Cardiologist said the diagnosis is…………..

Posted by 1gratefuldawg @1gratefuldawg, May 10 8:01am

Afib flutter 100% of the time. So I am on Eliquis and Metoprolol and headed for a shock in 4-6 weeks.
Doc didn’t have me make any lifestyle changes which was good. Liked the doctor he has similar sense of humor. He also apologized that other EKG’s were missed diagnosed. He showed me on both the Mayo and my KARDIAmobile tracings how to recognize the flutter and you have to zoom in a bit.
I’ve had house payments that were less than 1 month of Eliquis.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Heart Rhythm Conditions Support Group.

tuckie | @tuckie | May 22 4:05pm

I didn't know much about Pro-BNP but only one Dr a Locum from Switzerland who added it to my Blood Test 3 monthly. I have AF rapid and Persistent and Thyroid Papillary Cancer after a Stroke caused by ultimately by the Thyroid abnormally.

Protein=Peptide is manufactured in the heart when it is stressed. 100 Lrvel and under is ideal but over 200 one is heading for Heart Block.

BBs cause Pro-BNP to rise.

So the 198 to 103 on reduced Bisoprolol from 2.5 to 1.25 was a welcome surprise. Then when I gave it up completely again reduced further to 89.

That was all learning to me and now I'm further away fro Heart Block. I have not slept afternoons since.

The Locum Dr returns in October to our great place NZ.

cheri JOY

margaretfriel | @margaretfriel | May 22 6:49pm

In reply to @cstrutt52 "I (73M) was diagnosed with AFib in 2016. It continued to get worse over time with..." + (show)

I'm So Happy for you. You're Fortunate to have Dr.'s who made accurate diagnosis & knew exactly what to do to put you on the path to Healthy Living. Congratulations & Enjoy.

margaretfriel | @margaretfriel | May 23 1:51pm

In reply to @mm501 "I like that "are you married to that cardiologist?" In my case, it was my PCP..." + (show)

99-44/100's% of Dr.'s Absolutely DON'T want to admit, Big Pharma "Rewards" Dr.'s &/or their Practice for writing Prescriptions, but unfortunately Medicine today is driven by more than the Hippocratic Oath. Big Clinics are All Eager to get even BIGGER, & do you think they're going to do That on Dr.'s telling you "You Don't Need Drugs if you eat a Good Nutritious Diet & get plenty of Exercise." Nope! Prescription-Pads should come with the "Ka-Ching Sound"!
MAYBE (Just Maybe) you could get a Pharmacist to admit it, but 'Then Again', they might have been given "Gag-Orders" too!
Most Dr.'s & Pharmacists HOPE you have Good Insurance that will pick-up a substantial % of the cost ... (All Too Often, Not The Case!)
It's Our "New Reality"!

marybird | @marybird | May 23 6:30pm

In reply to @1gratefuldawg "Unfortunately I have insurance so that option is not available. I need to straighten out my..." + (show)

Actually a person must have insurance to use this coupon. Depends on your insurance, the coupon for Eliquis from the manufacturer's website ( See the link in Daisy's post) requires that the person have a commercial insurance/drug plan. The person who has a government-sponsored drug plan ( such as the Medicare Part D drug plans, Medicaid, Tricare, or a Medicare Advantage plan that includes drug coverage) does not qualify for this coupon.

A person who has a commercial insurance plan with drug coverage who is not old enough for Medicare might well qualify to use the coupon. I have traditional Medicare with a federal employees BC/BS secondary insurance, and the secondary insurance also provides a prescription drug plan. The BC/BS drug plan is private, (Not Medicare Part D), so I qualify for the Eliquis coupon that allows me to purchase this drug for $10/month. I've used this coupon for about 1.5 years now, and at this point the coupon is renewable every 2 years.

margaretfriel | @margaretfriel | May 29 4:01pm

In reply to @dj0751 "I am 73 y/o man, just happened to one day tell my PCP that while I..." + (show)

@dj0751

I am 73 y/o man, just happened to one day tell my PCP that while I was at work as a mental health therapist my heart rate had accelerated to 130 bpm and continued all day, but I was able to work, undisturbed, focused and then at the end of the work day the hr returned to normal. I have had similar experiences MAYBE 3 times in my whole life. My PCP referred me to a cardiologist just to be on the safe side. I went through some tests - STress test, echocardiogram, EKG and at the end of the day had a holter monitor put on my and was told to wear it for 7 days. I went home, read the instructions to press the red button if I notice anything in my chest going on. An hour after I got home from the testing (which wore me out - tired) I noticed my HR going up and it kept going - up from 90 bpm to around 130. I got a call almost immediately from God knows who, telling me she was monitoring the activity of the monitor -with an emergency code blue TONE IN HER VOICE "You have AFIB and I CALLED IN A PRESCRIPTION YOU NEED TO TAKE FOR YOUR PROTECTION! That bothered me - scared me. Then I remembered: Because I was told the day before to stop all use of propranolol, I had an aha moment, realizing for 36 hours I had not taken it! (btw if had been rx 30 years ago only for migraine prophylaxis). So I took my propranolol and within a few minutes my hr reduced to normal, thank goodness, right? Anyway , went to the followup and that is when I felt I was treated like a lab rat and the cardiologist only reviewed the results on the computer screen. No eye to eye, no empathy, reassurance or asking if I had questions - just kept telling the nurse what to type, including "AFIB". Then he walked out of the room as he told the nurse to tell me to take xarelto and amodirone (sp?). Nurse asked me to pick up the rx and I refused due to have been scared sh*tless of the side effects, and i was not yet convinced I had AFIB. I am going to a second opinion with all my printed results in hand. For the heck of it I asked my pharmacist how much the xarelto cost and it was $1750 for 3 month supply. Big pharma is not my friend. I have medicare advantage. Even at a discount it is not affordable. What do middle class and other income limited/deprived people do? So I am needing to trust aspirin and propranolol. How many others have gone through similar experiences? Please weigh in.

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My experiences were similarly confusing, scary, & also experienced some Medical Staff who had the "bedside Manner" of a Broom ... ( swept out the door)!
I found I had to keep looking for Health-Care Providers who took those few extra minutes to Listen, Care, & tailor their treatment to ME, after all patients aren't like "Widgets" who keep falling off a Machine! We're Snowflakes ... each different from another & if they'll invest those few extra caring minutes they'll earn our Confidence.
Small Tip, when I visit a Dr. who has given the kind of Care that shows "They Care", I go to a florist, buy a small bouquet of flowers or plant & deliver it to their office. They'll Never Forget & I think you'll find future appointments equal to that last Good one.

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