How to live after weaning off carvedilol

side effects of carvedilol.
ide Effects
Allergy.
chest pain, discomfort, tightness, or heaviness.
dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
generalized swelling or swelling of the feet, ankles, or lower legs.
pain.
slow heartbeat.
trouble breathing.
weight gain.

@sergi
I would strongly recommend getting a second opinion regarding your diagnosis and medications. You will see us on MCC always suggesting second opinions on things like this. It comes from personal experiences of dealing what you are dealing and then getting second opinions from experienced medical professionals.

The carvedilol you mentioned is a medication to help with heart arrhythmias, palapations, PVCs, tacacardia. This comes from my Mayo Heart Failure doctor and EP. When you came off carvididol your symptoms got worse is that correct?

Consider getting a second opinion. Do you live anywhere close to a Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, John Hopkins, etc. ?

Ask your cardiologist about magnesium. My EP recommended that to me for PVCs. I think it help some. But what really helped was my EP put me on an additional medication to help with PVCs, tacacardia, and it really helped. The only down fall is that is must be taken every 8 hours. It has a very low toxicity and leaves body fairly quickly thus the every 8 hours. I had asked for an ablation but since my electrical problem was coming from 3 different areas in LV wanted to try it.

We are all different and what one medicaion works for our case may not work for you. My HF, EP, emphasize that stress and anxiety will cause more PVCs, palabatations, etc. It is important to address your stress and anxiety as well. This can be consulations and of course medicaion if deemed necessary. I do a lot of exercise (doctor approved and hobbies).

It is important thus to have a cardiologist you trust, is experienced with not just cardilogy but electrical functions of heart. That is why you will see a lot of us on MCC suggest seeing a Electrophysiologist (EP). They are experts in the elecrtricl function of heart which affect, PVCs, PACs, palapatations, heart arrymthmias, etc.

Sergi,
The Kardia allows you to save your EKG’s (ECG’s) and email them to yourself. It creates a pdf file that you can print out. So you can record your fibrillations, print them out and take them to your doctor as proof that your heart does go out of rhythm at times. The date and time is recorded.

I am so sorry what you are going through. Amazing that the doc refuses to believe you!!! I have never had tests but KNOW I have had serious heart issues in the past. And had again recently minor ones but for heaven's sakes I could feel them.

You said you have eliminated your triggers. Would you be willing to name them. And also what is normally your present diet. I am not a doctor but I do believe you, and maybe other than that med you were taking, is possibly something that has not occurred to you.

Thank you for your concern! I strongly believe that what we put into us influences the condition of our body and health. As a chemist trained in research, after first fibrillation episodes in 2012 i established the procedure of checking, one by one, all products that I used to consume. Of course I took out immediately all processed foods, all caffeine/theobromine containing products (except for yerba mate, which brings more benefits (like elemental iron, magnesium etc.) than disadvantages), high caloric products etc. I started taking magnesium bisglycinate+ potassium citrate on a daily basis (+ calcium citrate at other time of the day) and have been taking these ever since then. I also considered removing all products causing histamine response, but I still consume some of them (including yerba mate) because without them I would be left with almost nothing to put in me at all. As a result these are the things I consume (no normal humans would accept this I know, my sister thinks I am killing me this way, but it is a powerful tool to minimize not only heart problems but many others too): 1.) turkey meat (only fresh unprocessed), pork (having doubts, currently suspended), 2.) fresh greens (except for high oxalate products i.e. just exactly the same greens I buy for my pet rabbit), 3.) codfish (only fresh, non-processed, I just love it and I don’t like any other fish types), 4.) olive oil, pumpkin seed oil (helps me with my swallowing difficulties, i know i need to discuss it with neurologist), 5.) rice, 6.) buckwheat, 7.) sunflower seeds (but no other nuts or seeds), 8.) dried mango (because of its enzyme it helps reduce tachycardia, which often leads to arrhythmia) or dried pineapple when mango is unattainable, 9.) some other dry fruit very occasionally (because most of them contain sulfur-containing additives and often cause bad cough in me, but I love dry fruit and just sometimes can’t help), 10.) broccoli & cauliflower (occasionally, i often forget to buy them), 11.) beef protein from Bulk (UK based supplier, the product contains only protein and no additives whatsoever) an important component of my diet - i take it when I can’t sleep because of hunger, 12.) all types of shrooms, and that is basically it! Need to say, i love my diet because i know how to cook/prepare all of them in the most delicious way.
Earlier I used to have dairy products (only lactose-free fresh cottage cheese and few cheese types, which is a shame because Spain has an enormous range of excellent cheeses) but they generate mucus and I can’t have it in my system, because any cough fit causes fibrillation now. Also dairy products seem to cause urticarias, which I have been having lately – I attribute them to carvedilol – and they alleviated with gradual reduction and even more after final weaning off this drug.
Hope it was interesting to read:)

Sergi - It was interesting read! You are doing many things to try to alleviate problems. Many people just run to doc for pills and treatments.

You mentioned dried pineapple. I now live in Costa Rica and they grow them here and are heavenly. I love cheese, but discovered it was one of the main causes of my skin itching. Most nights for years I spent hours scratching. Chocolate also causes it and wheat. My itchy problem has been reduced probably 85%. have also learned to love my diet, but is different from anyone I know. I have few funsie foods.

Although I had heard of it, I didn't know what yerba mate was. Years ago, I used to drink something similar to coffee containing chickory root, but I can't remember the name and not available where I live anyway. But in googling yerba mate, it says it has caffeine in it. Depending how much you drink and how strong you make it, it can have a bunch. I think you feel like me in that you get tired of giving up things you love - but could it be causing heart rhythm problems???

