looking for medical .info

[DE OPPRESSO LIBER]

Thanks for the help and advice. I use the VA for my medical and I have contacted my Primary doc and will follow up there.I do get lots of exercise. Walk 2-3 miles every morning and I don't have high blood pressure and colesterol is always around 150. The doc said this was probablycaused by a clot in the heart caused by the A-fib so hopefully getting back on coumadin and regular INR tests will solve the problem

The VA?? I said get a good neurologist!! Just bustin' ya! Yeah, I recall your previous thread as to the cardioversion and A-fib, and presumed that's most likely where the clot came from, but one can never tell for sure. Keep up with the cardio as you are and follow your INR's closely and I bet you'll be good to go. Some people walk around in A-fib and never know it..... do you know currently if you're in an A-fib or regular rhythm now, Ray?

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Thanks for the help and advice. I use the VA for my medical and I have contacted my Primary doc and will follow up there.I do get lots of exercise. Walk 2-3 miles every morning and I don't have high blood pressure and colesterol is always around 150. The doc said this was probablycaused by a clot in the heart caused by the A-fib so hopefully getting back on coumadin and regular INR tests will solve the problem

Good luck Ray and congrats on dodging a bullet. Many good comments from MEM and Libre and others (even bust). I work at the Roseburg VA. Best advice I can give you is educate yourself and keep your doc's feet to the fire, and get another one if you are not satisfied/happy -- it's your life. But I hope ya got a good one. We have a Pharmacist who does nothing but follow the anticoagulant patients monitoring PT/PTT/INR, etc. Hope they have something similar there. One good thing is the clinic over there is affiliated with the Portland VAMC, if I remember correctly, which is an advantage for you. It is a very good teaching hospital.

As for TIA's not causing damage showing on an MRI. I respectfully disagree. Infarcts may not show on CT's without contrast, but can on CT's with contrast and can be seen on MRI's. Unfortunately, by the time some get to me in psychiatry there are multiple white foci visible despite many TIA's over the years and no history of "real" strokes (due to non-adherence or being ignored by providers). Sounds like you caught this early and it may be a one-shot deal. Increase your odds and take the medicines as ordered, follow up as ordered, and be a good patient with rest, exercise and good diet. This is not an enemy to turn your back on. Multi-infarct dementia is as devastating as a major cardiovascular event, and largely not reversible. So don't go there.

Trust your providers, but verify.

 

[beemerdons]

What a wonderful Forum we have with so many talented individuals willing to come forward to help another member in need!

Sounds like the consensus is that all will be well for you Ray and I already knew about your 3 mile walks; you were even out walking at WFO-8 and CFR. Being a Veteran it is good to hear that quality people like ShinyPartsUp are working at the VA hospitals, since eventually I will be needing care at the Phoenix VA Hospital. Very, very glad to also hear that SPU is in Psychiatry, since we are rooming together in Mexico for two weeks and I am certifiably nuts! SkooterG calls it Alzheimers!

 

[FJRay]

Thanks for the help and advice. I use the VA for my medical and I have contacted my Primary doc and will follow up there.I do get lots of exercise. Walk 2-3 miles every morning and I don't have high blood pressure and colesterol is always around 150. The doc said this was probablycaused by a clot in the heart caused by the A-fib so hopefully getting back on coumadin and regular INR tests will solve the problem

The VA?? I said get a good neurologist!! Just bustin' ya! Yeah, I recall your previous thread as to the cardioversion and A-fib, and presumed that's most likely where the clot came from, but one can never tell for sure. Keep up with the cardio as you are and follow your INR's closely and I bet you'll be good to go. Some people walk around in A-fib and never know it..... do you know currently if you're in an A-fib or regular rhythm now, Ray?

As of Sat morning I was still in A-fib .

 

[FJRay]

What a wonderful Forum we have with so many talented individuals willing to come forward to help another member in need!
Sounds like the consensus is that all will be well for you Ray and I already knew about your 3 mile walks; you were even out walking at WFO-8 and CFR. Being a Veteran it is good to hear that quality people like ShinyPartsUp are working at the VA hospitals, since eventually I will be needing care at the Phoenix VA Hospital. Very, very glad to also hear that SPU is in Psychiatry, since we are rooming together in Mexico for two weeks and I am certifiably nuts! SkooterG calls it Alzheimers!

I fail to see how Skooter could be any judge of any disorder. He would need to start with a mirror.

 

[Fred W]

As of Sat morning I was still in A-fib .

Seems like a clean bill of health to me... :blink:

Ever consider getting a 2nd opinion?

