Are the meds too blame?

[dorset]

Can anyone please help me, i'm at my witts end. I had a heart attack 31/2 yrs ago, had 3 stents put into to relieve 3 blockages. I was put on 1.25mg cardicor, 5mg tritace, nu-seals 75mg and 80mg lipitor. My doctor tells me these will never be lowered, that these are the standard treatment. I eat healthy, 5 a day or more fruit and veg, take some supplements, don't smoke or drink, walk 5 miles a day. I've had all the tests, stress etc and all are clear, bloods all good too, overall cholesterol is 3.5, yet i have pains all over my abdomen, under my rib cage, in my back and now groin, I feel leghargic and get dizzy or lightheaded sometimes I also can feel hot, yet not have a temperature. Could it be the meds i'm on and do these doses sound high? My resting heart beat is mid 50's, bp is 121/79 as I type. I'm willing to travel should the need arise to do more tests or different ones. I seriously need some good solid advise and i've lost all faith in my GP.

[Ryder483]

Try changing from Lipitor to Crestor. Years ago I could not take Lipitor due to bad stomach pains. I went to Zocor for years until I had Angiop and 4 stents last year. Then put on Crestor. HDL, LDL and trigl are now excellent.

[ed34]

I would just like to mention a documentry I watched here a couple of years ago in the UK. They took six individuals, emptied a gorilla enclosure at a zoo, and made them live there for six weeks eating only great ape food. The six individuals had blood pressure, heart rate, cholesterol and several other tests taken every day through the ordeal. There was a mixture at the beginning of high/normal/low cholesterol,  high/normal/low blood pressure, you get the idea.
Being fed lots of fruit/veg and nuts uncooked, they found it very difficult but stayed til the end. The final results were amazing, they ALL had normal blood pressure and cholesterol. Each individual said how they felt much better. Strangely, they were all offered a last meal on the last day and could choose between two options. Two of the six chose fried foods while the other four chose fruit/veg/nuts. So I suppose we can be normal if we return to nature and eat the right foods, its just the choice we make.

[ed34]

It's funny you should say that. I ran out of lipitor (40mg a day) and it took my GP 3 days to get a repeat prescription sorted out. A lot of my pains seem to vanish. I don't know if you get the same thing, it's a kind of annoying ache in the lower chest area and it's very difficult to tell if it's the heart or the stomach. It's always there but sometimes increases in waves. As soon as I resumed the lipitor, the pains returned. Coincidence?
I think you are absolutely spot on. The internet has become a very powerful source for information for patients and many are now looking for the truth themselves and not just sitting back doing as they are told. My cardiologist said he is amazed at how many people now argue and want to see more evidence. Its our lives they are making decisions on and our bodies, so I think it's good to question them. I think you are wise, but just make sure you have blood tests every few months to monitor your cholesterol.
Please keep us informed.

[dorset]

Well, here is the latest, after getting checked into the hospital for the feelings and pains i was having, i had various tests done, echograph showed heart was working well. Stress test i did 14 or 15 mins and the ecg's showed no heart attacks, plus numerous blood tests.
So it was decided i would have an angiogram as an outpatient. The angio showed a slight blockage as a result of the stent moving, but it was on a lesser archery so it would be too risky to try to fix. Also the blood flow was good to the main archeries. The cardiac specialist, said he would take me off tritace, then in 6 weeks would fit me with a 24hr bp monitor and then if no improvement take me off the cardicor. He was adamant that as i had what he called patchy cholesterol i should stay on 80mgs of lipitor.
So i consulted with another cardio specialist, he agreed with me and agreed the lipitor was more likely causing my pains etc. So he cut me back to 10mg without a thought and agreed i shouldn't be on tritace either, he also had me do a stress test for at least 14 minutes, with no ill effects.
So the latest is, i watch what i eat even more, i still walk religiously everyday and have stopped my lipitor altogether, the pains have eased hugely. I have a blood tests in january, which is when i'll tell my gp that i've been off the lipitor and will stay off it, too dam expensive here as we are ripped off as usual. I'm still on nu-seals 75mg, that i was told not to give up and i was also told to go on a foreign holiday and buy a years supply and don't need a perscription, as we pay over the top on them here too. I'm going to discuss giving up the cardicor too, as i've been told the heart muscle will never strength no matter what exercise i do as its too strong of a beta blocker, thats why not everyone can handle can handle it, slows the heart beat too much for many.
I believe strongly in fighting my corner the healthy way, I'll exercise, take supplements and eat as much fruit and veg as i can, i'm not expecting miracles, but i do believe if i do what i need to, then the dr's should meet me half way at least or more.
The first op for blood pressure was performed in the uk, how long before we see the same here.
Question and research all, the net is powerful and now the dr's who were considered all seeing and knowing are fallible. As for them brushing away natural therapies, they forget that modern medicine is based on those very foundations.
Thank you for your experiences on cardicor, i will take it on-board and see what the dr will say. Thank you all.

