Torn between needing low bp for heart/afib but higher diastolic bp for glaucoma

[destiny234]

In a tricky situation, I didn`t know whether to post heart group or glaucoma group or afib group Maybe I will paste it to the others.

I have had high bp for years and Afib too. I had an ablation feb 2020 which worked for 4 years. It was set off again following the shingles jab in Mar this year and is now persistent. I am on Rivaoxiban.

However, I have had very low bp and heart rate on and off since march and was so low at times I took the decision to stop some meds such as flecainide, losartan for high bp and cut back on verapamil. I have monitored this religiously and adjusted accordingly resulting in steady, albeit still sometimes low bp and heart rate.

Now throw Glaucoma into the equation. I was only told 5 weeks ago, its just in one eye at the moment. I am on very strong eye pressure drops (trusopt). I have found out from my old ophthalmologist Simon Walker from Cheshire that I MUST not have low diastolic bp. The eyes need a plentiful blood supply to stop the progression of the glaucoma. So in a nutshell , low eye pressure but higher diastolic bp!

It`s even been suggested to try a steroid tablet Fludrocortisone to increase BP.

I am mortified to say the least. Torn between saving my heart or my eyes it seems. The doctors up here very north of Scotland are pretty useless to be honest, hence adjusting my own meds (please don`t shout at me). I haven`t even seen a cardiologist up here despite putting in a very dodgy 24 holter monitor in to them several months ago (before I adjusted my meds myself) Can`t get in touch with cardiology at Raigmore as no contact details as I have never ever seen them (moved here 2 years ago and despite being on several heart meds they never requested to see me). The gp here is in cloud cuckoo land so no point asking.

I have just ordered a AKtiia watch to monitor blood pressure through the night before resorting to anything else.

Has anyone else been in this situation and if so how did they cope?

Hope somebody has some advise. Thank you for reading.

[Reformer]

Hi - Raigmore has about 6 cardiologists listed on it's NHS website and one clinical nurse - and their emails/phone numbers are also listed. Some of them are likely to be 'visiting' only and based mostly in Edinburgh or Glasgow so you could also perhaps track them down via their secretaries at their main site. If you're not happy with your GP (and I sympathize!) see if there's another available at the surgery or if there is another surgery nearby - tho again, I realize that this might not be possible in very rural areas. Or just complain to the practice! Hope you manage to contact someone!

[destiny234 in reply to Reformer]

Reformer, thank you, I am now writing an email to the clinical nurse listed on the website. Thanks for the info