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Heart Disease (Expert Forum)
What Am I To Think?
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What Am I To Think?
by Marlene Deason, Dec 02, 1999 12:00AM
Since I had a one and only Afib episode in September, I have had a difficult time deciding which treatment I should use.
The first doctor put me on Cardizem and Lanoxin, which put my moods into a spin. The second opinion doctor took me off of Lanoxin and put me on Cardizem and Rythmol (I have heard Rhythmol is a very strong drug) and that also affected me adversely in my moods. The third cardiologist, which I happen to see while on vacation because he was recommended by a friend, said I should stop all the medication and increase my exercise and that he would like to see the results of a Event Recorder. When I went back to the second doctor, which I am using as my regular cardiologist, he said that I don't need to use the Event Recorder - that my situation doesn't warrant it. He then suggested I stop the Cardizem and just use Rhythmol twice a day. With that change I still had mood problems to where I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin and I had problems concentrating. So, he said to go back to what I had tried while I was on vacation (this was my own prescription) of one Cardizem in the morning and one Rhythmol at night.
What I'm wondering is just exactly how serious is my situation if one doctor (and my cousin who is a doctor) tells me to either stop the Rhythmol because it's too stong or to get off the medication all together, while other cardiologists tell me to stay on the medication.
Thanks for your response.
The first doctor put me on Cardizem and Lanoxin, which put my moods into a spin. The second opinion doctor took me off of Lanoxin and put me on Cardizem and Rythmol (I have heard Rhythmol is a very strong drug) and that also affected me adversely in my moods. The third cardiologist, which I happen to see while on vacation because he was recommended by a friend, said I should stop all the medication and increase my exercise and that he would like to see the results of a Event Recorder. When I went back to the second doctor, which I am using as my regular cardiologist, he said that I don't need to use the Event Recorder - that my situation doesn't warrant it. He then suggested I stop the Cardizem and just use Rhythmol twice a day. With that change I still had mood problems to where I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin and I had problems concentrating. So, he said to go back to what I had tried while I was on vacation (this was my own prescription) of one Cardizem in the morning and one Rhythmol at night.
What I'm wondering is just exactly how serious is my situation if one doctor (and my cousin who is a doctor) tells me to either stop the Rhythmol because it's too stong or to get off the medication all together, while other cardiologists tell me to stay on the medication.
Thanks for your response.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB, Dec 02, 1999 12:00AM
I hesitate to offer yet another opinion. I think you already have too many opinions. This is a mistake. You should pick one cardiologist and follow his advice. All the approaches you mentioned are valid. The one I would probably choose would be to see if you in fact are having any more episodes of afib on an event recorder and base any decisions regarding the need for further therapy on those results.
