Is there an MD in the crowd

... why waste time googling it when the answer is a phone call (or two) away?

Dale even if someone claimed to be a doctor on the internet probably not a good idea to take advice from them. I’d get mine face to face in person or over the phone as RP suggested, but that’s just me.

I'm not a doctor; but, I've seen them on t.v. and in the movies and even read stories about them. Additionally I have been through many a medical experience of my own so I feel qualified to respond.

GET TO A DOCTOR! Ask your neprhologist and other medical team members about the pros and cons of a slowed heart rate. (keep in mind as well that a slowed heart rate is only good to a point. If it slows too much; well, then you'd be dead.)

If medicine costs are too high; look into getting a Part D Medicare drug plan and additionally contact the medicine manufacturer they may be able to help out. There are options.

As always, I wish you the best in your medical matters.

Thanks fellas but reasons abound why the typical phone chat is so much inferior to the written word, esp to an 81-year-old with incipient Alz's; while doctors simply don't use email and I'd probably spend all morning scrolling Google

Of course I intend to broach the subject next routine visit. But I had hoped for some variety of opinion in a forum boasting 100,000 participants

Thanks Stur, we have a couple of excellent health plans but this particular med is 'way over

What's the medication?

Kidney function is measured by the glomerular filtration rate, the rate at which each kidney performs its continual processing and cleansing of blood. The normal glomerular filtration rate is about 100 ml/min. If the kidney is damaged so that the glomerular filtration rate is only 5 ml/min or less, hyperkalemia may result, especially if high-potassium foods are consumed.

The elderly are at particular risk, since many regulatory functions of the body do not work well in this population. Elderly patients who are being treated with certain drugs for high blood pressure, such as spironolactone (Aldactone) and triamterene (Dyazide), must especially be monitored for possible hyperkalemia, as these medications promote the retention of potassium by the kidneys.(Medical Dictionary online edition )

Important points: glomerular filtration rate: the rate at which blood is filtered through a part of the kidney called the glomerulus.

Hyperkalemia: elevated blood levels of the ion potassium ( K ).

With the elderly on blood pressure meds, kidney function may be reduced and the level of potassium (K) may increase to the point that potassium "feedbacks" to slow down the heart rate. That's the beauty of human physiology.

Basically the kidneys play a critical role in regulating heart rate, in part by regulating glomerular filtration rate and the level of potassium in the blood.

Remember, this is just very brief description of what's going on. But I suspect you see the picture from what I've described.

Good post, Miller.

One of them is called Bystolic, over $2 a pill. Don't know yet what the other one will cost

"incipient Alz's..."

dale, is that where you don't really have alzheimer's, but you keep forgetting and think that you do ?

I presume then Mil the implication is that a slower heartrate would result in a lessened cleansing

……Interesting.

I was taken off Diltiazem, Atenolol, and Terazosin but not Triamterene. Accordingly I'll have to ask 'em about that. I wonder if I might have I might have misunderstood, quitting the Diltiazem because its pronunciation is similar to that of Dyazide

Another typical example, written communication so superior to spoken

Doubt if I'll remember that but thanks

Hyperkalemia: elevated blood levels of the ion potassium ( K ).

Some time further back I was taken off Lisinopril for its apparent effect on my kidneys, subsequently attempted to join a class-=action suit agains st its maker, but the firm wasn't interested in my case

However what you seem to be saying is that the slower rate is desirable whereas I understood the opposite and that that's why they want to step it up. I can see it's more complicated than I imagine it, that my first response above was off base

I'm seeing things a bit differently so now I when I go in I can ask more intelligent qs. Thank you again Mil, I was sure that among 100,000 participants somebody would know about this stuff

I second that

Good one Rock, you've made my eve

I think it's where you mention it as often as you can so that you are not blamed for anything. I see it as a mix of fear and using.

If you have been around the real thing or going through it, not cute. My mother had Alzheimers for ten years. Alz posing is not charming.

When you visit your MD the next time, ask him/her if you could speak to a clinical pharmacist. The latter may be able to clarify some things for you better than a physician.

MDs often change drugs, when they don't appear to be working. Sometimes, a small change in dosage does the trick.

I personally have very negetive feelings about Google and medical problems.


When you were on Lisinopril, did your serum potassium increase?

Again Mil thank you for those observations. Yea the answer is somewhere in those 1, 446, 398 Google responses, but which one

I'd hate to be an MD for his decisions are so oft critical, a small change in regimen and his patient keels over

Incidentally are you an MD or where arose your obvious learning



I presume so but I'll ask

Every time you get your blood work done, you should be getting a copy of the clinical results. That way, you'll know a little about what's going on.

I'll look into that

I usu depend on my Better Half for post-analysis and recommendations because she's much smarter than I

Incidentally Mil, do I understand your rundown to mean not that a slow heartrate damages the kidney as my MD had led me to believe but that the damage is caused by hypertension meds, while the kidney then reacts by slowing it

With regard to your kidney damage, he advised, we [he and my nephrologist] are worried about your slow heartrate

Another beautiful example of the written word over the spoken so thank you once again

Incidentally with respect to the earlier effect on them from years of Lisinopril, do you think I might have any chance joining a class-action suit against its makers