Guest guest Posted May 21, 2010 Report Share Posted May 21, 2010 Gee Dennis, what an awful time you have had. I feel badly from all you have gone through. I don't know why your Rheumy has changed things mid stream. I think a new Rheumy is in order for you. I sure hope each day is better and better for you. You have had a rough year, and I hope things will be easier from now on. Overall, how are you feeling now? How is your RA? Also, last but not least, how is Betty doing? She must have been so worried about you. I am happy you are home, and on the road to a complete recovery. My thoughts and prayers are with you both. Glad to see you posting again. I missed you.  Hugs,  Barbara From: Dennis W <betnden@...> Subject: [ ] Fun time! " " < > Date: Friday, May 21, 2010, 6:21 PM  I know I haven't said much lately but things around here have been fun. Last fall, I had a severe urinary tract infection, prostate cancer, and this year I've been in the hospital for severe gastro problems from Plaquenil, heart control med, Sotalol, taken away at the end of this hospital stay " because they will kill you! " , landing me in the E.R. from blackouts while driving to the hospital for a follow-up, more heart control trouble the next week, landing me in the hospital for a stress test, and now I just got out again after a double bypass surgery! It was to be just a simple stent or angioplasty, a day surgery. It turned out to be the " widowmaker " blockage and another smaller one that may have been relatively unimportant at the time. The Plaquenil was new for me and I only took it for about 2 weeks. The " Rummy " told me at the same time that I don't have RA anywhere except my hands. Since I haven't been treated for RA while in and out of the hospital, I'm not sure where it is and can't go by 'hurt' to find it. The only thing the 'Rummy' wants to do is take me off Prednisone and not treat the RA or anything associated with it. I don't know why the sudden change in treatment but may have to try to find a real Rheumy. Has anyone had experience with being told that Sotalol/Betapace is that dangerous? And, who knows why the Rheumy would suddenly change to the narrow approach concerning only Prednisone? Dennis in eastexas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 21, 2010 Report Share Posted May 21, 2010 I'm sorry that you've had so many very serious problems, Dennis. Of course, the best people to ask about the issues with prednisone and sotalol would be the rheumatologist and the other physician who took you off of the sotalol. Only they know what they are thinking. The rheumatologist may want you to discontinue prednisone because he suspects that it could have led to the development of your atrial fibrillation/arrhythmias in the first place. It is possible for sotalol to cause life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, so maybe the other physician is worrying about that. In addition, since prednisone use is associated with several cardiovascular side effects, the rheumatologist may think that continuing it is too risky now. I would ask him. Also ask your cardiologist. I hope you can get some clear answers soon, and that you will recover well. http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/166/9/1016 http://www.drugs.com/cdi/sotalol.html http://www.rxlist.com/betapace-drug.htm http://www.drugs.com/sfx/prednisone-side-effects.html Not an MD On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 5:21 PM, Dennis W <betnden@...> wrote: > I know I haven't said much lately but things around here have been fun. Last > fall, I had a severe urinary tract infection, prostate cancer, and this year > I've been in the hospital for severe gastro problems from Plaquenil, heart > control med, Sotalol, taken away at the end of this hospital stay " because > they will kill you! " , landing me in the E.R. from blackouts while driving to > the hospital for a follow-up, more heart control trouble the next week, > landing me in the hospital for a stress test, and now I just got out again > after a double bypass surgery! It was to be just a simple stent or > angioplasty, a day surgery. It turned out to be the " widowmaker " blockage > and another smaller one that may have been relatively unimportant at the > time. > > The Plaquenil was new for me and I only took it for about 2 weeks. The > " Rummy " told me at the same time that I don't have RA anywhere except my > hands. Since I haven't been treated for RA while in and out of the hospital, > I'm not sure where it is and can't go by 'hurt' to find it. The only thing > the 'Rummy' wants to do is take me off Prednisone and not treat the RA or > anything associated with it. I don't know why the sudden change in treatment > but may have to try to