[ed34]

I was on cardicor for two years and I totally sympathise with your symptoms, mine were identical. I also had no energy and couldn't be bothered to do anything, it was a real effort to go for a walk. When I eventually came off this medication it caused great discomfort. I was on 1.25mg a day too, but this is a powerful beta blocker. I had increased chest pains and my breathing felt too heavy, making me panic. I had to go back on them and be weened off. I was put on 1.25 every two days for a week, then every three days etc until I was off them. I felt so much improvement when I came off them, like I suddenly had a huge burst of energy to use every day. The pains in my chest and abdomen all vanished. The only thing is, I had palpitations for about three weeks when I came off them. Boy they scared me, I went dizzy with each episode. Now my body has fully adjusted to be off the drug and my libido has also returned.

[402von]

I just recently had some angioplasty done to some arteriea, also a stent a couple months ago, i am having lots of pain in my left chest, arm and also in my upper back... one should not still have pain afterwarda...what should i do..i take nitro and vicadin for the pain...von

[Encephalomalcia]

My entire family on my mother's side all the way back approximately over 200 people have had heart disease.  The ones that did not take medication because it was not available for them or because they did not realize that they had heart disease at a young age, died at ages 31 and ages 50 from massive heart attacks.  My relatives that have been seeing a doctor regularly and have been on heart medication have lived to 70, 75, and 80.  My cousin was diagnosed with blockage of the arteries at age 9.  Ace inhibitor studies have shown that they increase lifespan. Beta blockers studies have not shown this and sometimes beta blockers can make the heart worse.  Lipitor studies have shown that Lipitor reduces cholesterol and the blockage already there and sometimes cholesterol on the heart valves.  I know many doctors that are taking statins in a very low dose that do not even have heart disease (they take it as a precaution).  My father takes about 1/4 of the smallest Lipitor dosage.  Omega 3 is great for the heart.  Because of all the heart disease in our family, I have not ate beef for 13 years and eat very little meat.  When I gave up beef for one year, then had my cholesterol checked the LDL dropped down a lot. When I gave up pork for one year, again my LDL dropped.  I recently started eating pork again because of low iron, but will not eat beef again.  I know diet helps.  Brown rice is filling and healthy to eat.  The ace inhibitor and cholesterol medication is very important.  I have seen to many people who have stents and cholesterol builds up on the stents.  Then, the person needs to have open heart surgery to bypass and there is risk when this happens  You need to have faith in your doctor.  I hope you find a doctor who can explain everything to you and that you have faith in.    I am 44 also and when I had the stress test, I could only walk and I was very out of breath.  They brought my heart rate up to 180 and then did an echocardiogram afterwards.  There was nothing that showed up, so everything was normal so far.  Take care and keep your doctor appointments.  

[dorset]

Thank you for your comment, My bp, goes up and down as everyone elses. I have had two echograph's, both clear, i also have another one booked, did i stress test on a treadmill for 14 minutes, our hospital's don't allow you to jog and i couldn't walk any faster......that was clear, I'm 44.

My GP doesn't believe that its the meds. As for the liptor, i did a huge search for days and to be honest, the good it supposedly does, i'm not sure it ways that well against the bad it does. My opinion. I also did the same for beta blockers, not impressed with those sidde effects either too...my family have never been big into medication, a pill for every ill, doesn't work.

But thank you for your post, I'm at present looking for cardiac doctor to do a full range of tests to see like you said if there are any other reasons. Hocom etc!

[Encephalomalcia]

You are on a beta blocker, ace inhibitor, medicine to protect your stomach, and cholesterol medication.  The Lipitor is one of the best cholesterol medication and there are Lipitor studies that show that Lipitor reduces cholesterol and cholesterol buildup already in the arteries.  You can "google" it under Lipitor studies to find out the information.  There are other beta blockers and ace inhibitors if the ones you are on are making you feel not so well.  It could just be that any beta blocker and ace inhibitor will make you feel this way.  Coreg is one of the best beta blockers in that it blocks more receptors.  Lisinopril is a good ace inhibitor and is relatively inexpensive.  Your blood pressure is not that low and actually could be a little lower.  120/72 is normal.  People with heart disease need their blood pressure lower than normal.  Diovan is a good blood pressure medication.  The main thing is to take your medication as prescribed by your doctor now.  Check with your doctor to see if the pains are related to the medications and if trying another beta blocker and ace inhibitor will help.  Sometimes it is not the medication and is the heart condition getting worse instead.  You may need to have an echocardiogram to make sure that is not the case.  Hope you start feeling better soon.  Take care.