Thanks everyone for the kind messages – wishing you all well
love from The Emerald isle

Hi Mike, didnt have to go that route as I am F3 and have varices -which was the main criteria for getting the meds thru the HSE –

I am pretty sure getting the generics wont be a problem — i am sure there some folk here who have done it in ireland– if not you could always fly out and bring back the meds with you ?
good luck

Hi James , thanks so much for some clarity on the betablocker issue–i was taking only 20mg at night– but am very sensitive to anything like that- I was wondering where my libido had gone,was feeling lethargic in the mornings- I phoned my consultant and asked whether she would prescribe an ACE inhibitor as a substitute to the beta blockers– didnt get a positive response wouldnt do it -and my local gp is scared about treading on my consultants toes.. so I might drop the betas altogether -most nights ive only been taking 10mg (reluctance to take them )

I noticed that there are quite a few foods that contain ACE inhiibiting componenets such as :
Casokinins and lactokinins, breakdown products of casein and whey, occur naturally after ingestion of milk products, especially cultured milk. .
The lactotripeptides Val-Pro-Pro and Ile-Pro-Pro produced by the probiotic Lactobacillus helveticus or derived from casein have been shown to have ACE-inhibiting and antihypertensive functions.

I did restart taking a good brand of probiotics with Lactobacillus helveticus in it- also I ve been starting to make homemade KEFIR

this is an excellent link for info on ACE inhibiting foods materials
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1541-4337.12051/full

will boost up on some specific foods I ve cut out carbs almost completely – high protein grassfed lamb/beef etc loads of green veggie etc. cutting out stuff with sugar in has been quite a challenge– !!

Thanks James
will let you know how things unfold
Blessings from the Emerald Isle

Bob