Re: Hi, its still me, Grace, with a new email address!!!

[Guest guest]

Grace

Best of luck with the cardiologist tomorrow. Keep positive.

Fran

> Just want y'all to know that I am still with you. I needed to

change

> my email address. So I unjoined and joined again. I am going to

my

> cardiologist today. My heartrate was down to 48 yesterday and is

up

> to 92 this morning. Wish me luck, and my luck and better health to

> all of you. grace/58/nj

[Guest guest]

Hi Grace,

glad you're back! hope to hear that things went well for you seeing the

cardiologist; please report!

Sandy/55/nc

Hi, its still me, Grace, with a new email address!!!

Just want y'all to know that I am still with you. I needed to change

my email address. So I unjoined and joined again. I am going to my

cardiologist today. My heartrate was down to 48 yesterday and is up

to 92 this morning. Wish me luck, and my luck and better health to

all of you. grace/58/nj

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/5/2002 1:10:19 PM Pacific Standard Time,

mypoodleboyz@... writes:

<< He reiterated I should go on Betapace, but I refused any beta blockers, as

I have asthma, and I'm scared. >>

Grace,

My previous cardiologist, now retired, wanted to put me on Sotalol (Betapace)

for two years but I resisted and stayed with Atenolol and Verapamil. Now my

new cardiologist says that Betapace is statistically not as effective with

women as with men. He says he would try Flecainide on me next if a change is

required, but Flecainide can only be used if there are no underlying

structural problems or disease conditions in the heart. Flecainide is for

afibbers who have no other heart problems. Like you I am asthmatic, but for

some strange reason I can take 150 m.g. of Atenolol daily and have very few

problems with asthma. Also, I am a mixed vagal/adrenergic afibber; and,

therefore, a beta blocker shouldn't work for me. However, it has worked to

control my afib for about 12 years. Since we're all so different, I guess

we can't make assumptions about medications based on the experiences of

another.

in sinus in Seattle (for 21 days now!)

[Guest guest]

Hi all, thanks so much to you who wrote to me. You guys are the best!!!!I went

to my cardiologist Wednesday, and he changed my meds from Toprol XL to Norpace,

my Cardizem to Verapamil and my Avapro to Avalide. Wow, I can barely comprehend

it myself!!!LOL I wasn't in Afib, but my heart rate fluctuated from 110 to 48

over a period of days, plus my bp is up despite meds. I will try them one at a

time, 'cause I'm skeptical of these meds (wonder why). He reiterated I should

go on Betapace, but I refused any beta blockers, as I have asthma, and I'm

scared. I got an asthmatic reaction from trying to increase my Toprol XL. But

I know that anti-arrythmics are also terrible. I became depressed and started

getting panic attacks after being on Rythmol for about a year. Rythmol kept my

heart in terrific shape, but made me depressed. Beta blockers cause my asthma

to get worse. Tambacor gave me horrible headaches. Can you win with this

problem? Anyway, I hope to improve, as far as my bp and heart rate to, but I

am doubting I'll be able to tolerate all three of these new meds.

I am seeing a new cardiologist on April 24 for a second opinion and plan to ask

him about tikosyn. Hope all of you are breathing easy today and feeling at

least halfway decent. Grace/58/nj

Hi, its still me, Grace, with a new email address!!!

Just want y'all to know that I am still with you. I needed to change

my email address. So I unjoined and joined again. I am going to my

cardiologist today. My heartrate was down to 48 yesterday and is up

to 92 this morning. Wish me luck, and my luck and better health to

all of you. grace/58/nj

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/6/2002 11:03:10 AM Pacific Standard Time,

mypoodleboyz@... writes:

<< , what is the other name for atenolol. >>

Grace,

The other name for Atenolol is Tenormin, and that's what I have actually

taken for the past six years. I tried Atenolol back in the days when I was

only taking 25 m.g., but it didn't seem as effective as Tenormin. (Atenolol

is the generic, much cheaper version and Tenormin is the brand name, more

expensive version.) My pharmacist has explained to me repeatedly that the

generic Atenolol is exactly the same as Tenormin, but I can't believe it

because I experienced more symptoms and frequency of afib when I was taking

Atenolol instead of Tenormin. I'm sure my pharmacist has given up on me and

thinks I am really stupid to pay more money for a drug that is exactly the

same as its generic equivalent. Perhaps the placebo effect is at work here:

Tenormin is more effective for me than the generic Atenolol because I THINK

it is more effective. Who knows?

in sinus in Seattle (Day 22)

[Guest guest]

, what is the other name for atenolol. Am trying to learn all these meds,

but it sure is taking me awhile. I am so glad to hear that you are successful

with this and been in nsr for many 21 days. That is wonderful!!!Yes, I agree,

we are all different, and I guess I just have to keep trying (like all of you

have) until I get the right med. I told my cardiologist that if this doesn't

work, I will indeed try BEtapace. I love comparing notes with all of you.

Thanks, and may you all be breathing easier and feeling decent. hugs,

grace/nj/58/nsr(sort of)

Re: Hi, its still me, Grace, with a new email address!!!

