So after getting a call from the Cardiologist at the end of April telling me I HAD to start taking this and that IMMEDIATELY, well, I started taking them. But I didn’t start taking the third one (beta blocker) listed because he didn’t mention it in the call. Anyhow, I wasn’t happy taking the Flecainide from the beginning because it kind of scared me, also I wasn’t feeling well on it, having several of the side effects listed here. So after going to the hospital to try and speak to the Cardiologist and also going to see my GP I ended up with TWO Cardiology appointments. I went to the first one in June and got my prescription somewhat changed, starting with the beta blocker and getting the Flecainide dosage halved. But things still didn’t feel right.
Luckily I held on the the second “bonus” appointment and took advantage of it to go and talk to the Cardiologist again today. Except it wasn’t the same affable guy I’d been seeing, it was very brusque woman. At first I thought she was kind of unfriendly but it turned out she was just no nonsense. The first thing she said was… what are you doing back here? You were just here last month! So I had to explain it was about the prescription (didn’t mention the bonus appt) and told her that even on half-flecainide I was still feeling wonky. She told me flat out that none of the side effects I described were typically caused by Flecainide (well OTHER THAN ON THIS PAGE) but said if I thought it was making me feel bad that she would cancel that prescription and I could continue with the other three. Just like that. Um… okay. I asked if I should have a revision in case the tachycardia started up again and she said “well, yours seem to be quite caprichoso, not constant, so check again with your GP if you notice any changes”.
I mean, I have to admit that I haven’t had any tachycardia moments since starting on the Flecainide, and both my BP and pulse have dropped… but I mean by a lot. Meanwhile the inside of my head feels bruised and I get dizzy, pressure behind eyes, sometimes blurry vision. Anyhow, now that I have the specialist’s permission to stop taking scary drug (for now) I will see how it goes over the rest of the summer. I feel more relaxed about this. So now it’s just the same old BP meds I’ve been on for years, the blood thinner and the beta blocker (but half dosage). And apparently I can take them all at breakfast, so no more morning and evening pill popping. More news as I get it.
casa azahar 
Feels like medicines are prescribed to fill some sales quota, or else serve to create the symptoms that must be resolved by another medication. Good for you, for advocating for yourself.
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I think most of the time they are just “following protocol” and hoping for the best. It’s so frustrating and insulting how often doctors assume we don’t know our own bodies. Anyhow, it says “revision in six months” on the report so guess I’ll find out.
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I agree – these days doctors see so many patients. They have to comply with protocols set by their hospital affiliation. Best wishes for your next six months – and always. Debra
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Hurrah for the bonus appointment. Sometimes no nonsense can be good, when they listen.
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Well she wasn’t listening at all at first, kept repeating “I don’t understand”… I often get this here, people assuming they can’t understand me because I’m obviously not Spanish. Very frustrating. But eventually I got through to her, I think.
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How frustrating when there is that assumption. There was the famous time in Chile, when a vendor said to me in Spanish, I don’t speak English (in Spanish). And I said, I’m speaking Spanish (in Spanish). She looked at me, blinked and said, oh! The exchange continued in Spanish then.
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