Meds may be cause of burping

July 27, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have dry burping (no acid taste ever) 30 times a day, five or six burps each time. I am on digoxin for a rapid and irregular heart rate. Could my heart condition have anything to do with the excessive dry burping? It happens any time of day, whether my stomach is empty or after I have eaten. I am an 85-year-old female.

DEAR READER: Your heart condition is likely atrial fibrillation, a condition that causes skipped beats and a rapid heart rate. I don’t believe it is the cause of your excessive burping; however, your medication may be.
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Atrial fibrillation carries dangers

June 1, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 68-year-old female who has been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. My family doctor has sent me to three cardiologists, one of whom was an electrophysiology cardiologist. I have received three prognoses. The first told me that I am getting old, so I just have to live with it and it wouldn’t cause any damage to my heart. The second did a heart catheterization and told me that my heart was great. He confirmed the a-fib, told me that it wasn’t dangerous, and gave me 25 milligrams of atenolol to take every day. I do not have high blood pressure or chest pain, for which the medication is normally given, and it makes me listless and drops my pressure to 90/44. I was then told that he needed to find out why I was having the fibrillation, but that was some time ago. The third physician, the electrophysiology cardiologist, also confirmed that I had atrial fibrillation and told me to continue taking the atenolol. [Read more...]

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Surgeon failed to properly inform patient

July 11, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: In mid-September 2009, I had a lung lobectomy and was in the hospital for about 2-1/2 weeks. There were complications, including atrial fibrillation and a delay in the lung sealing, which caused the drain tubes to remain in for most of my stay.

I was told that I would be in the hospital between five and seven days and back at work within three months. As yet, I have not been able to return to work.

Prior to the surgery, the only thing that was brought to my attention was that sometimes things “go wrong,” and when I was discharged from the hospital, I was given minimal instructions. For some naive reason, I thought that if I woke up from the anesthesia that things had “gone right.”
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Are A-Fib And Pulsating Head Linked?

December 23, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I wrote to you on June 13, 2008 about my atrial fibrillation. I am scheduled to have an ablation on September 29th. My concern is the pulsating in my head which is causing lightheadedness. Is this caused by the heart problem? Will the ablation solve this condition? Is there any danger of the ablation procedure worsening the pulsating? I have complete confidence in the physician performing the ablation but he does not give me an exact answer to my questions about the pulsating sensation which I described to you in the June letter.

DEAR READER:
I have written many times in the past that I cannot be used as a second opinion for upcoming procedures. I simply provide information to the writer that can be used to receive appropriate medical care from a physician that can examine him or her. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

November 15, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My husband, age 76, has suddenly developed atrial fibrillation. He had an active life, walking three to four miles five days a week and hunting. Now he can get short of breath while sitting in a chair. If he goes outside to do yard work he gets short of breath within just a few minutes.

He has had two cardioversions (procedures to reduce the pulse rate) but they didn’t help for long. His rhythm remained normal in the hospital but once home he went back to being abnormal. His heartbeat was rapid so he takes warfarin to prevent a stroke. He has his levels monitored every few weeks.

My husband’s heart rate is now at a normal level of 80 but he continues to be short of breath. His heart specialist says he’ll have to live with it. His chiropractor says he had has the same thing for more than 20 years [Read more...]

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Daily Column

September 27, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am a 67-year-old non-smoking, non-drinking female who lives a very healthy lifestyle with exercise, good nutrition, average weight, etc. I have no history of heart disease in my family, yet three weeks ago I wound up in the ER with atrial fibrillation that required an over-night stay for observation, followed by a nuclear stress test and the wearing of a heart monitor. I’ll meet with a cardiologist in a few days to discuss the results.

I’ve taken Fosamax for almost seven years for mild bone loss and recently read of a scientific study indicating the drug can cause heart abnormalities — including atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure, blood clots, and stroke! I stopped taking the Fosamax immediately.

Is my atrial fibrillation a chronic condition now or does the discontinuation reduce and eventually end the symptoms? [Read more...]

