Hello
I had a heart attack about 18 months ago and I now have angina. I’m getting lots of side effects from medications. Like fatigue and acid reflux. I feel very anxious and have insomnia. I feel very isolated. I find it very difficult to relax. Thanks in advance for any advice.
I’m sorry to hear about your heart attack.
Have you started the medications recently? If so, these maybe temporary side effects. If you have been on them for a while and the side effects are still there, I would suggest talking to your GP or pharmacist to determine if there are any alternatives, or if you can space them out throughout the day if you aren’t already. In terms of the acid reflux, were you prescribed a proton pump inhibitor such as Omeprazole?
All the best.
Tos
Thank you for your caring reply. I really appreciate this.
I’ve been on several medications right from the start 18 months ago. Last year there were more changes to increase dosage of Ramipril and I got changed from Bisoprolol to Propranolol due to anxiety and high blood pressure.
It is incredibly hard to get your confidence back after a heart attack.And I can understand it must cause more worry for you when you are alone or feel isolated and you are continuing to get side effects from your medications.
Many people can get side effects from the medications they need to take.
Sometimes these side effects can be made easier by getting another medication , especially problems like indigestion or acid reflux .
Sometimes people might need to try a different dose or brand to help them control their heart conditions with less side effects.
Sometimes getting advice about changes in diet or activity can also help control these symptoms.
The best thing to do when this happens is to arrange an appointment with your GP. Try a phone appointment first and request a face to face examination if you can't get a surgery appointment straight away.
Tell them about your symptoms and ask if there is anything that can be changed or if there is anything you can take to help these symptoms.
If you are also suffering from Fatigue , which can oddly cause you to have insomnia, you can also request for your GP to do a set of blood tests .
These tests rule out other reasons for your Fatigue and symptoms that could be caused by various factors if you have become more run down since your HA.
Sometimes , simple issues like low vitamin and mineral levels , anaemia etc. can be making your side effects worse or causing the symptoms.
You can request for your GP to check your Vitamin B 12 , Folates, Ferritin/ Iron, Full Blood Count , Vitamin D and Sodium and Potassium and Cholesterol.
Request a copy of the results even if they are reported as normal because low or borderline results can still make you feel Fatigued or unwell.
If there is a deficiency the GP will usually prescribe or suggest the supplements that you might need which will often help to make things easier . If the level is low but does not require a prescription you might want to get some advice on which diet changes or supplements might help anyway.
You may also find that drinking the recommended amount if water each day , especially during meals, will also help as both Fatigue and Acid Reflux can improve with this preventative self care tip.
Did you have cardiac rehabilitation after your heart attack, how did that go?
How are you coping with exercise and normal daily activity?
If you are not getting any help for these things you might want to ask the GP to refer you to Physiotherapy explaining your previous heart attack and current condition and requesting them to help you to slowly build up your physical strength and abilities.
Gradually increased gentle exercise at a pace you can cope with while getting guided support , either standing or chair based ,can often help you to combat things like Fatigue , Insomnia , Feelings of Insecurity and lack of confidence as well as helping you to feel less isolated.
If you are exercising or working a lot , you may also find that you might need to pace your day more slowly with time to rest between activities.
Please do keep posting if you have other questions , if the symptoms still continue , or if you need a few words of support, we are all here to help if we can , take care , Bee
Thank you for your caring reply. I really appreciate this.
This heart attack has destroyed my confidence.
In short, if you are suffering from angina and side effects from medication including reflux , you should be talking to your GP.
Talking to a GP is not so easy around these parts and I have found the pharmacist is better as far as medication is concerned
Your pharmacist will certainly be able to help you identify whether the meds you are taking are responsible for any side effects. However if a change of meds is required your pharmacist is unlikely to be able to prescribe and so you are back to your GP. And I also share the same problem about seeing a GP on routine matters, which can be weeks away.
Thank you for your caring reply. I really appreciate this.
The hospital doctors also prescribed Amlodipine. I take both Lansoprazole and Gaviscon for my acid reflux. I also have sciatica pain so I have to take pain killer medications for chronic pain.
I also have peripheral artery disease and angina pain combined. I take GTN spray for all these when I need it.
I also have long term acid reflux, which is not medication side effect related, and it is mostly controlled by PPIs like esomeprazole and recently lansoprazole. If no-one has suggested it to you, you can significantly reduce the effect of reflux by ensuring you eat the right sort of food and drink and eat smaller but more regular portions. I have learned what my trigger foods are which cause a relapse for a few days and avoid them wherever possible. I suggest you research foods which are not good for GORD/GERD and see if any of them apply to you . Spicy foods and alcohol which irritate the digestive system, coffee and chocolate which relax valves at the stomach inlet and allow reflux, and onions which are gas forming may be mentioned. One of my triggers is green sweet peppers although I am OK on red peppers and chili !
Talk to your gP about tablet side effects. After my Heart Attack I had almost every tablet changed. You also need further tests for the angina. After your HA did you attend cardiac rehab? Your confidence does sound to have been affected and rehab is by far the best way to improve that. Doing exercise whilst being monitored by specialist nurses is very reassuring. If it didn't happen, your gP could investigate. Are you certain it is angina and not stomach problems which can give a very similar pain. Is it during exercise or when resting? In any case you need to see your GP.
Thanks for your caring reply. I really appreciate this.
After my heart attack 18 months ago I had an angiogram and just very recently I had a cardiac MRI. The angiogram was very painful and stressful. I had lots of swelling in my wrist and the catheter didn’t work so they had to use my femoral artery.
I suffer from extreme exhaustion and this affects my vision as I get headaches, light sensitivity and dizziness needing a walking stick as I feel unsteady.
The cardiac MRI was without perfusion and the cardiologist said they would check for myocarditis in case it was a MINOCA.
I hope you get some answers quickly. Waiting is so stressful it makes things worse. I had two angiograms; neither was a problem. I felt nothing. The second one I didn't even see a puncture wound where they went into my wrist but the first one, the day after the heart attack, my arm was completely black from wrist to elbow. I think they released the pressure bandage too early. The second time that went so well was to check two further blockages which they decided weren't quite bad enough to stent yet that time I was a gibbering wreck , I was so nervous. Angiograms are not always bad or painful but I wouldn't fancy the femoral one.
heart attack at 38
Heart Attack 
Heart attack 
Heart attack.
Heart attack and exercising 
