Breathlessness

[Tweeter]

When I go grocery shopping I get breathlessness and have to rest (lean against a wall or my grocery cart. I just started a low dose of Candesartan 5 mg. daily. I thought the breathlessness was from COPD which I have, but upon reading up on that drug I think I have Congestive Heart Failure. I ‘m going to my doctor tomorrow but I have a habit of procrastinating doctor visits. Am I on the right track?

[Happyrosie]

I think you need to have a proper discussion with your doctor - we here can’t diagnose what you might be suffering from.

[BeKind28-]

Hello

So this breathing you are experiencing now has only started since you went on Candesartan ?

The Doctor will be the one that will be able to tell you if it could be the medication or your copd or heart failure but you are certainly on the right track in going to see them and talking it through

Let us know how you get on x

[Tweeter in reply to BeKind28-]

Thanks. He ordered an X-ray for me for tomorrow but I think I should get more tests i.e. an MRI

[BeKind28- in reply to Tweeter]

Hello

Maybe he is starting with the Xray and seeing if that shows anything up that could be causing this if not then he may look at other tests

When you next talk to him you could say to him you think you need an MRI could you have one and if he said no ask him why a reasonable question I think

Good look with the Xray and let us know how you get on x

[Lezzers]

Hi

Candesartan isn't only prescribed for heart failure, it's also prescribed for high blood pressure, it's very good at looking after & protecting your heart. Do you know what your normal blood pressure is?

Your GP should have told you why you're taking this drug. I would ask your GP why you're taking it & I would stay away from Google, it can be very scary as it usually leads you down the wrong path!!

Under NICE guidelines, If HF was suspected your GP should have arranged a NT-proBNP blood test & depending on the results you would be referred to a cardiologist for further tests, usually an echocardiogram or MRI to measure your heart function. However a high NT-proBNP doesn't necessarily mean you have HF, only that further investigations be made as even a infection can cause a high reading.

Good luck .

Edit: I've just seen a previous post of yours in which you mention your very high blood pressure, my guess is you're on the candesartan for that rather than HF but definitely have that talk with your gp.

[Tweeter in reply to Lezzers]

Thanks Lezzer. My doctor said it’s to lower my blood pressure which is now 150/? I mentioned that I think it might be Heart Failure since my aunt died from that and we’re both the oldest in the family. He gave me a form to have a chest X-ray which I’m going to do tomorrow.

[Lezzers in reply to Tweeter]

Glad to hear you're having a chest x-ray tomorrow, presumably to check if you have an infection or if theres something else going on. Usually you'd have a NT-proBNP blood test if there's a possibility it could be HF, maybe your Dr is going down the route of elimination first. Please let us know how you get on with the x-ray, always worth asking for results while you're there. When my husband was told to go to the hospital for an x-ray he was told there & then that he had pneumonia and immediately started on antibiotics.

Good luck

[Tlyna]

I thought mine was from a side effect of Ramipril as it improved slightly when I quit it but a short time later got even worse and I ended up in emergency where I was promptly admitted to the hospital where they proceeded to do a slew of tests and found I had pulmonary edema along with an aortic valve malfunction. Now you may have something much less serious. but get checked out as it could also be very life threatening. I damned near died and according to the surgeon I had do my TAVI, I should have because I kept putting it off thinking it was something I could get over.

[MoretonCross in reply to Tlyna]

When I read the original post I wondered about the aortic valve. Because that's my problem and my symptoms too. Obviously must be checked out by a competent gp asap in my opinion.

[Tlyna in reply to MoretonCross]

When they did the tests the surgeon said I was very, very close to dying.

[Tweeter in reply to MoretonCross]

Thanks for the reply Moreton

[Tweeter in reply to MoretonCross]

Thanks

[Tweeter in reply to Tlyna]

Thank you. My doctor ordered a chest X-ray for me and I’m going to get it tomorrow.

[Tlyna in reply to Tweeter]

I really hope it is something minor because some of the things with these symptoms can be, Best of luck with the appointment.

[Tweeter in reply to Tlyna]

Thanks Tlyna. Lots of info there.

[Alfie33]

My breathlessness is caused by ischeamic heart disease. Some days I carnt get out of bed

[Tweeter in reply to Alfie33]

Thanks

[Tweeter in reply to Alfie33]

Thanks Alfie33. I’m going to Google that

[TYOYV61]

how did you get on at the Doctors?

Hope they were able to reassure you.

I’m in much the same position very breathless.

My tests start from a blood test this week and go from there. Also being tested for B12 and Vitamin D deficiency but can’t see they would make me feel this bad. Even hanging out the washing makes me out of breath !

[Tweeter in reply to TYOYV61]

Thanks for the info

[Tweeter in reply to TYOYV61]

Thanks for the reply. Take care.

[Tweeter in reply to TYOYV61]

The doctor is sending me for an X-ray. I’m going tomorrow.

[Alfie33 in reply to TYOYV61]

Mines caused by my heart attack, they say my heart is damaged and isn't pumping the correct amount of blood, oxygen around my body. They say theres nothing they can do

[Tweeter in reply to Alfie33]

Thanks for replying

[Ennasti in reply to TYOYV61]

I can tell you from experience that low Vit B12 can make you feel very low!! I was absolutely totally fatigued and my heart rate was dropping into the 30s when my b12 levels dropped. I had a series of injections and it improved a great deal. I believe being on a PPI caused mine to fall.

[Tweeter in reply to Ennasti]

Thanks for that