Question to all a-fibbers

[Michelle D]

For those who are on an anti-arrhythmic do you feel sometimes that you are "trying" to go into a-fib but not quite getting there? I'm on Sotalol and I feel like my heart with beat fast for a few seconds, not long enough to get a good bpm off of it, then I'll have a PVC like thing go back to my normal heart rate with some PVCs mixed in then fast again etc. It's like the sotalol is working to keep me out of a-fib but it's not quite strong enough, I don't want to increase the dose, they've already decreased it, but I will have to call them and I imagine I'll have no choice in the matter.

 

[Michelle D]

And another question, how many of you did not have a-fib before surgery only to get it afterwards and does anyone know how often it is temporary with the heart remodeling compared to having it forever? Also I'm wondering if the sotalol might be causing more a-fib, I have more PVCs since being on the sotalol, my cardiologist believe this is because of the lower heart rate, but if a lower heart rate can cause a PVC could it perhaps start a-fib too. When I was in the ICU for a-fib I converted to sinus on my own and they decided to give me a bolster of ameridrone(sp?) about five minutes into it after being in normal rhythm for a couple hours I went back into a-fib.

I hope that these PACs, PVCs, and a-fib stop bothering me someday.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

It does sound like you are 'on the edge' of control for your arrhythmias.
Your Cardio might want to have you wear a 24 (or 48) hour Holter Monitor to get a better picture of what is going on with your heart rhythm.

It is not uncommon for A-Fib events to come and go for several weeks after surgery.
I'm wondering what dose of Sotalol you are taking, and how often.
Sotalol can take 30 to 60 minutes to 'kick in' and can wear off in 8 to 12 hours.
Typical dosing is every 12 hours, but if it is wearing off earlier, then it might be better to take a dose every 8 hours (with your Doctor's orders).

You might even need a combination of Beta Blockers.
Sotalol seems to work well on A-Fib but Toprol (and others) seem to work better on PAC's and PVC's.
Hopefully your Cardio will work with you to find the minimum dosing that will control your symptoms.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[Michelle D]

I was just going to PM you but you are full, I copied what I was going to send:

Hi, I was reading posts from a few years ago and saw you were on 40 mg 2x a day of sotalol having PACs or PVCs. I'm assuming you were on sotalol for a-fib, did you have a-fib prior to your surgery? Has it gone away? I'm only 8 weeks out so it's too early for me to know if my a-fib is temporary or not but didn't have a-fib prior to surgery. But the Sotalol definetly has caused me to have WAY more PVCs. I have always had them but just randomly here and there. Now it seems half the day every third beat is a PVC

 

[Michelle D]

I thought about the 8 hour thing too because I read the instructions and it says take them no closer than 8 hours apart. The problem with the PVCs is they seem worse when my heart rate is lower so taking toporol will probably exacerbate the PVC problem. This is just all a pain. Oh and the not eating two hours before and one hour after is a pain so taking them every eight hours isn't something I really look forward to but would if necessary.

 

[Robb Wilder]

I had A-Fib/A-Flutter for 5 days after surgery. I was CardioVersed(shocked). I have experienced 3 minor incidents of A-Fib since. I am on Amadrione, Lowpressor and Cardizem. Just last night I was laying on my side, my heart started to accelerate AND come out of rhythm including skipping several beats.. I turned on my back and it went away. The doctor has me seeing the equivalant of the Cardio Electrician in two weeks to see about my 30 day HOlter monitor and my meds. My Cardio wants me off of much of the medication as I can.

 

[Cooker]

I had a-fib before my AVR / Ablation and now all is well .. but I definitely could feel it coming on ... sometimes the medicine controlled it, sometimes it did not ... so I guess my answer is yes ... I did teeter on the edge of a-fib from time to time ... peace out:cool2:

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I was just going to PM you but you are full, I copied what I was going to send:

Hi, I was reading posts from a few years ago and saw you were on 40 mg 2x a day of sotalol having PACs or PVCs. I'm assuming you were on sotalol for a-fib, did you have a-fib prior to your surgery? Has it gone away? I'm only 8 weeks out so it's too early for me to know if my a-fib is temporary or not but didn't have a-fib prior to surgery. But the Sotalol definetly has caused me to have WAY more PVCs. I have always had them but just randomly here and there. Now it seems half the day every third beat is a PVC

Michelle -

Try sending me an e-mail through VR.org with your screen name in the Subject Line.

FWIW, I don't recall having a-fib before surgery but did have some random incidents after surgery.
Exercise and Caffeine (even a bite of chocolate) can sometimes trigger a-fib w/o proper medication.
Fortunately, I've not experienced PAC's / PVC's with a-fib.

 

[ks1490]

I was on Multaq (dronedarone) for a couple of months after surgery and it worked like a charm and am now off of it as my Maze procedure seems to have done the trick.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Multaq is also known as "Amiodarone-Lite"

It's a new drug, similar to Amiodarone but without an ingredient known to cause many of the more severe side effects. It's New, and probably quite expensive. Do a Search on VR to find other posts / discussions (and more details) about this drug. OR, do a Google Search for Multaq to find links to Prescription Drug Information sites.

 

[Michelle D]

So my cardio found some minor a-flutter incidents on a 24 hr holter. They were only 15-20 beats long and my heart rate only went up to 130 so Sotalol is helping but he wanted me to increase to 80 2x a day. I told him that this would cause me too much stress because it turns me into a zombie at that dose so he said 80 at night and 40 in the morning. I've decided I will do 60 at night and 60 in the morning. My other cardiologist told me not to increase without being hospitalized and she wanted to take me off it. Argh, having two cardiologists is becoming difficult for me to handle. Anyways since I didn't have tordes de pointes or whatever it's called when I was on 80 mg 2x a day before I figure it is okay for me to increase to 60 mg twice a day like my other cardio says. I'll let you know how this goes.