Confusion

[Tooyoungforthis41]

Good morning all. I am a busy, working single mum. I've experienced severe breathlessness for the past 6 weeks and a racing heart (90+ bpm rest rate). Echo shows lv impairment and an ejection fraction of 45%. MRI has been booked. I've been put on ramipril and bisoprolol but absolutely wrecked. I'm in bed now by 3pm and rising from a chair leaves me breathless. I'm 41, my kids are young....has anyone with similar symptoms received a diagnosis? Can this be reversed? I just want to return to my normal self.

[DodgyTickerMum]

Hi, sorry to hear this. Unfortunately, a side effect of both of those drugs, is that they will lower your blood pressure - which can make you feel dreadful, until your body gets used to them.

3 of the medications I take (including Bisoprolol) unfortunately lower my already low B.P. For that reason, my Cardiologist suggested I take 2 of them at bedtime - (so I’m laying down anyway if dizziness kicks in) and the third one I take during the day, but with another tablet at the same time to help raise my B.P.

I would tell your Doctor how you’re feeling and see if they can alter the dose or the timings, to try and help you. Hope you feel better.

[cotonh]

You are definitely too young for this and it is frightening but you will find you are not alone, there are other people on this forum also too young. Hopefully they will spot your post and respond but it not try looking through the old posts.

It is early days for the clinicians to work out what is going on and there will be more tests. Ejection fraction of 45% is not far below an ordinary person's level of 50% - 60% and some athletes will have an EJ of 45%.

The two medications you are on are to help the heart pump more efficiently - look at the Pumping Marvellous website for good information about these mediations.

The difficulty with these medications is it take a while for the body to get used to them so it initially feels as if they are not helping and / or making things worse. The dose you need to take will be tailor made for you so again this can take time to work out.

In the mean time you are poorly so try and sort out what it is possible to do to be less busy. Your body is screaming at you it needs rest. Just now you have limited energy and need to use it wisely. It is what I call going small world. Temporarily drop any social, domestic or work commitments that do not need to be done now (it is amazing how much does not need to be done), do not take on anything that you don't have to and talk to your nearest friends about what is going on. See what you can ask others to do - collect children, get your shopping, bring meals - any of the tasks that make you breathless.

I suspect it will be 3 months or so before it is worked out exactly what is going on and what is to be done. Whatever happens whether you are back to your normal self or have had to make changes you should be having a satisfying life.

[devonian186]

You may have several things going on here. The medication ma be affecting you. The same drugs don't seem to affect me too much but I know others here ask to be put on different medications.

Your EF is not too bad. As others say, 100% can not be achieved and a normal healthy person may have an EF around 50/60% but plenty will be lower.

Firstly, what is your dosage of those 2 drugs and when do you take them and are you taking any other heart related medication?

Also, we have come into peak pollen season and there has been very high humidity. Both are factors that can impact the heart, lungs and breathing.

Prior to your MRI you need to ensure your weight is right, your diet is good and that you are getting appropriate exercise.

[Jedi14]

I think there is much more treatment coming your way. For now, I think your working far too hard! You most certainly need to have new look at your lifestyle! Now that you have entered the "Hearties" category, you will most certainly need to be more patient with yourself. I am sorry to say that we "Hearties" cannot go back to how we were! I have learnt this the hard way that this cannot happen! (No one will tell you this because it's how it is from now on.)

After my stents, I thought the same as you, how long before I can return back to normal, even better than normal! I thought of it like having a tyre changed and be back on the road at 70mph (big mistake!).

I would suggest three things 1)Relax /rest more 2) The bisoprolol should bring your HR down. 3) You will in time become less breathless, not immediately.

[Qualipop]

I would ask yo ur GP if you can change from bisopralol. That's exactly what it did to me after my heart attack. Your ejection fraction isn't very far below normal

[CamomilleTea]

Hi! I see others have recommended things. I would suggest discussing it with your doctor and either decreasing meds or moving the time you’re taking the majority of them to maybe the second half of the day? Your body will eventually learn to work with them and adjust.

It’s very hard to be raising kids or trying to have a functional life whilst on heart meds, but keep going! You’re doing a fantastic job, no matter the tiredness you feel!

Not sure if it’s going to be any help to you, but you are not alone in feeling you’re too young for this. I’m 30 this year and I have been diagnosed with a rare heart condition last year, been through surgery and meds, several combos. Talking to your doctors is important and not losing hope!

Wishing you all the best!

[valeriep]

It's very early days on your journey, but once the doctors have reached a diagnosis and sorted out your meds, things WILL get much better. When I first started taking Bisoprolol, I used to try to get all my work done in the morning, because I knew I'd be wiped out all afternoon, but would then get some energy back in the evening. Your body will get used to them, but it takes weeks, not days - in my case, around 3 months - although a lot of people on here find that taking Bisoprolol in the evening helps to reduce the tiredness. Until the doctors have sorted you out, you must try to slow down and as @cotonh says, drop the non-essential things, so you can take more rest. I know it's very frustrating, but in the end, the results are worth it. I was walking briskly along a station platform to get to the front carriage of the train before it left yesterday and I suddenly had a flashback to five years ago when that would have been impossible, because I would have been too dizzy and breathless to continue. I'm so grateful to the NHS!

[Bud57]

Hi, I was prescribed the exact same meds when diagnosed with H/F, it took my body about 6 months to get used to them. My E/F was 23% it has now risen to 41, which is good. I only take 1 bisoprolol a day & 2 ramapril, my consultant wanted me to increase ramipril but my gp overuled him, as I was unable to function at the time. My advice is listen to your body & rest if tired. You will feel better eventually but have to wait results of tests. Keep well.