find a real Rheumy. Has anyone had experience with > being told that Sotalol/Betapace is that dangerous? And, who knows why the > Rheumy would suddenly change to the narrow approach concerning only > Prednisone? > > Dennis in eastexas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2010 Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 Dennis, one of my best girlfriend's mama lives in hallsville, she has lupus. If you think about looking for another rheumy I can find out who she goes to, I think they are in Longview maybe. jane in dallas > > I know I haven't said much lately but things around here have been fun. Last > fall, I had a severe urinary tract infection, prostate cancer, and this year > I've been in the hospital for severe gastro problems from Plaquenil, heart > control med, Sotalol, taken away at the end of this hospital stay " because > they will kill you! " , landing me in the E.R. from blackouts while driving to > the hospital for a follow-up, more heart control trouble the next week, > landing me in the hospital for a stress test, and now I just got out again > after a double bypass surgery! It was to be just a simple stent or > angioplasty, a day surgery. It turned out to be the " widowmaker " blockage > and another smaller one that may have been relatively unimportant at the > time. > > The Plaquenil was new for me and I only took it for about 2 weeks. The > " Rummy " told me at the same time that I don't have RA anywhere except my > hands. Since I haven't been treated for RA while in and out of the hospital, > I'm not sure where it is and can't go by 'hurt' to find it. The only thing > the 'Rummy' wants to do is take me off Prednisone and not treat the RA or > anything associated with it. I don't know why the sudden change in treatment > but may have to try to find a real Rheumy. Has anyone had experience with > being told that Sotalol/Betapace is that dangerous? And, who knows why the > Rheumy would suddenly change to the narrow approach concerning only > Prednisone? > > Dennis in eastexas > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 3, 2010 Report Share Posted June 3, 2010 Jane, my problem is that I can only use certain doctors that will take my insurance. It sounded good when I first signed up 2 years ago, but have found since that it's not popular and only a few still take it. That's why my original Rheumy from 1990 sent me packing as soon as I signed with this insurance. I'm going to have to make a decision to change, maybe back to Medicare, to get a decent doctor. I can't believe treatment was refused for my flares but was warned to stop Prednisone! It's a real shame that we have to deal with these problems un-warned until it's too late. And with no support at home, it's double hard to do much at all. Thanks for the offer, the thought is appreciated. Dennis in eastexas On Thu, Jun 3, 2010 at 9:57 AM, jane <janeatregis@...> wrote: > > > Dennis, one of my best girlfriend's mama lives in hallsville, she has > lupus. If you think about looking for another rheumy I can find out who she > goes to, I think they are in Longview maybe. > jane in dallas > > > > > > I know I haven't said much lately but things around here have been fun. > Last > > fall, I had a severe urinary tract infection, prostate cancer, and this > year > > I've been in the hospital for severe gastro problems from Plaquenil, > heart > > control med, Sotalol, taken away at the end of this hospital stay > " because > > they will kill you! " , landing me in the E.R. from blackouts while driving > to > > the hospital for a follow-up, more heart control trouble the next week, > > landing me in the hospital for a stress test, and now I just got out > again > > after a double bypass surgery! It was to be just a simple stent or > > angioplasty, a day surgery. It turned out to be the " widowmaker " blockage > > and another smaller one that may have been relatively unimportant at the > > time. > > > > The Plaquenil was new for me and I only took it for about 2 weeks. The > > " Rummy " told me at the same time that I don't have RA anywhere except my > > hands. Since I haven't been treated for RA while in and out of the > hospital, > > I'm not sure where it is and can't go by 'hurt' to find it. The only > thing > > the 'Rummy' wants to do is take me off Prednisone and not treat the RA or > > anything associated with it. I don't know why the sudden change in > treatment > > but may have to try to find a real Rheumy. Has anyone had experience with > > being told that Sotalol/Betapace is that dangerous? And, who knows why > the > > Rheumy would suddenly change to the narrow approach concerning only > > Prednisone? > > > > Dennis in eastexas > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.