RE: Hi All! - New Guy Here.

February 21, 2005

Welcome! You have every right to be a bit overwhelmed...but also, you must be relieved that they discovered your heart conditions and can treat them aggressively.

You are also not alone...I too am treated for CHF, and have my ICD for sustained v-tach. I also take Amiodarone ( and have for almost 8 years). So feel assured that you have company and great company (if I do say so myself!)

Welcome again and you will never regret meeting this wonderful group of people.

"Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts."

-- Dickens

February 21, 2005

Welcome! You have every right to be a bit overwhelmed...but also, you must be relieved that they discovered your heart conditions and can treat them aggressively.

You are also not alone...I too am treated for CHF, and have my ICD for sustained v-tach. I also take Amiodarone ( and have for almost 8 years). So feel assured that you have company and great company (if I do say so myself!)

Welcome again and you will never regret meeting this wonderful group of people.

"Have a heart that never hardens, a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts."

-- Dickens

February 21, 2005

Welcome Doug. You will find a very friendly and knowledgeable group of people here. Also if you go to the group listed below and go to the BBS section you will find answers to questions you never knew you had ;-) Again welcome, you have found a new family.

Gail

Hi All! - New Guy Here.

Hi Just thought I'd introduce myself to the group. I had my ICD implanted 11 Jan 05 after being diagnosed with CHF and an EF of 20%.I'm all healed up and aside from 2 "memorable" zaps the first two days I came home from the hospital all is well. I guess my main problem is coming to grips with the seriousness of my condition and the realization that I am not invincible - until nowthe last time I was in the hospital was to get my tonsils out when I was 5,the only sickness I've had was the odd cold and the only meds I took was a daily baby aspirin. Now I'm on 7 drugs, including the "dreaded" amiodarone - it's sideeffects almost scare me more than the CHF. Since I've been home I've been reading everything I can find on the web about heart failure and ICD's, including about half of the posts on this board - you all seem to be a very caring and compassionate group.Doug (jazzer1@...)Please visit the Zapper homepage athttp://www.ZapLife.org

February 21, 2005

Hi Doug,

Welcome to the ICD family. Although I only recently started to post some

messages, I feel that I've known all the guys & gals for years just by reading

their messages. I'm also on amiodarone among other meds since last August.

Before that I was on sotalol. I was told I really had no other choices because

of the many " events " I had. As far the side-effects of amiodarone is concerned,

I was told to have my lungs tested every 6 months and get regular blood work

done wnich I do any way for low potassium.

Stay in touch & let us know how you're doing.

Until the next time,

Chris

February 21, 2005

Hi Doug,

Welcome to the ICD family. Although I only recently started to post some

messages, I feel that I've known all the guys & gals for years just by reading

their messages. I'm also on amiodarone among other meds since last August.

Before that I was on sotalol. I was told I really had no other choices because

of the many " events " I had. As far the side-effects of amiodarone is concerned,

I was told to have my lungs tested every 6 months and get regular blood work

done wnich I do any way for low potassium.

Stay in touch & let us know how you're doing.

Until the next time,

Chris

February 21, 2005

Hi, Doug. Welcome to the . I never did accept the seriousness of

my condition until I got worse and thought I'd better get with the

program. My wife (a family physician) battled with the doctors about

amiodarone. It's one of the few drugs with a black box warning because

of the side effects. My EP said there's no reason for amiodarone

because I have an ICD. The cardiologist differed in his opinion but

grudgingly kept me on sotalol instead of amiodarone. Age is a big

factor. My spouse said that if I was someone in his 70s, the long term

effects wouldn't matter. For someone in his 50s it did matter.

Mike

On Feb 20, 2005, at 9:50 PM, Doug wrote:

>

> Hi

>

> Just thought I'd introduce myself to the group.

>

> I had my ICD implanted 11 Jan 05 after being diagnosed with CHF

> and an EF of 20%.I'm all healed up and aside from 2 " memorable " zaps

> the first two days I came home from the hospital all is well.

>

> I guess my main problem is coming to grips with the seriousness of

> my condition and the realization that I am not invincible - until now

> the last time I was in the hospital was to get my tonsils out when I

> was 5,the only sickness I've had was the odd cold and the only meds

> I took was a daily baby aspirin.

>

> Now I'm on 7 drugs, including the " dreaded " amiodarone - it's side

> effects almost scare me more than the CHF.

>

> Since I've been home I've been reading everything I can find on

> the web about heart failure and ICD's, including about half of the

> posts on this board - you all seem to be a very caring and

> compassionate group.

>

> Doug (jazzer1@...)

