Well this is the basic rundown I have listed. Many are generics, so the names might through people off, but to me, this is nuts:
**************************************** *********
For BP.

Atenolol....Fosinopril....Felodipine
***************************************

For Diabetes.

Glipizide......Metformin
****************************************

For prostate.

Proscar
**************************************** **
To help with PN and sleep.

Ambien if necessary....Prophoxyphne...Tylenol W/Codine
**************************************** ******
For so called allergies and congestion. No allegies we know of? Just seems to be stuffed up alot. To be used 3 times a week. A cream has also been ordered due to breaking out with itchy hives. Guess that is on the way. Probably breaking out due to being on so many meds.!!!! JMHO

Loratadine..(Brand name Claritin)...Robutussin...Flonaze
**************************************** ***********

Also Asprin 81mgs., Multi vitamin and 500 C


Must be me, but I definitely think OVERKILL!!......... :confused:

JJ,

My husband too has to take Flonaze and Robutussin. The doctor we have now says his nasal congestion and caugh is a side effect from the BP pills he is taking (he takes two) , BUT the doc wont switch him, he said "all meds have side effects". So for one kind of meds people have to take 2-3 meds for the side effects :rolleyes:

That is why I think they should change his BP meds. so he won't need the other stuff to counteract the side effects. I use to take Altace, and I use to cough my brains out to the point I couldn't catch my breath at times. I finally told my dr., either get me off this stuff or I won't take anything, so they switched me to Avapro, no more cough!! Yes, the Avapro has side effects also, mostly backache and going to the bathroom alot, but I'd rather deal with that then hacking my brains out, or living on cough meds..

Like I said before, all drugs have side effects, but taking something U have to take 2 others to counteract the side effects is dumb. They need to find something he can take without needing something else to calm down the side effects, which to me is at least 2 less meds. It just aggravates me that they listen to U say what some meds. are doing, but instead of switching, they toss another pill at U to calm down the first pill. Good grief, how much do they think U can handle? I swear, there are people out there with more serious illnesses that probably don't take this many meds.

Oh well, we will see what happens next week, as I doubt very much if hubby himself can handle anymore meds. He is even getting disgusted, and he is a much more tolerant person then I am.

Take care, let's hope we all get some answers.... :wave:

Hey JJ you aren't takiing cholesterol medication anymore are you?

Hey JJ you aren't takiing cholesterol medication anymore are you?

No, I was on Lipitor in 2000 and had bad side effects, they switched me to Baycol, only got worse, so I am doing my best with diet and exercise, lately more diet then exercise.... :)

Not crazy about trying to get out and walk around with snow all over the place, and the gym I use to go to closed, so looking for a new one, that is reasonable. Fixed incomes don't allow much expenses for health clubs.

JJ. glad you're not on the cholesterol medications. Wanted to let you know that the beta blockers also deplete Coq10 and magnesium. Just wanted you to be careful of that. If you're low on magnesium blood pressure will go up. They can only test magnesium with an intracellular test contrary to what some doctors tell you about serum magnesium tests.

JJ. glad you're not on the cholesterol medications. Wanted to let you know that the beta blockers also deplete Coq10 and magnesium. Just wanted you to be careful of that. If you're low on magnesium blood pressure will go up. They can only test magnesium with an intracellular test contrary to what some doctors tell you about serum magnesium tests.

I remember a post I saw that U stated that. I was totally unaware of it and is another thing I want to bring up with the cardio guy. Hubby was on a low dose of Atenolol, a year ago, now I found out his dr. has upped him to 100mgs. and that doesn't sit well with me. I have also heard it can raise your glucose level, so with him being a type 2 diabetic, I personally don't think he should be on it, and especially at the maxium doseage.

Hubby doesn't like to really discuss meds. with me, or anyone for that matter, so I have to catch him in the right mood to discuss it. The other day we finally had a nice long chat about his meds. and now he also thinks he is on way too much stuff. I was surprised last night he actually listed his stuff and had me to look it up on the web, as he wants to bring all the info. to the cardio guy, as like he said, he is sick of feeling rotten the last 6 months.

I appreciate your input, as well as anyone elses, it is very helpful. Thanx again, and enjoy your evening....... :wave:

JJ: When my father-in-law developed Alzheimer's Disease we were able to check out his pharmacy bills. He was on four different BP medicines, Zocor, and drugs to relieve acid reflux. There was a website somewhere that allows you to enter all the drugs you are taking and it will tell you if there can be drug reactions. After entering all his medications, the website (wish I could remember the name) noted that the interaction of two his BP meds could result in the need for a pacemaker. Sure enough, he had had a pacemaker implanted a year before. When I asked his doctor about it a decision was made to eliminate two of his BP meds. He has been fine. I keep thinking about all that Medicare money that was spent for an operation he may not have even needed if his meds had been monitored.

Jane

JJ: When my father-in-law developed Alzheimer's Disease we were able to check out his pharmacy bills. He was on four different BP medicines, Zocor, and drugs to relieve acid reflux. There was a website somewhere that allows you to enter all the drugs you are taking and it will tell you if there can be drug reactions. After entering all his medications, the website (wish I could remember the name) noted that the interaction of two his BP meds could result in the need for a pacemaker. Sure enough, he had had a pacemaker implanted a year before. When I asked his doctor about it a decision was made to eliminate two of his BP meds. He has been fine. I keep thinking about all that Medicare money that was spent for an operation he may not have even needed if his meds had been monitored.

