Re: Tikosyn to Tambocor

December 18, 2005

I've been in nsr now for 22 months on Flecainide. I figure the longer

I can hold out the better the surgical techniques will get. There are

also some new meds on the horizon that show promise.

Good luck and continued nsr!

-

>

> Just got home from 3-day hospital stay to switch from Tikosyn (which

> really never worked very well for me) to Tambocor. Everything went

well

> and I have been a-fib free for 5 consecutive days (and nights) and

> starting to allow myself to feel somewhat hopeful.

>

> The resident on the floor told me about a patient she was following

who

> was recovering from the mini-maze (that didn't work) who is now

starting

> Tikosyn. She was surprised his docs didn't try him on any meds

first.

>

> Sandy, NC

>

December 18, 2005

Great news, Sandy. Hope the flec continues to work for you.

>

> Just got home from 3-day hospital stay to switch from Tikosyn (which

> really never worked very well for me) to Tambocor. Everything went

well

> and I have been a-fib free for 5 consecutive days (and nights) and

> starting to allow myself to feel somewhat hopeful.

December 18, 2005

Thanks for your good wishes, . btw, did you -- or anyone else on

Tambocor -- experience any side effects the first few weeks? I have the

light thing going on, though it doesn't really bother me that much.

What does bother me is upset stomach -- cramps and diarrhea, argh!

Maybe I have a touch of the flu? Sandy

rcasel wrote:

> I've been in nsr now for 22 months on Flecainide. I figure the longer

> I can hold out the better the surgical techniques will get. There are

> also some new meds on the horizon that show promise.

>

> Good luck and continued nsr!

>

> -

December 18, 2005

I got cramps and diarrhea, too, and the doctor told me to simply take an

antacid with the Tambocor and it did help.

Re: Re: Tikosyn to Tambocor

Thanks for your good wishes, . btw, did you -- or anyone else on

Tambocor -- experience any side effects the first few weeks? I have the

light thing going on, though it doesn't really bother me that much.

What does bother me is upset stomach -- cramps and diarrhea, argh!

Maybe I have a touch of the flu? Sandy

rcasel wrote:

> I've been in nsr now for 22 months on Flecainide. I figure the longer

> I can hold out the better the surgical techniques will get. There are

> also some new meds on the horizon that show promise.

>

> Good luck and continued nsr!

>

> -

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

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Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be

acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

December 18, 2005

I got cramps and diarrhea, too, and the doctor told me to simply take an

antacid with the Tambocor and it did help.

Re: Re: Tikosyn to Tambocor

Thanks for your good wishes, . btw, did you -- or anyone else on

Tambocor -- experience any side effects the first few weeks? I have the

light thing going on, though it doesn't really bother me that much.

What does bother me is upset stomach -- cramps and diarrhea, argh!

Maybe I have a touch of the flu? Sandy

rcasel wrote:

> I've been in nsr now for 22 months on Flecainide. I figure the longer

> I can hold out the better the surgical techniques will get. There are

> also some new meds on the horizon that show promise.

>

> Good luck and continued nsr!

>

> -

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be

acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

December 18, 2005

I got cramps and diarrhea, too, and the doctor told me to simply take an

antacid with the Tambocor and it did help.

Re: Re: Tikosyn to Tambocor

Thanks for your good wishes, . btw, did you -- or anyone else on

Tambocor -- experience any side effects the first few weeks? I have the

light thing going on, though it doesn't really bother me that much.

What does bother me is upset stomach -- cramps and diarrhea, argh!

Maybe I have a touch of the flu? Sandy

rcasel wrote:

> I've been in nsr now for 22 months on Flecainide. I figure the longer

> I can hold out the better the surgical techniques will get. There are

> also some new meds on the horizon that show promise.

>

> Good luck and continued nsr!

>

> -

Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email,

send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should be

acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

December 18, 2005

Sandy,

I've never suffered gastrointestinal issues with Flecainide, just

mild visual disturbances i.e. blurring if I move my head too fast.

-

>

> > I've been in nsr now for 22 months on Flecainide. I figure the

longer

> > I can hold out the better the surgical techniques will get.

There are

> > also some new meds on the horizon that show promise.

> >

> > Good luck and continued nsr!

> >

> > -

>

December 18, 2005

Sandy,

I've never suffered gastrointestinal issues with Flecainide, just

mild visual disturbances i.e. blurring if I move my head too fast.

-

>

> > I've been in nsr now for 22 months on Flecainide. I figure the

longer

> > I can hold out the better the surgical techniques will get.

There are

> > also some new meds on the horizon that show promise.

> >

> > Good luck and continued nsr!

