Scared to take Bisoprolol and scared of CT Angiogram

[Mummyoffive]

Back last year (Jan) I was having palpitations. GP referred to me cardiologist. I had phone consultation with cardiologist on 1st Dec (was supposed to be by Aug!) He said he's like me to wear a 2 week monitor which I'm absolutely fine with, though this could take months to get sent out to me. He also said about me having a CT Angiogram which is booked for 12th Jan. He said I'd need to take 5mg Bisoporlol from next Monday to Thursday when on Friday take 10mg, this is to slow down my HR for my scan. I suffer anxiety. I never take meds, not even a paracetamol for a headache. I'm scared of how this medication will make me feel. Also I'm scared of the scan due to the fact I have to have a contrast dye. I'm also worried my HR won't be low enough at the scan due to my anxiety. I was due an operation (gyne) this Wednesday which has now been cancelled due to them requesting me to have my heart issue looked into first, which I totally understand. As scared as I was, I was desperate for this op.

Please can you share your experience with this mediation (good or bad) and tye CT scan please.

[APC65]

Hi, I fully appreciate your anxieties around this. I was exactly the same when they did my CT scan Dec 2022. I wasn't asked to take bisoprodol orally before but was given it on the day at the hospital. Bisoprodol is really effective at slowing the heart down so they can get good pictures, and they can't do the scan if your heart is moving too fast. I was really anxious so my heart rate was high for me, even with the bisoprodol but they still managed good pictures. It starts to work after about 20 minutes so maybe you could ask about taking it on the day and not days before? The dye is harmless, just makes you feel like you are getting yourself! My scan revealed I needed triple bypass and I have been on very low dose of bisoprodol since... I now regard it as a safety blanket rather than something to fear.

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I suffer with severe anxiety so much so it flags up on all my medical notes even if I have to attend Hospital

One of my fears as I have so many is a med fear I was like you I was even frightened to take a vitamin !!!

I did have 3 heart attacks which resulted in a triple Bypass and I now have to take a cocktail of meds every day and at the moment fearing another med I am going to have to take and I know how real this feels

The way I get round it is by telling myself just for today staying in the day helps me from stopping freaking out

I take Bisoprolol it can make you feel tired a little dizzy sometimes but you have at this moment only got to take it for a short while to have this scan done so every day you take one tell yourself this is just for the scan it is not going to harm me it is going to help them to make sure my heart is ok also tell yourself they would not give it you if it was going to harm you they know what they are doing

You can do this if I can you can honestly

The CT scan that is the least invasive you are having and like already has been said you will feel a warm sensation when they put the dye in and it can feel for a few seconds you may have wet yourself but honestly you won't and don't and before you know it the scan is done and you do wonder why you got in such a state over it

Anxiety often wins I know but this is your health so this time you have to be stronger than that anxiety and I do know it is so hard and not easy but imagine the anxiety you would feel if you did not have these tests done you would be anxious all the time over your heart so for a few weeks it is better to have anxiety over this and then it will be done and hopefully you can get some peace of mind x

[Happyrosie]

my husband had this done a few weeks ago. He’d sailed through it almost as a non-event and far easier to undergo than the heart tests that were done 25 years ago. The technicians operating the test are well used to patients with anxiety.

[Bananacar]

Please try not to worry about the scan, it is very quick and simple, you just lie on a bed and the scanner, like a large doughnut moves over you, it's does not enclose you. The dye is introduced by cannula which is just like a blood test procedure, the only strange thing is when the radiographer tells you when the dye is introduced there is a warm feeling in your bladder ( as if you have wet yourself - you don't, so don't worry about that) it is all over in 20 minutes) the radiographer talks to you all the time which is reassuring. The hardest thing about it is keeping still but they give you cushions under your knees so you are comfortable. I have had 4 c t scans for my heart condition and am due another in January.

[simplysal]

I’m another health anxiety sufferer and I think just the name CT Angiogram freaked me out as it had the word Angiogram in the title! I felt so anxious, I had to cancel the first date I was given.

Second date I went, as I reminded myself that if I did have a problem with my heart, burying my head deep into the sand won’t make it go away and if I want to stick around and live longer, then I needed to pull up my big girl pants and get on with it. Whatever is then found can be treated.