Jane

Thanx Jane, maybe someone else will remember it and post it. Like I said, when we go tuesday to the cardio guy, I definitely know he will tell me what he thinks of all the meds and if any should be lowered or even eliminated. He was the one who got hubby off the cholesterol meds., as we kept being told it was arthritis by the other dr. His cardio guy does prescribe statins and other cholesterol meds., he just is aware that some folks just can't handle them, and would rather see a person have more quality to their life. He has tried hubby on several other cholesterol things, but just keeps boiling down to the same ole problems.

As I have said a 1,000 times, if anyone needs them and can tolerate them fine, go for it, but for those of us who just can't handle them, well, we do the best we can with diet and exercise.

That is a nasty shame about the operation, good grief, some of this medical stuff can be down right scary. No wonder many folks have "white coat", seems the quality of the newer drs sure is going down the tubes.

BTW..Hubby has a miserable cold, so we called his dr. today. Of course they told us to do exactly what the poor guy has been doing for a week, but she couldn't understand why he was taking Robitussin. Of course I told her that she told him to take it, as I was there when she did, and thought it rather odd seeing he had BP problems. She said we must have "misunderstood", as she doesn't recall telling him to take it.... :rolleyes: Must be my old age again huh?


Thanx for the info., much appreciated and will keep ya posted.... :wave:

I remember a post I saw that U stated that. I was totally unaware of it and is another thing I want to bring up with the cardio guy. Hubby was on a low dose of Atenolol, a year ago, now I found out his dr. has upped him to 100mgs. and that doesn't sit well with me. I have also heard it can raise your glucose level, so with him being a type 2 diabetic, I personally don't think he should be on it, and especially at the maxium doseage.

Hubby doesn't like to really discuss meds. with me, or anyone for that matter, so I have to catch him in the right mood to discuss it. The other day we finally had a nice long chat about his meds. and now he also thinks he is on way too much stuff. I was surprised last night he actually listed his stuff and had me to look it up on the web, as he wants to bring all the info. to the cardio guy, as like he said, he is sick of feeling rotten the last 6 months.

I appreciate your input, as well as anyone elses, it is very helpful. Thanx again, and enjoy your evening....... :wave:


I really know how you feel...It's like negotiating a contract to talk to mother about her medications "because her doctor gave them to her" and they must be right. Even Mayo, and Cornell don't hold a candle to her doctors information because as she said "I get all my information from my drug reps".... Yes this was a direct quote from her doctor. For a beta blocker, mother did much better on coreg, which doesn't have the same glucose raising as the others. Hope he does better...and you take care of yourself too.

I really know how you feel...It's like negotiating a contract to talk to mother about her medications "because her doctor gave them to her" and they must be right. Even Mayo, and Cornell don't hold a candle to her doctors information because as she said "I get all my information from my drug reps".... Yes this was a direct quote from her doctor. For a beta blocker, mother did much better on coreg, which doesn't have the same glucose raising as the others. Hope he does better...and you take care of yourself too.

Oh gosh do I hear ya!!! My husband is use to us having a great dr. for so many years that neither of us questioned, sometimes I guess he thinks they are all like that. Since I have been researching so much and also quoting so many things from this site to him, many things he has looked up for himself and found to be true, guess he finally thinks I must know what I'm talking about. I'm just glad he finally sat down and discussed these things with me, as I don't like going behind anyone's back to sneak a look at what they do or do not take.

Once I got the list and looked many up and told him what they were, he finally agreed to take the entire list to the cardio guy tuesday and really ask questions. This guy will answer whatever U ask him and not rush U either. I definitely will list the coreg and ask about it. One great thing about this site, and I have been coming here since 2000, ya learn something new many times over, and everyone tries to help. Many times I never posted but always read as many posts as possible, especially from folks I knew did their homework and research. Glad your mom is doing better and hopefully hubby will feel better tomorrow, he has really got a bug now I think, so that isn't helping at all, but we will get it squared away soon.

Thanx again for your input and well wishes, and yes, I will try and avoid too much stress and hopefully the "bug" hubby has, don't need, nor want it.

U take care, and have a great TGIF....... :wave:

I've a question for the folks on this board who are not taking statins, and never took statins. Believe me I'm not criticizing you because I thought the same way you do.

If you had a TC of 309 like I did, and you had tried all the natural products under the sun for ONE YEAR to lower your cholesterol, but to no avail, cholesterol was climbing instead of going down, exercising every day and eating very healthy as I do for decades, and not overweighed would you keep on walking around with a TC of 309 and a LDL of 231??? Its easy to talk the talk if you never walked the walk. I have yet to see on this board anybody's TC over 300. Believe me if my TC had been between 240-260 I'd have NEVER taken statins.

