Firstly as an ex scientist who worked in the pharmaceutical industry after university a long time ago, medicines are an important, ever advancing , life saving, life preserving part of life.
Now I've said that, I had a STEMI aged 53, and have spoken to the doctors and cardiologist and they said I will have to stay on the beta blockers, anti blood pressure, statins for life.
I asked why and the reason was because you are young ( made me laugh) and because they think it was driven by my parents history of heart disease as no they couldn't pin point it to the usual factors, infact I keep hearing " it was just bad luck", bad luck? well I might as well start smoking, eating crap, put on weight, stop excericsing and drink loads, because my chances were doomed anyway.
I've seen posts where other people have after a decent amount of recovery downed the dosage or weaned off it.
Just wanted to make sure that what I was told seems logical as I was hoping when restarting my excericse to levels pre HA I would be heart strong enough to not have all these medicines.
fair point, it's been an odd week , was back in hospital on Monday due to chest pains, back at work and I'm venting like a child.Yup note to myself, grow up, medicines are keeping me safe, keeping me healthy for my family
Hi baly_2023, I take it your STEMI was quite recent? Takes time to get over the shock, I had NSTEMI last June, I'm too scared to stop the medication and I feel no worse taking them so I'm quite happy to carry on doing so as I doubt things will change on my diagnosis of Heart disease and CVD /. But if it means they prevent it progressing I'll happily go along with taking them.I've seen that after a year some people stop certain medications eg blood thinners or antiplatelets. See how you go and give yourself time to adjust and give yourself credit too as it sounds like you've only recently had the STEMI, stent and back to work too. If I'm wrong with that I apologise.
If you're still unhappy maybe discuss with your gp., take care
It's allowed, don't give yourself a hard time, and November was only 3mth ago, it takes longer than that to bounce back to normal (whatever normal is) . I'm sure we all have those "dumbass" days
I get that, I had STEMI July last year only 55 and no other risk factors except my cholesterol was high 6.8 which I didn’t know about and is probably family related (the pieces have inky just been put together to establish that). I sometimes see people very overweight struggling to walk whilst chuffing in a cigarette and I think to myself I bet you have t had a HA! But I just try to think if I didn’t lead a fairly health life style because of my family history the heart disease I have could have been much worse and I may not have survived my HA just like my grandmother didn’t as she dies at 49 of a HA.
Hi baly_2023... Nov 23 STEMI in heart terms was very recent & a STEMI in the LAD is a biggie, and recovery from your HA will take a while & the odd set back is pretty much par for the course I'm afraid. You say you see normal people doing normal things... nearly everyone is succumbing to or recovering from something all the time & modern meds as you say are the reason most these people look normal, including you now.
OMG I'm sounding like a right old grump, sorry about that.
My Cardiologist told me my meds... probably same as yours are there to take the strain off the heart while it sorts itself out and recovers, whilst enabling you to do your bit with the diet and exercise, it only works if we all do our bit. It took me 5 months to even consider returning on phased return to work & another 7 weeks to get to full time. I guess you can allow yourself some time to come to terms with things, be kind to yourself....sorry quote coming up from the film Hitch... "begin each day as though it were on purpose"
Hi, Similar story, Iam 58, slim, always eaten healthly, sporty never smoked, had a HA in 23 and CABG, all good now but I to question my need for long term meds, my heart beat and blood pressure have always and are now normal. Early in my recovery I reduced my beta blockers to 1.25mg and hope to come off these after my annual check up as I will for clopidogrel. Not sure if I can do the same with Ramipril, a conversation with the doc I guess. As for aspirin and statins, I can see some logic in my own head to continuing taking these but I would like to get the does down.We should all question our meds in relation to our condition, I have always felt the whole dose thing for me was standard rather than tailored.
Hi, Similar story, Iam 58, slim, always eaten healthly, sporty never smoked, had a HA in 23 and CABG, all good now but I to question my need for long term meds, my heart beat and blood pressure have always and are now normal. Early in my recovery I reduced my beta blockers to 1.25mg and hope to come off these after my annual check up as I will for clopidogrel. Not sure if I can do the same with Ramipril, a conversation with the doc I guess. As for aspirin and statins, I can see some logic in my own head to continuing taking these but I would like to get the does down.We should all question our meds in relation to our condition, I have always felt the whole dose thing for me was standard rather than tailored.
ungrateful probably wrong word, your looking for answers.
There are two sides to your condition physical and mental.
The mental side is normally not treated, but being on this forum should help.
As a scientist speak to pharmacists as they will help you understand the impact of the medications.
Remember Doctors are only following recommended guide lines. For example cholesterol good and bad. What they dont tell you is the bad cholesterol 20% of which the liver produces, is essential for the brain as it thirsts on this kind of fuel. What statins do is suppress this.
My cardiologist recommended me taking Enzyme Co-Q in the morning as counteracts statins which you take in the evening. He also recommended a vegan diet as processed food is a big No No.
