Chronic A-Fib

[scouser costa rica]

VA-Tony,
       An update please.
                     Regards Ian

[ireneo]

Hey, Ian, Tony's fine. He posted on the "old" board. Are you able to get in there?

[va_tony]

Thanks for asking Ian

I was admitted to the hopital Tuesday evening and was under observation for 3 days while my rythmol dosage was increased (from 225 mg 3 times a day to 300 mg 3 times a day). On Thursday afternoon, I had my cardioversion, which was a success, and then discharged from the hospital. So I'm back in normal sinus rythhm again. Hurray!

Unfortunately, my doc took me off the 300 mg rhthmol and just put me back on the old 225 mg rythmol dosage. The 300 mg dosage increased my Q-R-S duration to over 120 ms and he didn't think it would be safe long term at this level. With luck the 225 mg, which kept me in NSR for 5 years, will continue to work at least a few more years before a cardioversion is needed.

While in the hospital, I talked to an EP about my situation. He said that if the meds and cardioversion didn't hold, he would recommend a new med change and another cardioversion. If that didn't work he ould recommend just living with the afib. He thought I was an excellent candidate for "rate control" because I'm almost completly asymptomatic. He thought the odds of an rf ablation working was poor because of my enlarged atria (now at about 5.5 cm). I asked him about a minimaze procedure but he thought that wouldn't be justified given that I'm asymptotic and my rate is so well controlled

Now that I am back in NSR, I have a CT-A scheduled for this coming Wednesday.  That will determine if the small abnormality (i.e., coronary artery blockage) seen on my recent nuke stress test is a false positive (or not) as my cardio suspects. Because I may have CAD, I'm now on Lipitor to lower total cholesterol (was only 192 to begin with). Hopefully, if the CT-angiogram looks good, I can drop the Lipitor.

Regards

Tony

[tanns]

I'm glad to hear everything went well and you are finally on your way to the CT-A next week.   I will be sending lots of good thoughts and hope you do stay in sinus rhythm for a long time to come.

[PikaPika88]

Tony, great to hear that.  Hopes it can last forever and the A-Fib won't return.

[scouser costa rica]

Tony
      Thats great news.Give us a heads up as you continue with the treatment,and keep in NSR.
Ireneo,
      Yes I can access the old board,but no I didnt think to try it.
                                                         Regards Ian