Again I'm not asking people who took statins and got sick from them. I'm asking people who never took them and if they had a TC over 300 what would you do?? Ignore the high over 309 (it was up to 316 one time) cholesterol number?? And if the study by this ONE doctor Dr. Uffe Ravsknovic or maybe a few others is so accurate then why are people still asking questions how to lower their cholesterol naturally?? If Cholesterol is no big deal then why are people even have it checked, why are people still worried about their numbers including people on this board?? After all cholesterol is not bad for you, and does not cause heart attacks?? Why is this even an issue for some people?? Why not enjoy life, and forget about cholesterol and your numbers if they are high. Because deep down you're not sure if cholesterol is really that harmless. Just like I was not sure. I was damned if I do and damned if I don't. Untill I have solid evidence from more than ONE doctor out of Finland and maybe a handful of others I could not ignore my cholesterol of 309. Because if you read their stuff like I read Dr. Uffe's book they are talking about a TC in the 200's+ but not numbers like I had. Uffe's TC never made it past 270. He is against the statins, but nowhere in his book does he tell people how to lower the cholesterol. He says for example "old women need high cholesterol", well how high is "high"?? 200? 210? or 400? He doesn't give numbers. His book did not impress me at all. And I bought it thinking he could help me get me out of my fear of cholesterol.

U really should have started a new thread, as I am one, as is hubby who took them and got side effects, so refuse to take anymore.

As far as the studies, I don't read all that many, as I believe in half of what I read or hear. Only thing I can say about why some folks are still concerned about their numbers, our drs. get on our case if we don't lower them and I, along with a few other's on here have been told by a dr. if I didn't take them as he/she said, they preferred I get a new dr. I also don't believe in extremly high numbers, as at the moment I have no proof those are any good either.

As long as U can take them and feel fine, good for you, just watch for any signs of problems, but if U get none and get the numbers down, more power to you. I have friends who take them and do fine but many others that did lousy, so to me it is definitely the individuals decision. As far as this book, haven't a clue, never read it.

Best of luck, hope this explanation helped..... :wave:

I've a question for the folks on this board who are not taking statins, and never took statins. Believe me I'm not criticizing you because I thought the same way you do.

If you had a TC of 309 like I did, and you had tried all the natural products under the sun for ONE YEAR to lower your cholesterol, but to no avail, cholesterol was climbing instead of going down, exercising every day and eating very healthy as I do for decades, and not overweighed would you keep on walking around with a TC of 309 and a LDL of 231??? Its easy to talk the talk if you never walked the walk. I have yet to see on this board anybody's TC over 300. Believe me if my TC had been between 240-260 I'd have NEVER taken statins.

Again I'm not asking people who took statins and got sick from them. I'm asking people who never took them and if they had a TC over 300 what would you do?? Ignore the high over 309 (it was up to 316 one time) cholesterol number?? And if the study by this ONE doctor Dr. Uffe Ravsknovic or maybe a few others is so accurate then why are people still asking questions how to lower their cholesterol naturally?? If Cholesterol is no big deal then why are people even have it checked, why are people still worried about their numbers including people on this board?? After all cholesterol is not bad for you, and does not cause heart attacks?? Why is this even an issue for some people?? Why not enjoy life, and forget about cholesterol and your numbers if they are high. Because deep down you're not sure if cholesterol is really that harmless. Just like I was not sure. I was damned if I do and damned if I don't. Untill I have solid evidence from more than ONE doctor out of Finland and maybe a handful of others I could not ignore my cholesterol of 309. Because if you read their stuff like I read Dr. Uffe's book they are talking about a TC in the 200's+ but not numbers like I had. Uffe's TC never made it past 270. He is against the statins, but nowhere in his book does he tell people how to lower the cholesterol. He says for example "old women need high cholesterol", well how high is "high"?? 200? 210? or 400? He doesn't give numbers. His book did not impress me at all. And I bought it thinking he could help me get me out of my fear of cholesterol.

There was a long term study of people in france (they were elderly)... and the elderly people with the highest cholesterol, even over 300 were the longs that lived the longest. Also in a recent article, Dr. Gott, (who is an M.D.) wrote in his column after questioned by a lady with high cholesterol, that he has people in the nursing home that have cholesterol of over 300 and they are perfectly healthy, and they do not need to take cholesterol lowering medications.

After reading all the posts about people obsessing about their cholesterol numbers I will admit I am obsessed about my husband's numbers, which are in the 270 range. He has been off Lipitor for more than nine months and the number has decreased 32 points going the natural route. I am giving it a year before looking at other alternatives.

I keep thinking how lucky some people are NOT to be obsessed with their cholesterol numbers. My mother, 84, has never had a cholesterol test and that is true as well for my father, age 93. He takes no medications and my mother takes one pill, a diruetic, for slightly elevated BP. I wish I knew their secret. I don't think it is in the genes so to speak since both sets of their parents died in their 70's of cancer, stroke, pneumonia, etc.

Jane

JJ,

I was NOT talking about you or people like you. Read my first sentence of my post I said "people who don't take statins and NEVER have". If I should get side effects you better believe I will stop taking them no matter what my doctor says. He cannot force me to do anything. I'll sign a paper if I have to saying that I will refuse to take statins.

