Cardiology, Update on Pete's Cardizem problems

Update on Pete's Cardizem problems

Author	Message
Pete #1 / 5	Update on Pete's Cardizem problems I thought those who responded to my initial message about my travails with Cardizem CD, such as Hari, might be interested in the follow-up. My G.P. reduced the dose from 240mg to 180mg and now to 120 mg of Cardizem CD. He added to this 20mg daily of Lasix, and upped it to 40 mg. He and I are both hoping this might give good results. I know he is an excellent doctor and he is doing his best under the circumstances (he and i both agree i am a complicated case). Thank God for home {filter} pressure monitoring units though. I went to see the Doc this morning after my home readings took a dramatic jump for a few days. My visit confirmed that i was in the range of 180/120 (not at all good for my compromised kidneys -- igA nephropathy). Without home monitoring, i might not have visited the doctor for another two weeks! BTW, to repeat a bit of background, can't take beta-blockers due to bronchospasms, a bit of angioedema with ACE inhibitor Ramipril, non-stop coughing and zilch {filter} pressure control with losartan and valsartan. Some consistent {filter} pressure control with Cardizem CD 240mg, but fairly severe, though not completely intolarable side effects. So the rationale is try a lower dose of the Cardizem CD plus the addition of Lasix (and another month's worth of disability insurance until we get this under control). -- Pete NB. Reply address is invalid in order to foil spam email. I would appreciate any reply, but please do so via the reply to group button. Thank you.
Tue, 27 Mar 2001 03:00:00 GMT

Haris Haqqan #2 / 5	Update on Pete's Cardizem problems Tell us about your IgA nephropathy please Pete. What's your Cr clearance like now and what's being done about it? Haris Quote: > I thought those who responded to my initial message about my travails with > Cardizem CD, such as Hari, might be interested in the follow-up. My G.P. > reduced the dose from 240mg to 180mg and now to 120 mg of Cardizem CD. He > added to this 20mg daily of Lasix, and upped it to 40 mg. He and I are both > hoping this might give good results. I know he is an excellent doctor and he > is doing his best under the circumstances (he and i both agree i am a > complicated case). Thank God for home {filter} pressure monitoring units > though. I went to see the Doc this morning after my home readings took a > dramatic jump for a few days. My visit confirmed that i was in the range of > 180/120 (not at all good for my compromised kidneys -- igA nephropathy). > Without home monitoring, i might not have visited the doctor for another two > weeks! BTW, to repeat a bit of background, can't take beta-blockers due to > bronchospasms, a bit of angioedema with ACE inhibitor Ramipril, non-stop > coughing and zilch {filter} pressure control with losartan and valsartan. Some > consistent {filter} pressure control with Cardizem CD 240mg, but fairly severe, > though not completely intolarable side effects. So the rationale is try a > lower dose of the Cardizem CD plus the addition of Lasix (and another > month's worth of disability insurance until we get this under control). > -- > Pete > NB. Reply address is invalid in order to foil spam email. > I would appreciate any reply, but please do so via > the reply to group button. Thank you.
Wed, 28 Mar 2001 03:00:00 GMT

Pete #3 / 5	Update on Pete's Cardizem problems Hi Haris. Here are the particulars of my iga nephropathy: 1978 - Insurance medical finds protein and microscopic {filter} in urine, referred to urologist, kidneys check out OK, thinks protein in urine and relatively low heart rate (50) might be because i am very athletic (that was then!) 1988 - first finding of high b.p., continued high protein and {filter} in urine 1991 - first referral to nephrologist, diagnoses chronic glomerulonephritis 1993 - biopsy confirms mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis with preponderant IgA, severe glomerulosclerosis affecting 2/3 of glomeruli. 50% loss of kidney function. B.P. 145/95 without meds. BUN is normal. 1994 - Chest X-ray shows slight cardiomegaly, ECG shows LVH by voltage, Echo shows leaflet density thickened, mitral valve anterior leaflet slightly thickened, stress test OK, resting b.p. 142/90, peak 157/84, very fit, could not get heart rate beyond 87% of predicted. 1997 - passed threadmill stress test Present - creatinine clearance 185, unmedicated b.p. about 180/115, There has never been visible {filter} in urine. Current nephrologist says stable for last 3 years. Recommends only b.p. control as treatment. I do not see a cardiologist. This morning my b.p. was 140/90, pulse 50 (confess i have not taken cardizem last couple of days, only 40 mg Lasix). Thanks again for your interest. Pete Quote: >Tell us about your IgA nephropathy please Pete. What's your Cr clearance >like now and what's being done about it? >Haris
Wed, 28 Mar 2001 03:00:00 GMT

