - I know what you mean about the exercise it’s so important we just do walking but you always feel better when you have done something I think that’s what you and I are doing keeping them motivated probably the best medicine of all take care to both of you xx

[Calm2]

Hi, I too had a HA back in 2018 with one stent. I have also been taking Amlodipine but this caused my ankles and feet to swell so that was changed. I also take Mirtazapine, anti depression, ever since the event. I have put on so much weight and generally have felt unwell ever since . I am certain it is all the meds I have to take and do wonder if they are all necessary? The Gp does a review of meds yearly but only by blood test. I just presume the meds are all necessary but I would like to really find out myself. Hope your husband gets sorted .