Mrs.

[ljp2004]

I am a 70 female with low alpha-1 antitripsen causing mild COPD.  After hospitalization on IV Solumedrol, I have had persistent atrial fibrillation and some PVCs and PACs.  My blood pressure seems to be under control.  The A-Fib goes on for hours and is often a quivering, jiggly sensation and/or accompanied by palpitations...with normal pulse rate due to the Cardizem.  I have seen three cardiologists (we have homes in different states) and have gone from Norvasc to Cardizem plus Metropolol, then Bisopherol and when we returned to Florida the cardio doc put me on Cardizem yet again plus baby aspirin.  Eating, reclining, or turning over in my sleep causes pounding and/or fluttering heart.  I am affected daily and nightly and feel as I am not in control of my life any more...this affects everything.   I only take 30mg. Cardizem as needed....and can double it if necessary....but if my b/p and heart rate are so low...I am concerned that my b/p will go back down to 80/48 with pulse of 46 as it did on .25 Bisopherol...way too low.  I feel as if I am just on my own with this.  The doc wants to see me in May.  Good Grief.      Any suggestions.....please.     Lynne

[annie1724]

Here's your post and the response you got.  You have to scroll down the list of other threads when looking to find your post. The ones with the most recent responses are always at the top!

[claytex]

Dear ljp:  I used to have Atril Fibrillation until this last July when I had a heart ablation at the Austion Heart Hospital.. Any way thats not what im writing about.  I was on Toprol XL for years and the generic (metropolol) came out and they swithed me over to the Metoropolol and I started having breathing and respiratory problems.. My family doc called it bronchittis.. well it got so bad, I made an appointment with a lung doc.. but then I got to thinking.. and figured it all started when they put me on the dang Metropolol ..I had the doc write a prescription for toprol XL and quit the metropolol and the respiratory problems went away totally in 2-3 weeks.. I tried the Metropolol one more time with the same results..I talked to the cardiologist about it.. and he told me he had encountered 3-4 other folks who had respiratory problems when taking metropolol... Medicare wont pay for the Toprol XL... with the new Health CAre deal we have... so I had to paid for the toprol xl myself but it was sure worth it... I felt horrible when I was on the Metropolol.. you might give it a try.,.. and one the afib and palpitations.. I put up with it for 13 years ..(.was shocked back into rhythm about 15 times...laffin..) until I went the the Austin Heart hospital and had that ablation...and it worked... I  feel like I have my life back.. feel great... no afib no pvcs just a good regular resting rate of about 60bpm... Hope some of this is helpful... Have a good day Claytex