Hopefully you don’t experience angina their is a lot not understood even now especially micro-vascular.
The good news is your alive and have a second chance so good luck to you.
They may not be life saving, or perhaps even life preserving, but possibly life improving.After having my own issues I was on a beta blocker and an ace inhibitor, partly for my heart and partly for my blood pressure. After 2 years they were proving so effective that both were halved, and shortly after the ace inhibitor was stopped completely. So there is a glimmer of light, but maybe just 60 watts not 100 watts.
Thank you. I absolutely hate that I need medication, and was ridiculously pleased when I could reduce one and stop another, and also happy that my body seemed to be making small improvements.
similar to other replies in that I was young, relatively fit & strong before my heart bypass- def now know it’s genetic (elevated LPa). Therefore the medication for me is the thing that I think can make a difference as living a pretty good lifestyle wasn’t good enough to battle the genes!!! Genes would have come down through my mothers side & she’s been on meds since her mid 40’s (at that point we didn’t know about the LPa- she just ended up on meds for other reasons) & she’s not had a heart event- now 76.
H I Baly_2023 nothing wrong with a good rant we all need one at times. It’s a lot to take in and adjust to which affects us both physically and mentally. There are good days and bad days as I’m sure you know but try to be positive. I struggled at first regarding my medication as prior to my heart problem the only thing I took were painkillers when needed and it took me a while to adjust and get on with it especially reading the possible side effects😟Now I’m thankful and very grateful to have survived I feel I’ve been given a second chance😊
I had a conversation with my sister in law recently and she said I bet you are on a lot of medication and she was boasting that she didn’t have to take any she’s only a year younger than me . Well good for her and I sincerely hope it remains that way for her, but life throws us challenges ( putting it politely) and I now choose to see my meds as friends 😂that help me to be able to live my life with some quality. You are still adjusting November 23 is only a few months ago so try not to be too hard on yourself and rant on whenever you feel the need it’s better out than in 😂Take care and good luck 🍀Best wishes 😊
I had one almost 4 years ago. Right Coronary artery was completely blocked, and it resulted in some 12% of the heart muscle being deprived of Oxygen and dying.
After it, I was very weak. Clearly the heart needed time to recover. I was put on 80mg of Atorvastatin, 75mg of aspirin, 2.5mg of bisoprolol, clopidogrel, and ramipril.
Currently I am on 40mg of atorvastatin, 5mg of a different BB (Nebivolol) and 60mg of edoxaban. The latter because I observed AF once and so the cardiologist prescribed an anticoagulant.
I went through a period a year post MI when the cardiologist at the time said to come off the Beta blocker. I did and my heart rate increased to 85 RHR. It was considered too high, although I was having no symptoms (e.g. chest pain).
So I probably will stay on a BB for life (I am 79).
I was told that if your heart recovery is considered good enough they may take you off a beta blocker.
I'm not sure what this means, because different cardiologists seem to have their own ideas about it.
Hence I suppose the NICE requirements for a specific set of meds immediately post MI. Subsequently I guess it all relates to some measure of how strong the heart is post recovery from MI.
My ejection fraction is somewhere between 61 and 75 depending on the measurement methodology used. and my RHR is 65 as measured by a fitbit (probably at night) and with the help of nebivolol. without a BB it's around 75 at best.
So it appears that there are no hard and fast rules, and it depends on how strong your heart becomes post MI
I find it rather annoying that you question the experience of the doctors and cardiologists when you yourself was in a high profile line of work.I had a Stemi/stent Oct ‘22 and on blockers,statins,aspirin and blood pressure meds for life and I give thanks to have a second chance of life.I hope you come to accept the taking of meds for life and I wish you many years of having to take them.
Hi, I had a heart attack at 55 and now have six stents the HA was simply put down to family history as my lifestyle was about healthy eating and exercise and my father father had the same at 49. I was put on all the appropriate meds but didn’t realise till later these are the best for you to help with recovery. Regardless I really struggled with the meds with dizziness and fuzzy head and this was more of a challenge than coming to terms with the heart attack. Just walking up a slight incline would make me dizzy. I was deferred from cardiac rehab as a result again not helping me getting back to anything normal. I tried to progress with my GP about the dizziness etc but didn’t get anywhere. I followed up with cardiologist who did my stents through a private appt and he concluded that my blood pressure and heart rate were naturally low and the meds were preventing me from being able to function. I was taken off the ramipril and once he had seen from scans that my heart had recovered well and I had good ejection fraction took me off the beta blockers. These enabled me to start my mental recovery and getting back to doing more everyday things and becoming active again. Everyone’s situation is different - I was mentally really struggling as a result of the meds impact thinking I would never be able to get back to any sort of normality. I need to push to get expert advice to get me to a better place so I think it’s ok where appropriate to question .