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Daily Column

August 16, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
What are some of the side effects of prednisone or an overdose of it? My elderly dad who is 82 and fairly healthy came down with a cold a few months ago. He saw his doctor who prescribed prednisone, two pills by mouth four times a day for five days. After taking four days he became delirious and nearly lost consciousness. He went back to the doctor who simply said “Oh, yeah”.

My father seems to be tired a lot, has very little energy and is short of breath. He is seeing a heart specialist who diagnosed him with a fibrillating heart. He never had heart problems before the prednisone. Could the medication have caused his heart problem?

DEAR READER:
Prednisone is an oral corticosteroid and is not an appropriate treatment option for trivial colds. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

August 8, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I’m a 78-year-old male and have enjoyed relatively good health, allowing me to work several days every few months repairing knitting machines. I now take short, shuffling steps, stand in a stooped fashion and have a tendency to lose my balance. This has resulted in several falls.

I see a primary care physician at a VA clinic, a local internist, urologist, cardiologist, and a neurologist. I have type 2 diabetes and have had episodes of atrial fibrillation in the past. My medications include Metformin, simvastatin, warfarin, flecainide, a daily multi-vitamin, and monthly B12 injections. Further, I had partially successful atrial ablation in 2006 and cryotherapy for prostate cancer in 2007. My blood pressure readings and lab testing for diabetes are always great.

After an MRI I was told I do not have Parkinson’s disease, but Parkinsonism symptoms. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

June 7, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My doctor has prescribed digoxin for my heart. I have an abnormal rhythm known as atrial fibrillation. I don’t want to take this medicine because of an article I once read that said it sends more people to the hospital than it keeps out each year.

I’d like your opinion about this medicine, its safety and effects — especially with the elderly. I’m 86. Thank you for your response.

DEAR READER:
Simply put, digoxin helps the heart beat strongly and regularly. It is used to treat atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, congestive heart failure, and more.

Individuals with thyroid, kidney, liver, or lung disease should check with their physicians before taking the medication. Certain drugs can affect digoxin. They include antacids and laxatives that contain aluminum, some beta blockers, some calcium channel blockers and certain water pills.

Side effects include nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, visual disturbances, headache, anxiousness, fatigue, weakness, skin rash, palpitations, confusion, and chest pain. Adverse reactions tend to occur at higher doses and often disappear when the dose is reduced.

As you know, there are side effects with any medication, and digoxin is no exception. I am sure your cardiologist carefully reviewed your medical history and current medications before placing you on this drug. If you have read about negative studies, take the article to his or her office and request an explanation. If you feel the drug isn’t appropriate, ask to try another drug in the same category. Start with a limited supply so you are not out-of-pocket a large amount of money for something that could have many more side effects than the digoxin. On the other hand, if your cardiac condition has improved or stabilized and the drug appears to be working for you despite what you’ve read, perhaps you will choose not to make a change. Your primary care physician or cardiologist should be the one to help you make the decision.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Coronary Artery Disease”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 176, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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Daily Column

May 6, 2008 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I am facing a dilemma regarding medication. Following a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, my internist and cardiologist very strongly say I must be on Coumadin to reduce my chance of stroke.

I am not interested in doing this if there is any other possible alternative. I would appreciate your thoughts on this matter.

DEAR READER:
Many studies have proven that atrial fibrillation (an erratic, fast pulse rate) can cause a stroke if a clot forms within the heart, breaks off, and is carried to the brain. Warfarin (Coumadin) appreciably reduces this risk. Therefore, I advise you to follow your doctors’ recommendations.

Coumadin is available in pill form, is inexpensive and easy to monitor. To my knowledge, there are no other inexpensive substitutes. Plavix is another pill, but is expensive and may need to be combined with aspirin for optimal effects. Other anti-coagulant drugs (such as heparin) are given by injection, are expensive and are not suitable for home care.

I suggest you take the Coumadin. With proper dosing and monitoring, it is safe.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Coronary Artery Disease”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.

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