Opinions/advice for sick friend

[Plinker66]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasting

“Caretakers and health providers can sometimes contribute to wasting if the patient is placed on an improper diet.”

 

[fast306stang]

Then that's possibly his problem, if he has AFib then he is probably on Digoxin. His symptoms sound a lot like Digoxin toxicity. Have him look at his meds and see what they have him on for AFib. Numerous medications, herbal supplements and even grapefruit juice will increase Digoxin levels in the blood stream to unsafe levels. The therapeutic trough level in the blood stream for Digoxin is between 0.5 to 0.8 ng/mL. That's nanogram, so 0.5 to 0.8 millionth of a gram per milliliter of blood.

From his sister: He isnt on digoxin. He is on flecainide.
For arrhythmias. No blood thinners.


Thoughts?

 

[Trauma/ER Murse]

I'm not a doctor (I'm a nurse, which are like doctors, just way cooler) but it sounds to me like part of his problem could be that he has been to several different hospitals and seen several different doctors/ specialist. The problem is that very often hospitals/ doctors do not communicate amongst themselves and they have no idea of what medications another doctor has ordered. Upon admission to a facility the nurses are supposed to reconcile your entire medication list to check for possible medication interactions and other possible problems; the problem is they do not always get accurate information. My recommendation is go to his provider and take ALL of his medications with him to be reconciled. Also, if he does take digoxin have the doctor draw blood to check his levels.
I know when we discharge a patient 2 nurse have to reconcile the patient's medications and both have to sign the reconciliation.

 

[Blue bio balls]

A heart rhythmic drug?

 

[Plinker66]

All of those little prescription pills have unintended consequences.

 

[DinkyDau]

The thing that jumps out at me is the low white cell blood count..Those are you anti-bodies that are manufactured from the bone marrow in the spinal fluid..They can go up due to an infection and is a quick test to determine if their is an infection in the body..The fact that he has a low white count, is puzzling. Prayer's sent

 

[fast306stang]

I'm not a doctor (I'm a nurse, which are like doctors, just way cooler) but it sounds to me like part of his problem could be that he has been to several different hospitals and seen several different doctors/ specialist. The problem is that very often hospitals/ doctors do not communicate amongst themselves and they have no idea of what medications another doctor has ordered. Upon admission to a facility the nurses are supposed to reconcile your entire medication list to check for possible medication interactions and other possible problems; the problem is they do not always get accurate information. My recommendation is go to his provider and take ALL of his medications with him to be reconciled. Also, if he does take digoxin have the doctor draw blood to check his levels.
I know when we discharge a patient 2 nurse have to reconcile the patient's medications and both have to sign the reconciliation.

I suspect that his meds are not being reconciled from Dr to Dr. I think there has been a lack of communication from facility to facility and from Dr to Dr. Just my gut feeling.

 

[Plinker66]

If your friend is taking enough flecainide for a 230 pound man and is he sensitive to it then he is double dosing himself, too. Here is what the internet says about his med:

“
Tambocor (flecainide acetate) is an antiarrhythmic prescribed in certain situations to prevent serious heart rhythm disorders including irregular heartbeat (such as persistent ventricular tachycardia and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia). Tambocor is also used to prevent certain types of irregular heartbeat from returning (such as atrial fibrillation). Tambocor is available in generic form. Common side effects of Tambocor include:

• dizziness,
• vision problems (such as blurred vision, problems focusing, seeing spots),
• shortness of breath,
• headache,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach pain,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• tremor or shaking,
• tiredness,
• weakness,
• anxiety,
• depression,
• numbness or
• tingling.

Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Tambocor including new or worsening symptoms of heart failure (such as ankle/leg swelling, increased tiredness, or increased shortness of breath when lying down).

“

 

[fast306stang]

The thing that jumps out at me is the low white cell blood count..Those are you anti-bodies that are manufactured from the bone marrow in the spinal fluid..They can go up due to an infection and is a quick test to determine if their is an infection in the body..The fact that he has a low white count, is puzzling. Prayer's sent

Yes, puzzling for sure. The first day he was at the ER and they admitted him, his white blood cell count was low and he had a 102 temperature. That does not make any sense!

 

[fast306stang]

If your friend is taking enough flecainide for a 230 pound man and is he sensitive to it then he is double dosing.

“
Tambocor (flecainide acetate) is an antiarrhythmic prescribed in certain situations to prevent serious heart rhythm disorders including irregular heartbeat (such as persistent ventricular tachycardia and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia). Tambocor is also used to prevent certain types of irregular heartbeat from returning (such as atrial fibrillation). Tambocor is available in generic form. Common side effects of Tambocor include:

• dizziness,
• vision problems (such as blurred vision, problems focusing, seeing spots),
• shortness of breath,
• headache,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• stomach pain,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• tremor or shaking,
• tiredness,
• weakness,
• anxiety,
• depression,
• numbness or
• tingling.

Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Tambocor including new or worsening symptoms of heart failure (such as ankle/leg swelling, increased tiredness, or increased shortness of breath when lying down).

“

I sure thought you were onto something but she said he's only been taking it for a few weeks. It could still be part of the problem but it's not the cause I don't think...