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Questions about Eliquis and Meds for Pain Relief
Heart Rhythm Conditions | Last Active: Jun 7 8:53am | Replies (123)Comment receiving replies
The earliest I could get in to see a cardiologist is May 3rd. Long ways away. I asked my doc to send another referral to another doctor who might be able to get me in sooner.
I agree with you on all this. I had called my insurance plan helpline in the middle of the night a couple of weeks ago--did not want to go back to the ER AGAIN, and she said "You only have one heart." So I went. By the time I got there my heart had calmed down.
But, the EMTs put a cold pack behind my neck. That seemed to help. I have a cold pack and next time will try that. I still haven't rec'd the bills for my first ER visits so am extremely nervous about what these visits are going to cost me. I'm on Medicare, but I don't know how that works yet either as I just turned 65 last fall.
BTW, my potassium levels were fine. It was my sodium that was off last week, so now when I feel more off than usual I take some Himalayan salt crystals. I only get my afib attacks at night, which I think is because of sleep apnea. I will be following up on that with an ENT specialist and see if I can get into a sleep clinic. My sis told me to get a fitbit also, which will monitor my sleeping patterns. I'll be looking into that today.
But, thanks for all the information. The more informed I am about this condition, the better prepared I will be when I see the cardiologist.
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@catmom777 Call Medicare and ask about billing. My mom is in on Medicare and also has a supplement insurance plan, and a prescription plan, so that pays everything with her medical bills. Medicare providers have to accept the rates that Medicare sets, and I don't think they are allowed to bill the patient. If there was anything else, the Bluecross plan picks it up. Medicare can answer.
Sleep apnea can be a big part of the issues and can contribute to heart disease, so I think you are right linking that to afib. You'll feel a lot better after you address that. A friend of mine had some anxiety being caused by sleep apnea because she was always in fight or flight mode all night when she stopped breathing. She said getting a CPAP machine made a huge difference. She had gone through a hospitalization when they had trouble figuring out what was wrong. Would it help to sleep only half reclined in a recliner until you can get to the cardiologist? It might keep your throat from closing off if you are not laying flat. That's a guess. I don't have sleep apnea.