Maybe seeking some paid healthcare?

Or at least make sure your insurance policy is paid up, huh?

 

[rogdeb]

Ray, Do what the Docs say - keep on walking, and stick around for the long haul will ya ...........

 

[fjrboomer]

Ray I will not presume to give medical advice on a condition for which I have little or no knowledge. The walking is good though. I celebrated the 30th anniversary of my heart attack on Oct. 11. I walk 3-4 miles 6 days a week. It helps you feel better all around and it is my time for thinking about the important things like the next bike trip.

I have had some set backs along the way but I am still here and doing what I want to do and I am sure you will be able to do the same if you just follow the Drs advice and use common sense. Take care and enjoy life!

 

[Silver Penguin]

Not a lot to say. My specialty is pediatrics and strokes are not common there. But, glad to hear that you're OK. Definitely wear the alert bracelet/necklace that indicates you're on Coumadin. Get your blood checked as often as the doc recommends. Stay away from grapefruit juice (changes the absorption of the medication) and take care of yourself.

 

[petey]

Hey there big guy, take care and keep up what your doing. Glad your ok and good luck from here forward.

 

[user 6393]

I'm no Doc either, but was party to Doctor visits with both my parents as they became seniors. My dad had atrial fib for many, many years. His Doctors tried him on cumadin for a while, but as his diet was all over the map, they could not stabilize a dosage for him. (apparently cumadin works best for people who eat the same thing all the time - not my mom and dad, at all). His Doctor felt there was a MUCH higher chance of him bleeding out from the meds than having a major stroke event from pooled/back-eddied blood, so they removed the cumadin from his meds.

Well, he slept a lot in the last few years (fatigue brought on the by the AF), but he died of leukemia @ the ripe old age of 88 1/2, and never had any problems from untreated AF.

I guess my point is that every person is different, and each case should be treated as unique, yours included.

2nd, and even 3rd opinions are also a good idea.

Find a Doc you trust, and work with him/her to find the best solution for YOU.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Not a lot to say. My specialty is pediatrics and strokes are not common there. But, glad to hear that you're OK. Definitely wear the alert bracelet/necklace that indicates you're on Coumadin. Get your blood checked as often as the doc recommends. Stay away from grapefruit juice (changes the absorption of the medication) and take care of yourself.

Hijack:

Good point. I just tell everybody on medication to stay away from grapefruit juice. Easier to remember that than the list longer than my leg of drug interactions with that stuff.

 

[Fred W]

Not a lot to say. My specialty is pediatrics and strokes are not common there. But, glad to hear that you're OK. Definitely wear the alert bracelet/necklace that indicates you're on Coumadin. Get your blood checked as often as the doc recommends. Stay away from grapefruit juice (changes the absorption of the medication) and take care of yourself.

Hijack:

Good point. I just tell everybody on medication to stay away from grapefruit juice. Easier to remember that than the list longer than my leg of drug interactions with that stuff.

Good advice, and so easy to do.

Who likes that crap anyway...

 

[FJRay]

Not a lot to say. My specialty is pediatrics and strokes are not common there. But, glad to hear that you're OK. Definitely wear the alert bracelet/necklace that indicates you're on Coumadin. Get your blood checked as often as the doc recommends. Stay away from grapefruit juice (changes the absorption of the medication) and take care of yourself.

Hijack:

Good point. I just tell everybody on medication to stay away from grapefruit juice. Easier to remember that than the list longer than my leg of drug interactions with that stuff.

Good advice, and so easy to do.

Who likes that crap anyway...

I used to like it a lot as long as it was diluted with enough Vodka.

 

[BikerGeek99]

I'm not a doctor and I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but Ray - glad you're OK, dude.

Lotsa big words and TLA's (three letter abbreviations) being thrown around here that I don't understand and hopefully never do...

 

[Barabus]

Hell, Ray can't you stay out of trouble? Nurses are not good enough reason to have a problem- not matter how minor. Best wishes my friend.

 

[Khunajawdge]

Listen Ray...drink more water.

Best in the years to come!

 

[Bustanut joker]

Lotsa big words and TLA's (three letter abbreviations) being thrown around here that I don't understand and hopefully never do...

Don't believe ya got anything to worry aboot Andy..IIRC your vocabulary is pretty much, Where's my Beer? Why is my chair wet? Did I piss myself? Gawd! Cheap beer is so much better than cheap wemin..

In otherwords.. Big words!

:****:

Ya know bud even though I was ill this weekend.... There was this Hi point...

Who Loves ya?

:jester: