Sunshine blues

[Annpatricia]

Beautiful bank holiday weekend but my first one on Amiodarone so feeling very frustrated as I would normally be outside enjoying the weather to the full 😥

[meadfoot]

How frustrating for you, typical isn't it just on it as the sun shines. Hope you feel better on the drug to compensate. I am in pain with a abdomen issue so empathise with your frustration. Be well.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hi Ann

I remember feeling just the same as you when I was taking Amiodarone pre ablation. I used to wear a wide brimmed hat long sleeves and gardening gloves and potter in the garden. There's no reason you can't go in the sun as long as no skin is exposed. You could sit or work in the shade, it's too hot to sit in the sun today anyway. I knew someone who was on Amiodarone for about 8 years, he never read the info leaflet and warnings and his doctor told him nothing. Because of that he carried on as normal and didn't know to stay out of the sun, to me he just looked as though he had a ruddy complexion - nothing awful. Hope this reassures you a little.

Best wishes

Jean

[sassy616 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

All I can say about amiodarone is toxic toxic toxic, my boyfriend had nothing but toxic problems with his lungs his skin and more if you can try not to be on it too long there are other options out there that aren't so toxic to the body

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to sassy616]

I know Sassy, this is a subject regularly discussed on this forum and I'm one who has been affected by it. Sometimes people have to take it for a short while pre ablation and I don't see the point of scaring them. Are you taking it pre ablation Annpatricia ?

Jean

[jedimasterlincoln in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Agreed Jean.

[Annpatricia in reply to jeanjeannie50]

It does Jean - thank you. I covered up and sat in the shade outside yesterday to have lunch with family. Ironically 5 day old grandson needs UV light for his jaundice!

[sassy616]

Read about the history of amiodarone it's pretty scary stuff

[Annpatricia]

Started on it last November after first ablation - in readiness for a second (touch up) which I’m having in 8 days time. If I can hold NSR hope to be off it after my 3 month review in August. Then need to let it clear my system.

[jedimasterlincoln]

I have been on Amidrone both IV and oral last year, the fact it was quite sunny at the time was a frustration but I managed it pretty well.

Before that i'd been on Dronedrone which was billed to me as "less potent version" but the AF broke through it as it has with most combinations of meds.

I did still go out, you have to, shopping and school runs and real life even in bright sunshine. However I think the sunlight warnings are basically "don't sunbathe or sit out in the sun for 10 mins doing nothing" like they tell people who are ginger.

However, as common sense is sadly lacking they have to blanket warning about the sun so that people don't interpret it in their own way.

Yes the side effects and risks to amiodrone are well documented on blogs and medical websites/forums but sometimes when there is no other option you'r stuck with it in the short term.

If people read up on long term uses of some of the most common drugs and their side effects/long term damage no one would take anything at all!!

[Jackie53]

Me too...sucks doesn’t it 😞. Along with the constant headache, the nausea, i’m hoping i’m not on it very long 😩

[Hidden]

I was on amiodorone from December 2016 until May 2017. I was so sensitive to sunlight that I got sunburn if I sat too close to a window in daylight. And that was wearing factor 50+ !!

Absolutely terrible time of my life.

[Annpatricia in reply to Hidden]

Thankfully - So far I haven’t experienced that degree of sensitivity - although I am driving in gloves to protect the backs of my hands which were getting very pink through the factor 50. Hope Zi can come off it in August if I get a good outcome from the touch up ablation next week. Glad you no longer need to take it.

[Hidden in reply to Annpatricia]

more a case of I refused to take it any longer. It also damaged my thyroid and loads of other symptoms. It really wasn't worth the side effects