So I went.

It really was just a cannula inserted. Was given beta blocker on the day to slow my heart rate and lying still for fifteen mins. I was fairly comfy lying on the table. I too feared the contrast but that was totally fine. I had already heard about the momentary warm flushing when the dye goes in so having been aware of that helped me to stay calm when it happened.

Like others thought to myself what the fuss was all about. I think just fear of the unknown really.

Sadly the scan did show narrowing of the arteries. At age 44, this came as a shock. Can’t say it helped with my anxiety as it was suggested I needed an invasive Angiogram.

I went for that too and needed a stent to relieve a 90% blockage in my LAD artery.

Lots of anxiety sufferers amongst us who totally understand how you feel. Many of us have had to confront our fears to stay alive by having these tests, procedures and surgeries.

Very challenging when fear gets in the way but you’ll be surprised what you’re capable of doing, when you’re forced to.

The CT Angiogram will be a walk in the park I’m sure. Good luck 🤞🏻.

[JessicaRed]

I was scared stiff of the ct angio despite having previously had a brain scan and a chest scan, i was already taking bisoprolol 6.75 a day even so at scan my heart was hammering away, 2 injections they gave on top still a bit fast so they did the scan anyway and it was all fineSince then Ive had a 5hr open heart surgery on bypass to replace aortic valve 5 wks ago so that scan was least of my worries lol

Im currently on total of 7.5 biso 5 am 2.5 pm and it controls my palpitations and ive got used to it, previously i was on slow release propanolol for 40 yrs and cldnt have functioned without these meds

Good luck

[Britomartis29]

CT angio is not bad at all, in my opinion; as a previous poster said, they put a small cannula in your vein in your arm, and it should only hurt about like getting a blood draw, and then you will feel kind of warm and as if you need to urinate (but you don't actually, it is some kind of nerve thing), and I personally got a slightly metallic taste in my mouth for a while. But then they just scan you.

And in fact if you are a mum of 5 this will be a bit pleasant and spa-like---it is peaceful and quiet in the CT scan room and the radiographers are usually pretty nice and easygoing. I felt it was a good break with no one bothering me, no phones ringing, no one asking "Mum, where's my [anything]?" or "Mum, what are we having for dinner? May we have dinner early please?" "Mum, will you help me with [anything]?" "Mum I need [anything]!" "Mum [sibling] took my [item] make her give it back!" "Mum, [sibling] called me a [bad name] make him stop!" etc etc etc etc. I find all the tube tests, CTs, MRIs, PETs, very relaxing because for a whole 20 minutes, or in the case of the cardiac MRIs, 90 minutes, NO ONE is pestering me! I can just relax and think my thoughts and breathe deeply and quietly, get a little relaxing break. Good luck!

[Choccie55]

I’ve been taking 2.5mg Bisoprolol for six years. Just make sure you eat regularly and keep hydrated as that helps with blood pressure and any lightheadedness. Take in the evening to avoid side effects. Bisoprolol is also prescribed for anxiety. I’ve suffered with anxiety since childhood and it definitely helps.

[Survivor1952]

I'm on a permanent dose of Bisoprolol, 1.25mg, and apart from occasionally feeling tired and/or cold I have no issues at all. It was prescribed post 2xPCI, AVR and CABG which I had around 6 months ago. Feeling great now.

[Shar28]

Hello, my husband struggles with anxiety, particularly when there’s anything medical going on. When he went for his angio the staff and other patients were saying that the worst part is the anticipation. He didn't believe them one bit. Afterwards he agreed with them wholeheartedly.

He's also on bisoprolol, too ill at first to worry about it, but he’s ok on it

Best wishes to you and your loved ones.

[Mummyoffive]

Thank you so much to everyone who has taken the time to respond. I really do appreciate it. It helps to read your experiences. I'm sorry to read some of you have had, what sounds like, some really traumatic operations.

I wonder why I've been advised to take bisoprolol from Monday and everyday until Friday, day of my scan, and on Friday take 2 (so 10mg) when some people have been advised to just take on the morning of the scan?