Most Recent Messages in Conditions, Meds & Tests

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what are you paying for Eliquis

I just started on Eliquis, the first 60 pills are free, then at the first of the year i have to pay around 280, then the cost per month drops to 49.00 until around Sept. where is goes up a little.  I understand that there will be a Generic coming soon.

Liz

 

 

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Amiodarone causing constant dizziness?

Merry Christmas everyone.

I had my ICD installed a year ago and was fine up until I received a shock in October this year. I was immediately put on Amiodarone and have never felt the same since. I constantly have low blood pressure and feel light headed / dizzy. I take my meds last thing at night before bed and wake up to still feel dizzy. I was on Losartan 50mg which was cut to 25mg and was then stopped. Nothing changed. I was on Eplerenone 25mg which was stopped and nothing chang...

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What are you paying for Eliquis

I've been quite fine on Warfarin for the last 8 years. My EP though is now recommending Eliquis as a "better" option. He says the America Heart Assoc is also now recommending Eliquis over Warfarin. Slight problem: Warfarin is like $10 a month, Eliquis is $500 a month (yes five hundred $). I'm on Medicare and with Part D drug insurance either the premium is outrageous or the co-pay is.

The $500 is for 60 tablets 5 mg. Twice a day for a one month supply. How mu...

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Ablation

I have had my  PM for almost 1 year and had an ablation before it was implanted.  I now have almost constant flutters and will wear the Holter again in Jan to see if something else needs to be done.  I have no symptoms and plenty of energy for my age (79),  work out 6 days a week, Curves and a gym.  My Dr said another ablation might be considered.  How does that work with a PM and another person told me that age might be a factor in not having another ablation.&n...

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sarcoidosis

After a year with the pacemaker I've been diagnosed with cardiac and lung sarcoidosis after a PET scan.  Started the prednisone this morning and will see my EP tomorrow to discuss swapping to an ICD.  Would appreciate hearing how others have fared with this.  I knew this was a possibility for a little while as my symptoms had returned to a lesser degree and my EF kept dropping.  The ICD was a surprise but apparently it's protocol as the risk is high with the sarcoi...

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remote transmission

Hi  i thought with the remote transmission that is set up in my home.  Would not need to go to pacemaker clinic .  Was suprised last week before thanksgiving, when i was called to remind me of my appt. on Dec 2nd.  Mentioned to the caller that was sheduled for a transmission on Nov.28th.  Which was sucessfull on Nov. 27th.  She said that was why i was coming in.  I thought it was for the cardiologist check up which whould have been nearly a 3+ month check up...

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metoprolol and flecanide

I got my PM July 30th for Sick Sinus Syndrome, and I have Afib and a tacycardia along with PVCs. I started with one EP who had me on Sotalol after the PM  that didn't seem to help with my symptoms. The medication was causing me to feel awful so I sought out a 2nd opinion after feeling I was being dismissed. The new EP thought I would benefit from an Afib ablation which I did. The EP has been on metoprolol and now wants to put me on felcanide because I still having symptoms. Is anyone...

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Atrial Fibrillation

Hi! 

My mother is probably getting a pacemaker this or next week. She has AFib, with low blood pressure/pulse and an uneven rhythm. 

She was hoping to be able to use a pacemaker instead of drugs, and is deeply disappointed about probably having to continue to take them even with the pacemaker. She's annoyed that scientists have not made a pacemaker that can "do it all." Does anyone have any info for her that can help her feel more confident about...

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Neural tube defects

Are neural tube defects common with complete congenital heart block third degree 

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Congenital complete heart block

Hi my son was born with complete congenital heart block which he now uses a pacemaker for,I was looking for some info as now as my sons 20 months old and not walking the doctor has X-ray his spine and there’s a crack in the top where it hasn’t fused together?also has 3 sacrel dimples and a preculiar sinus,I was wondering if anybody else is going thru this,and if it’s all connected to my sons heart condition,or if any body else has spinal conditions,any info wud be greatly ap...