Oh do I know about the doctors going on your case. I've been lectured and told what a "walking time bomb" I was for one solid year. Every two months he insisted of checking my cholesterol to see if the natural products lowered it. And then came the lecture :rolleyes:

Yes I hear ya, but just didn't want to ignore U so gave my explanation, whether it be right or wrong. My girlfriend has over 300 cholesterol has been on Lipitor for years, even up to 80 mgs., didn't do much for her. They tried her on Crestor, still hardly a budge, maybe down to 270, and now they tried her on Vytorin, still the fool numbers are in the upper 200's. Beats the life out of me why they can't get them down, as she is doing all she has been told. 2 years ago she got so nervous she asked to have a cath done, it came back perfect, so I guess she is just a mystery. She has no other illnesses, except allergies which they have her on meds. for, so don't know if those meds. are messing with the statins or what, but she gets so frustrated, and I don't blame her.

Yup, U really get sick of the drs. getting on your case, especially when they are told by another dr. that U are not a good candidate for them. I told hubby I think we need a dr. who like to treat old folks, as these younger ones seem to get annoyed with older folks and expect us to meet the same guidelines as young wipper snappers....... :D

Oh well, I don't have the answers, and sometimes I don't think the drs. do either. U have a good day, I have to run hubby up to the urgent care as his temp. is up to 102 and from all that horrid coughing, he has hardly any voice. Man this month is NOT starting off too good. Guess March is coming in like a lion, so hopefully it goes out like a lamb.

Take care, and will TTYL...... :wave:

I understand some of your points about would those of us without high cholesterol take medications. My cholesterol is 220....My Hdl is 41. I would never in a billion years take cholesterol medication. For one thing, they have not proved that cholesterol is the problem...but only a symptom of something else. (kind of like taking the batteries out of the smoke alarm so you don't have a fire). Second, those of us that post either have had or have someone close to us that have taken cholesterol medications. I don't think you realize how very stressful it is to take care of someone in a wheelchair because of cholesterol medications and how much time and energy we spend on it. Don't think its fair that those of us with low or lower cholesterol post on this board? Think again. We're trying to help other people with our expierences. The stress that we suffer is certainly not doing our hearts any good, nor our insurance rates. Mother's bills for here cholesterol induced myopathy have been over $300,000. I think it is a moral obligation of all of us to inform other people of what has happened. Will it happen to you? Maybe not. But you won't be the only one that suffers, others around you suffer with you. If you can take care of yourself...do what you want...but when you have to rely on others to take care of you...thats a different story. It is not just your life you're affecting.

There was a long term study of people in france (they were elderly)... and the elderly people with the highest cholesterol, even over 300 were the longs that lived the longest. Also in a recent article, Dr. Gott, (who is an M.D.) wrote in his column after questioned by a lady with high cholesterol, that he has people in the nursing home that have cholesterol of over 300 and they are perfectly healthy, and they do not need to take cholesterol lowering medications.


Then why try to lower it?
If high cholesterol extends ones life then shouldn't we be doing all we can to raise it even higher? :D :confused:

up up UP ! :D :D :eek:

[QUOTE=Stumper]Then why try to lower it?
If high cholesterol extends ones life then shouldn't we be doing all we can to raise it even higher? :D :confused:

up up UP ! :D :D :eek:[/QUOTE

Did you see the term elderly?????? Elderly people (those over 70) are different than the other groups. Trying to raise it even higher would make about as much sense as trying to get it lower with medication, but that is my opinion. Until some people get a clue on what cholesterol is, what it does, what you body uses it for,.....AND what plaque in the arteries is made of... there really isn't much use to try to explain things to some people.

JJ,

I hope your husband doesn't have anything serious and I hope he gets better soon.

There are lots of people like your girlfriend where the drugs don't bring it down, same goes for people on BP meds/several BP meds.

You said your girlfriend had the cath scan done and its fine. If I was her I would not worry about it anymore. I forgot to mention that our son asked me to have one of these tests done since I was so scared of the statins, its one of these tests where they scan your arteries but the Insurance companies don't pay for it unless it was ordered by a doctor. A test like that where we live cost $450,--. I thought about it seriously, but if they had found blockages then I'd have freaked out. For anybody other than me finding these blockages would be great so they can have it fixed, but for me I'd have freaked out, and worried my head off, I know this sounds very stupid, but I rather don't want to know. But then again had the test come back negative, I would not have to take the statins anymore because it takes decades before your arteries clog up. I might still do it one day.

I just got back about an hr. ago, hubby was admitted to the hospital. They are not sure what is wrong, as his white cell count is ok, so they think it may be viral. They ran all sorts of tests today, and his oxygen level is low as is his magnesium level, so between that and not eating or drinking much for 2 days, he is dehydrated. Only thing they said so far was, it could be an advanced case of the flu, but we will know nothing till tomorrow or monday if he has to stay the weekend. At least for now he is being taken care of, and I'm sure they will get to the root of his problem. Unfortuneatley he feels like human pin cushion, but he is a trooper, so he will do fine.

I hear ya about the cath thing, but I'm no dr. so that is between her and him, right now my head is swimming with my own problems. Hopefully U do well on your cholesterol drug and things work themselves out.

