incredibly lucky

[Calm2]

I feel so incredibly lucky after reading some of your stories. I had a HA 5 yrs ago, was told that if someone has to have a HA they would want one like yours? It was explained to me that it was on the right side and very low down?? I stayed overnight in hospital and the first time I saw a consultant (apart from having the stent fitted) was when he discharged me. A few weeks later I had an angiogram/ echocardiogram can’t remember what it was and that’s it. I was put on the meds like Aspirin, blood pressure pills etc which I believe is the norm after a HA . One thing that I did develop after about a year was anxiety, truly awful at times, panic attacks etc. I had an attack in drs surgery and she immediately took me off of setraline which she had prescribed a week prior. I was then put on a different med Mirtazapine and was so much better although gained a ton of weight so now I am on nothing. I am a believer now that these meds we are filled with help one problem but cause another. Before the HA I never had high blood pressure, my cholesterol levels were normal and I would love to come off all the meds I’m on to see if they actually have been doing something or actually haven’t? Statins I feel I’m stuck with as after reading many articles on them it seems the side effects are worth having rather than not taking them ? I did have an ecg a while back purely routine and the nurse said that nothing on the ecg showed that I had ever had a HA! So, yes I do feel extremely lucky and to those who suffer anxiety I really feel for you and I am so glad I’m off all the meds prescribed for that. My best medicine for that was walking, outside in the fresh air and always came home feeling so much better. Just an add on : since taking all the meds I have developed tinnitus (severe) told I am pre diabetic and told I have chronic kidney disease! All of which can be a side effect of my medication. So, to throw them all away or not to? Very difficult 😞

[Happyrosie]

be very very careful not to come off medication without a thorough discussion with your medical team, whether that’s cardio or kidney or your own doc.

As far as tinnitus goes, you might want to head over to the tinnitus part of Health Unlocked if you haven’t already. Tinnitus doesn’t have to have a cause at all, but it can be exacerbated by anxiety. Tinnitus can we’ll be treated with walking outside so you are onto a good thing there.

[Calm2 in reply to Happyrosie]

Hi, yes I would always discuss with dr first re meds. I have seen ENT and had CAT scan, hearing test etc for tinnitus but I read also that one of the meds I’m on has been known to cause tinnitus? Walking though helps with so many things.

[Wooodsie]

I understand your conundrum Calm2. I am the same, especially the bisoprolol. I think it causes my breathlessness, although this isn't bad, it is there and I can't see it going. I agree with you about the statins, all the research says they do a great job. Aspirin too seems OK.

[keepy]

I had a heart attack just over a year ago and had 2 stents fitted. The panic attacks since then has been so bad and I never suffered with them before.I recently decided to go on my first holiday since the attack,got on the plane and had a panic attack it was so bad and felt like I was trapped for 4hrs. I was getting a lots of breathlessness,feeling very tired and was on 2.5mg of bisoprolol.I have reduced this down to 1.5mg now and feel better than I did.I am also one which don't like taking tables and feel the side affects are bad.I also take aspirin and a small dose of a statin which I am not happy about taking but I have reduced this on my own back as I feel the doctors just want to pump lots of medication into you.

[Calm2 in reply to keepy]

Do you feel better since reducing the statin? Personally I would check in with your dr only because I was told the Statin is probably the most important med to take. I am having a medication review soon and I’m going to ask a lot of questions regarding my meds. Thanks for replying 😊

[MattG1875]

After my heart attack and CABG I am coming to terms with the cocktail of drugs.. I have come to the conclusion some drug reduce your short term risk of a HA and some the long term.Post op I have had no issues with my heart, normal HB and blood pressure. I to would like to reduce or come of the meds,

[Calm2 in reply to MattG1875]

Thanks for replying, I have a medication review soon so am going to speak to my dr about it.

[Qualipop in reply to Calm2]

I would suggest that you print out and give your original post to your GP. It explains so well how you are feeling. and may help his decisions during your review.

[Pickerj]

Your note really resonated with me. I had a HA 10 months ago and it’s turned my life on its head. Previously fit and well non smoker.

Recovery from the HA was the easy part. I’m now back training well with no obvious problem cardiac wise. However the on going battle I’m having with the meds is a totally different story. I’ve suffered terrible side effects particularly from the statins. I also have terrible one sided tinnitus and constant brain fog which thankfully is now beginning to ease as Ive been on sertraline for 4 weeks. I started this with some trepidation as I was convinced my symptoms were not caused by anxiety and did not want to add another medication to those I already take.

After what feels like an eternity I’m beginning to feel like I’m participating in life again instead of watching it pass me by. You’re totally right in that we swap one set of problems for another following HA. The biggest by far for me have been the mental problems which are exacerbated by medication

[Calm2 in reply to Pickerj]

Thanks for replying, I am not alone then? This proves that different meds have different effects on people. My worst time ever was when I was on sertraline yet it helped you. I think maybe we are all just ‘Trial and Error?

Not

[MattG1875 in reply to Pickerj]

Iam in a similar situation to you, 6 months on and having a bad time with one side affect. At my wits end and feel like dropping satin for a start, need to discuss with Doc this week

[Silvertail]

I hear you Calm2. I also have tinnitus (I can forget it most times these days) am pre-diabetic and have chronic renal impairment (which is normal as you age, so I'm told). It's so frustrating. I'm still 40 in my mind, but my body tells me I'm kidding myself. 😉

[Calm2 in reply to Silvertail]

Do you not find it strange though that here we are being told we now have Chronic kidney disease pre diabetes etc then read up on meds we are taking and it’s “Oh yes, these are side effects of your meds”! Then I guess, there are millions out there who didn’t have a HA and not on meds but have diabetes, Liver disease etc without knowing whereas with us it’s picked up in blood tests? I just don’t know anymore which is the right way to look at this?

[Silvertail in reply to Calm2]

Well I say it's no use worrying too much if you can help it. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't. For instance I asked my GP about the dangers of taking Nexium permanently. His reply was that I could take it and possibly have kidney disease, or not take it and get cancer of the oesophagus. The only thing is to be monitored with blood tests as I do every six months and live in hope that nothing worse will happen. Sorry to be so blasé about it, but I find if I dwell on things too much I get depressed, so I try to focus on other things I like doing. As they say, "Life's a lottery". It sure is.