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Cardiac MRI Question

Inserted 10/22/19.  When I was in the hospital a Cardiac MRI was ordered.  My Dr used it to look at the electrical function of my heart .

i had a bypass 12 years ago so I asked what did the MRI .which was with contrast , reveal concerning my arteries. 

He said he had no idea as he was only looking at electrical function. 

After I got out I emailed my cardiologist and asked if it could be looked at ...he said no but he could do a PET scan if I wanted. ...

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Myeloproliferative Neoplasms/Polycythemia

Hello!

I am wondering if any members have a myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) such as polycythemia vera (PV). If so, have your doctors made any connections between hypercoagulability and your heart condition? Did your MPN status change anything about your diagnosis, pacemaker installation or programming?

I have polycythemia vera and was diagnosed with sick sinus syndrome in July 2019. I had a single lead atrial PM installed then. My resting heart rate has been...

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Magnets in Slep Number Beds

Someone a couple weeks ago asked if magnets in a Sleep Number bed would affect a PM or ICD.  I wrote NO.  Went by our local Seep Number store in Atlanta to find out if I had been completely correct, since I made a couple assumptions for my answer.

Young woman sales rep looked at me & said "You have a PM, right?"  I told her the whole sordid tale about my reasons for asking & she had a surprising knowledge about PM's & mag...

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Medication reaction

Hi, I’m 62 yr old female, first PM on Sept 12, 2019, for sick sinus syndrome bradycardia-tachycardia. I was initially put on Cardizem 25mg, but dropped pressure too low, so now am on Metropolol xl 25 mg, started on 10/25/19. I take it around 6:30 pm, and by 8:30, I’m exhaunted as I sit and watch tv. The other evening I started having hallucinations as I was sitting watching tv. Last night I almost blacked out when I got up to let the dog out. I took my blood pressure (new por...

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Pacemaker and resistant hypertension

Hey all, 

Apologies in advance for the long post.  I am 56 and for 25 years have had hypertension that has progressed to the point that 4 meds can’t control it.  I also am hypothyroid for 30 years. Because of these things my heart rate has always been low in the 50’s. It is especially low when my bp is over 200.  When my pressure is low my heart rate is usually in the 60’s.  I am always dizzy,  short of breath, fatigued and have no to...

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question

I got a PM 2 years ago for AV block and all has been well.  Beginning of Oct I sent my transmission and was called the same day to be seen the next. They told me that I have AVR    they saw 120 episodes in the previous 3 weeks.  nothing that lasted too long.  My dr has no idea why this is happening and my PM had only needed to work 8% of the time which is much decreased.  I am going tomorrow for a EP study with ablation.   The procedure  is &n...

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Biologic Treatment for Psoriasis with PM

Since my cardiac issues began in mid-August 2019 and pacemaker placement I've also developed significant psoriasis on about half of my body. I'm taking antibiotics, using a steroid cream, and getting phototherapy three times a week. The psoriasis seens to be getting worse, not better. I want to have a conversation with my dermatologist and cardiologist/EP about biologics or other systenic meds to treat the psoriasis. Has anyone dealt with this? PM implications? Cardiac side-effexts?

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Heart failure people?

Hello friends! I got my pacemaker/defibrillator when I was 29 because I am in heart failure and my heart was only working 20%. It now works 27% so I'm happy! Is anyone being considered for the heart transplant list? How long have you been in heart failure? And how are you feeling now days? Thank you for commenting! 

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MRIs with a MRI safe device

Has anyone had a MRI with a MRI safe device?  How big a deal was it?  Did you have to have it near your cardiologist's so they could reprogram the device?

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hearing

Was wondering if anyone noticed that their hearing improved after PM implanted?

mary

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Member Quotes

A properly implanted and adjusted pacemaker will not even be noticeable after you get over the surgery.