Best wishes for now....... :wave:

JJ,

I cannot say that I know what your husbands problem is. But I can relay some words from a elderly doc I go to on rare occassions who is really quite good.

Atenolol is NOT a good drug for an elderly or someone who is older to use. The old doc told me that for a younger man it is fine, but when when gets older you WANT the heart strong, not weakened by a drug like Atenolol. My 86 year old Father in Law takes it and I try to explain this to my family but without success. He just hobbles around and his mental abilities are stunted and slow.
I would switch to another BP med and see if it helps...or have him go off SLOWLY and see if he improves.

My opinion only. Hopefully you can get the BEST care.

JJ,

I hope they will get to the bottom of your husband's condition. I'm so sorry to hear that he was admitted to the hospital, but it was for the best. At least they didn't send him home telling him to take 2 aspirins and brushed it off as the flu and nothing else. I'll be thinking about you. I know this is hard time for you right now. When my husband gets sick I get sick from worrying.

Good luck to your husband and you
Barb

Thanx Barb, his reg. dr. did just blow it off and that is why I was determind he was going to be seen by someone today. I might be tiny and older, but I am not taking any junk from drs. or anyone else. Sorry if I sound terribly harsh, but I am upset and exhausted. Thanx for the well wishes, and will try to get on tomorrow to let ya know how things are going.

Take care..... :wave:

JJ,

I cannot say that I know what your husbands problem is. But I can relay some words from a elderly doc I go to on rare occassions who is really quite good.

Atenolol is NOT a good drug for an elderly or someone who is older to use. The old doc told me that for a younger man it is fine, but when when gets older you WANT the heart strong, not weakened by a drug like Atenolol. My 86 year old Father in Law takes it and I try to explain this to my family but without success. He just hobbles around and his mental abilities are stunted and slow.
I would switch to another BP med and see if it helps...or have him go off SLOWLY and see if he improves.

My opinion only. Hopefully you can get the BEST care.

Stumper we were going to discuss all these meds. with his cardio guy on tuesday, as I also did not know his reg. dr. had him on 100 mgs. of Atenolol. First of all, yes, it is suppose to be fairly good for a person with any type of heart problem, but, he is also type 2 diabetic and I know it can raise gluscose levels. If he has to stay in the hospital for the weekend, I intend to ask why he is on that and especially at the max doseage.

If U read the posts, I believe finres..sorry if I got the name wrong, but was told by him that BB's can also deplete the body of CO Q10, so as U said, I think it is definitely time they either switch him to something else, or at least lower the doseage. Good grief, it is good we have these boards and the net to do some reasearch, U have to be totally on your toes at all times. Even when the dr. was explaining the oxygen thing and the magnesium thing to me, I told him yes I totally understood what he was talking about. I even told him a few other things which surprised him, and when he asked how I was as informed as I was about certain thing, I told him..."God bless the net". Thankfully he was a dr. that thought it great people do research, as usually they give U a dirty look. Oh well, hopefully things will get answered more tomorrow, and some changes will be made, this should have never gotten as far as it did.

U have a fine weekend, and I will keep U folks posted..... :wave:

Stumper we were going to discuss all these meds. with his cardio guy on tuesday, as I also did not know his reg. dr. had him on 100 mgs. of Atenolol. First of all, yes, it is suppose to be fairly good for a person with any type of heart problem, but, he is also type 2 diabetic and I know it can raise gluscose levels. If he has to stay in the hospital for the weekend, I intend to ask why he is on that and especially at the max doseage.

If U read the posts, I believe finres..sorry if I got the name wrong, but was told by him that BB's can also deplete the body of CO Q10, so as U said, I think it is definitely time they either switch him to something else, or at least lower the doseage. Good grief, it is good we have these boards and the net to do some reasearch, U have to be totally on your toes at all times. Even when the dr. was explaining the oxygen thing and the magnesium thing to me, I told him yes I totally understood what he was talking about. I even told him a few other things which surprised him, and when he asked how I was as informed as I was about certain thing, I told him..."God bless the net". Thankfully he was a dr. that thought it great people do research, as usually they give U a dirty look. Oh well, hopefully things will get answered more tomorrow, and some changes will be made, this should have never gotten as far as it did.

U have a fine weekend, and I will keep U folks posted..... :wave:



JJ,

Good go. It's always good to discuss and go over all of the meds. But also keep in mind that a Pharmacist may actually be the best bet. Their knowledge about how meds interact with other meds is far superiour in my opinion.

Also just a note....my better half here has diabetes also. Originally they had her on Atacand (ARB) which actually HELPS diabetes in some ways. She never had a problem with it. May be worth some research.
Yes, 100Mg. of Atenolol is quite high. I can take 6.5 Mg. and it will knock me on my can. (well, sorta) The old doc I was telling you about said most people do well on 50Mg.

Hope all goes well :) keep us posted.

JJ,

Good go. It's always good to discuss and go over all of the meds. But also keep in mind that a Pharmacist may actually be the best bet. Their knowledge about how meds interact with other meds is far superiour in my opinion.

