The Internet is great.

[heidler1]

I'm an 83-year-old male.

About two years ago I began having Atrial Fibrillation attacks. I had been consuming more alcohol than I should have and believed that there was a connection so I cut back to three drinks per day, which did not prove to help or effect the Atrial Fibrillation by my own observation. I was taking Atenolol for the Fib. and Lisinopril, for high blood pressure.

A few months later, while away from home traveling, I awoke with a rather severe attack. This attack included slight jaw and arm pain along with the Fib. I went to an emergency ward where they gave me a shot of Cardizem and a prescription for 15 Cardizem CD 360 mm and advised me to go to a Cardiac Specialist very soon, which I did. The specialist scheduled many tests and advised me to continue taking the Cardizem and discontinue the Atenolol. Due to a misunderstanding she forgot about giving me a new prescription for the Cardizem. As soon as I ran out of the 15 capsules the Fib. came back thus convincing me that it was the answer to my problem.

Everything went smoothly for about one and a half years. During that time, in several steps, I cut back on my intake of alcohol to one once per day. Thinking that I could safely lower my dose of Cardizem from 360 mm to 240 mm I got an approval from my Doctor on this. After that I noticed that my blood pressure was slowly dropping and was 120/60.

My need for sleep was increasing and about two weeks ago my Fib. Came back along with severe fatigue when doing anything. I went back to the Doctor and requested that I go back to the Cardizem 360 mm dosage, but my blood pressure was now around 105/60 and he thought the higher dose would lower it even more. Two days ago it dawned on me that one of my other drugs might be the cause.

One by one I did a Google searchs on:

Tricor low blood pressure
Simvastatin low blood pressure
Ranitidine low blood pressure
Lisinopril low blood pressure

Bingo! Lisinopril's main purpose is to lower blood pressure, so I quit taking it. This was a holdover from when I was drinking too much. In two days my blood pressure is now 119/70.

I've started taking Cardizem 360 mm and my Fib problem is going away.

[NJCher]

1. thanks to your post

You inspired me to look something up myself and I did find exactly what I was looking for--it turns out to be milia.

I got a good deal of help from a visual MD picture site.

It's something that's harmless but expensive to fix so I guess I'll just put up with it.

I'm glad you figured out your problem with research, Heidler. :)


Cher

[peacetalksforall]

2. Isn't the doctor supposed to do what you did? I am one who is not

happy with the dependence on prescription drugs. I try to do my best to take care of myself preventively. If doctors are not experts on what they prescribe, what gives?

I'm proud of you for all your diligence.

Yes, the internet is great, but using it analytically is the key.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

5. Many people have more than one doctor and don't communicate well. Not that that's the case here.

[uppityperson]

3. Make sure any dr prescribing anything has a full list of your meds and dosages

I am glad you are feeling better and would advise you to contact your doctor and let her/him know what is up with your medications and bp.

[heidler1]

4. I have an appointment Tue. of next week.

The Doctor pretty much forced me to figure it out for my self. IMO Doctors get overwhelmed with all of the reading they have to do and skip over some things.

In order to get the additional dosage I'll need I have to get him to write a new prescripion.

[Why Syzygy]

6. Glad you worked that out!

:thumbsup: Great job on cutting down on alcohol too. It's not all that healthy for you.

[heidler1]

7. What makes this scary is finding out that we are all on our own when it comes to dealing with health

Once your brain goes it's impossible.

When looking at side effects of drugs it reminded me of your post on consciousness because Simvastatin is proven to delay dementia. If consciousness is connected to spirituality and perhaps your soul, but under influence of diet, drugs, alcohol, genes and who knows what else it appears religiously conflicted in my mind. For instance the length of time that a person's mind could hold a religious view point would be variable compared to lifespan.

[Why Syzygy]

8. Yes, that is interesting to think about.

Although of course I don't believe everyone who holds religious/spiritual views to be mentally ill (as some do), I think there is a disproportionate percentage of mentally ill patients who are 'religious' to the extreme. Years ago I watched a documentary about a mental hospital, and all the patients were almost hypnotized by a charismatic television preacher. They were all waving their arms, and when offered a different tv program, they voted unanimously to continue with the religious program. Scenes showed them carrying Bibles all the time, etc. Really strange stuff.

[heidler1]

9. I didn't mean that gotcha. I meant the fact that there is ways for individuals to expand

oe shorten the time that they are either partially or totally mentally incompetent by their own decision or how and how much money they throw at it. I believe that as life expectancy expands the percentage of people with a life past incompetency will increase. The first question is, has their spirituality/soul left too? The second question is which side of this time line will they be judged worthy by?

[Warpy]

10. I'm surprised the cardiologist didn't catch that

because that's the first thing that should have been discontinued in order to get you on a therapeutic dose of Cardizem again. Make sure you advise the doc about it when you go back in.

Congratulations on getting the drinking under control, too. That's the tough one.

[heidler1]

11. Thanks. Question, do you think this post is too snarky to hand a paper copy

to both my primary care and the cardiologist when I see each next week? That was why I wrote it up in the first place and then I thought it might help someone on DU.

[Warpy]

12. No, just tell them you reviewed your own meds

and realized the lisinopril had been causing the low blood pressure and didn't they think it was a great idea that you'd stopped it.

Trust me, that will get the point across, that they need to pay closer attention to a complicated patient on multiple meds.