a-fib returned after 5yr cryoablation

[alelia]

Paroxysmala-fib returned after 5 yrs. Saw alternative dr. am on several things, but it is not helping, and it happenig more frequent and longer. Question: Today had ekg while it was occuring,confirmed at l40 HR. Primary Dr. prescribed Metopholo 50mg lx daily along with baby aspirin. This medication lowers blood pressure. I have always had and have low to normal BP. Is anyone presently on this med and have not had high blood pressure problems before taking this?

I have no other heart issues, very active still work,dance & all the good stuff.  However, time moves on and I am now 75 yrs young............I don't regret that I have the cryoablation procedure as I was OFF all heart meds for that period of time. I had the procedure as I refused to stay on heart meds along with the blood thinners. I  met the critera for the procedure.

Tomorrow I start on the metoprolol. Has anyone had any experience with this & how did you feel taking it, and did you have to switch to anoter beta blocker?  To me it seems like it probably will end up in another direction leading to other heart meds which I refuse to go to. Had lots of problems in the past with that........

Has anyone in the upper age bracket had another ablation procedure performed?

appreciate any feedback.

Thanks,

Alelia

[MaryLL]

I have paradoxymal a-fib. I had an ablation in May, 2010. My a-fib has gradually gotten much worse, more episodes and hospital cardioversions. In February of 2012, I am scheduled for a cryoablation.
I've taken heart meds for about 12 years now. The past year, in an attempt to control the episodes, they've upped my medication to the highest level they want to give. I'm 64 now, so they think I will continue to have problems with the meds not holding my a-fib, which is another reason to do the cryoablation.
I've been taking 562mgs a day of propafenone and 75mgs a day of metoprolol. I also take 5mgs of warfarin a day. My blood pressure is historically low which is a problem when I'm in an episode as the meds they give to put me back in sinus rhythm often put my BP dangerously low. As a result, they generally choose to cardiovert me instead.
I look forward to the cryoablation. The medications cause such fatigue, low energy, and general tiredness it is about all I can do to go to work, come home, and rest. While I am grateful not to have had a stroke or a heart attack, I do seek a more energized quality of life.
I appreciate all the posts as it gives me information and perspective from others who suffer with the same condition.
Hope your holidays were happy all...
MaryLL

[alelia]

To all,.

It seems on this site I am the only one with paroxysmal a-fib (intermittent)   Anyway. I am on metoprolo 25 mg. They wanted me on 50, but I insisted on the 25. and baby aspirin every other day.  I am in the low risk.  So much for that.  As for another procedure, I am now 5 yrs older & have another health issue  that is not heart related.  I guess it could be done again, but for me it's a wait & see procedure.  I had the cryoablation rather than the radio frequency (RF) procedure.

There are many helpful heart herbs  such as magnesium taurate, arginine etc.,But one has to see an alternative dr.  Tomorrow I have a consult with him. Presently I am taking a few plus fish oil & vit e that the mgs can not  be too high.   It would be interesting to know if someone else has gone off the beta blocker. & continued on with other herbs. Anyway, I will have a consultation with him.

According to documented reseach, ablated heart tissue can reconnect & start producing a-fib again..  It seems most patients who had the procedure had breakthrus & returned for  ablations.  I have went the full 5 yrs without any breakthrus., in that respect I am grateful.

I don't regret my procedure, and anyone considering it, go for it.......

I hope this has been helpful.

alelia
,  

[tom_h]

I've taken Metoprolol in varying strengths for 6 years.  At one point, I was on a massive dose of 200mg per day.  I walked around like a zombie for about 3 weeks before having to cut back.  I eventually settled on 100mg/day, and remained at that level for about 4 years. Once accustomed tot,his dose, I tolerated it just fine.

Regarding your other question regarding age vs. ablation.  I have an elderly friend who was in her late 70's when had an ablation for Afib.  She's fine today.

[cindy707]

I would make sure that the doc who did your ablation gets your records so that he/she can take a look at it...its fairly common to have what is called breakthroughs at some point after an ablation. I am in my mid 50's ...had my ablation done 5 years ago this Oct. and have had a couple of breakthroughs also and the docs put me on antenolol and an aspirin a day to keep the breakthroughs at bay with mine and its been working like a charm.  Your body may simply have just opened up another pathway in another area of your heart and maybe you just need a tune up of the procedure of sorts...i love my antenolol because i have no side effects and it relaxes my heart and keeps everything in tune.  Hopefully mine will  hold but even if it doesn't i won't even hesitate to have a tune up of the procedure if necessary because it was such an easy procedure compared to what i was going thru before the ablation.  Good luck with this and i hope it all works out for you..........

[Jerry_NJ]

I am around your age, I have permanent AFib and take both a Metoprolol 50 mg and a CCB.  I have taken more BB, as much as 200 mg, and while that did cause some BB problems, I did adapt somewhat to the BB.  My BB now is about normal even with the BB/CCB combination.  I had normal BB befrore starting to take the Metoprolol in late 2007.  Bottom line, my body either adjusted to the BB or I now have high BB but don't know it as the BB is covering it up.  My cardiologist thinks my BB is still normal and my body has adjusted to the BB and thuw returned my BB to normal levels.

[DeltaDawn23]

I took Toprol XR and it dropped my blood pressure too much if I took the 25 mg. all at once and it made me dizzy.  I broke it half on the advice of a nurse, and was able to tolerate it taking it half in the morning, and half at night, however, still had dizziness.

I went to another cardio and he put me on Atenolol 25 mg. He said it does not pass the blood brain barrier and should aleviate the dizziness.  I take it in 1/4's up to 2 pills a day -- usually 1 to 1-1/2.  I also take Xanax which helps with the adrenaline surge if I get a run of tachycardia.  I am 65, have had  paroxomal Afib since 2003, the last couple of years it is happening more often.  Now on Norpace, Xanax and coumadin.  I got by with just the Atenolol and Xanax as needed for about 7 years, but now need the anti-arrythmic and coumadin, because the Afib is apparently becoming persistent.  I am 2-1/2 months out from my last episode and it is holding because of the Norpace.

So you had your ablation at 70? And It was cryo?  I would be interested to hear about that.