>

> Please visit the Zapper homepage at

> http://www.ZapLife.org

>

February 21, 2005

i understand about the concerns about amiodarane,,, after my second hip

operation i had some runs of v-tach and they put me back on it at 400 mgs a

day...

i typed in the word amioderone and it was unbelievable about the dangers

associated with this drug. lung trouble, liver troubles....and

others..... i read of a lady in pa whose dad died of lung disease due to

this horrible drug.

i was so scared that i took the 400 mgs for about a month....no episodes so

i cut it to 200,,, another month with no troubles and i finall took it down

to 100mgs a day.. so far so good..... some of these cardios dont think

about the side effects.....and the darn sure dont seem to miss us when we

are gone....there is always someone waiting in the wings to take our place.....

bob in missippi

The hell with the Supreme Court

" " " IN GOD WE TRUST " " "

February 21, 2005

Hi, Chris. Oh, I forgot to mention that because I was not on

amiodarone, the ICD had to work nearly all the time to treat my

episodes, which caused the battery to drain in 3 years. The new ICD

seems to be doing better.

On Feb 21, 2005, at 8:54 AM, Agathacs@... wrote:

>

> Hi Doug,

>

> Welcome to the ICD family. Although I only recently started to post

> some messages, I feel that I've known all the guys & gals for years

> just by reading their messages. I'm also on amiodarone among other

> meds since last August. Before that I was on sotalol. I was told I

> really had no other choices because of the many " events " I had. As

> far the side-effects of amiodarone is concerned, I was told to have my

> lungs tested every 6 months and get regular blood work done wnich I do

> any way for low potassium.

>

> Stay in touch & let us know how you're doing.

>

> Until the next time,

> Chris

>

> Please visit the Zapper homepage at

> http://www.ZapLife.org

>

February 21, 2005

Hi Bob. Still supporting the casino?

My cardiologist is Gregg Fonarow, the director of the UCLA

Cardiomyopathy Center. He swears by amiodarone. If you need it, he says

it is like a miracle drug.

On Feb 21, 2005, at 1:37 PM, RJS wrote:

>

> i understand about the concerns about amiodarane,,, after my second

> hip

> operation i had some runs of v-tach and they put me back on it at 400

> mgs a

> day...

>

> i typed in the word amioderone and it was unbelievable about the

> dangers

> associated with this drug. lung trouble, liver troubles....and

> others..... i read of a lady in pa whose dad died of lung disease due

> to

> this horrible drug.

>

> i was so scared that i took the 400 mgs for about a month....no

> episodes so

> i cut it to 200,,, another month with no troubles and i finall took it

> down

> to 100mgs a day.. so far so good..... some of these cardios dont

> think

> about the side effects.....and the darn sure dont seem to miss us when

> we

> are gone....there is always someone waiting in the wings to take our

> place.....

>

> bob in missippi

>

> The hell with the Supreme Court

>

> " " " IN GOD WE TRUST " " "

>

> Please visit the Zapper homepage at

> http://www.ZapLife.org

>

February 21, 2005

Hi Bob. Still supporting the casino?

My cardiologist is Gregg Fonarow, the director of the UCLA

Cardiomyopathy Center. He swears by amiodarone. If you need it, he says

it is like a miracle drug.

On Feb 21, 2005, at 1:37 PM, RJS wrote:

>

> i understand about the concerns about amiodarane,,, after my second

> hip

> operation i had some runs of v-tach and they put me back on it at 400

> mgs a

> day...

>

> i typed in the word amioderone and it was unbelievable about the

> dangers

> associated with this drug. lung trouble, liver troubles....and

> others..... i read of a lady in pa whose dad died of lung disease due

> to

> this horrible drug.

>

> i was so scared that i took the 400 mgs for about a month....no

> episodes so

> i cut it to 200,,, another month with no troubles and i finall took it

> down

> to 100mgs a day.. so far so good..... some of these cardios dont

> think

> about the side effects.....and the darn sure dont seem to miss us when

> we

> are gone....there is always someone waiting in the wings to take our

> place.....

>

> bob in missippi

>

> The hell with the Supreme Court

>

> " " " IN GOD WE TRUST " " "

>

> Please visit the Zapper homepage at

> http://www.ZapLife.org

>

February 21, 2005

hi mike,,,,

i still go to the casinos but i dont support them.... i walk in with 60

bucks,,,,when its gone, so am i... anytime i get a couple hundred ahead im

gone.....

last month i had a bit of a streak and walked out with a thousand......

i havent made a fortune but i have a lot of fun and i gaurantee im ahead of

them but a little bit.....

i know they swear by amiodarone but im really afraid of it... im turning

into a smurf from the side effects... i dont know why i care about

that,,,,im as big as a baluga and live by myself...... i read of all the

troubles others have on our site and i dont suffer from any of that, at

least not yet, ..... i managed to stop smoking in 98 and now as far as

drinking goes i may have two or three bottles of beer once in a

while... i used to do 20 at a time..... i miss those days....but changes

had to be made.... my biggest trouble is being short of breath if i move

to quickly.... i take short walks everyday with my dog and the hips are

improving a bit more every day..... i finally put the wheechair away and

turned it into an ornament for future use if needed,,,,, im really proud

of that accomplishment...

take care and good health.......

bob in missippi

northern by birth,

SOUTHERN BY A DAMN GOOD CHOICE

The hell with the Supreme Court

" " " IN GOD WE TRUST " " "

February 21, 2005