Also just a note....my better half here has diabetes also. Originally they had her on Atacand (ARB) which actually HELPS diabetes in some ways. She never had a problem with it. May be worth some research.
Yes, 100Mg. of Atenolol is quite high. I can take 6.5 Mg. and it will knock me on my can. (well, sorta) The old doc I was telling you about said most people do well on 50Mg.

Hope all goes well :) keep us posted.

Yes, we have gotten good info from our pharmacist and I was going to ask the cardio guy about switching him to an ARB. I couldn't handle the Altace, HORRID cough, but my dr. kept telling me it would go away. Well I took a year of it and told her, either get me off this or I will take nothing, so now I am on Avapro, an ARB. Yes, it has side effects, like backache and going to the lil girls room alot, but better then hacking my brains out. I thought hubby was on 50, had no idea she upped it to 100, that is when I said time to have a good talk with the cardio guy, this is nuts.

I'm beat, so off to bed, enjoy your weekend..... :wave:

Thanx Barb, his reg. dr. did just blow it off and that is why I was determind he was going to be seen by someone today. I might be tiny and older, but I am not taking any junk from drs. or anyone else. Sorry if I sound terribly harsh, but I am upset and exhausted. Thanx for the well wishes, and will try to get on tomorrow to let ya know how things are going.

Take care..... :wave:

JJ: I'm sorry to hear about your husband.. I know with you watching out..he will be ok. Make sure they treat that magnesium problem. I'm sure if they did the test that quickly it was a serum test. If it was low there, it is probably very low intracellularly. In fact that could be a little light at the end of the tunnel . Magnesium is really not that hard to treat. I don't know all of your husbands problems, but from some of the ones you have listed.. most can be explained for the most part from low magnesium. Most people with low magnesium have low potassium. However you cannot correct the potassium level until you correct the magnesium level. You might try Mildred Seelig's book, The Magnesium Factor. She has the credentials to back up all she says. She is considered the world's leading expert on magnesium. She is also 83 and still travels the world on lecture tours. Please take care of yourself also, stress is also one of the causes of low magnesium. I know you will understand that. Just part of bio-chemistry which is complicated but very predictable. I will be tihinking of you, and wishing you the best.

JJ: I'm sorry to hear about your husband.. I know with you watching out..he will be ok. Make sure they treat that magnesium problem. I'm sure if they did the test that quickly it was a serum test. If it was low there, it is probably very low intracellularly. In fact that could be a little light at the end of the tunnel . Magnesium is really not that hard to treat. I don't know all of your husbands problems, but from some of the ones you have listed.. most can be explained for the most part from low magnesium. Most people with low magnesium have low potassium. However you cannot correct the potassium level until you correct the magnesium level. You might try Mildred Seelig's book, The Magnesium Factor. She has the credentials to back up all she says. She is considered the world's leading expert on magnesium. She is also 83 and still travels the world on lecture tours. Please take care of yourself also, stress is also one of the causes of low magnesium. I know you will understand that. Just part of bio-chemistry which is complicated but very predictable. I will be tihinking of you, and wishing you the best.

Well I'm doing the best I can, just a lil nuts here with all the running around etc. His potassium is fine..4.8. He said this morning the fever broke to 97.6 so that is good, it was 102.8. They are going to do a CatScan to see why the breathing problem, but so far the X rays etc. all look good. Guess they gave him some Prednizone (sp.?) to help with the breathing, but it shot his sugar way up, so now they are treating that also. I'll just be glad when they have everything under control and things get as normal as possible, but I have faith it will turn out just fine.

Truly appreciate all the well wishes, and will keep ya posted when possible. Enjoy your day, and TTYL..... :wave:

You're not sounding harsh. You are exhausted. Hang in there, I'll be thinking about you and keep my fingers crossed that your hubby will be home soon, and that his meds have been changed for the better, and that he will feel better soon too.

Good luck to the both of you
Barb


Thanx Barb, today is a weee bit wacky but we are hanging in there. Doubt I will be on till later this evening, but will keep U guys posted. So far the drs. say most everyting looks good, so once they figure out the breathing problem, I'm sure things will get on their way to some kind of a normal schedule. Enjoy your day, and TTY.... :wave:

Glad you're hanging in there. Glad that the docs think so far everything is good. Hope they find the cause of his breathing problem. Did your husband or does he smoke? Mine did for over 40 yrs, stopped because of a lung cancer scare. Had breathing problems off and on, heart checked out o.k. but the lung specialist found out that he has the beginning of emphysema, and COPD, has to sleep now with one of those stupid looking oxygen divises. Since he uses that machine at night he breathes a lot better even though COPD is mainly when people stop breathing while they sleep. He did that many times during the night and it scared the hell out of me.

I'm sure they will find what the cause is in your husband's case. It might be just a side effect to certain meds he is taking.

Talk to you later :wave:
Barb

Yes he was a smoker for many years, but stopped 28 years ago, but naturally there is always residue. They did a CT scan today, it showed nothing, so now they are going to do a pulmanary (sp.)test tomorrow. That is what they thought he was starting to get also, but nope, so far no signs of it.

