R. Meadows
MY FATHER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AMYLOIDOSIS IN 1998. IN RECENT MONTHS, HE HAS BEEN CONFINED TO A WHEELCHAIR AND HAS TO BE HELPED TO DO EVERYDAY LIFE FUNCTIONS. ON SUNDAY, HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. HIS HEART RATE DROPPED TO 20 BPM. THEY IMMEDIATELY PUT IN A PACE MAKER. NOW HIS HEART IS RACING. TODAY THE DOCTOR DECIDED NOT TO TREAT HIM WITH MEDICINE, HOWEVER HE REGULATED THE PACEMAKER TO STAY BELOW 120BPM AND ABOVE 60 BPM. OUR FAMILY IS TORN APART BY THIS DISEASE. WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT NEXT. WE HAVE READ THAT WHEN AMYLOID BEGINS TO EFFECT YOUR HEART THESE ARE SIGNS OF THE "FINAL STAGES". CAN YOU HELP ME UNDERSTAND WHAT MAY HAPPEN IN THESE STAGES AND HOW LONG OTHER PATIENTS HAVE LIVED THROUGH FINAL STAGES OF AMYLOIDOSIS. OUR DOCTORS KNOW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE DISEASE AND ARE UNABLE TO ANSWER ALOT OF OUR QUESTIONS. ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THIS STAGE WILL BE GREAT HELP.