Beta blockers

[Paleowoman]

I saw my cardiologist today for a three month post op review and he said I can come off the beta blocker I've been on I'm really pleased as that's one more step towards getting back to what I was before surgery.

 

[epstns]

I wish!

That's great news, Anne. The beta blockers can hold us back a lot, and if we don't need them we often feel better without them.

I'm stuck with mine for the long haul, but at least at the reduced dosage it isn't as bad as it was.

 

[RobThatsMe]

That is fantastic Anne!

Did he talk about coming off of them slowly decreasing the dosing, or to just stop them?

Cheers,
Rob

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi Rob - I'm coming right off them today as I had decreased the dose some weeks ago so it's low enough now (12.5mg Atenolol) to stop

 

[maisiejane]

Hi Anne,
Brilliant news I know how important it was to you. Also good news about your Ligament, not that it is torn, but the fact that you now know the reason behind your pain and you and your Physio can do something to put it right, Yay :thumbup:
Deb xxx

 

[RobThatsMe]

Hi Rob - I'm coming right off them today as I had decreased the dose some weeks ago so it's low enough now (12.5mg Atenolol) to stop

Congrats!!! Ohh what a feeling it must be to get off them!!
Please drop us a note in a few weeks, and let us know how you are feeling when totally off them!

Cheers,
Rob

 

[extraordinary]

I saw my cardiologist today for a three month post op review and he said I can come off the beta blocker I've been on I'm really pleased as that's one more step towards getting back to what I was before surgery.

lucky you i've just posted a new three about the medications that i was surprised was prescribed to me … your thread give me hope because I'm just discharges and i need to take the beta blockers which made me real sad i hate this pills hope i can get over them so soon ..
how did the dr decide for you to stop them ? and where you cutted directly or by reducing the dose one step at a time ?

 

[Paleowoman]

Hi - at the six week consultation I asked my cardiologist if I could stop the beta blockers as I was feeling dizzy when standing up quite often - he said no but he cut the dose in half. Then at twelve weeks, just a few days ago, I asked again and he said yes, to cut them out completely and to watch if my heart rate went too high. It hasn't so far...I mean it's always in the 70s and 80s and hasn't gone up higher as far as I can tell. He also said to watch out for palpitations - but since I got them anyway I am just to watch if they get worse.

 

[extraordinary]

yes i got the palpitations as well, we will see how things will go for me

 

[neil]

good news anne, unfort like steve am stuck on them,

 

[AdrockTN]

Followed up with my cardiologist yesterday (4 months) post-op & I'm still taking them ... made it sound like I'll be on them for life.

 

[mbeard]

I feel fortunate that the Atenolol (12.5 mg), helps me with the rapid heart rate I usually get every afternoon. I know there are side effects to it, but for now it gives me relief.

Cute kids AdrockTN.

 

[AdrockTN]

thanks mbeard ... likewise to you as well.

I'm in the same boat with you ... was told it was to keep my heartrate down ... with as active as I've become, it's probably not a bad idea ...

 

[Paleowoman]

was told it was to keep my heartrate down ... with as active as I've become, it's probably not a bad idea ...

How much down do they want it ?

My heart rate, both on and off the Atenolol beta blocker, is usually in the 80s, sometimes the 70s. When I do exercise if it's very hard it goes up to 150 to 160 which is the same as it used to go before heart surgery.

 

[AdrockTN]

How much down do they want it ?

My heart rate, both on and off the Atenolol beta blocker, is usually in the 80s, sometimes the 70s. When I do exercise if it's very hard it goes up to 150 to 160 which is the same as it used to go before heart surgery.

My heartrate is in the 70s/80s with the Metoprolol (12.5 mg)... I think they want keep the resting heartrate right around there ...

I probably should have asked them more questions, now that I think about it

 

[Paleowoman]

I just had a cardiac rehab session and asked the cardiac specialist nurse about whether it's okay for my heart rate to go up to 150-160 when I'm doing very strenuous exercise and he said that it's fine….my heart rate monitor was showing that high today when I was doing curl bar shoulder lifts. The important thing is that the heart recovers afterwards. And that the resting rate is within whatever target it's supposed to be.

 

[RobThatsMe]

I just had a cardiac rehab session and asked the cardiac specialist nurse about whether it's okay for my heart rate to go up to 150-160 when I'm doing very strenuous exercise and he said that it's fine….my heart rate monitor was showing that high today when I was doing curl bar shoulder lifts. The important thing is that the heart recovers afterwards. And that the resting rate is within whatever target it's supposed to be.

That's great! the 150-160 is I think in a good cardio range for activities. But as you say, it should then back down to normal ranges after activity.

Best of luck with you workouts!

Rob

 

[mattswife]

I would be interested to hear what the dosages are on beta blockers and lisinopril after OHS. I have taken both of these meds myself (post-MI) but I get the feeling that my dosages were much higher than what my husband will be expected to take after his OHS. I was also on Plavix, coumadin, and two regular aspirin. Is that typical for post-OHS patients?

 

[epstns]

Immediately post-op (AVR, CABG, pacemaker), I was prescribed 100mg/day of metoprolol succinate (the timed-release version). I put up with that for some months (probably about a year), then told my cardio I felt like I was towing a sled full of rocks all day. He agreed to cut the dosage in half, but would not eliminate it. Another year later, we had the same discussion and we halved it again to 25 mg/day, where it now stands.

My resting HR pre-op was low - in the 40's. We attributed it to conditioning from 30 years of running, but in hindsight it was probably bradycardia. I now have a pacemaker, but even when I'm naturally pacing, my resting HR is in the 70's. Such is life. Sure beats a resting rate of zero!

 

[clay_from_nj]

6.25 mg, twice daily coreg - cardio doesn't want to increase it due to my resting heart rate being only 50-60. I was taking 2.5 mg of Lisinipril (1x daily), which was just doubled to 5.0 as long as my systolic bp stays above 90. I think that the specific patient's dose, as with warfarin, can vary by quite a bit, depending on the goal, efficacy, and side effects. I am probably on these for the long run, as reverse remodeling can go on for five years or more post-AVR, and I have a way to go.