What should heart rate be?

[perkicar]

I've been on Lopressor for the last few days, they've slowly been increasing the dose. I can see a big difference in my resting HR when I'm on it. I've been in the 90-100's pre-surgery for a long time. I get it twice a day, and their goal is to keep my resting HR in the 80's.
So ifI get into shape does that mean I don't have to take it forever???

 

[jeffp]

I've been on Lopressor for the last few days, they've slowly been increasing the dose. I can see a big difference in my resting HR when I'm on it. I've been in the 90-100's pre-surgery for a long time. I get it twice a day, and their goal is to keep my resting HR in the 80's.
So ifI get into shape does that mean I don't have to take it forever???

Once you're on the meds and they're doing the job, you'll need to be somewhat aggressive to convince your cardio to get off them (we tend to have lots of inertia to successful medication plans). Right after surgery my BP was so low I could barely think, let alone get up walk around. Took 2 weeks of this to convince my surgeon to take me off the ACE inhibitors and beta blockers. Felt almost human again after a few days.

You'll probably be on the Lopressor for at least a month before they'll cut it back. By the way...I'm glad to hear that you're doing so well. I'm 6 weeks out and don't seem to have 1/2 your energy yet. Keep up the good work!

 

[perkicar]

Once you're on the meds and they're doing the job, you'll need to be somewhat aggressive to convince your cardio to get off them (we tend to have lots of inertia to successful medication plans). Right after surgery my BP was so low I could barely think, let alone get up walk around. Took 2 weeks of this to convince my surgeon to take me off the ACE inhibitors and beta blockers. Felt almost human again after a few days.

You'll probably be on the Lopressor for at least a month before they'll cut it back. By the way...I'm glad to hear that you're doing so well. I'm 6 weeks out and don't seem to have 1/2 your energy yet. Keep up the good work!

Yes, but I imagine the true test will be when I actually get kicked out of here and have to fend for myself without a hospital bed, people bringkng me meals and bathroom 5 feet from the bed. And more walking (although at least without pushing around an IVF pole). I think I will drop the energy level down a notch or two when I get to Rob and Susan's!
BTW , still in limbo.....

 

[Granbonny]

Perky

Perky

When I went to see my Cardio 6 weeks post-op..I took all my post-op meds with me.....My son was in the exam room with me. He spoke up..said, Mom thinks she would feel better if she wasn't having to take all this Medicine. He took them out of bag and said. throw them away. I remember Lopressor being one of them.. There were several others..but cannot remember what they were...I felt better right away. I'm sure everyone has to have a 6 week Cardio visit post-op..I had an echo also..at 6 weeks..Now once a year for echo...Bonnie

 

[Marge]

Hmmm Marge,

Normal Sinus Rhythm is good, but it sounds to me like your HR is "high normal". If you are still concerned, you might want to get a 'second opinion' from either your PCP or another Cardiologist.

One question comes to mind: Are you doing regular cardiovascular exercise? (say 20 minutes minimum, preferably 30 to 40 minutes most days of the week in your proper target range 65 to 80% of 220-AGE)

IF your body is still de-conditioned, that could explain your 'high normal' HR.

Exercise is GOOD

'AL Capshaw'

Since I am in the Kaiser system, any cardiologist I see will be another Kaiser cardiologist, so I am not sure what seeing another cardiologist will do for me. (The one I have now is the head cardiologist in the department.) I am seeing my PCP next month. I can talk to him about the heart rate, but I've done that before. He agrees it is "high," but "normal," but I suspect he will defer to my cardio about its significance.

And yes, I do keep up my cardiovascular exercise, and have since before the surgery, and all through cardiac rehab & since. My HR stayed high (in comparison with other folks in the program) through cardiac rehab. The cardiac rehab people conferred with my cardiologist about it then & decided it was within reasonable limits both at rest & during & after exercise. I don't have a weight problem (my BMI is slightly on the "low" side, actually) and my BP is normal.

I take cozaar and coreg. And now I am taking coumadin for the recenly diagnosed a-flutter. So I'm not sure what else I could do anyway. My cardio says I am not a candidate for any kind of surgical intervention or other anti-arrhythmic drugs.

I am not really conscious of the "high" heart rate -- I don't feel palpitations or pauses, irregularities, etc. (Wasn't aware of the a-flutter, still am not, actually.) I feel very good! I guess what is bothering me is more mental than physical -- like reading things like that French study about sudden death in men with a BPM of over 75! (Maybe best remedy is to stop reading that stuff, LOL.)

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Marge,

I suspect that many Doctors would prefer that their patients NOT read things on the internet, especially reports of an 'alarming' nature.

'AL'

 

[Dita]

I have trace/mild regurgitation in 3 valves. My heart rate seems so much higher than others. At rest, it is normal 80-95 (sitting) 58-75 (lying), but when I get up, walk around, do chores, shop etc. it is 105-125. After walking up stairs it is 130-140. I was at seaworld last week and after walking across the park (in high heat/humidity), eating lunch, then sitting for a show it stayed at 125-140 for 30 minutes. Am I just severly out of shape, or sould I be concerned?

 

[Ghosthunter]

I am going to see my cardiologist today, I am curious what he thinks my heart rate now at rest has been anywhere between 55-60, and my BP at rest around 110-120 over 68-80

This has been after a month of changing my eating habits and doing at least 30 minutes of exercise everyday. The best part is I lost 15 lbs and a few inches.

I really hoping to get off these meds, maybe he will finally wean me off.

 

[Mary]

Ghosthunter,
He might let you try it for a month with no meds to see how you do. My husband was able to get off his blood pressure medicine many years ago after adopting a healthier lifestyle. He was first diagnosed at the age of 22.

Your numbers looks real good, and you say you feel better, so I'm sure he will be pleased.

By the way, have you had replacement surgery? That might make a difference in what he recommends.

 

[Ghosthunter]

No I have not had any surgery.

When I took my last stress echo about 4 months ago approx doctor said i had a healthy heart, but i was obese and out of shape and if i dont change something by time I hit 40+ i will run into lots of problems, especially with my father and grandparents both long history of heart disease, diabetes, and strokes.

I realized one day I want to see my daughter grow up and see my grandchildren eventually, whcih is what finally motivated me to adopt a healthier lifestyle and stop being so lazy...that was my biggest problem i hated exercise.

 

[ar bee]

have you ever tried NOT to exercise in the evening, but choose any other time of the day that is convenient for you?


well2u
ar bee

 

[Ghosthunter]

Unfortuntaely evenings only time I can exercise.


i get up at 5 am to get to work and get home usually 6 PM on a normal day.

if i were to exercise in morning, one I have to get up 4:30, and then I wake up my parrot..and would drive my wife nuts..lol

But I been doing really good as soon as I get home right before dinner I do my 30 minutes of exercise, then take quick shower and eat dinner. I have only missed one to two days due travelling.

 

[Ghosthunter]

Well I got back from my cardio, and he was really impressed, he said I looked great and I have not been there in a few months, I lost 15lbs total according to his scales.

My heart rate in the office was 64, which was much better then it use to be, and my BP was 126/78

He said I am right around target. He said to stick with my eating changes and exercise and I probably just added a lot more years on my life. He lowered my atenlol from 50mg to 25mg, and he is hoping to get me off that next time I see him if I stay on track. Then we wil work on norvasc after.