> >

> > -

>

December 18, 2005

Sandy,

I've never suffered gastrointestinal issues with Flecainide, just

mild visual disturbances i.e. blurring if I move my head too fast.

-

>

> > I've been in nsr now for 22 months on Flecainide. I figure the

longer

> > I can hold out the better the surgical techniques will get.

There are

> > also some new meds on the horizon that show promise.

> >

> > Good luck and continued nsr!

> >

> > -

>

December 18, 2005

> I've never suffered gastrointestinal issues with Flecainide, just

> mild visual disturbances i.e. blurring if I move my head too fast.

> -

----------

I had that too, the blurry vision. I couldn't take the Flecainide though

because it gave me chest pains really bad, even though I don't have CAD.

Thank you

Lorrie

December 18, 2005

> I've never suffered gastrointestinal issues with Flecainide, just

> mild visual disturbances i.e. blurring if I move my head too fast.

> -

----------

I had that too, the blurry vision. I couldn't take the Flecainide though

because it gave me chest pains really bad, even though I don't have CAD.

Thank you

Lorrie

December 19, 2005

Hi Sandy:

I am on flecainide 150mg twice a day. My only side effects have

been " visual disturbances " (dizziness if I turned my head too quickly)

that bothered me for about two weeks each time they raised my dosage.

It was a great tradeoff, as I have had only one breakthrough in the

last two years. Currently working on 10 months in NSR.

, Charlotte NC

>

> Thanks for your good wishes, . btw, did you -- or anyone else

on

> Tambocor -- experience any side effects the first few weeks? I have

the

> light thing going on, though it doesn't really bother me that much.

> What does bother me is upset stomach -- cramps and diarrhea, argh!

> Maybe I have a touch of the flu? Sandy

>

December 19, 2005

I been on Tambocor for 9 years and get the light flashing thing and

some other visual disturbances. I do get digestive probs but always

put it down to food sensitivity as if I watch what I eat, I don't

get it. Don't think its associated with the Flecainide.

>

> > I've been in nsr now for 22 months on Flecainide. I figure the

longer

> > I can hold out the better the surgical techniques will get.

There are

> > also some new meds on the horizon that show promise.

> >

> > Good luck and continued nsr!

> >

> > -

>

> Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com

> List owner: AFIBsupport-owner

> For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via

email,

> send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help

>

> Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or

should be

> acted upon without consultation with one's physician.

>

December 19, 2005

I have recently been put on Tambocor (50mg twice per day) and the only

problem is a bit of dizzines now and then, but not enough to stop me

doing every day things.

The Tambocor normally kicks in after about 2 hours of taking it,

however if I take it with a full meal there appears to be up to a 4

hour delay, is this normal?

Brad

>

> I been on Tambocor for 9 years and get the light flashing thing and

> some other visual disturbances. I do get digestive probs but always

> put it down to food sensitivity as if I watch what I eat, I don't

> get it. Don't think its associated with the Flecainide.

>

December 19, 2005

I have recently been put on Tambocor (50mg twice per day) and the only

problem is a bit of dizzines now and then, but not enough to stop me

doing every day things.

The Tambocor normally kicks in after about 2 hours of taking it,

however if I take it with a full meal there appears to be up to a 4

hour delay, is this normal?

Brad

>

> I been on Tambocor for 9 years and get the light flashing thing and

> some other visual disturbances. I do get digestive probs but always

> put it down to food sensitivity as if I watch what I eat, I don't

> get it. Don't think its associated with the Flecainide.

>

December 19, 2005

I have recently been put on Tambocor (50mg twice per day) and the only

problem is a bit of dizzines now and then, but not enough to stop me

doing every day things.

The Tambocor normally kicks in after about 2 hours of taking it,

however if I take it with a full meal there appears to be up to a 4

hour delay, is this normal?

Brad

>

> I been on Tambocor for 9 years and get the light flashing thing and

> some other visual disturbances. I do get digestive probs but always

> put it down to food sensitivity as if I watch what I eat, I don't

> get it. Don't think its associated with the Flecainide.

>

December 20, 2005

>

> I have recently been put on Tambocor (50mg twice per day) and the

only

> problem is a bit of dizzines now and then, but not enough to stop

me

> doing every day things.

> The Tambocor normally kicks in after about 2 hours of taking it,

> however if I take it with a full meal there appears to be up to a 4

> hour delay, is this normal?

> Brad

>

Brad. Your situation sounds familiar. You may well find that those

side effects diminish or disapper after a while. 50 mg X 2 is not a

large amount of Tambocor.

If it keeps the afub at bay it sounds like a very small

inconvenience to do so.