Hi babyI wouldn't say ungrateful!! Perhaps resentful?? I totally understand where you are coming from. I had my first heart attack in 2021 then a further 2 in 2022 and 2023, then a double cabg last January!!! All down to genetics on my mother's side of the family. I did nothing wrong, and was told too that it was just bad luck luck!! I stopped smoking and drinking 3 years ago and have never once thought that I may as well continue to smoke and drink, start eating junk food etc etc. It has made me realise how precious life is and of how incredibly privileged I am to be alive. Whatever medicine I have to take to keep me alive, I will gladly take. They are prescribed for a reason. For people like us who are genetically pre disposed to suffer from continued heart disease, swallowing a few tablets that may prevent that is, for me, a small price to pay for being alive. It takes a while to process this kind of news and come to terms with it. You Will though. The healthiest of people can suffer heart disease!! You are indeed, just unlucky, just like me. You are, however, lucky, as you are alive.
I am 74 this year and when I was your age, perhaps a bit younger, I was diagnosed with hypertension and high cholesterol. I have been taking blood pressure medication and a statin ever since. Fortunately, I have never had a heart attack but I was with my father when he died of one at the age of 65. I take 2 blood pressure tablets in tiny doses and one of them is the beta blocker, Nebivolol. I pretty much know it's doing something because my heart rate, which I measure often is, pretty constant at around 60bpm. I rather like this tablet. I think it helps with general anxiety and with a hand tremor I experience (Parkinson's has been ruled out). I don't have any side effects, such as fatigue so I am happy to take Nebivolol. As regards the Statin, I was prescribed Atorvastatin at the highest dosage; the one normally prescribed for people who have had heart attacks. The reason for the high dosage was because my triglycerides were high. I don't have any particular side effects but I have halved the dose of my own volition by taking it for only part of the week. A huge Australian study regarding statins and over 75s is due to conclude this year or next and I shall decide whether to continue taking a statin further into my old age based on that study. I don't know whether my experience helps you at all - as I have said, I have not been in the situation of having had a heart attack.
Thank you for sharing that with us, its helped massively, thank you
Final question I've also been told I need to have flu jab every year as well as a pneumonia vaccination.
Even though I've never had the flu jab, I'm assuming something about having a heart attack/heart issues makes us more at risk?
Hi baly, 👋 September 2022 Double Bypass! 12 months prior to that no symptoms of heart disease tennis 3 to 4 times a week no medication whatsoever. Following slight breathlessness and a bit of an odd sensation in my left hand and a lot of nagging from my wife I was advised to start statins Asprin betablokers, etc. Following on from Angiogram etc . Stuck it for three weeks then binned the lot other than the Asprin and Omeprazole. Following my Bypass I was on eight different meds. For the 1st 4 months post op I stuck to it but come February 2023 the constant sickness loose stools etc just got to much and I ditched the lot. Well here I am on a Daily Aspirin and 20 mg of Omeprazole.
So far so good 👍 just sat drinking 🍸 a nice red and chilling out after 3 hours of tennis doubles. Probably played as good as ever.
Like most of us on this feed we were told medication 💊 was for the rest of our lives which I found incredibly depressing how I would have coped in your situation I dread to think. However, if my experience is anything to go by there is light at the end of the tunnel.
My best wishes for your future heart health.
Cheers, Denis
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Cheers Dennis, wow, wow, incredible that you've come so far.
Having a Bourbon barrel aged stout , do Cheers and here's to all our heart health's 🍻
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Thanks Baly, its a pretty scary time for you but like I said there's light at the end of the tunnel it just takes a little time.
First, I am glad that you are feeling better. Plus, I can understand how you feel about taking meds for life. I think that most of us wish that we could stop taking most of them. I know that I struggled with this.
I would probably ask whether you had high blood pressure before your HA, or high cholesterol beforehand. Looking back, even 2 weeks before my HA, my blood tests revealed that my total cholesterol was somewhat high; yet, my doctor never suggested that I take a statin. In fact, I have since looked back at blood lipid tests from several years earlier, and I see that my cholesterol was consistently high—but no meds offered by any doctor. I sometimes wonder if Atorvastatin might have prevented my HA in 2022
My thought is that it is better to take a medicine like a statin in order to try to prevent a future HA than to just hope that all goes well. If you may have a genetic predisposition to having high blood pressure or high cholesterol, etc., then it might be best to continue taking these important medications.
I’m surprised that you will be on all these medications for rest of your life. You are very young though . I just attended the high risk cardiac appt with my mother who is exactly 14 months post heart attack and subsequent coronary stent insertions x4 and the cardiologist took her off the Brilinta and beta blockers. She is remaining on statins , BP and aspirin though. I must say I was mildly surprised especially as her HR was through the roof before her heart attack but he said those 2 meds are no longer needed. Planning go take her to her GP appt in a few weeks so will discuss it further.
i was told the same after my STEMI, however, after lifestyle changes and losing some weight my BP became crazy low and they started to take me off some of the meds and reduce the strength of others. Fairly sure the “rest of your life” lecture is designed to scare us all into getting into shape x
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Driving after ICD
Worried after heart attack
6 months review - No longer in HF 
Heart Medication
