rhythms vs. pressures

[banglamom]

I have had worsening rhythm problems over the last several years, dating all the way back to viral myocarditis in 1993 when I had a resting pulse of 180 for nearly 6 months.  I had three ablations in the last couple years that were unable to fix it.  They just kept adding more and more meds until I fell over pulseless.  Now I'm on coreg, flecainide, diltiazem, and lisinopril.  I never have had high blood pressures and all these sometimes about tip me right over.  If I don't take them though, my rate runs away.  The ablations were only marginally successful.  A pacemaker now prevents me from too slow side effects of the meds, but I have learned that hypotension can still be a problem.  Are there other meds that would do the job of rhythm control without crashing my pressures so badly?  Most days, it is down to 90s/50s, but some days it can be considerably lower.

[banglamom]

Thanks Tracey.  Today was the first day I ever decided to ask a question online too.  I don't know if it maybe shakes me up as much as going to the md.  I am actually on all those meds too.  It's hard to know what helps and what doesn't since it is generally about 30+ pills a day.  I already drink NO alcohol, occasional tea.  No diet sodas, NO msg, occasional chocolate.  No smoking, no recreational drugs.  I used to exercise until it started sending me into lethal rhythms.  I'm always open to suggestions.  Going off these medications in the last couple of years has been hospitalizable- 8  times.  Like you, I'm just 41 and this has been 15 years of getting increasingly problematic with the associated cardiomyopathy after the viral infection.  I've been a nurse for 20 years and actually know way too much at a professional level.  Cheers to you too and I hope the best for you.  I'm hoping someone will say something like... RHYTHMOL, sotalol, tikosyn... ALL good, NO problems.  I've been on most all of them by now and nothing is without it's own flavor problem.  In the meantime, I have no choice but to keep on trying.

Thanks

[Tracey759]

Hi there.  I'm new to this website.  My name is Tracey, I'm 46 and live in Brisbane, Australia.  I too have had worsening heard arrythmias over the past few years but I do have a heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, which was diagnosed when I was 28.  Apparently genetic.  I had been put on beta blockers, and other rhythm control meds, all of which did nothing.  I decided to go to a dr/naturopath (they are hard to find) and he put me on to Co-enzyme Q10, Fish Oil, Magnesium and Potassium.  These have all helped.  My advice would be go to a good Naturopath (with medical background if you can find one) and get off all those drugs you are on.  You would have to do this slowly as going of meds suddenly can be dangerous.  There is a lot to be said for Natural Therapies.  Give it a try, you have nothing to lose!    Also if you drink diet sodas and eat a lot of foods with MSG, this will make your heart go crazy.  Also try and cut out caffeine and alcohol (if possible!) - I know it sounds boring, but give it a go for a while and see if you notice any difference.  Just a suggestion!   Hope you're feeling better soon!    
Cheers!
Tracey B