Wellness

[jubilant]

Some of you know that I had a quadruple by-pass a few months ago.  I have been on Metoprolol since my surgery.  My cardiologists recently (about a week ago) took me off of that and put me on Carvedilol.  I have felt very tired recently and my pulse rate the last few days has been around 53.  This morning it was down to 50.  I am thinking since they just switched medications this might be normal.  I will probably call my cardiologist tomorrow if it goes any lower.  Has anyone else experienced this?  How low is considered a safe range?

[jackthebear]

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@jubilantwrote:

Some of you know that I had a quadruple by-pass a few months ago.  I have been on Metoprolol since my surgery.  My cardiologists recently (about a week ago) took me off of that and put me on Carvedilol.  I have felt very tired recently and my pulse rate the last few days has been around 53.  This morning it was down to 50.  I am thinking since they just switched medications this might be normal.  I will probably call my cardiologist tomorrow if it goes any lower.  Has anyone else experienced this?  How low is considered a safe range?

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why wait till tomorrow

[jubilant]

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@jackthebearwrote:

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@jubilantwrote:

Some of you know that I had a quadruple by-pass a few months ago.  I have been on Metoprolol since my surgery.  My cardiologists recently (about a week ago) took me off of that and put me on Carvedilol.  I have felt very tired recently and my pulse rate the last few days has been around 53.  This morning it was down to 50.  I am thinking since they just switched medications this might be normal.  I will probably call my cardiologist tomorrow if it goes any lower.  Has anyone else experienced this?  How low is considered a safe range?

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why wait till tomorrow

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*************  I was very ill with an illeus right after my surgery.  Then at Christmas I got the influenza type A.  I have no pain just tired. I don't want to chance going to the emergency room and getting sick again.  While the last flu was hard...there were times when I thought it would do me in....so, I guess my answer is...I would rather wait till tomorrow.  If it goes any lower today, I will call my cardiologist.  Just wondered if changing medicines had this affect on anyone else?  

*******I editied this to add....the flu is still going around here.

[Yardlie]

@jubilant ... I take blood pressure medication. My doctor told me that I should report it if my pulse went below 58 as he did not want me passing out. There is usually a physician on call at clinics. You could try calling them over the weekend just for your own peace of mind if for no other reason. 

[CAcableGirl2]

@jubilant  I too am on Metropolol.  I've been on it for over a year and my father is also on it.  Did the doctor tell you why he was changing medications?  Maybe he felt that the Metrolpolol wasn't strong enough.  I would try to speak with the doctor today if possible.  Call the office, and most likely you will speak to a service who can send the doctor a message.

If you are unable to reach the doctor today, since an urgent care physician isn't going to change your medication over what your cardiologist ordered, please go in as soon as they open their office tomorrow.

This new medicine might be too strong or too weak), make sure you are following the directions, and taking the correct dose. 

At the very least, try to contact the doctor today.

[jubilant]

@chrystaltree

I just started the new medicine 4 days ago.  I started feeling really tired only 2 days ago.  It finally dawned on me to take my blood pressure yesterday as I thought it could be the change of medicines.  I have been tired many times since my heart surgery (which is normal the first few months up to a year).  Yesterday I just felt extra tired.  This morning when pulse was 50, I started to get concerned and thought maybe I was overreacting.  

[jubilant]

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@CAcableGirl2wrote:

@jubilant  I too am on Metropolol.  I've been on it for over a year and my father is also on it.  Did the doctor tell you why he was changing medications?  Maybe he felt that the Metrolpolol wasn't strong enough.  I would try to speak with the doctor today if possible.  Call the office, and most likely you will speak to a service who can send the doctor a message.

If you are unable to reach the doctor today, since an urgent care physician isn't going to change your medication over what your cardiologist ordered, please go in as soon as they open their office tomorrow.

This new medicine might be too strong or too weak), make sure you are following the directions, and taking the correct dose. 

At the very least, try to contact the doctor today.

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**************  I thought it curious, too when my cardiologist took me off of Metoprolol.  For one thing, I thought it was working fine. I needed to have a test to see how my heart was pumping now as my last test after surgery showed a moderate to severe problem.  Since the heart can heal itself they wait about 3 months for the next test.  That just came back with great news....I'm in the normal range now.  He told me Metoprolol would not be his first choice for me ( he didn't say why) and that he was switching me to Carvedilol.  I didn't question it thinking he knew best.

[CAcableGirl2]

@jubilant  Here is an interesting article that you might not have seen. 

"Both metoprolol and carvedilol were equally effective in improving symptoms, quality of life, exercise capacity and LV ejection fraction, although carvedilol lowers blood pressure more than metoprolol."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0735109799003678

It sounds like you are making terrific progress since your surgery.  I would continue to take what he has prescribed, but call/visit the office as soon as it's open.   And continue to take your blood pressure several times today - I've found sometimes that mine will give 2 different readings within 5 minutes apart.