Most Recent Messages in Conditions, Meds & Tests

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Crestor ( rosuvastatin) 5mg

I've been taking this statin for a month and half now! I've never had red swollen gums. I've never had any problems with guns or teeth!   I noticed a gum is red and swollen above a tooth.  Does this statin cause swollen gums?  Has anyone has gum issues with this medicine? 

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Pacemaker and beta blockers

My doctor has prescribed Corbis 2.5 after I rushed to the hospital for some symptoms similar to what I used to experience before my pacemaker implantation surgery. I am new to beta blockers and Not sure about how I will be living with all these. What long term effects I am going to have . I am 28.

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Pacemaker constantly firing

Hi, I'm 57 and had a DDD pacemaker inserted in 2018 for 2:1 AV block. I had ongoing issues with paroxysmal SVT and my cardiologist put me on flecainide 50mg twice daily last October. I'm also taking bisoprolol 5mg and lisinopril 2.5mg once daily. I've been feeling great on this regimen of medication and the SVT subsided since starting flecainide. However, over the past couple of weeks my heart rate is constantly dropping below 60 so my pacemaker is literally firing all o...

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Polypharmacy & De-Prescribing

Following on from the recent medication poll I enclose a couple of articles to consider when taking lots of different medications. 

My question is how many medications do you take and have you ever considered that any of them may be 'unnecessary' e.g. are no longer helpful or could perhaps be replaced with an alternative, possibly less invasive or damaging treatment? 

Would you consider an alternative treatment, for say, sleep hygiene rather than a sleeping...

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blood test results for the past month

This is an updated blood test results.  So you do not have to go back to the last one i posted 30 days ago.  The numbers are lower just not quite there yet,  The high out of range are getting closer to being in range.

The doctor said these   results are from  the foods I was eating 2 to 3 months ago.  Have been eating better since then.  Hopefully the next blood test in about 30 days or 6 weeks will show how much better i have done.

Saw...

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Low BP reminder to me

Hi All

I have been a life long fainter w heart block, got a Biotronik edora PM last May and its been working well. Generally my HR stays below 60 and stable except of course with exercise. More of a comment here that I am wondering if anyone else has experienced. Have always had low (sometimes extremely low) BP. Mostly orthostatic, getting out of bed, standing too long, etc. Fortunately my episodes are very transient,quick quick so I don't really think about it too often.

Howe...

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Remote monitoring and atrial fibrillation

Hi friends,

At my checkup this week I was told that back in mid January I had a 3 hour episode of heart flutter.  The nurse/technician said, this means you need to be on an anti-coagulant'.  They were going to forward the report to my gp for follow up.  I have two questions: for any of you on an anti-coagulant, are there any side effects?  Second, I have a Medtronic Azure, is it possible to use an app with it so I can check for any further episodes of flutter/fib...

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Carotid artery ultrasound

Tried to tell the cardiologist when i saw her this past March.  That i was not scheduled until 2024 by the vascular surgeron, every 2 years.  But she would not listen to me.  

 The results this time  for  both  no significant stenosis of the common carotid <50% stenosis of the internal  and <50% of the external.  Good blood flow to the brain.  Come back in 2 years.

Lesion Morphology: in the right is heterogenou...

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AMIODARONE?

Hi everyone. I've been prescribed Amiodarone 200mg daily. My doctor said I cannot drink alcohol at all while on this pill. I'm not a daily drinker or anything, but my bf and I do like to go out to events and enjoy a few drinks. No telling how long I will be on this pill. Has anyone had ant experience drinking while on Amiodarone ?? Will I ever be able to enjoy myself again ?? 

Thanks. 

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Spironolactone (Aldactone)

Hi all!  SPIRONACTONE ( ALDACTONE)  It's a water pill for heart!  Have any of you taken this medication? The doctor prescribed 25 mg of it along with a beta blocker for left ventricular dysfunction. It is giving me serious side effects! The doctor said to cut it in half to see if it was better but still not working for me. It gives me mental confusion, tired, weak, dizzy, chest tightness! I can't take it.  Have any of you had side effects with this m...

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ICD

Hi, I am a 69 year old male with an ICD fitted a few yers ago. Also had a Hypertrophic Cardiomiopathy diagnosis.

