Re: my neph appt today

[Guest guest]

Hi Sophia.

Tiazac is just diltiazem (many will know it as Cardizem) inside a special

pill technology that is supposed to deliver the diltiazem in a

precisely-timed manner, with a greater dose at those times of the day when

BP is usually highest (like morning). The ordinary generic diltiazem CD (or

brand name Cardizem CD) delivers the same amount over the whole 24 hour

duration. Diltiazem itself is a pretty old drug. It was one of the very

first ones I was on in the early 1990's, but it's been around longer than

that. I was also on diltiazem CD again last year after I started dialysis.

The company that markets Tiazac just took an old drug (after the patents

expired) and put it in a new cover, basically. Other than the time-release

thing, it works like any other diltiazem, only it's more expensive.

Pierre

my neph appt today

> I had a neph appt today to switch my bp meds from Diovan to Tiazac.

> I am excited because we are one step closer to planning for a family.

>

> Unfortunately, I have a creatinine level of 237 or

> thereabouts....and told me it was only about 36% kidney function.

> So that was rather disappointing.

>

> Has anyone been on Tiazac before?

>

> Sophia

>

>

[Guest guest]

Not to put a damper on your family plans, but has any doctor

(nephrologist or ob-gyn) warned you about the strain getting pregnant

will put on your kidneys? I am serious about this - if your kidneys

are already at 36%, a pregnancy could push that right over the edge.

It just worries me to see women push the envelope with their kidney

health, by putting their bodies through the strain of pregnancy.

Have you thought about being a new mom on dialysis at all?

Maybe I do want to scare you a little, into really thinking about

this. I know women DO have kidney disease and DO have children, but

I've also read countless stories about how their kidneys went right

down the tubes after childbirth.

I know it's a very personal decision, I just wish you the best of

health. I had several opinions, from nephs and ob-gyns, and finally

had my tubes tied 3 years ago. I just couldn't risk my health (or a

baby's health) with a pregnancy.

Teri

> I had a neph appt today to switch my bp meds from Diovan to

Tiazac.

> I am excited because we are one step closer to planning for a

family.

>

> Unfortunately, I have a creatinine level of 237 or

> thereabouts....and told me it was only about 36% kidney function.

> So that was rather disappointing.

>

> Has anyone been on Tiazac before?

>

> Sophia

[Guest guest]

Hi Teri,

No I realize you aren't putting a damper or anything, but that you

are concerned for me - which I really appreciate. : )

Since diagnosis, this was one of the questions uppermost in my

thoughts. The neph was good - he of course shared all of the risks

of being pregnant and etc. Kris and I have discussed this even

before our engagement (I know, pretty forward of us, eh?) and we

have been talking about it ever since: the benefits of having a

child, the risks to my health, the baby's health, the complications,

etc.

I guess for us, it is our own personal decision to at least try for

a family. Being 32, I only have this chance and if I don't take it,

I know I will regret it.

I also asked the neph about his experiences with other IgAN patients

who have had pregnancies, and apparently in his 12 years'

experience, almost all have been successful pregnancies, where the

mother and baby turned out ok. Not without risk of complications or

seeing doctors every couple of weeks of course, but for me, it is

worth a try.

Sophia

> > I had a neph appt today to switch my bp meds from Diovan to

> Tiazac.

> > I am excited because we are one step closer to planning for a

> family.

> >

> > Unfortunately, I have a creatinine level of 237 or

> > thereabouts....and told me it was only about 36% kidney

function.

> > So that was rather disappointing.

> >

> > Has anyone been on Tiazac before?

> >

> > Sophia