Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Upgraded Disease

Hiya,

I've not been on Kickas much of late, trying to manage things down as much as I can.

I've been a lot better over the past 6 months but ended up with some pretty severe flares, which have forced me to Accident and Emergency 4 times now in 8 months. The tachhycardy stuff has been enough to get me admitted let alone the other problems.

The local hospital have upgraded me to (these lines were dictated to me parrot fashion) "severe systemic auto immune disease, so far i have been diagnosed with ......."

The senior guy that runs the acute care area just off A&E turns about to one one of the best gastro's in the state and his words are "if I had n't seen in myself I would n't have believed it"..."Your neck looks like you have been in a serious car crash...."

So I'm off to see him next week at his private practise.

The other Dr.s and the nurses have quietly warned me that they have been treating me for toxic colon the previous flares.

I've got to the point where I doubt very much that anything significant will occur to help me and just concentrate on managing things down, but I guess I would n't have gotten to this stage where I just dealing with abrupt flares without the help and support from KickAS.

thnaks

Dave

Dear Davo, so sorry its been so hard. Sending best wishes for some good answers for you from the gastro consult. Hoping for better times for you, Evelyn

Hi Dave,

I wish I had a better book on heart problems. My diagnosis of Arrythmia seems to be just like your Tachycardia. I sometimes that medical terminology as it sometimes leads to a "which came first, the chicken or the egg" situation. I suspect that Tachycardia is what happens when you have Arrythmia.

My first experience with Arrythmia was during a conversation with Dorrit in the kitchen, I found myself in her arms on the floor and according to Dorrit, only 5 or 6 seconds had gone by. Has this happened to you?

I saw a Cardiologist a few days later and what he prescribed was digoxin (much the same as the old "digitalis". By taking my Digoxin every morning, I haven't had a repeat of the sudden passing out. Apparently, Digoxin helps to control the timing of the heart.

I am curious as to whether you are also taking a similar medication for your heart problem and if so, what is it?

Thanks for your post. Heart problems hasn't seemed to be an issue for most ASKickers by the lack of any posting on this subject.

Regards,
OldGeorge

Have you been checked for C-diff infection in a stool sample that could cause toxic colon.
I also get tachhycardia when my Iron gets low. Have they checked your iron level.Its a very scarey feeling.
Take care, yoly

Hey George:

Arrhthymia basically means 'bad rhythm' and encompasses a large group of heart problems, just like spondyloarthropathy is an umbrella term for AS, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy and enteropathic spondyloarthropathy.

Arrhthymias can be too slow (bradycardia or slow heart) or too fast (tachycardia or fast heart). Of course, there are subdivisions within each of those that more accurately describe not only the pace (fast or slow) but also rhthym (regular, irregular, or (wait for it) irregularly irregular).

Just wanted to let you know that sometimes there IS a rhyme or reason to medical terms.

Dear Davo:

Really sorry to hear that things are so tough right now. 'Serious systemic autoimmune disease' doesn't sound good by anybody's standards. Hope you feel that you've got a good team looking out for you. Here's hoping for some progress really soon.

Hugs,
Jeanna

Hi Dave

Just want to let you know I'm thinking about you. Boy oh boy you're having a tough go of it. I hope some kind of a miracle happens for you. You deserve to start feeling better.

Hugs
Maggie

Hi Dave. Just wanted to say that I'm really sorry that things have been so rough the last while, and to let you know you are in my thoughts. I pray everything calms down again soon.

Dave!!!!

It's so good to hear from you my friend. I am so sorry to hear you still feel horrible, but am glad to hear about the new doc. I hope he's a good one.

Please come back more often, Dave. We are so totally here for you. Besides ... I miss you.

Many warm hugs,

Irregularly irregular? I assume that you are Seriously serious Doc.

Thanks,
George

Hi Dave,

Good to see you checking in, wish you had better news to relay with the update. Best wishes to you with treatments moving forward.

Tim