My Mom is 71 and has been told two things.This is a little long but I hope spmeone can give us some information.
She has had Paroxysmal (SP) A-Fib since 1999 and had a pacemaker put in in 2002.She was on Sotalol from around 99 until November of 2008.The doctor (electrophysiologist) she had been going to since 1999 wanted to put her on Amiodarone,she has been told by an Internist that she used to go to that it was dangerous.
She had actually taken it for a short time in 1999.Her then Primary Care Doctor took her off of it and that is when her heart doctor started her on the Sotalol.
She did pretty well on the Sotalol until around the middle of 2007,she started having more trouble.She got worse and the heart doctor she was seeing wanted to start the amio.This was in Oct-Nov.2008.
We decided to go to a different heart doctor (electrophysiologist) and wanted to try rate control and see if it worked.The meds that he tried were Metopralol,which she was already taking and Verapamil.She took Metopralol 50 mg. and 180 mg. ext. release of Verapamil once a day.It helped some but her rates according to him were still running 120-130 bpm.
He then did a dopplar echo and said that her heart was at 40% function and stopped the Verapamil.
He then stopped the Verapamil and went to Digoxin and Metopralol.He upped the Met. from 50 mg. twice a day to 100 mg. ext. release once a day.It helped some but her rates are still around 120 bpm.
He then said that he wanted to do a complete AV Node ablation and replace her dual chamber pacemaker with a Biventricular pacemaker.
I have done research on this type of ablation and found that there can be a rather high death rate at times.This can happen from 2-90 days after the ablation and is called Sudden Death.
I also found that this type of ablation isnt the first choice and is more of a last resort type of thing.
She is now at the point that she doesnt know what to do.The electro. that she is seeing now has told her that her heart cant keep beating like it is,it will wear out.
He told her that she would go to bed one night and not wake back up if she doesnt do something.That was upsetting.
We dont know what to do.
We dont know if there are any other meds to try or what.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks.
This discussion is related to
TAMBOCOR AND A-FIB.