Most Recent Messages in Conditions, Meds & Tests

Post Message!

three down 2 to go

Hello to my fellow tickers. I just want to say YEAH so far so good. I am typing this from my hospital bed and have successfully started the Tykosin. Received my thrid dose and so far no signs of Torsades, two more to go and I will be on my way home. THe only issue I have had thus far is it is Effecting my hypotension a bit, BP 80/50 but it has drastically decreased my resting HR and the PVCS. hope you all have a good night

Read More...

Can anyone help me

I have a duel chamber pacemaker been having alot of chest pain doc says being paced in the right ventrical can cause chest pain due to sometimes being more sensitive in that area. He is telling me he can put it in my left ventrical and should feel better. Please if anybody knows for sure please let me know

Read More...

hoping for good results

Well yesterday I went and saw my EP. My ICD check revealed what was anticipated, increase # of episodes of AT and also increasing duration :< Resting HR alone was 120 in the office. We talked a bit and although my options at this time are very limited, we are going to admit me to the hospital and try tykosin again. I am a tad nervous as last time I was on this medication I had my device fire several times. But also in saying that I am looking at the brighter side that it did give some relie...

Read More...

Low Blood Pressure

Does anyone here have hypotension, and if so, what kind of symptoms do you experience along with it? I believe my blood pressure has dropped a bit (it's always been low) and is causing the dizzy spells I sometimes get, both sitting down and standing up/walking. I've been healthier than usual recently, walking several miles a day on my treadmill, and eating very, very well. Can getting in better shape cause an already-low pressure to drop? My GP didn't seem too worried about it; she suggested tha...

Read More...

Need Help!!

Dear Folks,
Last time I asked about GERD and Endoscopy. I would like to thanks to everybody who has response.

But just yesterday when I met with Internist and did Ultrasound, founded multiple stones on my Gladbladder (size vary up to 7,4mm). Internist suggested remove Gladbladder soon to avoid any complication.

My question are
1. Does anyone here has experience with Gladbladder removal?
2. What is negative side effect (quality of life) if we don't have gladbl...

Read More...

Radiofrequency ablation and devices

Obviously we're all here because we have or know someone with a pacemaker or ICD.
My question:
Anyone out there have a previously implanted device and endured radiofrequency ablation afterwards.
I know the statistics on ablations, but don't know many who've had devices already implanted at the time of the ablation. I'm concerned about the safety of my pacemaker hardware and whether or not RF energy has any possible damaging effects to it.
I'm not completely sold on what my do...

Read More...

ablation #3

I am scheduled for my 3rd ablation on feb. 26th. Actually i had just an EP study in the early 90's and then 2 actual ablations last year(feb. and july). I had dual pathways in my AV node that they found in the 90's but couldn't fix bc they couldn't do cryo. I had the ablation in feb 08 for afib and they also got rid of one of the av nodal pathways. The ablation in jul 08 was bc i went in to a-flutter so my EP went back in and did PVI. Now i am having almost constant bigeminy so he is going t...

Read More...

Good news... I think

Hello Pacer Chicks and Pacer Guys!
As many of you know, I have been having a lot of trouble with climbing stairs. I get out of breath and my legs feel like lead. Well, I had a visit to the cardiologist and he ran a bunch of test on me. It turns out that I was right all along. I have T.B. which stands for the dreaded "Tired Butt" So the outcome is excellent. All I have to do is get off the computer and get outside, do some stairs, some walking or any other fun activities I can think of. I a...

Read More...

Endoscopy

Hi All,
I was diagnosed with GERD and suggested to do an Endoscopy and make sure the best treatment .

With Pacemaker I am not sure if we can have an Endoscopy.
I have no scedule to meet with my EP till next June.

Any advice?


Warm Regards,

Gandara

Read More...

midodrine

does anyone else take this??? how does it make you feel?? my doctor mentioned it may cause migraines......

also, i went to see my EP today and told him that I feel like i have poor circulation- my arms, legs, hips, head, and many body parts are always falling asleep especially when i am laying down and he said it was not a heart problem..... well what kind of problem is it??? i also have trouble after i eat, i start to feel hot and flushed and get light headed.... he didnt seem to...