Gordon

December 20, 2005

>

> I have recently been put on Tambocor (50mg twice per day) and the

only

> problem is a bit of dizzines now and then, but not enough to stop

me

> doing every day things.

> The Tambocor normally kicks in after about 2 hours of taking it,

> however if I take it with a full meal there appears to be up to a 4

> hour delay, is this normal?

> Brad

>

Brad. Your situation sounds familiar. You may well find that those

side effects diminish or disapper after a while. 50 mg X 2 is not a

large amount of Tambocor.

If it keeps the afub at bay it sounds like a very small

inconvenience to do so.

Gordon

December 20, 2005

Medicate then operate is still the mantra of most

medical people I think. I also suspect health

insurance companies would not like doctors jumping the

very costly surgery option without first trying meds.

--- Quarter Acre Orchids

wrote:

> I've read in a few places that the " new thought "

> coming down the pike is to have a procedure

> immediately upon diagnosis of afib, instead of

> farting around with medication for years and years.

> I think we will see this trend increase as the

> procedures become more and more refined.

> I think the quote on medication being effective

> is something around 50%. That's not very high, and

> once the complications of procedures like a PVI are

> less likely, I think we'll see lots and lots of

> first timers going right for them.

>

> Stef

>

> The resident on the floor told me about a patient

> she was following who was recovering from the

> mini-maze (that didn't work) who is now starting

> Tikosyn. She was surprised his docs didn't try him

> on any meds first.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

December 20, 2005

Medicate then operate is still the mantra of most

medical people I think. I also suspect health

insurance companies would not like doctors jumping the

very costly surgery option without first trying meds.

--- Quarter Acre Orchids

wrote:

> I've read in a few places that the " new thought "

> coming down the pike is to have a procedure

> immediately upon diagnosis of afib, instead of

> farting around with medication for years and years.

> I think we will see this trend increase as the

> procedures become more and more refined.

> I think the quote on medication being effective

> is something around 50%. That's not very high, and

> once the complications of procedures like a PVI are

> less likely, I think we'll see lots and lots of

> first timers going right for them.

>

> Stef

>

> The resident on the floor told me about a patient

> she was following who was recovering from the

> mini-maze (that didn't work) who is now starting

> Tikosyn. She was surprised his docs didn't try him

> on any meds first.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

December 20, 2005

Medicate then operate is still the mantra of most

medical people I think. I also suspect health

insurance companies would not like doctors jumping the

very costly surgery option without first trying meds.

--- Quarter Acre Orchids

wrote:

> I've read in a few places that the " new thought "

> coming down the pike is to have a procedure

> immediately upon diagnosis of afib, instead of

> farting around with medication for years and years.

> I think we will see this trend increase as the

> procedures become more and more refined.

> I think the quote on medication being effective

> is something around 50%. That's not very high, and

> once the complications of procedures like a PVI are

> less likely, I think we'll see lots and lots of

> first timers going right for them.

>

> Stef

>

> The resident on the floor told me about a patient

> she was following who was recovering from the

> mini-maze (that didn't work) who is now starting

> Tikosyn. She was surprised his docs didn't try him

> on any meds first.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

December 20, 2005

I don't know... someone quoted the surgery at being about 20k?

I've had afib for about 5 years now. I've gone to the ER probably 8 times,

I've been hospitalized 3 or 4 times during that time (for several days at a

time), I've had 4 electroversions (at $3,000 a pop) and insurance has now paid

for 4 years of various drugs... there are also a gazillion doctor visits, ECGs,

echocardiagrams, CT scans, TEEs, stress tests, protime tests... etc.... I

think I long long long ago surpassed the 20k mark with my insurance company.

And NOW I'm in line for an ablation, which is going to be another 20k on top of

all this.

When you look at it this way, in reality it's probably much more cost

effective for the insurance companies to nip it in the bud.

Bill wrote:

Medicate then operate is still the mantra of most

medical people I think. I also suspect health

insurance companies would not like doctors jumping the

very costly surgery option without first trying meds.

--- Quarter Acre Orchids

wrote:

> I've read in a few places that the " new thought "

> coming down the pike is to have a procedure

> immediately upon diagnosis of afib, instead of

> farting around with medication for years and years.

> I think we will see this trend increase as the

> procedures become more and more refined.

> I think the quote on medication being effective

> is something around 50%. That's not very high, and

> once the complications of procedures like a PVI are

> less likely, I think we'll see lots and lots of

> first timers going right for them.

>

> Stef

>

> The resident on the floor told me about a patient

> she was following who was recovering from the

> mini-maze (that didn't work) who is now starting

> Tikosyn. She was surprised his docs didn't try him

> on any meds first.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

__________________________________________________

December 20, 2005