I am sorry i don't know your name.
Thank you for your kind words about my writings:)
The dried pineapples i procure are exactly produced in Costa Rica, in the location called Limon! And they are delicious. It is now a period when no dried mango is available, at least of the type i prefer, so i enjoy a piece of Costa Rican dried pineapple on a daily basis!
Yerba mate is mostly consumed in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil. Yes, i suppose it may facilitate arrhythmias or increase respective vulnerability. I only take it once a day and have gradually reduced the amount I use in my morning yerba brew to the point where it is almost imperceptible. It's more an experience than actual consumption:) And still you are right, it can do it, but i am not sure i am ready to get rid of it... Yerba mate is probably the last and only suspicious product that i consume.
Indeed i am always looking the way to understand the problem, i never run to a clinic to get help. In the past i also practiced intermittent fasting, and i am now considering the possibility to resume it. But i am not sure my body will take it. On the other hand, the heart feels very content when i am empty inside.
You know, meanwhile, and i failed to have mentioned it, some new data transpired. I had an appointment with a pulmonologist, who appeared to be quite more understanding type of a doctor. I had an X-ray and CT scan and there seem to be a problem with my lungs. Emphysema was ruled out but there can be a fibrosis or other condition which i will find out tomorrow, if the doctor has arrived to a conclusion. It may have its part in the situation. Also, the scan revealed calcification of pulmonary arteries, a severe one which can definitely influence the situation. So i guess, yerba mate can be the least of my concerns:)
Itchy problems can be caused by so many things! you are lucky you found the cause.
I heard Costa Rica is a beautiful country with amazing nature!
Hope you are feeling well and wish you well!

My real name is Linda. I have heard Spain is beautiful.

Probably most of us have things we don't want to give up. I have given up many but not all.
Just got done making cookies with a recipe I have found recently on the internet. Peanut butter cookies made with coconut flour. When I get rid of the last 2 jars of peanut butter, I may try them with almond butter. I have heard peanut butter is not the healthiest thing to eat, but they sure are yummy. Soft in the middle and crunchy on the outside.

Doesn't Spain speak mainly Spanish?? Are you a gringo living there? I am permanently retired here for 10 years. I am 76. How old are you with these not so fun things going on with your lungs. Of course, you can just make up any number, and who would know?

You say your heart is very content when empty inside. I am very content with a cookie in it. LOL Let us know what happens with the yucky tests.

Nice to meet you Linda! Actually yes, Spain is gorgeous! I love Spain. I first lived in the southern province, in a tiny town at the Mediterranean shore. And those areas are beautiful in a way the desert can be. I had enjoyed the lack of cold seasons for several years, but then moved to the northern province of Asturias, which is a paradise on Earth. I am an expat and have been gringoing around Spain since 2011. Is it ok that we exchange personal infos in an open forum like this?
I am a bit past 60 and I don’t see why I should invent any other number:) I don’t care about the age even if I am unable to age gracefully. I am starting to fall apart. And here I don’t care either. My only concern is my pet bunny. I would not like to go earlier than he decides to cross the bridge, because no one will take as good a care of him as I do.
My lung condition probably started due to living for 10 years in a city with quite high background radiation. Being exposed for so long never ends well. I remember how at some point I suddenly acquired the habit of opening any window i could reach once i entered any room, no matter the season, at home or in the office. I always felt i needed more, more, more fresh air. My girlfriend grumbled over this habit of mine but none of us realized it was actually a symptom.
I think your age is perfect for enjoying life. Maybe any age is. Depends on the person. If you feel content with cookies inside you this is just awesome! I loved making cookies at certain point. Not with peanut butter tho. I don’t like peanuts.
Do you know that Spain has its own specific Christmas delicacies only available around Christmas? These occur as a wide and wild range of modifications but its basis is almond paste. They are called “turrones”. My favorite was “turron de yema tostada” not any longer tho.
Some things are easier to forget than others. At the start of this dietization journey I thought the aromas of the city would torture me. But I found that the smell of coffee, fresh baked bread or chocolate are quite bearable and don’t cause any agony or something.
And a couple of days ago when I was trying to trigger a fibrillation with the Holter monitor’s tentacles all over me, I ate some chocolate first time in more than a decade. And I found it abhorrent. I know it was not about chocolate, it was me. My tastes had changed so profoundly that I could not reacquire the taste. It felt nauseating, earthy and hot in my mouth, almost inedible, too dense to swallow, leaving an awful aftertaste. I can’t imagine I liked this exactly brand and make, Suchard with orange zest, in the ancient past.
Spanish people hardly speak any languages in addition to their native tongue. They learn English at school but with meager results. I noticed that some employees of medical and veterinarian institutions can understand English or even talk on a decent level. The older generation learned French but I have no knowledge of their level in this regard.
Whoever immigrates to Spain, learns Spanish. I love Spanish and I listen to lots of books. There was time i listened to a Spanish book a day. I am a notorious book addict. I distinguish between different dialects of Spanish, and understand most of them. The hardest to understand is what is spoken in the southern provinces, e.g. the so-called Murciano is just a joke, it's indecipherable. As for conversing I am not an avid Spanish speaker. That’s because I have never operated in places where Spaniards occur naturally. In fact I lead a pretty much secluded existence. Besides it is one of several languages that I use on a daily basis and switching to can be sometimes troublesome. I also have impaired hearing and heavy tinnitus so my perception can be flawed. Haha, i am a rare collection of health issues, can be really proud of myself:)