LVHF with EFHF 35 and very low blood pressure

[djsjpa]

Hi I was diagnosed with HF very recently by accident due to a few palpitations. This has come as a massive shock. I have just been told that my LV is not pumping as it should be and am due to have a MRI in a few months (I think) to find out the reason why. I have been put onto 1.25mg of Bisoprolol and it has brought my heart rate down into the very low 60s which is what my Cardiac Nurse said she wanted, but it has also brought my VERY low blood pressure down even further. On speaking with the Cardiac nurse last week she told me not to take the Dapa medication she had also prescribed as this would also lower my BP to a dangerous level. I am also waiting to have allergy tests for allergic reactions I have been having to something so the Cardiologist wont give me any other drugs to take in case they trigger a reaction.

I am now very concerned that the only drug I am on is a BB of the lowest dose possible. I read that everyone else seems to be on at least 4 pillars.

Has anyone else experienced an issue like this and if so what was the outcome etc.

My CN last week was very dismissive and basically said "I don't know what we can do for you really then"

Feeling very scared at the moment that this is it for me

[PenelopePitstop-]

Last month I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy with 20% EF after months of breathlessness on exertion and no answers! I spent 2 weeks in the CCU, home 4 weeks now. I am on full meds after trying different doses gradually in hospital as am also sensitive to the meds and they had to keep adjusting the amounts as my bp dips very low. Am now ok on full meds but bp still dips to 70s over 40s at the end of the day/evening which can make me more tired. However, the consultant says its not about the numbers it's more about how it makes you feel so if you can tolerate it and not fainting or extremely dizzy then they are ok with it. I am lucky I live near a hospital with a specialist heart unit and consultant that does research. Hope this helps.

[DodgyTickerMum]

Hi, sorry to hear about your recent diagnosis. Please don’t be despondent. I too suffer with a chronic low B.P, which does hamper the medications that I can be prescribed. Following a valve replacement last year, I’m currently now on 3 of the 4 pillars of H.F meds - all of which lower blood pressure. My Consultant has me take Bisoprolol & Perendipril at bedtime (on the basis that I’ll be laying down (hopefully asleep) when my B.P is at its lowest and then I take Dapagliflozin at lunch time (when the others have worn off), together with Fludrocortisone (steroid), which retains fluid to keep my B.P up.

I would ask your H.F Nurse if this is a possibility for you also, to juggle the timings of your medication and whether you can take something to increase your B.P as well? (The fourth pillar of H.F meds being diuretics, which wouldn’t be very helpful in my case or yours by the sound of it!)

I hope you get on ok.

[PenelopePitstop- in reply to DodgyTickerMum]

Thanks. Yes I now take my bisoprolol at 2.30pm to space them out too which I think is helping. Had my heart failure nurse apt this week to find out my heart mri showed 15% ef not 20 as per echocardiogram so not great news. Can I ask if you still work? I'm off sick but need to work so trying to figure that out.

[DodgyTickerMum]

Oh Bless You, that is low. Have you been prescribed Dapagliflozin to see if that will improve your E.F? I’m not surprised you’re struggling at 15%! My E.F increased by 10% once I started on that. Have also now been prescribed Perindopril to see if that improves things further. Have another scan in Jan, so we shall see. 🤞🏻

[PenelopePitstop- in reply to DodgyTickerMum]

Yes I'm on dapa too. Hoping for follow up echo in a month to see if any improvement. I certainly feel a lot better on meds but desperate to see actual improvement in EF. Fingers crossed! Still early days I guess.