Atrial fibrillation

[Nan]

Hi all, Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with A-Fib and being able to get off of anti-arrythmic medication....

I had A-fib in May of '02, badly, ended up converted, with meds that made my heart rate too low and thus a pacemaker. But I have not had any incidents since then, which seems to be unusual (wonderful) and am wondering about coming off of the drugs slowly.

Clearly I have to discuss this with my cardio, but I already know what he will say which is, no way!

I am trying to reduce the outrageous number of medications that I am on!! I think that some of them impact negatively as well as help.

Coumadin (until Exanta) I know I am stuck with.

Anyhow, if anyone has any info it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. And Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!! Turkey, Tofurkey or whatever you enjoy!

 

[alicia]

Hello Nan, After my first heart surgery failed I ended up with A Fib and was put on Amiodorine (sp) for 6 months and eventualy was taken off it Thank God! I didnt require a pacemaker which was great. Somehow by the grace of God I stopped the A fib and established a regular rhythum until I had my second heart surgery and then I once again had A fib and it resolved itself after a short time. I hope you can also get off the Amiodorine soon. Good luck to you.

Alicia

 

[Nan]

Thanks Alicia,

I am currently on Betapace, I was on Propafenone, which made me extremely ill.....I was being tested for seizures, TIA's and possibly panic attacks.

I kept telling all the docs I thought it was the meds, and lo and behold when they finally changed me to Betapace, I miraculously got better (after 6 weeks or so) Although I am much, much better, I still don't feel right.

Thanks again for your good wishes, and glad you are doing better.

 

[warnerd]

Nan, no help from me because I have the same issue. I went thru A-fib after my surgery and amio didn?t do the trick. They finally got it under control and Digoxin seems to be doing the trick. The surgeon said it would be 6 mos ? year. Cardio doesn?t give any hint I?ll ever get off. My heart rate was generally in the 40s, but since I?ve gotten more active and eat something every couple of hours, my metabolism has gone up. Heart rate is generally in 50s and 60s and I don?t feel so lethargic.

 

[Kathy]

I had A-Fib following mitral repair. My natural heart rate has always been quite low so it was dangerous to put me on drugs that would lower the rate, therefore I needed a pacemaker. I take digoxin, flecanide, and magnesium.

I did not have any episodes of A-Fib that I know of although I did not convert to sinus rhythm until the middle of October (about 3 months after surgery. I know that because I was monitored at rehab.

I saw the cardio the other day. He felt that it was safe for me to go off coumadin. (YIPEE!) He said that when I return in 6 months he will look at taking me off the rhythm meds.

 

[MelissaM]

Hi Nan,

I had arrythmia problems following surgery - mainly SVTs and tachycardia, rather than Afib. Every couple of weeks or so, I would "delay" taking my arrythmia meds (digoxin and toprolol) to see if my heart had healed enough to keep a regular rhythm. The first few times, the arrythmia would pop up and I would immediately take the meds. After a while, though, I was able to wean myself off the meds, and now I am med-free. This worked for me because my arrythmias weren't life-threatening, just annoying. Not a recommended method for those who have serious or life-threatening arrythmias. :-O

 

[Birky]

meds

meds

I too are on lanoxin and cardizem. I want off of both. I know the coumadin has to be taken, but I would like to get off of these. I see the Cardiologist in December and at that time I will discuss this with him. I had too slow of a heartbeat after surgery and then too fast and out of sinus rythm. The digoxin caused it to beat too slowly after the surgery so once it was out of my system then it improved. After I was home for 5 days , the other started and then they gave me the cardizem by IV to get back into sinus rythm. I can't see taking this all my life because I should be healed by now. Had surgery on 02/27 of this year. I guess what i had is quite common after surgery.

 

[sylviayasgur]

hi nan!
my husband, joey, was prone to afib before his surgery. he was on betapace preventatively and it worked wonders.
after his surgery, however, as is very common, he went into afib and the betapace did nothing to help this time.
that is when they put him on amiodarone. he is now, finally, about to come off the stuff fully. his cardio wants him to look into ablation, should he have trouble (afib) when coming off the amio.
in the past he has cut down and when he is about to eliminate it totally, he has had some afib.
i am going to post asking about several doctors who were recommended to him with regard to consulting about ablation.
wishing you all the best.
be well, sylvia

 

[Nan]

Hi Everybody, thanks a lot for your responses!

Warnerd, so glad that your heart rate is coming up! You must have felt terrible at 40!

Kathy, congrats on going off of Coumadin! and hope you can go off the arrythmia drugs soon!

Melissa, did you wean yourself off? OR did your doc advise you to do so? Good for you, either way.

Katie- That sounds like a wonderful pacemaker. I don't think mine does that! The cardio said it might help, but he didn't seem to think it was enough!

And I absolutely agree with you, better to have a little bit of a-fib (if it can be gotten controlled easily) than have to take some of these meds.

Marcia, hope you can get off of the medications soon!

Sylvia, thanks for the info, would look forward to seeing names of docs for ablations if you post them. Hope Joey does well coming off the meds and doesn't need to have an ablation!

Re: timing of my a-fib. Had a brief easily controlled episode in the hospital after surgery, this last one which resulted in meds and pacemaker was about 2 1/2 years after surgery.

Thanks again, everyone.