Bisoprolol buddies

My belly is all bloated as well (to the point my missus is worried), I'm going to take it up with my Doctor, I think it's water retention ya know But I may be wrong

I have just discovered this discussion and read all through with great interest: the feeling of tiredness/exhaustion/heavy limbs and aches and pains are all so familiar to me as I take 5 mg Bisoprolol daily for atrial fibrillation. But I also suffer from sleep apnoea, and had always thought that was the main cause of those symptoms. I have read up on line on both these conditions, and have discovered there is quite a link between them, and am therefore surprised that more of you have not mentioned a link with sleep apnoea as well. Apparently research has shown that people with a severe sleep disorder are four times more likely to have atrial fibrillation. I'd be interested to know if anyone else has experienced this.

Fed up. Just had appt with Cardiologist. Told him about all the side effects of bisoprolol.to which he refuted . He said that none of my side effects were attributed to the bisoprolol. His decision was to change my aspirin to warfarin (he said this was guidelines for my age 67, and to prescribe 125mg digoxin! I had

planned to go to France for 2 month but he recommended i stayed at home to get my medication rightso that my pulse would be down to 80bpm. Also he said i would be better to stay in uk in because the treatment would be better here and it would be less complicated!

My pulse was 140bpm,bp was much higher than normal, (I am always terified of hospitals,my bpm have been 114 at the highest) and the echo chamber showed no heart disease or defects.

So--- What a dilemma! Ive read so much medical stuff for the past 2 nights. Digoxin article shows huge increase in stroke deaths. There's a new blood thinning drug with fewer side effects and does not need constant monitoring. lots of evidence that betablockers don't do much good. others that recommend betablockers,some evidence that magnesium can help. I have discussed this with my husband and we are going to go private so if anyone has any recommendations for consultant in the north of UK i would be very grateful I am not going to my GP for the rec new list of drugs,just keep on with the aspirin and my reduced dose of 2.5mg bisoprolol. Just to add that my backache is much improved and i had rosacaesure on my face which has now disappeared.not as tired,legs still weak-not as bad,no cramps,feet and hands warmer all cos i reduced bisop from 5mgs to 2.5mgs. NOT LINKED said the cardiologist. Feel like screaming. !!!!!!!!

Hi Elizabeth 12, Shame you are having problems sorting out medication. I would be reluctant to go privateas most cardiologist give same treatments....due to fact they also have private clinics. If one medicine isnt suitable it is just changed to another heart medicine, so care is about same. So if you go private you will still get side effects to tablets. Having had lots of side effects myself I fully understand, the choice is yours, stay on reco mended tablets or see if another could be tried. Best wishes, relax

thanks osborne. Ive read so much stuff about DIGOXIN and I'm scared to take it! There is a medical report which provides statistics of increased death from strokes 46% more,with patients on digoxin. It has awful

side effects and getting the dosage right is difficult and needs very close monitoring. Out of interest which

meds have you been prescribed and what are you taking at present? My head id full of medical info all of

which is very conflicting. I 'm no dummy but neither am i a doc. I just feel that my GP has let me down. I

asked her to change my tabs to something else. She refused and offered me an appt with a cardio;hence

the dilemma. I would prefer a gentler approach-ie start with the least strong meds before taking the

stronger ones. Can't fathom out why i haven't been given a different beta-blocker.Difficult to relax when my mind is in a spin. Thanks again.

Going private is just paying for the privilege of feeling miserable Though they might be more inclined to prescribe newer whizzbang medicines

Liz 2104..... I also suffer with sleep apnoea, I have that machine that keeps your airways open at night, but not used it for ages as something has gone wrong with it and it has turned itself up to a much higher level than I need!

