corjianne @corjianne ,
I would like to comment the discussion ( I'am a bit late, but all the posts of mayo clinic connect did not come in the mail entry, but in the bulk mail , I do not know why). I do not know ,if you have even heard of digitoxin.it is a very old substance. nowadays it had a come back, there is a two year trial in a university clinic /Germany. the aim is to investigate, if digitoxin can reduce the numbers of patients with congestive heart failure , when they need a treatment in the emergency department..
let me explain my history: Since jan.2018 i have a two chambers pacemaker because of a block in the electric transport between the right chambers..I had no problems, but since last december I noticed gain weight, I lost my energy, I had problems with breathing. To cut a long story short, I felt miserable. the cardiologist confirmed the bad situation, serious congestive heart failure, most probably, induced by A-fibrillations/pacemaker electrode. the right ventrikel 's reaction was an serious arrhythmia. in spite of a betablocker (and bloodthinner). the cardiologist decided to give me digitoxin in addition to the other substances.
After 10 days I had a full recovery !! , also confirmed by the echocardiography., no heart failure anymore. I got the bicycle out of the garage, I was very relieved. I still take a low dosis. I would be very interested to hear, the opinion of american cardiologists. I'm a dutch woman living in germany.