However, I’ve always had low blood pressure and a slow heartbeat, and I know that beta blockers are not right for me, I had trouble with them in the past. Taking meds can lead to a conveyor of more meds, meds for the problem and meds for the side effects of the meds…My Dad was on 16 tablets a day, and I will not go there yet, perhaps when I get old…:surprised:…I accept that running is probably antagonising my problem, so I will stop running for now and see what happens. I think the beta blockers were a knee jerk reaction by the doctor when he saw the results of the 24 hour monitor. All the best with your problem Swim, and I hope you can still have a good quality of life…
Hi Bob I was waiting to see how you got on saying nothing.
As you probably know Beta blockers slow your heart rate making it easier for your heart to function, that is good in one way but the down side is some BBs can prevent the increase in heart rate that naturally occurs with exercise to power the body.
The BB of choice with most Doctors is Bisoprolol , it is cheap to prescribe. Some tolerate it others have a lot of side effects one being an inability to excercise .
I am asthmatic so can’t take the category of BB to which Bisoprolol belongs ,instead I take Nebivolol a much more expensive drug which does not inhibit the increase in heart rate normally seen with exercise and seems to have few side effects.
I have been taking Nebivolol for 5 years with none of the horrible side effects many in my support group who take Bisoprolol experience in fact a number of members have switched to Nebivolol and feel better.
Bob if you really must take a BB it is worth giving Nebivolol a try . Another option is an ACE inhibitor.
Quality of life is very important, if a drug makes you feel rotton look at alternatives and don’t be fobbed off by a GP keeping the costs down.
If you are having a problem with the ‘electrics’ in your heart you need to see an Electrophysiologist , Cardiologists are the plumbers of the heart world though some do both.
There is a set pathway laid down by NICE which all doctors follow.
First step an Echocardiogram (ultrasound) to check the heart heath and function then the options available will be suggested .
Wise words Meg!
My cardiologist told me there was nothing wrong with my plumbing but the Bisopropolol Fumarate would stop the rapid heart beat sessions. I only have 1.25mg a day and they have done the job, but it is important to get the right drug for each patient!
…I forgot to add my HR is low on Nebivolol but that doesn’t produce symptoms and is far better than having the awful side effects some people taking Bisoprolol experience.
All Meds have the possibility of having side effects for some people, it is all about trying till you get one you can live with.
My older brother has PAF like me and takes Bisoprolol with no problems . He has just one known episode and I think is about 15 years behind me (that is when I had my first lone episode) , I have progressed to highly symptomatic long frequent episodes .
I also get PACs ( extra beats/ missed beats) usually benign but annoying.
Thank heavens for my Kardia, a little device I use with an Ipad (or smart phone) that can take a ECG at home and tell me what is happening or I can get a 24 hour analysis for £5 from the Kardia medics.
Yes, I’ll be seen by the nurse next Thursday for blood sample and ECG. Hopefully soon afterwards by the doctor.
Marge and I have (naturally) been looking things up and found that ‘postural hypotension’ fits the bill quite closely. Until the problem is properly diagnosed, there are several things I can do to minimise or even preclude the symptoms, though the last event came on very quickly and without warning.
Hi JB PoTs = abbreviation for postural hypotension, nothing to do with excercise you may be relieved to hear
think I have got the wrong abbreviation too …
Thanks Meg, I think he put me on the Bisoprolol specifically to stop my heart beating too fast because he has seen something on the 24 monitor that I had to wear last week. Although my resting heartrate is in the low 40’s it was going wild when out running just lately. He also told me to stop running immediately until I go to see him on Wednesday for an emergency appointment. It all sounds a bit 'Cloak and Dagger’ish to me…
Anyway, I’ve stopped running but I will not take anymore Bisoprolol, or any other Beta Blockers come to that, they are much too serious a drug for my liking, and I don’t want to get hooked on them. For many years now I’ve been taking a low dose Ramipril and an Aspirin each day. I reckon stopping running will keep me safe until I see him. You are so right about the quality of life Meg…
The doctor is a private one working out of the spire clinic in Leeds, I chose him from a list of about four or five because he is an Electrophysiologist and cardiologist specialising in irregular heartrate and atrial fibrillation, so he should know a little bit more than me…
The first thing he did was to take a ECG, and last week they did an ultrasound and fitted me with a 24 hour monitor, and it’s the results of the monitor he is concerned about, so concerned that he rang me straight away after seeing the results…:shock:
I’ll keep you posted after my appointment on Wednesday Meg…
Hi Bob sounds like you have got the right man and I hope you get some helpful treatment on Wednesday.
You have an advantage over many who develop arrhythmia because you are so fit .
Ramipril is an ACE inhibitor so doing a similar job to BBs to help your heart.
There are many in my arrhythmia support group who are runners and cyclists and continue their sport in moderation with treatment and monitoring.
I will be interested to hear how you get on on Wednesday.
Yes, they also use the term for postural tachycardia syndrome. My heart rate is usually slow, but when I stood up and recorded it, I found it went up from 65 to 82, though they seem to define tachycardia in this instance as an increase of 30 or more, so mine didn’t seem to achieve that!
Thanks JB, I’m doing everything he says until I see him tomorrow evening (apart from continuing with the beta blockers…)
I had a similar experience to you in Guernsey two years ago. We were walking the two miles from the hotel to St Peter Port, it was early in the morning just after breakfast, and we were walking across a green area on a tarmac path. A bloke with a fussy dog came the other way and we passed the time of day, I bent down to stroke the dog. I stood up and then blacked out. I fell face down on the tarmac and made a right mess of my nose and cheek, there was blood everywhere…:shock: I couldn’t remember a thing until I regained consciences just a few seconds later. Very frightening for Mrs Fox…
I’ve been going out walking 5 miles every day, first thing in the morning before the heat kicks in, and I bought this Heart Rate Monitor to keep an eye on my heart rate, keeping it within around 80 to 90 beats per minute. It’s got a BIG display so I don’t need my specs, and it comes with a chest strap. Apparently the ones on your finger only monitor your pulse which can be deceiving, but the chest strap ones are very accurate. According to my heart bloke…
Aww thanks for remembering Zaphod…:hug: (man hug)
Actually, it’s due for 18:45 tonight…:surprised:
That’s what made me realise it was urgent. The doctor only does a clinic at the spire on Thursday’s as he works in the Leeds General Infirmary as a cardiologist. So I guess he’s coming to see me after work. I’ve made some notes to discuss with him because I always come out thinking ‘I wish I would have asked him…’
I think he might be cross when I tell him that I couldn’t take the beta blockers…But they make me so ill and grumpy…
Well it’s me that’s paying, so he’ll have to think of something else… I just need to get running again…
I was waiting to see how you got on saying nothing.
)
I just need to get running again…