In a message dated 4/5/2002 1:10:19 PM Pacific Standard Time,

mypoodleboyz@... writes:

<< He reiterated I should go on Betapace, but I refused any beta blockers, as

I have asthma, and I'm scared. >>

Grace,

My previous cardiologist, now retired, wanted to put me on Sotalol (Betapace)

for two years but I resisted and stayed with Atenolol and Verapamil. Now my

new cardiologist says that Betapace is statistically not as effective with

women as with men. He says he would try Flecainide on me next if a change is

required, but Flecainide can only be used if there are no underlying

structural problems or disease conditions in the heart. Flecainide is for

afibbers who have no other heart problems. Like you I am asthmatic, but for

some strange reason I can take 150 m.g. of Atenolol daily and have very few

problems with asthma. Also, I am a mixed vagal/adrenergic afibber; and,

therefore, a beta blocker shouldn't work for me. However, it has worked to

control my afib for about 12 years. Since we're all so different, I guess

we can't make assumptions about medications based on the experiences of

another.

in sinus in Seattle (for 21 days now!)

Web Page - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport

FAQ - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AFIBsupport/files/Administrative/faq.htm

For more information: http://www.dialsolutions.com/af

Unsubscribe: AFIBsupport-unsubscribe

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

[Guest guest]

, thanks for the info. Tenormin is a beta blocker, isn't it? You know, I

have experienced the same type of thing. I used to take Fiorinal for severe

headaches, and the doc and pharmacist insisted on giving me fioricet, which they

said was the same. It did not have the same effect on me. I know that it has

happened to me other times as well. Sometimes, I can take the generic, and

other times not. Am a really crazy, or is there something to it. I believe

there is, and they won't admit it. Anyway, congrats on 22 days of being in nsr.

Fantastic. Grace/58/nj/nsr(sort of)

Re: Hi, its still me, Grace, with a new email address!!!

In a message dated 4/6/2002 11:03:10 AM Pacific Standard Time,

mypoodleboyz@... writes:

<< , what is the other name for atenolol. >>

Grace,

The other name for Atenolol is Tenormin, and that's what I have actually

taken for the past six years. I tried Atenolol back in the days when I was

only taking 25 m.g., but it didn't seem as effective as Tenormin. (Atenolol

is the generic, much cheaper version and Tenormin is the brand name, more

expensive version.) My pharmacist has explained to me repeatedly that the

generic Atenolol is exactly the same as Tenormin, but I can't believe it

because I experienced more symptoms and frequency of afib when I was taking

Atenolol instead of Tenormin. I'm sure my pharmacist has given up on me and

thinks I am really stupid to pay more money for a drug that is exactly the

same as its generic equivalent. Perhaps the placebo effect is at work here:

Tenormin is more effective for me than the generic Atenolol because I THINK

it is more effective. Who knows?

in sinus in Seattle (Day 22)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/6/2002 12:50:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

mypoodleboyz@... writes:

<< , thanks for the info. Tenormin is a beta blocker, isn't it? You

know, I have experienced the same type of thing. >>

Grace,

Yes, Tenormin is a beta blocker, which shouldn't work for me because I have

vagal afib. Perhaps it works because I also have adrenergic afib. I also

take Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker. My dose of each drug is higher

than any I've ever heard of although my doctor says he has patients on even

higher doses!

I, too, have experienced encounters with generic and brand name drugs that

really did have some concrete differences. For example, on one occasion my

ophthalmologist prescribed eye drops for an infection, and I was given the

generic form by the pharmacist. Before I used them, I read the list of

ingredients and discovered that Thimerosol was on the list of generic

ingredients but not on the list of the brand name ingredients. Because

Thimerosol is known to cause allergy problems and I had had problems with it

in the past, I returned the unopened bottle to the pharmacy and asked for the

brand name drug.

The problem with many generic medications is that the ingredients aren't

listed, and one cannot ascertain for certain if the generic and brand name

drug are the same.

When the drug is for afib, I want to be absolutely certain I am getting the

most effective drug, so I opt for Tenormin over Atenolol and endure my

pharmacist's patronizing pity for my stupidity.

Thanks for your good wishes. I am now in my 23rd day of sinus and praying

that it continues!

in sinus in Seattle

[Guest guest]

, thanks for answering my question. I pray you keep in NSR. I know what

its like to have both docs and pharmacists look at me like I am a nut. But its

our body!!!!!Hugs, grace/58/nj/nsr (sort of)

Re: Hi, its still me, Grace, with a new email address!!!

In a message dated 4/6/2002 12:50:11 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

mypoodleboyz@... writes:

<< , thanks for the info. Tenormin is a beta blocker, isn't it? You

know, I have experienced the same type of thing. >>

Grace,

Yes, Tenormin is a beta blocker, which shouldn't work for me because I have

vagal afib. Perhaps it works because I also have adrenergic afib. I also

take Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker. My dose of each drug is higher

than any I've ever heard of although my doctor says he has patients on even

higher doses!

I, too, have experienced encounters with generic and brand name drugs that

really did have some concrete differences. For example, on one occasion my

ophthalmologist prescribed eye drops for an infection, and I was given the

generic form by the pharmacist. Before I used them, I read the list of

ingredients and discovered that Thimerosol was on the list of generic

ingredients but not on the list of the brand name ingredients. Because

Thimerosol is known to cause allergy problems and I had had problems with it

in the past, I returned the unopened bottle to the pharmacy and asked for the

brand name drug.

The problem with many generic medications is that the ingredients aren't

listed, and one cannot ascertain for certain if the generic and brand name

drug are the same.

When the drug is for afib, I want to be absolutely certain I am getting the

most effective drug, so I opt for Tenormin over Atenolol and endure my

pharmacist's patronizing pity for my stupidity.

Thanks for your good wishes. I am now in my 23rd day of sinus and praying

that it continues!

in sinus in Seattle