Dr. came in shortly after I left today and basically said if the next test looks good, it is probably mostly related to the week long illness of probably advanced flu. Naturally from all the coughing, not eating or drinking much, being so tired and such a high fever, his system is totally out of wack. All we can do now is wait and see, but so far, things are looking fairly well, so my nerves are calming down ALOT!!! I brought him up a nice sub and some bottled water, as he is starting to complain about the food and water, so that is a good sign....... :)

He looked weak today and quite pale, but he did say he is still exhausted, geez, I wonder why!! Poor guy has been poked over and over again, but hey, at least they are really doing as much as they can, and at a pretty fast pace. Their all friends of his cardio guy, so I'm sure that is helping speed all these tests up too. Oh well, I'm getting back to a fairly decent schedule, and my son came up from Jersey tonight, so tomorrow should be alot easier.

Definitely time for some ME time, so enjoy the evening, and will TTYL.... :wave:

Glad your husband is better, and you can relax some. I know how you feel. Waiting for test results is the worst suspense for me.

Remember I said in one of my posts that my husband has bad pains in his hips and they did all kinds of tests (he never took statins) and could not find anything wrong. Well, I hate to see him popping Celebrex for the pain every day, I was on his case that this pain GOT to have a reason. So he made an appointment with our regular doctor and told him that there got to be a reason. Would you believe our regular doctor pulled up the Radiology report SAME report the Orthopedic doctor had when he saw my husband and this Orthopedic doc said "there is nothing else we can do for you, sleep on your back and your hips wont hurt", the regular doctor read on the bottom of the Radiology report "possible perepheal vascular disease". The doc told my husband that the veins going into his hips could be clogged up or partially clogged up and that is probably why he has this pain. He will see a Cardiologist to do this test on the leg veins. But can you imagine a Specialist either ignoring what it said on the bottom of that report or just missing it??? And then they wonder when people don't trust doctors, like me for example I don't trust none of them at first, they have to earn their trust from me.

Oh good Lord, I almost can't believe a dr. would say that, unbelieveable isn't it? Like I told my girlfriend, at the rate most of us are going with research and coming to sites like this with questions, and sometimes getting mighty great answers, we should be charging them!!

Hopefully they get to the root of your husband's problems also, like U said, this waiting is horrid, and all this poking around etc. sure wears the patient down. We arren't kids anymore, so we don't bounce back as fast. Oh the joys of getting older, don't lose it!!! I know they were going to start weaning him off the Prednazone last nite and gave him some sort of shot for his sugar level, so he had to be monitored every 4 hrs., so I will see how it went later. I think once they get the sugar level down and do this pulmonary test today, hopefully they will get him up and around better. Poor guy looked so exhausted yesterday, man could we both use a good vacation right about now. Time to get Hubble and his family together for that BEACH BUM life.. :D

U have a great day, and will TTYL...... :wave:

Thanks JJ for the info. I'll keep my fingers crossed that your husband will be back home before you know it.

REMOVED

Thanx again. They couldn't do the test today, but he is scheduled for it tomorrow. Was hoping he would be coming home tomorrow, but maybe by wed. I told him when they finally kick him out, to reserve the room for me, I am in GREAT need of some R&R, too old for all this crazyness.

He and his 2 roommates were told to drink more water, but the water there stinks, so I brought up a nice 16 pk. of bottled water for them all. My son took his dad for a short walk, as that helps the sugar level also, but it is still a waiting game for awhile, but his spirits are up, GREAT sign.

Take care, and TTYS...... :wave: :yawn: :yawn:

Thanx again. They couldn't do the test today, but he is scheduled for it tomorrow. Was hoping he would be coming home tomorrow, but maybe by wed. I told him when they finally kick him out, to reserve the room for me, I am in GREAT need of some R&R, too old for all this crazyness.

He and his 2 roommates were told to drink more water, but the water there stinks, so I brought up a nice 16 pk. of bottled water for them all. My son took his dad for a short walk, as that helps the sugar level also, but it is still a waiting game for awhile, but his spirits are up, GREAT sign.

Take care, and TTYS...... :wave: :yawn: :yawn:


JJ,

How are you and Hubby doing? Haven't seen you post anything for a few days, and I was wondering if Hubby was discharged from the hospital yet. I certainly hope so!!!

Please post something when you can to let us know how both of you are doing. :wave:

HubbleRules
:cool:

JJ,

How are you and Hubby doing? Haven't seen you post anything for a few days, and I was wondering if Hubby was discharged from the hospital yet. I certainly hope so!!!

Please post something when you can to let us know how both of you are doing. :wave:

HubbleRules
:cool:

Hi Hubble...Sorry for being late to report anything, but it has been like a zoo around here. No hubby is still there and now he has a staph (sp.?) infection. Yesterday they started him on a super strong antibiotic so he said today he is feeling better, but of course weak. Guess they are going to run one more test on the lungs, try and get him up and around to see how the oxygen level does. He is in isolation but might come out of that room today.

I didn't feel well yesterday so kind of took care of me, I am really soooo tired. They definitely ruled out any heart problem, they call it an advanced and severe case of the flu that got toally out of control. Drs. have been wonderful and right on the ball, plus they are friends of his cardio guy, so that helps too.

