HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Blood pressure meds & nosebleed questions...

rebecca0623 · 10-26-2008, 09:06 AM

Flori - I have the same bp problems. Alarmingly high bp now. I went to "heart failure" specialist in Nashville. He and I spoke about herceptin and he has me on a beginning dose of Coreg 20mg which he will increase. Says the dose is 80mg and will add an ACE inhibitor eventually. Says this combo actually helps the heart heal which blocking the HER2 receptors with herceptin actually inhibits. He said glad to see someone before there was damage and he could be proactive. My echo confirmed my MUGA was incorrect and is actually around 65% not the 52% of my first MUGA (the problems with that technician and their efforts to draw blood then give it back to me are a story!). He has ordered a cardiac MRI for a new baseline. He says this actually will measure the size of the heart chambers and catch a problem before an EF decrease would show up. Hope this helps.

Also, I was having nosebleeds but don't sound as bad as yours. Onc. said first try a good, strong humidifier and that has worked well for me. Hope you get some good resolution.

10-26-2008, 09:06 AM	#9
rebecca0623 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, Tennessee Posts: 48	Flori - I have the same bp problems. Alarmingly high bp now. I went to "heart failure" specialist in Nashville. He and I spoke about herceptin and he has me on a beginning dose of Coreg 20mg which he will increase. Says the dose is 80mg and will add an ACE inhibitor eventually. Says this combo actually helps the heart heal which blocking the HER2 receptors with herceptin actually inhibits. He said glad to see someone before there was damage and he could be proactive. My echo confirmed my MUGA was incorrect and is actually around 65% not the 52% of my first MUGA (the problems with that technician and their efforts to draw blood then give it back to me are a story!). He has ordered a cardiac MRI for a new baseline. He says this actually will measure the size of the heart chambers and catch a problem before an EF decrease would show up. Hope this helps. Also, I was having nosebleeds but don't sound as bad as yours. Onc. said first try a good, strong humidifier and that has worked well for me. Hope you get some good resolution. __________________ Dx June 2008, Age 44 Mother Dx age 54, deceased 1.2 cm tumor right breast, grade 3, ER 4+; PR 3+ HER2 +, invasive ductal carcinoma Quadrantectomy right on 7/30/08 Path report, all 3 nodes taken were clear!!!!!! Lymphatic/vascular invasion and sent out BRCA testing Port in on 9/2/08. Chemo began 9/3/08. TCH (MUGA wrong - echocardiogram says 65% cardiac MRI 59% 9/10/98 elevated liver enzymes, PET scan 9/16/08 all clear. TC ended 12/17/08 Port blood clot and hosp. 1/2/09 radiation begins 1/8/09 BRCA testing done - results NEGATIVE! cardiologist said go back to coreg as it helps counteract heart effects of herceptin and slowly increase dosage - now 40mg daily.