Read More...

Plavix VS Coumadin

A friend of mine who is a heart surgeon said that the side effects of Plavix were way easier to deal with, and that Coumadin was only 1 1/2% better at preventing strokes than Plavix. Apparently with Plavix, you don't need to be drug in for blood tests all of the time. Also, Life Extension had a good artical on Vitamin K and Coumadin doses. Vitamin K has more roles than just clotting, and Coumadin can deprive the body of it.

Has anyone switched to Plavix? Anyone have any imput? I'...

Read More...

Drug Costs, Effectiveness, Lipitor

I am in the US. Just calculated my probable drug costs for 2009 at about $3000 after insurance and out of MY pocket. Yikes. Three drugs are the issue: Plavix (75 mg had a drug eluding stent placed July 08) might need to take "forever." Lipitor (40 mg) needed "forever" and Amiodarone (400 mg-tried Toprol and Sotalol, but on those my ICD fired 8 times). They are trying to get me off Amio and may consider Ventricular ablation.

Lipitor is $1400 a year. Zocor is like Lipitor and has a US g...

Read More...

Generic for Toprol XL

My mail- in pharmacy sent me a letter saying they can no longer get the generic for Toprol XL. I asked at my local CVS and they agreed it's almost impossible.
Of course, I'll have to pay a much larger Co pay for the brand name. Has anyone else run into this problem?? I know many of you are also on this drug...

Thanks,
Suze

Read More...

???

I keep having fainting spells and periods of confusion and i cant figure why this would happen if i have my pacemaker. At first it was happening when i was standing and now it is happening when i am sitting as well. I went to the hspital on sat for this and the checked my pacemaker and did a chest exay and said everything was fine. Any thoughts?

Read More...

AT or AFL

Hey guys: Just needed to get it off my chest, no pun intended. I have been in and out of AT or AFL again since December, ( as of Jan 12 I had had 388 episodes). Anyway, I talked to the doc last thursday and we agreed on trying tykosin again even though I had torsades previously. As I told the doc it is a risk I am willing to take if it stops or supresses some of the episodes. As of yet though I have not heard back from his nurse and on a scale of 1-10 I am pretty much feeling like an * in t...

Read More...

Toprol increase

Well, I'm trying my hardest to avoid an AV Node ablation.
I'm only 50mg from the maximum dose of Toprol that humans can safely take. I hope my blood pressure is able to maintain. I'm slight built, and my blood pressure is okay at 100/60.
I need all the well wishes in the world.
Please let something go right for a change.

We'll see,
Best to ya'll,
Angelie

Read More...

Herbs

Anybody ever have a problem taking beta blockers with herbal supplements? I have some digestive enzymes made by brantleycure.com and i called the pharmacist and they seem to have no problem with it but i still get nervous taking any supplements with meds. So just wondering if any of you have takin herbs and beta blockers together????

Read More...

Blood Pressure Tanked

I'll try to make this short but I'm kind of windy! I was struck with the flu Tuesday afternoon and came home from work obviously. Spent 2 days sitting in the bathroom (or real close) until I felt as dehydrated as I've ever felt. I tried to sip liquids but obviously couldn't keep up. Tuesday night, Wed & Thurs I didn't take any meds (I'm on blood pressure, cholestrol & thyroid stuff) because I was sure they wouldn't stay down. By Thursday afternoon I knew I was going to live & was feeling much be...

Read More...

Meds update

Well i called the EP doc today and his solution was to up my toprol xl to 200mg a day.

Read More...

Meds

I was on toprol xl for about 5 years but about 4 months ago or so it stopped working for me so i was taking atenolol then i had my ablation and i went back to my EP on tuesday for a follow up and he wanted me to stop my atenolol and start taking toprol again. I tried to explain that it stopped working for me and he insisted that it would work since i had the ablation. So my dumb butt listened to him and within a couple of hours my heart was pounding, I had a migrane, dizzy( im very symptamatic)...

Read More...

You know you're wired when...

Your ICD has a better memory than you.

Member Quotes

I still feel great today and can’t stop feeling excited at my "new" life. Modern day miracles through medicine and electronic devices are amazing!