I'm told I don't have AF, but I have something else wrong with my heart, they are now saying they don't know why I get so breathless and heart pain ( they keep changing their minds as to what is wrong with my heart) and I am sick to my back teeth with it all. One minute I have heart failure, the next minute I don't..... I have a bulging of the heart, but told not to worry about it, well of course I will bloody well worry about it, if any part of my heart bulges I am worried, what if it burst for Gods sake, are they really that stupid to say not to worry. I am at the end of my tether with them now, one specialist told me to get my Pulmonary valve stenosis looked at, but my heart consultant just said ' oh its fine' well he would not of said to get it looked at if its fine would he????? Do keep me updated on your progress xx

Hello elizabeth12, Started heart hmm changes late 1996 with severe chest pain, then heavyness on chest. Since then some drs say nothing wrong, others say serious. Digoxin was recommended but didnt get it at one stage. After being blamed for being able to switch fast beat on and off and being concerned about health. I now just rely on slow release angina tablet and angina spray if I feel required. was in hospital due to reaction of supposed safer anti inflammatory....reacted to it. Doctor wasangry and said I had discontinued biprosol 2.5mg, told him I hadnt been on it..but was sent home on it. Took a few days then decreased it to 1.25mg. (not been to see gp)You name medication and really I have been on it, eventually as am elderly decided to take minimal medication as not willing to tolerate side effects. One hospital said neednt go back again...think because I refused to take Warfrin....asprin will do me. Remember cardiologist has to cover himself when treating you, he cannot take risks with your health. It just make you wonder when one says serious , onother doesnt agree. Have stayed on bisprosol but not keen. Since reaction to anti inflammatory in Feb am back on heart tests 24hr one then 6day one...due cardio clinic Nov so it cannot be serious waiting so long. Side effects are pretty bad at times, but the cardiologist can only advise what is best for you from his knowledge of condition. Let him worry, you be sensible, calm down and try to take it easy just now. Good that you are looking into your care.

Thank you so much for your reply.I am currently on 2.5 mgs bisoprolol.i reduced the dose from 5mgs on my own. Also i take 75mgs aspirin and 10mgs Rampril. I am a little calmer now but angry that i didn;t

have enough dialogue with the cardio doc. I am 67 and have been diagnosed with A/F up to 140 bpm

3years ago so it is now persistent A/F.I have decided to continue with my current meds and not take the

digoxin or warfarin. I'm tempted to reduce the bisoprolol to 1.25mg after reading medical evidence and

take a chance..Firstly i am going to lose weight--i have put on 3 stone since i was diagnosed. I am also going to look at magnesium .

The next problem for me is my travel insurance. This trip to the cardio doc will have to be reported to my insurers before i can travel to France. As my insurance is yearly this may not be affected until i renew

next march . After this i don't know what will happen cos i will not be following the cardio doc advice.

I feel i have opened up a can of worms all I wanted was that my GP changed my meds to an alternative

beta-blocker to reduce the lousy side effects of Bisoprolol. I understand that A/F is a mine field for docs

as each situ is unique and there is no consensus of what treatment is best also there is also an

increased awareness of possible litigation. On that score I found a site DIGOXIN where there is a law

firm offering services due to the possible toxicity of this drug. So .... I am feeling stronger,i have made my decision,i will not be taking the newly prescribed drugs,will take my chance unless i have more significant problems--no pain,no breathlessness,no heart disease ! Most people will think i have a screw loose

,but ive done my research and have made my decision. Thanks to all of you who have read my posts and offered me real help. i will keep in touch.

hi group i have just come out of hospital having a heart attack last week, i underwent surgery where i had 2 stents put into 2 main arteries....the after care i received and lack of information regarding my medication was diabolical and dismissive, it seems we are not supposed to question the medication and it's effects, i'm really not sure i want to be taking the bisoprolol fumarate or ramipril....what i found very alarming was the lack of information regarding diets and best supplements for follow on after surgery

So sorry to read your post,sympathy is not what you want just now,but real dialogue with a knowledgeable

doc. Not a lot to ask but it seems impossible for some of the docs to discuss your situation. I think all medication should be fully explained to the patient. Knowledge is peace of mind.

I am still in a muddle,don't want to take digoxin or warfarin as prescribed the cardio ( my GP wouldn't change my bisoprolol so she said she would refer me to a cardiologist). Now i'm in a very worrying situ. I am thinking of asking my other GP tp refer me to another cardio at Broad Green hosp(I'm not in this area).Our area hosp is in rural area and is in special measures!!!

Do hope you can get some help. My best wishes.

elizabeth 12, you are supposed to tell insurance if any change in condition, if you don't insurance will be no use. Have given up bisoprolol and feel better without, am in mid seventies so just hope for best.