Biggest problem is they shoved him on Prednizone and it keeps shooting his sugar up, so between trying to level that and his oxygen out, it is a BIG balancing act. Can't even name all the meds. he is on, but at least he is off the IV drip the last 2 days. Naturally he and everyone else has to wear a mask, so that is mighty uncomfortable also, but they think he can come off that today. Now today will be a waiting one to see how it goes and take it from there. Thanx soooo much for asking, and I will try to keep U guys posted, I've just been running and running, as we have no family here, and guess I am getting run down, Don't need that, as he can't come home and be expected to take care of me.

Hope ya have a great day, and hopefully I will TTYL...... :wave:

JJ,

Thanks for the update - I was just getting worried... :wave:

I hope that they can get Hubby up on his feet soon, and back home... I'm sure he's not happy being there...

Don't you run yourself ragged either. I can sympathize with what you're going thru. When my Mom was in the hospital last June, it was an Hour and 45 Minute drive one-way to the hospital, and I was getting dog tired running between there, home and work for 2 weeks...

Get your rest or you'll end up getting sick too!... You don't need to be at the hospital all day - Hubby needs rests anyhow... and you don't want to get yourself so run down that you get sick... You should even take some days completely off and not go to the hospital at all if you can...

HubbleRules
:cool:

JJ,

Thanks for the update - I was just getting worried... :wave:

I hope that they can get Hubby up on his feet soon, and back home... I'm sure he's not happy being there...

Don't you run yourself ragged either. I can sympathize with what you're going thru. When my Mom was in the hospital last June, it was an Hour and 45 Minute drive one-way to the hospital, and I was getting dog tired running between there, home and work for 2 weeks...

Get your rest or you'll end up getting sick too!... You don't need to be at the hospital all day - Hubby needs rests anyhow... and you don't want to get yourself so run down that you get sick... You should even take some days completely off and not go to the hospital at all if you can...

HubbleRules
:cool:

Thanx Hubble...I took today off as he was really sick yesterday, so think he needed some rest also. His voice sounded stronger tonight, so hopefully the road to recovery is coming. Couldn't believe I actually took myself a nap this afternoon, good grief, I haven't done that in years. Felt a lil stuffy myself today, last thing I need is to get sick, holy cow, that would be a total mess. When I go to see him, I so try to keep very positive and cheer him up, but man, it kills ya to see someone so stinking sick. Even when he had his arteries cleaned it was a 3 day thing, and he looked great the next day, so this is a bit tuff to see. Between inhaling oxygen, IV drips, and now this isolation thing is a true bummer, but hey, he is tuff, he will do fine.

Yes, I agree, it is just as tuff on family members when anyone is in the hospital, and like I told some friends, if U really want to do a favor for anyone who has someone ill, offer to give them a ME day. Folks always say, if there is anything I can do just yell, well..cook them a meal, or go see the patient and let the care giver have a day to themselves, maybe to catch up on some rest or housework. Oh well, hopefully this will all pass soon and things will get back to some kind of normal routine. I'm not 30 anymore, so it take alot out of us ole folks....... :D

Again, my sincere thanx for the concern, and I will try and keep U posted. Sure would love to do that Beach Bum thing, it would be a VERY welcomed relief right about now.

Take care, and TTYL....... :wave: :cool: :cool:

JJ,


Make SURE the docs watch that stapf infection and get AGGRESSIVE with it. Stapf infection can be serious, don't let them slouch on him.

My Dad had it AFTER his heart valve replacement and was UNAWARE of it after he came home. It totally destroyed his new heart valve and 6 months later he was back in for ANOTHER major surgery and replacement. Needless to say...they gave him a 50-50 chance and he pulled through.

Not saying this to scare you, but just for you to MAKE SURE they (Docs) deal with it agressively.


Wishing you the best. :)

JJ,


Make SURE the docs watch that stapf infection and get AGGRESSIVE with it. Stapf infection can be serious, don't let them slouch on him.

My Dad had it AFTER his heart valve replacement and was UNAWARE of it after he came home. It totally destroyed his new heart valve and 6 months later he was back in for ANOTHER major surgery and replacement. Needless to say...they gave him a 50-50 chance and he pulled through.

Not saying this to scare you, but just for you to MAKE SURE they (Docs) deal with it agressively.


Wishing you the best. :)

Oh they caught it pretty quickly, that is why they put him in isolation, and have him on a VERY strong antibiotic. He said tonight he is feeling alot better, although U would never know it by his voice, but they did another test and found it negative. I know many folks complain about VA care, but so far I have to admit, the care for him has been great. Sorry your dad went thru it with such nasty affects, but glad all turned out ok.

Now once they get him using the inhalers more, get him weaned off that Prednizone and keep his sugar level steady, he will beable to come home. Naturally we aren't drs. or nurses, so I can't handle the ups and downs of the sugar or breathing problems, so as much as I hate him in there, at least he is getting 24/7 care. Oh the joys of being ill, don't lose it!!

Appreciate the well wishes, and as soon as I have more time or new info. will definitely keep U folks posted. Can't wait till this is all a thing of the past

Take care, and TTYL...... :wave: