Appt with Cardio

[YorkieLover78]

At last I got my hospital appointment with Cardio .

I am not happy, to be honest. After lots of questions, ECG and blood pressure She thinks I may have angina.

I had to drive myself to the appointment (I hadn't driven that far for ages) and park on the other side of the hospital, so by the time I got into outpatients, I was well-stressed, and my blood pressure was very high. I didn't have any time to relax before I called in.

She has ordered a CT scan but also put me on 3 lots of tablets. Amlodipine, Atorvastatin, and Bisoprolol.

I questioned this with my GP as my BP is mostly normal (144/84) was the highest all week (and that was taken after I had a nasty cut on my arm), testing 3 times a day. I don't think the cardio should have prescribed blood pressure tabs on the back of just one reading. My heart rate over the week has been averaging at about 82. The statin was because my cholesterol, on my last blood test was slightly raised.

I have since had chest pains twice. GTN spray didn't touch it. My GP is thinking it's more muscular as it went through to my back. Does not travel any further

I am more confused than ever now

Sorry for long post 🤕

[Borderterriorist]

If you have your own BP machine why not take your BP and resting heart rate twice daily over a period of five days and then send the result to your GP, then start taking the drugs and do it again. I don't know what amount of the drugs you are on but amplodipine is for your BP, bisoprolol will lower your HR and BP and is protective of the heart too. The other is a statin. Many doctors think we, older people, would benefit from taking a cocktail of drugs like this even if we currently have no symptoms because they help to protect us from future disease! I was given GTN spray to use if I had chest pain, it wasn't effective for me either but I do have an issue with my heart (atrial flutter and a grade 1 heart block). Your cardiologist has ordered a CT scan so you are still being investigated and no one can force you to take any drugs but I think you may have been put on protective "just in case" medication whilst you are being checked out more thoroughly and I think that's actually a good thing.

[YorkieLover78 in reply to Borderterriorist]

I have done my resting BP for 5 days and sending it to GP in morning.

I am not happy with taking a cocktail of drugs if not needed

[PadThaiNoodles]

It's not clear to me that your cardiologist is attempting to treat your blood pressure. Amlodipine is also used for coronary artery disease and variant angina.

But they also do some things to reduce risk. When I had a TIA in my retina they started me on a statin in the ER. After 5 days of tests they concluded it was more likely platelets than plaque, and replaced the statin with aspirin.

[Borderterriorist in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

It's main use is for hypertension, like many of the drugs used they sometimes have several different uses.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to PadThaiNoodles]

Variant angina, is an outdated term to describe coronary vasospasms. The usual treatment to help prevent coronary vasospasms, vasospastic angina are Diltiazem ( a different type of calcium channel blocker), long acting nitrates such as Isosorbide mononitrate and short acting nitrates in the form of sublingual GTN spray.

Beta blockers are avoided as they can make coronary vasospasms worse.

[Happyrosie]

you are with 99% of the population in not wanting to take drugs that are not needed. As has been discussed in the posts, and you have done, a series of measurements taken at home is useful for your medical team.

[mifmimbean]

These drugs are most likely not to address any current issue but rather to prevent any unforeseeable ones. The drugs prescribed have a powerful prophylactic effect and will probably benefit you in ways that aren't obvious to you yet

[pete109]

When I have an appointment at hospital or the GP surgery I always take my BP before I leave home and tell them what it was, because it's always 200+ when I get there, when I get home it's back down to normal within an hour, I don't want to be over medicated, which tends to be what happens if they think your BP is always way too high.

[Eglatine]

I wish they’d been this thorough with me 2 years ago when I went to A&E on two occasions with chest pains through to my back, I probably wouldn’t be in the state I’m in currently if they had started me on some protective medication

I suggest you listen to them and discuss your concerns with them.

[YorkieLover78 in reply to Eglatine]

Hope you are getting sorted now

[Catlover1981]

It sounds like a preventative measure but personally I would rather be on them than the ones for heart failure than question an expert who is helping you.

[SuddenShock]

When I first went to see a heart specialist we talked and I had an ecg and then I was prescribed a cocktail of drugs whilst an echo and angio were arranged. Couldn't agree more that I dont want to take lots of things that I do not need but the plan was to try to make sure that I carried on ticking until they diagnosed something or otherwise, some braces for a few weeks just in case my belt snapped. I liked this plan. I liked it even more when they decided that I need a triple bypass and could have popped off at any time had I decided to ignore the warning any longer.

I do understand emotions at finding out something might be going wrong but try not to be angry when they are trying to help. You (and your friends and family) would be quite miffed if they did nothing because you might not need it and then you keeled over the day after.

[Jedi14]

I think you will find relief in the new meds. My cardiologist told me that the Bisoprolol can take up to 8weeks before it kicks in and it did, it even lowered my BP! So for now keep monitoring as usual.