Haris Haqqan #4 / 5	Update on Pete's Cardizem problems Thanks for sharing that Pete. I'd be interested in knowing what tests were done in '78 when the urologist (why not nephrologist?) first saw you. It sure is great news that you've stabilised over the last few years. Good luck with the BP. Hang in there. Haris Quote: > Hi Haris. Here are the particulars of my iga nephropathy: > 1978 - Insurance medical finds protein and microscopic {filter} in urine, > referred to urologist, kidneys check out OK, thinks protein in urine and > relatively low heart rate (50) might be because i am very athletic (that was > then!) > 1988 - first finding of high b.p., continued high protein and {filter} in urine > 1991 - first referral to nephrologist, diagnoses chronic glomerulonephritis > 1993 - biopsy confirms mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis with > preponderant IgA, severe glomerulosclerosis affecting 2/3 of glomeruli. 50% > loss of kidney function. B.P. 145/95 without meds. BUN is normal. > 1994 - Chest X-ray shows slight cardiomegaly, ECG shows LVH by voltage, Echo > shows leaflet density thickened, mitral valve anterior leaflet slightly > thickened, stress test OK, resting b.p. 142/90, peak 157/84, very fit, could > not get heart rate beyond 87% of predicted. > 1997 - passed threadmill stress test > Present - creatinine clearance 185, unmedicated b.p. about 180/115, > There has never been visible {filter} in urine. Current nephrologist says > stable for last 3 years. Recommends only b.p. control as treatment. I do not > see a cardiologist. This morning my b.p. was 140/90, pulse 50 (confess i > have not taken cardizem last couple of days, only 40 mg Lasix). > Thanks again for your interest. > Pete
Thu, 29 Mar 2001 03:00:00 GMT

Pete #5 / 5	Update on Pete's Cardizem problems Hello Haris. I don't know why i was referred to a urologist for a finding of {filter} and protein in urine back then. If i remember correctly, the referring doctor first had the following tests done: EKG, kidney X-ray (the one with dye, but i'm not sure what it was called), kidney ultrasound. Nothing unusual found. Then referred to urologist, who did an endoscopy through the urinary tract. Again, nothing found except a slight irritation somewhere in there, which they concluded might be the origin of the {filter} in the urine. A year later, had a hard time passing a life insurance medical because of same {filter} and protein in urine. The medical people finally concluded that it was probably simply a con{filter} condition of no great significance. My b.p. was still normal then. I never thought anymore about it, until 10 years later, when i tried to join the Army Reserve. (I had been a Regular Naval Officer in my early twenties). That was the first time i discovered i had very high {filter} pressure. Was told to see a civilian doctor and again, he found {filter} and protein in urine, plus the elevated {filter} pressure. That's when i was finally referred to a nephrologist. The latter did some tests and concluded i had some form of chronic glomerulonephritis and that i had about 65% kidney function left. It took about two years of follow-up with him until he decided to order a kidney biopsy. That's when they diagnosed the IgA. I don't ever remember having had a bout of tea-coloured urine, although i was asked about that many times. Pete Quote: >Thanks for sharing that Pete. I'd be interested in knowing what tests were >done in '78 when the urologist (why not nephrologist?) first saw you. <snipped>
Fri, 30 Mar 2001 03:00:00 GMT

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