8 months post Nstemi and quadruple CABG

[DWizza]

it’s not all been a linear progress but it has been pretty darn good. Back ggedt issue I’ve had is with my statins. I thought it was the Bisoprolol (1.25mg ) and ramipril (half a 1.25mg tablet) that was making me dizzy , fatigued and zombie like every afternoon to early evening. Plus I had cognitive impairment, felt bloody cold and other symptoms. My blood pressure would drop from 115/75 in the morning to 101/61 by early afternoon and I’d be wiped out. 80mg artovastatin was stopped on January for a trial period that went on for a month. I’m that period o felt so much better , achieved running goals and even did an accidental 10km trail run with my eldest daughter ( we got lost 🤦🏼🤣). Agreed with my GP to start Pravastatin at 40mg, within 2 weeks I was back to Zombie 🧟‍♂️. Couldn’t get hold of my GP for any advice , just text messages from the surgery to say it’ll be reviewed at next appointment (a month away!) managed to get hold of pharmacist and explained I cannot go on losing the afternoons /early evenings feeling so rough . She told me to stop taking the Pravastatin. Again , I felt so much better , no zombie no nausea , able to walk my dog 4km no problem and work round my farm and not fall asleep after lunch. Blood pressure remained at around 115/75 morning and arvo 🙌🏻. GP appointment eventually came around and she agreed to do fasting blood test for cholesterol on 5th April , review results and then decide if I start on Rosuvastatin at 10mg and titrate the dose up from there.

I look back and can’t believe how far I’ve come in 8 months. Going to gigs , working round my farm lifting heavy feed bags , huge wheelbarrows full of horse poo walked .5km each way, yoga classes twice a week, 4km walks, weekend with my mates in Spain, Harlequins rugby matches, big motorcycle lessons , became a grandad , running goals … they are the amazing bits , but it does get dark in those periods when you become flat on your back . Anger and frustration at the process , you do everything in your gift and still end up crashes out and losing half a day feeling rotten. I know we all have a different journey, but we mostly have to deal with similar processes in the NHS. Thank the Lord for this forum , all the shared experiences, the online BHF nurses have been fantastic as has my pharmacist. Let’s keep on keeping on , learning and progressing the best we can . Happy Easter

[Hidden]

Like you said mate, from where you began to where you are now is brilliant. It's a true testament to your resilient mindset and one which we all can get hope from.

The journey isn't smooth either, there are and will be moments of lows but hopefully they will be more fine tunes rather then something drastic.

Have a Happy Easter with your family and remember how far you have come.

[july2020]

Thank you for relaying your experiences, they have really stuck a cord.

I have been plagued by afternoon dips since my bypass, they are not every day and they got less intense after stopping Bisoprolol at the anniversary of my bypass and I had assumed that was the cause.

At the same the time I stopped Clopidogrel and my Atorvastatin was halved, I never joined up the dots as I never even considered that the statin might cause such an issue.

I see a doctors appointment in the near future to discuss this!

[DWizza in reply to july2020]

We may all respond differently to our situations and I really thought it was my bisoprolol and ramipril that were the issue after stopping artovastatin . I thought they were lowering my BP. My resting heart rate has always been pretty low , 48-52 bpm ( a lifetime of sports and training) , I used to set the alarm off when I was hooked up in hospital as it would drop below 50 all the time 🤦🏼. However it went further down to resting at 44-43 which I thought was a bit low. GP said the it might just be the interaction between the statin and beta blockers 🤷.. they obviously don’t know. I’m not averse to taking the statins , I know it’s more than cholesterol control as they also help prevent plaques breaking away to cause issues and I’m only 8 months post surgery. It’s definitely a journey and I certainly don’t want to keep feeling rough, it turns me into half man half settee 🤣. My daily step count can go from 22k to 6k 🤦🏼. I hope you find your way , keep asking questions 👊🏻

[Phoebewhite123]

Goodness you have been through it. I'm only on Bisoprolol 1.25 and they make me feel dreadful, I keep asking if I can try something else but she doesn't want to change it so I'm stuck for now unfortunately.

[DWizza in reply to Phoebewhite123]

I’m doing brilliantly really , physical rehab is incredible, just the meds to sort out Phoebe . Im looking forward to an in-depth chat with my cardiac consultant in April, hopefully will sort a pathway out 👍🏻

[Phoebewhite123 in reply to DWizza]

That's great to hear, take care 😊

[Henri33]

I have never had problems with bisoprolol but as soon as my GP knew that the heart consultant had prescribed ramipril she changed it to candesartan

[DWizza in reply to Henri33]

Thanks interesting Henri,did she explain further ? We’re you on low dose Bisoprolol ?

[Henri33 in reply to DWizza]

Yes 1.25 am and 0.625 pm. I am afraid I cannot recall the reason she gave

[Positivepants2022]

You've had it tough - thank you for sharing your experiences and really hope you continue to gain strength and get fully well soon. I'm sure you will have helped and inspired many here.

[aviation1]

Thanks very helpful - I have the nausea (on similar medication) so when I see my GP in a couple of weeks will discuss the 80mg statin I'm on