Unsure of my Dr treatement - Heart Disorders Message Board

thebug11 · 11-24-2006, 04:02 PM

Background. Im a fairly active 37yr old, 5ft 10. 68Kg. Grandfather (mothers side) had a pacemaker, unsure of other grandfather but my farther has heart problems. Previously worked in chemical industry for 18 yrs with carcinogen materials. Enjoy golf and squash. I have changed jobs and I am in no way stressful as I was. I have had problems many years ago with a suspected stomach ulcer.

2 years ago went for a medical and blood pressure was 150:95 saw Dr and he observed the condition. I talked about a pain I had to the mid left side of my chest which extended down my left arm. In bed especially early morning I could feel my heart pounding. I had such a pain in the left side that I found it hard to drive and had to keep my arm close to my chest for several days.

6 months later it began to rise to 160/110 with resting heart rate of 90 so began medication Atenanol 50mg, which dropped heart rate to 50-pressure 140/90

3 months later added Linsinopril as well and went to about 130/ 85. Had bloods to check for kidney and thyroid problems all ok

Last year he tested cholesterol, which was 8.3, went on a low fat diet but did not reduce the level and dropped the LDA.

Since February I have been on 40mg Simvastatin and the last cholesterol results were 6.8 so he has doubled this to 80mg.

Last month the blood pressure has began to rise 145/93. I have been jogging for the past year and find I need to take deep breaths all the time, I get a pulsing feeling in down the left-hand side of my neck with heartbeats. The pain in the chest has not gone away and has spread to my back and under arm (similar pain as glandular fever I had 20 years ago. I cant seem to improve my distance, legs feel very heavy, even when I go on long walks I cant seem to go as fast as a few years ago and need to gasp for air.

The Dr suggests it’s the Atennanol restricting my activity so has stopped the dosage 2 weeks ago, and my heart rate now is at 101 with pressure 151/104. At night I can feel my heart pounding again fluctuating, at 4.00am for a few hrs then seems to calm down after a slight pain. I seem to have headaches most days (I also had these during excersise).

After exercising my resting heart rate is at least 10 above normal for 24 hrs then drops down, and I never can sleep easily.

Any ideas and what I should do next. I also suffer form shaking and the atennanol helped this for a while but began to come back, I cant pick up a drink in public without shaking I look nervous all the time, but I cant do a controlled twist movement without sudden shaking or jolting of the hands (grandfather had Parkinson’s).

Lenin · 11-25-2006, 03:51 PM

Hi Bug,
Welcome to "The Boards"

you toossed a lot out:
I'll try to bat a few of them.

Left side pain: If it hurts while you drive it is most likely costochondriasis, an inflammation of the chest wall...it will go away by itself. Take Alleve, indocin, aspirin or ibuprofen for relief. It's not likely your heart.

Legs feel like lead: As your doctor said, it's the beta-blocker, atenolol.

Your BP isn't responding well...why not try a diuretic you may be salt sensitive...choices are hydrochlorothiazide or frusamide (since I gather you are UK...in the states it's called furosemide or Lasix.)

I'm going to leave it for the next person to translate your cholesterol numbers into mg./dL, I'm pooped from the gym.

I PRAY you don't have early Parkinson's...what do your doctor's make of the hand shaking?

Pika · 11-25-2006, 09:01 PM

Simvastatin caused the hands shaking and legs muscle jumps! After few more jumps it turns into cramp. Which hurt a lot.... I told the GP I'm not taking it anymore. He prescripted another type called ezetrol in Australia. He told me this one no side effect. Guest what? It cramp in my heart during my sleep. Jumpped up from the bed, hurt... SOB.... and sweating.... From sweet dream to nightmare! Take care.

Pika

lylone · 11-27-2006, 04:56 AM

Hello Bug,

Your bp is still high at 151/104. I am on 20mg of Atenonol and haven't felt tired or weak on it. I think your doc needs to try some other meds on you to get your bp down. The shakyness and trembling could definately be from your blood pressure. Ask him for another Beta Blocker because you bp should be in the 120/80 range.

Also, watch your sodium content. High sodium can also raise your bp quickly. Its amazing how many things out there have such a high salt content. Hot chocolate, soup and chicken wings are all culprits of high salt. You shouldn't be having more than 1500 mg a day and chicken wings have 3000 mg just by themself!

Good luck,
Lyl

thebug11 · 12-04-2006, 04:00 PM

Thaks for the replys

Firstly teh shaking has been with me for a good few years even before any medication and has got a bit worse. Atenanol appeard to help at first but has less effect now.

Salt, I do not add any extra salt to my foods and I cook with Low salt if any. My wife is a keen runner marathons under 3hrs 23 (so nearly an elite runner I think sub 3hrs 15 mins) so I eat very healthy more pasta ect. It was a suprise that I had high colestrol and going to a totally low fat diet for 6 months (no cheese, eggs ect) did not reduce the level infact reduced the good colestrol. The ideal value is below 4.

Chest pain, I could agree with information but it is not that painful and has been with me now for over 2 years.