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Hi all
Following on from this
After the investigations in the link, the cardiologists basically think I am at low risk of any serious problems due to the ectopic beats, even though they are exercise-provoked.
(Ps I've now had consultations with 2 cardiologists - both their opinions on me are the same)
So the main problem remaining, really, seems to be how the ectopics make me feel. It's a horrible feeling of your heart stopping now and again and the anexity it causes.
So the treatment options available to me are
1) just ignore it
2) beta blockers
3) Ablation
After the last consultation we decided to try option 2 and as a result I've been prescribed 2.5mg bisoprolol daily (which is a low dose).
I'm now 3 days in. The good news is that It seems to have helped the ectopics a lot. That's both during exercise and when resting. I'm still feeling a couple, but very very few.
Also good news is that I managed a reasonably tough 60km gravel ride last night. I was a little off usual tempo compared to my riding bud but not too bad at all. I've lost about 20bpm off my max HR (so far at least!)
The bad news is that i think they are making me feel just generally "a little bit shit".
Very slightly achy
Very slightly dizzy now and again
Very slightly nauseous now and again.
Nothing horrendous just yet, but I am a bit concerned that it may get worse as my body builds up a background level.
Also at this point I am not really sure whether the side effects or the ectopics are the lesser evil :-/
Anyway my question is: for anyone who has experience of taking this, did you find that the side effects subsided? Have read in various places that the side effects can disappear after a few days. I'm hoping that's the case.
Thanks
Nothing horrendous just yet, but I am a bit concerned that it may get worse as my body builds up a background level.
Much more likely they'll fade as your body acclimatises
My symptoms are minor compared to yours, I think... I mean I never felt anything wrong with my heart until I had a supposed TIA... but I'm on 5mg bisoprolol daily. My side-effects are lack of energy when exercising and occasional dizziness. I'm also taking Digoxin, which I believe strengthens the heartbeat. The dizziness hasn't faded, comes and goes.
all the time i was unwell with my heart, the biggest problem was the beta blockers. because i still wanted to exercise, the effects of the blockers were like the lid on a pressure cooker.
as i cycled, my heart rate rose, and the blockers tried to supress this, which often ended up with me blacking out.
this did not get any better until i had surgery.
also, if your problem is a electrical problem, so to speak, a ablation could work and fix the problem.
i had a underlying issue which stopped the ablations i had from working.
Yeah I've got an electrics problem. Nothing structural. It's a good site for ablation apparently. The idea is to give the beta blockers a go, then after we've seen how it goes, decide to either continue with the beta blockers, ignore, or ablate.
I’ve been on the below for 11 years now.
2.5mg bisoprolol
5mg linsinopril
75mg clopidogrel
Was on simvastatin for a few months at first but told my go I wanted off as my legs were constantly dead and had next to no power cycling. They pushed me to go back or try something else but, cholesterol is ok and they are now not bothered.
With the 3 meds I’m on, my maximum heart rate has dropped about 20bpm I reckon. I can feel a wall at 135bpm when cycling. This is usually a point I get to and can sit at but if it goes much higher I blow like a train and can’t sustain it.
Before the tablets I had a great engine and could work for hours at high intensity. Now I can’t but age and unfortunately lard are probably more to blame if I’m honest with myself.
Personally I need to lose about 30kg and then see what happens with heart and health before pushing for more reduction/removal of the drugs but, I do believe they affect both my ability to exercise and I’m convinced they’ve take the edge off my general sharpness and ‘being with it’. Maybe others in the boat understand this as it sounds stupid at face value. 😂
It does take a week or so for your body to get used to them. I was put on a calcium blocker first which made me feel really sh*t after a week. Back to the doctor who swapped me up Bisoprolol which after a week I tolerated fine (now 1.5 years later and no ectopics). There are lots of options - so if after a week you still feel naff, go back to the doctor and they can try you on an alternative.
I'm on bisoprolol twice daily (along with a mass of other stuff due to suffering multiple heart attacks).
I've been reasonably lucky with side effects but passed out a number of times (when standing/getting up suddenly) early; this seems to have eased over time but I do still get light headed occasionally in similar situations.
As others have mentioned it caps your heartrate which can be a nuisance, but I'm on them for life as they support my damaged (dead muscle) heart. I never trained or monitored my heart rate prior to my heart attacks so I can't tell how limiting they are.
They also make my Reynaud's Syndrome somewhat worse.
Having put some input into the BP thread. I've also suffered palpitations (presume they're similar to ectopics)? Was absolutely fine until this Covid season started! Hadn't had any for a few months until out cycling yesterday morning (had a 48hr monitor back in April which didn't pick anything up).Anyone else noticed a similar trend?
I was on Bisoprolol for a couple of years, ten years ago. Didn't like them one bit so I came off them after discussing with my cardiologist. resting heart rate of 24 rising to a max of 60 meant I was moving like a zombie. I might as well have been dead; I couldn't work, couldn't do anything I enjoyed.
I've been right as rain since, other than the kidney **** ups I had as a result of taking them...
I'm on 1.25mg Bisoprolol daily which has balanced out the worst of the effects - I don't wake up feeling exhausted or with a low HR that leaves me drained of energy (which I was getting on 2.5mg), but I also - mostly - don't get the sudden-plunge feeling of a delayed beat that I would usually get after eating, or the feeling that my heart is beating excessively hard when I am trying to go to sleep. Still get the occasional slightly disconcerting sensation that the rhythm was slightly lost for a second, but nothing like the half-second gap that makes you think your heart may never beat again...
But in answer to your specific question, then yes I think the side effects do get better rather than worse, but I would definitely see if you can safely, with your cardiologist's approval, get down to even less than your current dose.
Thanks for thoughts all
I also – mostly – don’t get the sudden-plunge feeling of a delayed beat
I know exactly what you mean - it's a horrible feeling, even if benign.