Heart Rhythm Conditions – Welcome to the group

My name is Janice. I’ve had a pacemaker for 5 years. I had an atrial ablation 2 years ago. I have limited diaphragm function. I’m on Metropolol, Eliquis, etc. After being hospitalized with COVID for a week, etc. my life has come to a standstill. I was type AAA just 3 years ago. I’m not allowed to drive and I have no energy. After a whole battery of specialists there has not been much improvement. I’m 74 years young. Sorry to be negative but I am isolated. Just need some encouragement. I have a scoliosis which is putting pressure on my left lung. Breathing is an issue. I heard that Mayo has a team which looks into diaphragm issues. Thank you for listening.

I have been working with Mayo Connect for only a couple of weeks and already am finding out things others are facing that I have been and wasn't told about. I am going to Vanderbilt most recently for cardio care because of their reputation and it is the closest quality care medical facility nearest my home (200 miles). The local MDs where I live ( 1 million+ in population) have a good reputation locally but were not doing even basic tests -- on my first set of appointments at Vanderbilt they discovered I had had a heart attack and never knew it. I was devastated. My MD is a professor there but his nature is more "closed" so doesn't spend much time explaining things even when asked. It's disconcerting and their policy does not allow changing MDs. But he saved my life and is doing all the right things so I'm fortunate to have that quality care. I've been to Mayo over the years and am a DDS patient now. I plan to relocate in the next several months and hope I can be back at Mayo for cardio and cancer issues then. Mayo is more that 800 miles and I still work full time. I appreciate the candor of those participating.

My potassium is ok. I eat a banana every morning.

My cortisol is now ok after a 4 min telemed, see him in 6 months! 🤪.

Seeing cardio this morning. I felt better YEARS ago when this started with PAC and PVC. University of Chicago put me on alprazalom. That’s over 35 years ago. Still have them but not taking during the day. Was warned long time ago, tachycardia could hit. Well, yesterday I said heck with it. Took a 1/2,/ pill, did not shake as bad. Now Bp in morning was up like usual, pain in body was still there but not as bad. Bp dropped after walk. Body aches like crazy as it has been. Not trembling.

Will find out. Read up on it the bad zanax. It’s stop serious cardiac events when taken toER. Reason I was given it, the other two cardiac meds did not work YEARS ago. Very sensitive to meds.

Stress, anxious ? Heck yes 5 years of pain. Will see. Ice and 1/8 of perc in me now. What meds are you on? After I took it last night I thought I will be in ER overdose, no, I made dinner and did my nails. But at 8, was shaking but not as bad.

Middle of night woke up at 1 am took 1/4?Goli sleep. IT’s melatonin.

Hate docs. If this is it, I will be extremely mad. Found out I should have never been on Dilitizem!!!!

No, I wondered if my potassium might be lower because I take 160 mg KCl morning AND evening.

Have no clue. Do you shake and Bp goes up?

The electro cardiologist was a 6 min appt. No touch! Said it was my 3/4 or 7 mg of pain med from a bad total knee replacement which been to 3 other Ortho’s saving a revision would be disastrous. Called ins co on that visit, no pay!! Have new cardio, seeing for 3rd time tomorrow. Bp all over the place. Just had 10 min telemed from endo , hour late, my cortisol is fine. That took a year. So my faith even in the ER is not there. Hubby was in 5 times with upper stomach pain, had all testing except CT of the heart, on 5 th visit I with my fist broke the counter, got the CT. Then he went home again. Pcp calls next day, he saw the CT…..widow maker. Rushed in had open heart. Surgeon was mad as hell! Could have been dead in 4 hours. So my faith in health care is gone

I was interested in your “8 pm”. Me, too! What do you attribute this to?

I have not tried glucosamine/chondroitin or collagen. Will give them a try and see if it helps. Thank you!

I wonder if you might be deficient in either, or both of, magnesium/potassium. Both are critical for heart function, and some of us seem to be off the marks, either high or low. It might be worth a look. If you get agreement from a cardiologist, he should want an RBC level indication, not just serum levels...in the blood. You want to know how much of it is being absorbed and used.
It pains me that you seem to get no relief or credibility from a series of specialists. My advice would be to continue to look, even to travel if you must. Sometimes teaching hospitals affiliated with universities are the best places to go.

Also, and I hate to say so, but there are times when you'll get the best diagnostics at an ER. Keep looking for a sympathetic cardiologist, but in my experience an electrophysiologist is whom you need to see to get the very best care for a heart with palpitations.

Are you taking glucosamine chondroitin and plant-based collagen (hyaluronic acid)?
I have knee osteoarthritis and have no pain, only for a day or two when seasons change.
It is worth a try.