Should I worry?

[Old Merc]

I suppose all I want is some reassuring words from you guys.
I`m 69,have an enlarged Prostate,a year ago I had the "rear end" biopsy and a MRI scan,NON cancer result.This year my PSA level has risen to 11,so a different type of biopsy was arranged,the one under full anaesthetic.At the pre-op check an ECG recorded a fast heart rate so the biopsy was cancelled.
I have been prescribed Warfarin 3mg and Bisoprolol 1.25mg and will have to attend the local anticoagulant clinic for regular blood tests.They even gave me an alert card to carry.
This all sounds worrying,no wonder my heart is beating fast.I may have Prostate cancer but they can't decide for sure because I have a dodgy heart.
Is it time to sell my classic?

[Riley Blue]

Old Merc said:

I suppose all I want is some reassuring words from you guys.
I`m 69,have an enlarged Prostate,a year ago I had the "rear end" biopsy and a MRI scan,NON cancer result.This year my PSA level has risen to 11,so a different type of biopsy was arranged,the one under full anaesthetic.At the pre-op check an ECG recorded a fast heart rate so the biopsy was cancelled.
I have been prescribed Warfarin 3mg and Bisoprolol 1.25mg and will have to attend the local anticoagulant clinic for regular blood tests.They even gave me an alert card to carry.
This all sounds worrying,no wonder my heart is beating fast.I may have Prostate cancer but they can't decide for sure because I have a dodgy heart.
Is it time to sell my classic?

I'm now 67 and after two biopsies five years ago was diagnosed with agressive prostate cancer. I opted for surgery but during the pre-op assessment ECG a heart problem was discovered which ruled out surgery, any surgery, except life-saving, completely. I had a course of radiotherapy that ended two years ago, all the while going for tests and scans to find out what was wrong with my heart. It turned out that I'd most likely had a heart attack that I'd not known about; no chest pain whatsoever. What with that and the cancer diagnosis I was rather anxious, like you.

This July I had three stents fitted to sort out blocked arteries and I'm now on anti-coagulants, beta blockers and ace inhbitors. Last week I was signed off by my oncologist and transferred to my GP, my PSA now 0.2. I'm seeing my cardiologist again next week for an update on my heart's condition following a recent echocardiogram which showed improvement in heart function. Other than fatigue which I put down to the cocktail of medication, I feel 100% fine. I've completed a cardio rehab. programme after which my fitness level was assessed as twice what it was before the course.

Is it time to sell your classic...? Definitely not! One of my Rileys is undergoing a five-year restoration, I intend to be around to enjoy it for many years to come.

One of the things I did from an early stage in all the above was to be determined that I wouldn't let it get me down. PMA - Postive Mental Attitude - at all times, for the sake of my O/H as much as me, helped me through it all and I now feel fitter than I have in years; you can too. I'm here to advise, reassure or help in any way I can.

[numtumfutunch]

Not an expert however it sounds like you have atrial fibrillation (AF) which whilst technically "dodgy" shouldnt be considered a death sentence

I would imagine you would see a cardiologist to fine tune as necessary and it should certainly not have any bearing on your fitness for anaesthetic when the speed is calmed down a bit by the bisoprolol, naturally warfarin is a thread in itself

Good luck!

[Old Merc]

Thank you Riley Blue for sharing your health issues with me.Nice to see your on the mend,well done.
Positive attitude that's the spirit.
Will all this mess up my holiday plans and travel insurance,how did you get on? We have a trip booked in March and will probably do at least one more overseas trip next year.

[Riley Blue]

Old Merc said:

Thank you Riley Blue for sharing your health issues with me.Nice to see your on the mend,well done.
Positive attitude that's the spirit.
Will all this mess up my holiday plans and travel insurance,how did you get on? We have a trip booked in March and will probably do at least one more overseas trip next year.

More than happy to share experiences.

Your travel plans shouldn't be affected; my O/H made travel insurance arrangements with Aviva, she's 51 and has epilepsy and diabetes. She was on the phone to Aviva for almost an hour explaining everything about our medical conditions but they were very fair and understanding. She can't remember the exact cost but thinks it was less than £200 for a year's multi-trip European cover, my laptop and camera kit included.

[Old Merc]

Riley Blue said:

Your travel plans shouldn't be affected; my O/H made travel insurance arrangements with Aviva, she's 51 and has epilepsy and diabetes. She was on the phone to Aviva for almost an hour explaining everything about our medical conditions but they were very fair and understanding. She can't remember the exact cost but thinks it was less than £200 for a year's multi-trip European cover, my laptop and camera kit included.

Well that`s encouraging,we are also insured with Aviva.I`ve just sent off the details so let's see what they have to say.
When taking all these various heart tablets is there anything you Must or Must Not do? One thing surprised me was cranberry juice,I was told to drink lots of it for the prostate,but the heart tablets say DO NOT drink any.Also I do like a pint or two or a glass of red with my dinner,is that OK.

[Riley Blue]

Here's my daily medication:

(Heart)
Eplerenone 25mg
Clopidogrel 75mg
Asprin 75mg
Bisoprolol 5mg
Candesartan 15mg

(Statin)
Atorvastatin 80mg

I live much as I did before though exercise more; walking and, when the weather is better, cycling. My diet is pretty much as before though portions are smaller as I'm trying to lose weight. Otherwise the only change is that the cocktail of pills sometimes make me very tired, by early/mid afternoon I can feel I've hit a brick wall and sleep for an hour or so, a very deep sleep. I try not to as it affects how well I sleep at night and try and fight it but perhaps twice a week I give in to it and have a snooze.

I never liked cranberry juice so but I did enjoy a G&T and red wine though stopped entirely whilst undergoing having radiotherapy as the treatment kicked off with hormone injections which caused hot flushes (as my female GP said, "Welcome to my world..."). Alcohol seemed to increase the severity of these. I now only drink on special occasions, I just got used to not drinking - but discuss with your consultant, no one has told me I mustn't drink...

[Trabi601]

That's interesting. It's nearly 6 years since my heart attack, I'm on:

Bisoprolol 5mg
Aspirin 75mg
Ramipril 2.5mg twice daily
Simvastatin 40mg

I'm in my early 40s and also often feel really fatigued, despite getting more sleep than I did before my heart attack.

I wonder if it's related to the tablets or reduced heart function. (I run several times a week, cycle and swim when I have time)

[Riley Blue]

Trabi601 said:

That's interesting. It's nearly 6 years since my heart attack, I'm on:

Bisoprolol 5mg
Aspirin 75mg
Ramipril 2.5mg twice daily
Simvastatin 40mg

I'm in my early 40s and also often feel really fatigued, despite getting more sleep than I did before my heart attack.

I wonder if it's related to the tablets or reduced heart function. (I run several times a week, cycle and swim when I have time)

I sure my fatigue isn't related to reduced heart function because I never felt tired before I was told I had a heart problem and prescribed the medication. I sleep well at night, usually a minimum of eight hours of which approximately half is deep sleep. You're more active than me (and 20 years younger) so could it be that you're just tiring yourself out and need longer to recover?

[Trabi601]

Riley Blue said:

I sure my fatigue isn't related to reduced heart function because I never felt tired before I was told I had a heart problem and prescribed the medication. I sleep well at night, usually a minimum of eight hours of which approximately half is deep sleep. You're more active than me (and 20 years younger) so could it be that you're just tiring yourself out and need longer to recover?

No idea - really hacks me off. My wife is 1 year younger and runs 25-30 miles a week to my 15 or so miles a week and is nowhere near as fatigued as I am!