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1569985 tn?1328247482

Ablation, Pacemaker & Cardioversions, Oh my!


I am back home in aflutter.  Let's see, ablation, back to the ER after a day home, pacemaker placed, then home after 5 days. Back to ER while in afib and they tried 3 electrocardversions after having me on oral ammiodarone for  the weekend.  They did not work, so then put me on IV ammiodarone in a loading dose and I converted by meds after about 5 hours!  Made me wonder why they didn't try that at first.  I kind of looked like an over-done french fry when I came home, but that's all fading.  The aflutter happened Thursday night, so I was in normal sinus for all of 3 days.  Now on double the Toprol to keep rate down, but supposed to take it easy, so not doing much.  I have a pacemaker monitor and have sent two transmissions, so they can see what's going on.

The option, if I'm really feeling bad, is to be put on Tykosin (sp) in hospital for 3 days and then go home on it.  Not sure if I should let some time pass -- doctor won't do another ablation right now, nor do I want one right now.  The device nurse also thinks the doctor would prefer just to keep the rate down if I can live with that.  

My son thinks because I seem to be going from intervention to intervention, that if I am not in any danger and it won't affect the ultimate outcome, maybe I should just sit out the 6 weeks and see what the doctor wants to do then.  I was told they are not giving up on fixing the afib and read that the right side of the Atrium for flutter is usually 95 percent effective.  May be best to wait . . . any thoughts?  I would appreciate any input . . .
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1569985 tn?1328247482
Jerry -- thanks  for the input.  I was just informed today that the doctor's schedule has July 6 as the first available date for an ablation.  I am somewhat disappointed in that and wondering if the wait will make it less likely that I will be able to come out of the aflutter and back to normal sinus rhythm?  I will call his assistant with my questions.  I probably will wait as I am VERY tired of procedures at this point.  I can research what my options are, get some answers and then decide.  I go April 9, for a monitor and device check for the pacemaker.  I tried Rhythmol a couple of years back and had a very bad experience with it.  I think that is when my "sick sinus syndrome" started -- all speculation on my part.  Thanks again for your input.  Hope you are well.
Helpful - 0
612551 tn?1450022175
COMMUNITY LEADER
Rhythmal something like that is softer but potent I understand.  

i used in high dose while wearing a monitor, no hospital time, but it did not convert me, nor could it hold me following an electrocardioversion.  Noyt much of an endorsement... I'd wait it out if possible.

Helpful - 0
1569985 tn?1328247482
It just occurred to me -- are there anti-arrythmic drugs that are more commonly used and less dangerous in your opinion?  I know some on this board are on Sotalol (sp?) and Flecinide.
Helpful - 0
1569985 tn?1328247482
Thanks for the input.  I am now on 50 mg. of Toprol ER morning and night.  I've been taken off the Ammiodarone as it is not converting me to normal sinus rhythm.  Aflutter seems less problematic than afib, as it is regular and I can take my pulse.  The meds have kept it mostly in the high 90's and low 100's.  The Toprol does hit me like a ton of bricks sometimes and I wonder if Atenolol, which never affected me that badly could be substituted?  I have been pretty wobbly several nights.  Apparently the surgeon wants to wait 3 months to do another ablation to cure the tachycardia.  It seems a long time to take it easy.  Maybe I will get used to the Toprol and it won't be so bothersome. Thanks again for the info.  It does seem one thing leads to another problem, another problem and so on.  I just want to get back to some sort of a normal life.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I can't tell what you should do but I've given Tykosin before to patients, I'm not sure if it's worth the risks. From all the anti arrhythmic drugs IIve dealt with, this one seems like the most dangerous. You have to keep your potassium above 4 and get EKGs constantly while in the hospital just to make sure it doesn't cause your QT to length and cause bad arrhythmias. The past 4yrs I've been a cardiac nurse I think I've given it to maybe a handful of patients, I would just make sure you have all your info on it before trying. Goodluck!
Helpful - 0
1569985 tn?1328247482
Hi -- Thanks for your input.  Oh gosh, you've been going thru a lot!  I had lung surgery in August and went into afib and they also found a blood clot, but not in the atrial appendage, it was in the pulmonary vein, but also had to wait 5 weeks in afib and the meds they gave me were barely keeping my heart rate down.  I was on cardiazem and it didn't suit me well at all, felt sick most of the time.

I wish you luck on the blood clot.  Mine did resolve after 5 weeks, as I hope yours will.  Except for being a bit dizzy before bedtime, I am doing fairly well on the Ammio and Toprol.  I might just wait it out and see what happens.

It is extremely difficult not to be able to be as active as I was before my lung surgery, walking 30 minutes a day and able to do most of what I wanted to.  Now, I'm sitting around trying to keep my heart rate down and I'm finding I'm not as good at just sitting as I imagined I would be.

Guess I've got to keep moving forward.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
Helpful - 0
63984 tn?1385437939
I was in the hospital a for ten days, coming home last week with A-Fib, near kidney failure caused by A-Fib and Congestive Heart Failure.  I was also given Amiodorone   as you were, but I got it first before an electro-conversion.  An ablation was ruled out because of the condition of my heart and and a cardiac electro-conversion was planned if I didn't convert.  I did convert the first time I went into A-Fib with Amiodarone, but the side effects (eyes and breathing issues) were very tough on me.  I agreed to try it again, knowing what side effects I would have, had the loading dose then drip, then ami pills, still I was in A-Fib. So, on to plan  B, electro cardiac conversion, but first they did a safety check against blood clots in legs and heart.  I was woozy, but learned a few medical terms that I used to hear on the docks when a Commercial fisherman as a kid, words like S***!.  F***: S** ** * B*****!  The cardiologist is also my good friend, I knew before he talked to me that I had a big, fat blood clot in my atrium.  I'm taking drugs to get rid of clot and will be re-checked in five weeks.  

I don't know the drug  Tykosin, sorry.  I did note you need to be hospitalized for three days when taking it.  So, I don't have answers, I'm just a hack trying to get well like you.  I'm still in A-Fib 80% of the time according to my pacer.  Be careful with Amiodarone, it usually isn't a worry you will get side effects, just which side effects.  If your eyes start to itch, feel swelled and a 'fog' appears, call your doctor at once.  Likewise, if you start to cough and wheeze, do the same.  I hope you keep in touch with the community and perhaps correspond with me by the mail feature of this program.  Hugs, I know what you are going through.
Helpful - 0
1569985 tn?1328247482
I could really use some help with decision-making here.  Has anyone experience with Tykosin?  Any ideas on how to proceed?

Looking back, perhaps I would make different decisions, but no point in looking back.  Besides I was feeling bad and in the ER every few weeks to be cardioverted and that didn't seem a good course of action to continue.  Apparently there is hope the situation can be salvaged and another ablation (now hampered by the pacemaker) will end the aflutter/atrial tachycardia.  I just have to hang in for 6 weeks to see where this all goes.  Please -- any input?
Helpful - 0
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