Had no problems till last September when I was awakened by a rapid heart rate (94BPM) I know this is not regarded generally as 'fast' but it is for me. Resting I am usually around 50 and out and about 70-90. After only being occasional its now happening several times a day and lasts anything from a few minutes to 12 hours before returning to normal.This leaves me feel...

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Not sure about Pacemaker

I get really tired just after lunch everyday and if I don't shut my eyes for a microsleep I'll be exhausted for the rest of the afternoon. It hits me with only 15 minutes notice. I have psoriatic arthritis, take Methotrexate but only a low dose once a week. I have Angina with hardened arteries. Daily medication for high blood pressure. I get examined every 6 months by Cardiologist and stress test is normal. He is concerned though about my  low pulse rate which is 36 to 45 be...

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AFib

I have a question.  Yesterday, Easter Sunday was a beautiful spring day.   I went to my daughters and around 10 am I started feeling weird...really tired, could barley lift my legs to go up and down the patio steps...I felt like I was having problems breathing and just wanted to go lay down.  My heart was beating pretty fast.   Today I got a call from the device clinic saying they had an alert yesterday.  

I feel fine today....but........why befor...

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How often are you paced?

I had a pacemaker implanted 2 1/2 weeks ago due to bradycardia with sluggish symptoms. Halter Monitor showed HR dropping to 26 with pauses up to 4 seconds. I also have sleep apnea (I use a CPAP) trigminal neuralga, and Afib which will be the next hurdle after 4 weeks. I do feel better post op with HR running about 60 according to my watch. Sometimes mostly at night I feel like the PM is firing, although hard to tell because the neuralga seems to run across my chest as well. I saw a poll askin...

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1 year on and feeling no benefit

Hi all .

I've had my biventicle pacemaker just over a year now . Apparently I suffer complete heart block but knew nothing about it , no fainting etc - nothing ! 

Had it fitted , also found put I was suffering  hyperthyroidism , sleep apnea,  blood pressure and polycythemia ( thick blood ) not bad from one check up ! 

Meds I've been given - biprosolol,  doxazosin,  ramaprill , thyroxine and warfarin 

Apparently alls looking go...

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ANTIDEPRESSANT

Dr put me on Citilopram for anxiety but 5 days in had horrendous palpitations. As my device is set at 70bpm my heartbeat obviously didn't race but it was thumping out my chest and felt fluttery. Dr said to stop and try Sertraline next week but I'm afraid to try them. Any advice welcome about this type of medication. 

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Ivabradine

I was just wondering if anyone takes this medicine and is 100% dependent and takes this med. I'm starting it tomorrow for my Innapropriate Sinus Tachycardia, my EP is very highly rated and so must know what she is doing. It states that 1 in 10 suffer from irregular rapid contraction of the heart and that you shouldn't take it if you dependent on your pacemaker. Has anyone ever had worsening arrhythmias taking this drug? I asked my EP and she said she has never heard of it but 1 in 10...

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Heart function and pacer dependency

I have a dual chamber pacemaker to treat my 3rd degree heart block.  I have had my pacemaker for 5 years and I  am pacer dependent. I had my yearly checkup today and all looked good and hopefully I have about 3 more years until replacement, however my Cardiologist ordered a echocardiogram to check on my heart function. He said because I am pacer dependent that it can affect how well my heart functions,.  He asked if I had swelling, issues laying flat ect.which I...

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VFIB EPISODE

Has anyone had a ventricular fibulation(VF)  episode? What tests did they give you? Have you had any more after the first? My pacemaker detected a VF episode after an emotional stress episode! I came out of it and now feel fine but I'm lucky, Now I'm advised to get testing done! Has anyone experienced this ? 

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Medication

I'm having problems with ectopic beats interfering with normal pacing.

This is pacemaker number two and 18-years on PMs.

Problems started this year and hopefully I will get to see someone other than the physiologists soon.

Basically, I'm getting down to 33 BPM with a base rate set to 70.

I tried dropping beta-blockers (Atenolol 50-mg daily) for a few days and did feel better.

I spoke to the GP a couple of days ago and she recommended stopping beta-blocker...

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You know you're wired when...

Your old device becomes a paper weight for your desk.

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