First annual telecon with consultant post Nstemi & 4x CABG. Possibly stop taking bisoprolol..

[DWizza]

last Saturday I had a call with the consultant at my local hospital that I’ve been charged to after surgery in St Thomas’s London last July.

She thinks I’m doing incredibly well. I asked if what future check ups I will be having , yearly cholesterol etc but it looks like I will be left alone until 5 years post surgery. She even mentioned that I could stop taking my 1.25mg of bisoprolol, entirely up to me. She suggested stopping for a month to see how I feel about it. My resting heart rate is averaging 47-49 bpm and was always low 50s pre heart attack. Keep taking the half a 1.25mg tablet ramipril, my BP is 115-120s/75-80 . Occasionally it dips to 100/62 . She said to ensure that I’m hydrated as I work physically hard around my farm and that I should probably take in a bit more salt in my diet as my BP and weight are good.

I still have some tenderness in my chest/sternum particularly lifting in a rowing action , one of my surgeons said that it would take much longer to heal than the average person due to the amount of muscle and healthy strong bone he had to cut through 🤢. Anyone else still sore a year post surgery ( when lifting /rowing, pulling).

Seems like I just have to carry on doing what I’m doing 👍🏻. Next … new left hip 17th October , can’t wait , seriously more painful and debilitating than having my heart attack 🤦🏼🤣🤣.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

If you are deemed to be needing a hip replacement you will come out of it feeling much better when you get to the other side, with your mobility restored having given your body chance to recover and heal, as most people who have had hip replacements will no doubt testify. Yes, you will feel uncomfortable and in pain and slightly stressed out for two or three days, but within a few days later you will be reasonably mobile, albeit on sticks or crutches. My wife has had two hip replacements and a revision on one of them and was almost back to normal after 6 to 8 weeks with the initial replacement procedures although the revision did take longer. Just don't overdo it during the recovery phase and give your body chance to heal. Hope all goes well.

[DWizza in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thank you , I really can’t wait to get it sorted . I’m getting pain every day , even at rest . It catches me out , still working round the farm , rough ground , barrowing , climbing on snd off tractor .. its like being tasered every now and then when I make a wrong move or scuff rough ground. Its sending pain down to my knee and shin when I’m seated 🤦🏼.

[fatbarry]

Hi DWizza , we are on similar timescales and yes, I still get significant discomfort in my chest/sternum after the same sort of movements it is quite disconcerting sometimes! I've just come off bisoprolol too. Went from 2.5 to 1.25 for 2 weeks with no symptoms whatsoever so stopped altogether after that. Dear lord!! Big mistake! Palpitations, sudden rapid heart rate for absolutely no reason - I was worried about doing my normal workouts! 2 months on, everything is now good but it took over a month for everything to settle down. I even took a quarter of a pill on a couple of occasions when my HR wouldn't drop below high 90s. Placebo effect? Who knows, but it did the job. Just cut it down very slowly is all I would say, especially given your active life. Good luck with the hip op 😊

Debby

[DWizza in reply to fatbarry]

Thanks Debby, I was wondering about the effects of coming off bisoprol , heard quite a few experiences on here. I’m not in a rush to stop at the moment, I will try the gradual cessation maybe 1 every other day etc .. re the sternum , even deep cough or ever still makes the 🤦🏼🤣🤣

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I am so pleased regarding your heart health your Consultant was happy with you but not surprised as you have done really well

To come of Bisoprolol that would be nice if you could so hopefully you will

You need a hip replacement now and I can only imagine the pain you might be in but not long to wait and I am sure you will do just as well as you have with your heart when you get it done

Let us know how you get on x